Our Board

Susan Vinnicombe is a specialist in the area of agritourism and entrepreneurship. With many years experience as an accountant, business advisor and university lecturer, Susan has advised and mentored many local businesses from the new venture phase through to growth and succession planning. Susan’s doctoral research, undertaken in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, focused on entrepreneurs in agriculture and agritourism. In particular, looking at the potential for diversification of income streams to assist with succession planning. In recent times she has been working on projects within the organic food industry assisting farmers to convert to organic farming practices and gain organic certification. Formerly a lecturer in MBA programs, she has taught both around Australia and extensively throughout South East Asia. In addition, Susan owns and manages several businesses in the region with a focus on small business development, property and agriculture. Working with the RDA NR Board, Susan is keen to identify opportunities for regional development, agricultural diversification and economic activity in the Northern Rivers.

Carolyn Parker is an award-winning senior executive and accomplished Non-Executive Director. She has 30 years commercial experience with ASX listed and Not for Profit companies and family owned businesses. Her expertise spans multiple industries, including social housing and property management, community services, retail, wholesale, entertainment, hospitality, tourism and media. Her strengths are corporate governance, finance and risk management and corporate strategy. As Finance and Administration Manager for David Jones she controlled revenue in excess of $100 million p.a. for various department stores, along with managing operations, refurbishments and human resources for 500 employees. Since moving to Byron Bay she’s developed an interest in tourism and freelance writing and has held numerous Non- Executive Director positions.  She’s currently Chair of Santos Organics, Vice-Chair of North Coast Community Housing and President of North Byron Business Chamber. Her family have been regional retailers for over 100 years. Carolyn continues the retail legacy and owns fashion businesses in Ballina and Southport. Her qualifications include Master of Business Administration, Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Graduate Diploma of Strategic Leadership and Work Health and Safety Consultation. She believes in social justice, fostering diversity and empowering communities to live better lives.

Damian Chapelle is a Town Planner and Managing Partner of Newton Denny Chapelle (NDC). Damian has worked in both the public and private sectors having held senior positions in local government before joining the private sector in 2000.  Since this time, Damian has led the growth of NDC in northern NSW. Damian has contributed his expertise to a diverse range of projects including a variety of large-scale developments in the health care, residential, mixed use, industrial, commercial, retail, aged care and education sectors.  Damian is a skilled negotiator, accustomed to dealing with complex issues subject to a high level of political sensitivity and public scrutiny. Damian is adept at building rapport with stakeholders, working collaboratively across organisations and handling technical and complex issues. Damian currently holds the potion of Chair of the Board of Directors of St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Lismore and is an ambassador for the Our Kids Charity.

Amanda Kuhn is a seasoned communications strategist with over 20 years’ experience spanning the entertainment, tech, corporate and not-for-profit sectors across Australia, New Zealand, the US, EMEA, and the Asia-Pacific. As Director of Missy Mischief PR & Creative, she leads national campaigns that elevate regional voices, build brand visibility, and drive social impact. A long-time Northern Rivers local, Amanda supports marketing and publicity for Byron Community Centre and Fletcher Street Cottage, contributing to local enterprise, housing and community initiatives. She brings to the Board deep expertise in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and regional storytelling, with a strong commitment to sustainable, community-led growth.

Vaughan Macdonald is committed to working positively with governments to develop and grow regional Australia. He initially worked in Sydney at Centennial Park and Moore Park, before moving to the NSW South Coast with the Department of Local Government. After 20 years working for the NSW Government, Vaughan moved into local government at Richmond Valley Council and currently holds the position of General Manager. He is passionate about making a difference in this community and the region using the many skills he has gained throughout his career. He is an instinctive and empowering leader, who is focused on building the whole team to benefit current and future communities.

Mike Pearce is a passionate regionalist and has been living and working in regional Australia for over 20 years. He started his career in the meat industry and during his 30 years was involved in every aspect of the industry. This includes all areas of production, marketing and international trade, as well as industry representation at both committee and board level, executive management and as a company director. Mikes passion for regional communities started when he was a small business owner in a small South Australian regional town. He has been involved with and lead numerous local boards and committees, chaired the Southern Flinders Regional Tourism Authority and assisted in the amalgamation of three South Australian regional development boards to form Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North, for which he was the inaugural Chair. He moved to the North Coast in 2012 and was Senior Regional Coordinator for the North Coast Regional Coordination Branch (Taree to Tweed) in the office of Premier and Cabinet. In this role he was able to actively involve himself in regional aspirations, collaborating with and coordinating the three tiers of government. Before retiring in 2017 he worked with the Richmond Valley Council on economic development projects. His passion for regional communities remains. As a team player and partnership builder Mike continues to use his collaboration and coordination skills to help bring about common purpose across diverse regions and groups.

Byron Wicks is a Director at Wicks and Parker, where he oversees the group’s diverse operations in construction, retail, cranes, and heavy equipment throughout the Northern Rivers NSW region. He directs critical functions including safety, engineering, finance, and the integration of technology for the business. Prior to this, Byron built an extensive 15-year engineering career at the forefront of technology development for the global mining industry, holding leadership roles as Team Leader and Research Fellow at Orica, and Technology Leader at Mining3. His expertise in product R&D is complemented by significant international experience in North America, Europe, and Asia. Byron’s career is built on a strong academic foundation. He is a former Victorian Fulbright Fellow and holds a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Melbourne. He has held postdoctoral positions at the University of California, Berkeley, and The University of Melbourne, and is an inventor on several patents for successfully commercialised technologies.