Business Attraction Strategy Ramps up with Coordinator-General Appointment

The Liberal Government has a firm commitment and a mandate to aggressively pursue investment and jobs in Tasmania.

We took to the election a range of initiatives to bring jobs to Tasmania and a key plank of this was the creation of the high-powered position of Coordinator-General.

Today I am very pleased to announce that Mr John Perry has been appointed Tasmania’s first Coordinator-General.

Mr Perry, a Tasmanian who is currently based in New York, is a highly experienced international business executive who is extremely well qualified to take the lead on behalf of Tasmania in pursuing and delivering investment in our state.

John’s practical experience in business across a broad range of industries will be a vitally important asset for Tasmania.

He has previously worked in senior roles across a range of sectors relevant to Tasmania’s future growth opportunities including tourism, IT, innovation, business development and higher education. He is currently employed as Commercial Lead on Atlantic Joint Business, a multi-billion dollar joint venture between American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair.

John has extensive experience in negotiating and executing complex commercial deals at the global level, and has an outstanding network of international business contacts.

John will commence in the role in January 2015. He will be in the state to participate in the Tas Invest summit later this month.

The Coordinator-General will be a powerful position that actively seeks out and attracts investment and will facilitate major investment projects through their preliminary stages to achieve successful outcomes.

In line with our election commitment, the Office of the Coordinator-General will be headquartered in Launceston.

The Coordinator-General will be an investment ambassador for the state and his office will be very active in chasing investment locally, interstate and overseas, as well as facilitating projects in all corners of our state.

Capitalising on the Chinese opportunities presented by the Liberal Government’s TasInvest summit and the historic visit of the Chinese President will also be a central focus of the Coordinator-General.

The office will have direct reach into the vital Chinese market through managing the work of the Government’s representative in Shanghai.

“As a proud Tasmanian I’m very excited by this opportunity to help the state attract much needed investment. I’m looking forward to moving home to Tasmania and taking up the role,” Mr Perry said.

“Tasmania has identified growth potential in industries and we now need to deliver on that potential. My role will be to ensure that we land investments and create jobs in Tasmania. We will be looking at all potential opportunities across all industries.”

We look forward to the Coordinator-General working with the Liberal Government to ensure Tasmania has a prosperous economic future.

JOHN PERRY BIO

John Perry has significant experience in senior roles, at both a national and international level.

He possesses strong exposure to industries directly relevant to Tasmanian growth prospects, including in particular:

• Tourism, chiefly from an international perspective;
• International education;
• Innovation and Information technology; and
• Business establishment and development.

John has established extensive national and international networks over the course of his 20 year professional career.

John grew up in Launceston and is very passionate about Tasmania, and optimistic about Tasmania’s future development prospects.

John’s specific professional experience includes:

• Commercial Lead, Atlantic Joint Business, New York – a multi-billion dollar Joint Venture between American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair.
• Europe Business Planning Manager, American Airlines, London.
• Senior commercial transactions lawyer with top London-headquartered international law firm, Simmons & Simmons.
• Youngest National Partner of Australasian law firm, Hunt & Hunt.
• Head of Innovation and Enterprise, London Metropolitan University.
• Chair of London’s multi-million pound Emerald Pre-Commercial Fund.
• Extensive non-executive experience in the not-for-profit sector.
• Commercial start-up experience.
• Inaugural Chair of Tasmanian Leaders Inc.
• Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Supporting this experience, educational achievements have included:

• MBA from Judge Business School at Cambridge University, UK.
• Commerce and Law Degrees, University of Tasmania.
• Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Melbourne.
• Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Securities Institute of Australia
• Diploma of Project Management, University of New England.

John’s broad business and professional experience in Tasmania, nationally and across the globe, will be an invaluable asset for Tasmania. John’s first formal event in Tasmania as Coordinator General will be at TasInvest 2014 to be held in mid-November, ahead of his formal commencement in the role in January 2015.
Matthew Groom, Minister for State Growth