Gaye Hart
Chair, Regional Development Australia (Hunter)
Dr Gaye Hart AM has lived in the Hunter for more than 15 years.
She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and throughout her career has held leadership positions in government, business and the community sector.
She has served for more than 20 years on not-for-profit, government and business boards, in fields as diverse as health, banking, export education, including Newcastle Port Corporation, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Committee.
Gaye is the former Director of Hunter TAFE. She has also had a lengthy involvement in overseas aid and development including a period as Chair of the Australian Council for International Development, and as a member of the Foreign Minister’s Aid Advisory Council.
In 1989 Gaye was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to Australia’s Bicentennial celebrations. In 1999 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Newcastle and 2003 was awarded a Centenary of Federation medal for leadership in overseas aid and development.
Gaye was appointed inaugural Chair of RDA Hunter in 2009 and continues to lead the organisation through its formative years. RDA Hunter is the peak regional development organisation for the Hunter region.