Business SA supremo Nigel McBride to step down from his high profile role
THE head of South Australia’s most powerful business lobby will today announce his intention to step down from the role, sparking a national search for his replacement.
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THE head of South Australia’s most powerful business lobby will today announce his intention to step down from the role, sparking a national search for his replacement.
Business SA CEO Nigel McBride, who has held the role for seven years, told The Advertiser he will retire from his role in June next year, giving the organisation’s board the necessary time to find his replacement.
Mr McBride said his priorities before departing would be to ensure the state and federal governments developed a policy to finally fix the state’s population woes, reversing backward trends in skills training in the state and working on ways to double SA’s share of exports out of Australia.
The long-term advocate of a better migration plan to entice more people away from “mega cities” Sydney and Melbourne, to places such as regional SA, said it was vital the Federal Government developed a comprehensive population plan for the whole country.
“We absolutely believe this is a fork in the road for Australia for our economic growth and population,” Mr McBride said. “We must get people outside of those mega cities. I believe it would be one of the defining moments for the Morrison Government to provide a plan and say we will support the Australian economy outside the two mega cities.”
Mr McBride said one of the greatest disappointments during the time in his role was when former Premier Jay Weatherill’s “citizen jury” voted against progressing work on establishing a nuclear waste industry in the state.
“It is one of the most complicated policy decision you could make and we asked a few hundred South Australians to take on something that experts would struggle with over such a short time,” he said. “I thought that was a real waste, because what it said was that we were not even prepared to have the investigation.”
Mr McBride said he was proud to have lead some of Business SA’s most effective and high profile campaign’s in it 179-year history, including opposing the former state government’s proposed bank tax.
“I am immensely proud to have led a great team to support our businesses and employers during some of the most difficult times in the state’s history, as they have faced pressures that include soaring energy costs, lack of access to skills and unnecessarily restrictive regulation, like antiquated shop trading hours,” Mr McBride said.
“We have run data-driven, high-stakes, pro-business campaigns without fear or favour because we know a strong business community means real jobs for our children and a prosperous future for all South Australians.”
In June, Mr McBride said he had the full confidence of his board, following reports there was growing speculation within Adelaide’s business community he could be replaced within 12 months.
He restated this yesterday: “My position was always to step down in June”.
New Business SA chair Nikki Govan said the eight-month transition period would ensure minimal disruption.
Mr McBride would leave the organisation in strong hands, with an outstanding executive team and a positive workplace culture, backed by an impressive team which advocated for businesses of all sizes, she said.
“He will be missed by his team, stakeholders, members and many, many others who have dealt with him during his tenure,” Ms Govan said.
“He has inspired many and leaves a remarkable footprint when considering his multitude of achievements.”