In other appointments

• Victorian sustainability boss to oversee home solar rollout
•  Rockhampton local heads up manufacturing hub
• Queensland energy ‘fat cat’ resigns

Canadian entrepreneur appointed brand Tasmania CEO

Place branding and economic development expert Todd Babiak, who won an international award for work he led in his hometown of Edmonton, will head Tasmania’s place branding authority.

Mr Babiak is the founder of Story Engine and People are Places, and previously worked with Hobart City Council to develop the Hobart City Vision in 2017. He also helped develop the Tasmanian Story Project for the Department of Premier and Cabinet last year.

He acknowledged that it might seem strange to have a foreigner leading Brand Tasmania, but said it gave him the advantage of seeing Tasmania the way the authority wanted investors, entrepreneurs and students to see it.

“In my work here, in 2017 and 2018, my job was to help unearth your story — what makes this place special and unique. The more I learned, the more I wanted to be a part of it,” he said in a statement.

Mr Babiak is also the author of several novels including Choke Hold and Toby: A Man, and has a book in development for a TV series.

Sustainability boss to roll out Vic Solar Homes package

After leading reform in Sustainability Victoria, the Environment Protection Agency and Worksafe Victoria, Stan Krpan will take on a new role as the inaugural CEO of Solar Victoria.

In his new role he’ll lead implementation of the government’s Solar Homes package, which aims to cut Victoria’s carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes, and work towards achieving the state’s renewable energy targets.

The Solar Homes package will roll out solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries to 770,000 homes over the next 10 years.

Prior to his latest appointment Mr Krpan was CEO of Sustainability Victoria, a position he was appointed to in 2012.

Energy Queensland seeks new CEO

Queensland energy is on the hunt for a new CEO following the resignation of David Smales, who oversaw the Energy Queensland merger.

Energy minister Anthony Lynham said Mr Smales had quit the post so he could travel to the UK to support his family.

“I join the Energy Queensland Board in thanking Mr Smales for his leadership and stewardship delivering the merger for Energy Queensland as Chief Executive of Australia’s largest electricity distribution business with related retail and energy services businesses,” Mr Lynham said.

Mr Smales was among the state’s highest paid bureaucrats, leading him to be described in media reports last year as one of Queensland’s “power fat cats”.

Mick Allan to head Qld Manufacturing hub

The Queensland Government has made a series of appointments to is new $10 million Rockhamptom manufacturing hub including that of Mick Allen as hub co-ordinator.

Minster for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said Mr Allen was a long-time local who had previously work for the Department of Housing and Public Works  and helped local business participated in major projects, including the expansion of the Capricornia Correctional Centre.

The Rockhampton hub, located at Central Queensland University (CQU), will initially focus on rail, advanced metal production and food production innovation.

“Mick will help connect local manufacturers with the new services the hub will offer as we drive towards an opening later in 2019,” Mr Dick said.

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