Former Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has successfully landed a coveted role at the Gold Coast City Council, beating out 70 other applicants.
Hodgman, who served as Tasmania’s Liberal Premier from 2014 to 2020 and was Australia’s former High Commissioner to Singapore, will lead a new investment arm called InvestGC.
The new entity aims to diversify and grow the Gold Coast’s $45 billion economy by securing big-ticket projects like a hinterland cableway, a cruise ship terminal, a boutique stadium and new six-star hotels.
InvestGC will also work to attract companies, particularly major tech firms, to set up shop on the Coast.
Despite his close ties with former chief of staff Tim Baker, who is now the council’s CEO, Hodgman said his appointment was made through a “proper search process”, as reported by Queensland’s Courier Mail.
A council spokesperson told the newspaper that there were 70 expressions of interest for the InvestGC board, which will include Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page, corporate heavyweight Gary Weiss, Council CEO Tim Baker and Mayor Tom Tate.
“It was a central pillar to what I did as premier, but also to what I did in Singapore, having worked there for a couple of years, and to use the benefits of economic growth and investment to build stronger communities,” Hodgman told the paper.
“The council’s doing a tremendous job in surging the city’s economy to the point where it is the fastest growing region in the country with enormously strong competitive advantages, but also a very proactive and aggressive business attraction and investment strategy.”
“But I think we can always and need to always look at ways to stay at the front of the pack”.
Hodgman said he plans to move to the Gold Coast for the role and be “very present, active and accessible”.
