KPMG Wollongong partner Courtney West has been appointed chair of Inside Industry, replacing John Brannon who held the role for 18 years.
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Ms West has fond memories of steelworks tours run from the visitor centre at BlueScope's northgate entrance.
She is also familiar with the important role Inside Industry has played in education, tourism and in providing a link between industry and the community.
Ms West has been a member of the board since 2018 and was treasurer before becoming as the fifth chair in Inside Industry's 22 year history.
She intends to build on the strategic plan developed over the last two decades.
Her appointment follows a recent refurbishment of the visitors centre which was completed not long before COVID-19 forced Inside Industry to scale back its operations and tours of the steelworks and the port.
But Ms West said she is looking forward to helping bring in a range of new initiatives that will help Inside Industry adjust.
Ms West said she prides herself on being active in the community.
"I am also on the board for the Top Blokes Foundation. I live in the Illawarra and I think as a business person it is important to share your skills and support the broader community."
Ms West said BlueScope had a long proud history at Port Kembla and it was good to be involved in not only acknowledging the contribution of Wollongong's industrial sector but helping preserve the memory of something so important to the region.
"As a child growing up in the Illawarra I was aware of how the steelworks played such an important role along with the broader industrial community."
Ms West said so much employment had come from the sector and it was great schoolchildren would be able to come out and do tours again after COVID-19.
"We are really looking forward to relaunching the school tours and the industry tours for visitors and locals when it is safe to do so," she said.
"I remember KPMG going on a steelworks tour and it was just amazing.
"The world will be different after COVID-19 and we will have to do some things differently but there are plans already in motion."
Mr Brannon said he enjoyed his 18 years with Inside Industry and the many strategic industry partnerships he had been involved in forming.
"I'm delighted the organisation has been reinvigorated in recent times and is poised to embrace a range of new opportunities, all with the ongoing support of BlueScope," he said.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
