Board Members

RDAEP’s skills-based Board is comprised of local leaders from across the Eyre Peninsula who have a diverse set of skills, knowledge, and expertise intrinsic to the region, representing business, industry, local government, and the broader community.

Bryan Trigg AFSM JP (Chair)

Mr Bryan Trigg commenced as a Board Member of Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula in March 2012. Bryan is the current SA CFS Group Officer for the Eastern Eyre Group. Bryan was an Elected Member of the District Council of Cleve and holds Life Memberships for multiple organisations including the Eastern Eyre Football League for which he has been a long time delegate and President. Bryan’s work with the League has been recognised by being granted Merit awards by both the SANFL and the AFL. 

Bryan is currently Managing Director of two local companies and has been a National Director for Rural Co, an Australia wide Rural Merchandise Company. In 1998, Bryan was awarded the National Member of the Year for all of Australia, as the business based in Cleve on Eyre Peninsula, was judged to be the best in Australia. At present, Bryan is a retired small business owner and has lived and worked in Cleve since 1973, and previous to that he lived in Cummins. Bryan was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal by the Australian Government and invested at Government House in Adelaide. He has also been reappointed as Justice of the Peace by the South Australian Government.

Sue Chase AM (Acting Deputy Chair)

Sue Chase was appointed to the Board in May 2020. Sue is the recently retired owner and Managing Director of Cowell Electric Supply. She sold to another well-respected regional business, The Ahrens Group in 2018 after 40 years with the business and 17 years as the major shareholder. During that time, Cowell Electric, based at Cowell on Eyre Peninsula, grew to over 100 employees with turnover exceeding $30M, with branches in Olympic Dam, Adelaide and Umuwa in the APY Lands.

Sue has lived almost all her life at Cowell. She is passionate about regional and remote areas of Australia and this is where Cowell Electric has specialised to provide its expertise in power generation, transmission and retailing, construction of powerlines and provision of ad-hoc mining services, principally for the mining, oil and gas industries, renewable energy sector and remote townships and Aboriginal communities in outback South Australia.

Sue has a solid understanding of and experience in business management, strategy development, corporate governance and financial management. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Heather Baldock (Executive Member)

Heather Baldock joined the Board in early 2016, is currently on the Board’s Executive, and is chair of the Board’s EP Ag Advisory Group. Heather held the role of Presiding Member of the EP Natural Resource Management Board from 2011-2015 and is a past member of the SA Advisory Board of Agriculture where she represented Eastern Eyre for six years and held positions of State Treasurer and Vice Chair. She has also served on other regional, state and national bodies linked to rural communities and agriculture and in 2011 represented Australian farmers at the Global Farmer Roundtable Discussions and World Food Prize Events in Iowa, USA.

Heather has farmed with her husband in the Kimba District for over 40 years and is heavily involved in local community development and tourism. Heather holds a Diploma in the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course, and a Cert 4 in Tourism Sales & Marketing. In 2006 Heather was awarded the SA Rural Women’s Award.

Travis Barber

Travis Barber joined the Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula Board in January 2021. Travis is in his third term as Mayor of the District Council of Streaky Bay and is an executive on the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association (EPLGA) Board.

Travis has a background in the fishing and property industries, and has a holiday accommodation business.  He has a genuine passion and drive for tourism and to see Eyre Peninsula showcase and prosper for all it has to offer.  Travis has fought hard to ensure continuity of health services to the Streaky Bay community, and has a passion to see Eyre Peninsula progress as one of the States, if not Australia’s most progressive and liveable regional areas.

Pam Schlink

Pam Schlink is a well-connected member of the Eyre Peninsula community. Pam has experience in the local government sector and has been involved with various boards, not-for-profit organisations, sporting clubs and community organisations. She has a strong commitment and passion for living and working on the Eyre Peninsula, with a focus on tourism and community events.

Matthew Waller

Matt Waller has qualifications in agriculture, an extensive background in fishing and aquaculture and is a vastly experienced tourism operator.  He is an energetic and innovative tourism professional and brings significant expertise relative to the region’s visitor economy.

Emily Rowe

Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Adelaide and has over 15 years of volunteer experience with local organisations on the Eyre Peninsula. Dedicated to community service, she is deeply invested in seeing the region thrive.

Professionally, Emily manages multiple businesses, including an investment portfolio, crayfishing licenses, and farmland. With experience across agriculture, tourism, aquaculture, and water industries, she excels in corporate governance, financial management, and process improvement, and is passionate about supporting the growth and success of the region.

Malcolm McLeod

Malcolm is an accomplished automotive industry professional with over 40 years of experience. As Dealer Principal and Director of McLeod’s Whyalla Automotive, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence in business growth, best practices, and fostering strategic relationships with manufacturers, financiers and government bodies.

He is the President of Whyalla Business and Tourism, Director of West Whyalla Football Club, and a Board Member of the Toyota National Dealer Association, representing rural dealers in SA and NT.

Passionate about Whyalla, Malcolm is dedicated to fostering community growth, creating opportunities, and ensuring a prosperous future for the region.

Tony Mayell

Tony is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in tourism, transport, and regional and remote community and economic development. Raised and having spent many years in the Northern Territory, Tony has held senior roles in both government and the private sector.

His leadership roles include serving as CEO of Tourism NT, CEO of Tourism Tasmania, and General Manager Europe for the Australian Tourism Commission based in London. He has also contributed to aviation and tourism as Chair of the NT Aviation Committee, a member of the Australian Standing Committee on Tourism, and through board memberships on the Kakadu and Uluru/Kata Tjuta Joint Management Boards.

Tony’s comprehensive background in marketing, communications, and governance positions him to address challenges and support the strategic objectives of the RDAEP Board and its stakeholders. He is enthusiastic about leveraging his expertise to drive positive outcomes for the community and the region.