AusIndustry regional manager Peter Masterson has been awarded a public service medal for his outstanding service leading engagement with local business communities, linking them to government and industry business grants and support programs.
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Mr Masterson's territory takes in the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands where he has been an advocate for economic growth by helping local businesses to succeed.
He is recognised for being one of the region's strongest advocates and providing extensive face-to-face support for regional business operators, working across federal, state and local governments, industry associations, and the university and research sector.
Mr Masterson helps businesses successfully navigate government support programs and grant opportunities. His hands on approach to showcasing the Commonwealth's Business Portal has resulted in the region securing grant funding for local and new start-up businesses.
He is actively engaged with local business, and has effectively gathered insights from the business community and economic landscape around current and emerging issues, which has fed into policy and program design.
Mr Masterson was also a key conduit between businesses in bushfire affected regions, and aid agencies, to assist those affected by the 2019-2020 bushfires, and he worked closely with those agencies to ensure business needs were understood.
He said he was surprised when he was contacted about the medal and had no idea he had been nominated.
"What a shock," he said.
"It certainly came from out of left field. It wasn't expected.
"But I feel very honored and very humble as well."
Mr Masterson said he will have been the AusIndustry regional manager for 10 years in August.
Prior to that he spent 25 years with Shellharbour City Council. The last decade of that in economic development. And seven years in the electricity industry before that.
"My role now is about making sure business and industry understand what government support is around. Making sure governments get an understanding the feedback business gives to us. And making sure regional stakeholders get good representation\. And forming collaborations where we get industry and important stakeholders like the university and state government all working together," he said.
"It is a very rewarding role. I work for a great organisation and have worked with fantastic people all the way through my career.
"AusIndustry is a great organisation and so is the department. And locally we have great partners to work with too including all the councils, the state government and the uni.
"I like helping people. If you can help a business solve problem, help them grow or help them access a new market and help them employ people that is the thing that makes me get out of bed and come to work each day."
