Regional Economic Development Committee
Our Regional Development work is guided by the Regional Economic Development Committee (REDC) which is a sub-committee of the Cradle Coast Authority Board. The Committee’s role is to think and act regionally in developing the capability and capacity of the Region’s resources, including renewables, critical minerals, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and, of course, improving the region for its people through a focus on health, housing and transport.
Committee Members
Andrew Kneebone
Andrew is the Chair of the REDC and was appointed to the role in June 2026.
Andrew brings extensive executive and non-executive experience across the utilities sector, bringing with him a diverse set of leadership skills that include finance, governance, relationship management and strategic agility.
His experience and expertise ranges across infrastructure, utilities and regional development, with senior leadership roles spanning irrigation, urban water and energy in Tasmania and interstate.
Ian Jones
Ian has been a member of REDC for three years.
He contributes knowledge and leadership to the work of REDC and to growing capability of business and social assets in the region. He brings the voice of significant networks in the North West to the Committee, in affiliations with a number of organisations, including roles as;
- President of Business North West (2018 – 2024)
- Chair Clean Energy Tasmania
- Vice Chair North West Tasmanian Veterans Welfare Board
- Director TCCI
- Board member West North West Working.
Cyndia Hilliger
Cyndia has a long-standing career in customer service, sales, hospitality and business, most recently moving to Wynyard to rescue and develop a motel into the first of its kind boutique shipping container accommodated known as Waterfront Wynyard, currently rated #1 motel, as rated by customer reviews.
Undertaking multiple voluntary roles, Cyndia’s current roles include;
- Urban Provocation team / BNW / Cradle Coast Authority
- Burnie CBD Revitalisation and Gateway Project Reference Committee
- W x NW (Deputy Chair)
- TICT (Director – RTO Chapter)
- Business Northwest (Executive Team Member / Burnie 2.0 Projects Lead / Sensing Table Cape Creative Director)
PVC Sonya Stanford
Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Cradle Coast region.
Sonya has had an up-close view and involvement with the life-changing potential of higher education, particularly for students in regional areas of lutrawita/Tasmania.
She has held academic and senior leadership positions including Head of Discipline for Social Work and most recently the Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching Performance for the College of Arts, Law and Education and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Cradle Coast) for the Academic Division of UTAS. She also has executive and expert advisor experience on state, national and international boards and forums focused on social work education and research, including Associate Editor for Australian Social Work and Treasurer of the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work.
She has been recognised for these contributions as recipient of Best Academic Educator in Social Work (2011) and Welfare Education and the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Leadership (2020).
Our Councils
Cradle Coast Authority unites the councils of north-west and western Tasmania through strategic collaboration, fostering regional development, and ensuring a collective voice for shared goals and prosperity.
