Adelaide Economic Development Agency begins operations to market Adelaide

A new economic development agency has taken control of promoting the Adelaide central business district, including Rundle Mall.

A new organisation has been given $7.6m of ratepayers’ money to start promoting the Adelaide central business district, including Rundle Mall.

The Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) has been established by the Adelaide City Council as it undergoes an organisational restructure aimed at delivering $20m in operational savings.

Numerous staff employed by the council have been transferred to the new agency, which will use existing budgets to take control of the council’s marketing, sponsorship, festivals, event management and economic development activities.

The agency also will replace the Rundle Mall Management Authority, receiving the money collected from separate rates levied on the precinct’s property owners.

Adelaide. Economic Development Agency chair Nikki Govan (left) with Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor. Picture: Keryn Stevens

The Adelaide Economic Development Agency organisational chart created by Adelaide City Council.

Its recently-appointed board, which includes Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor, will meet for the first time next month while staff began moving into their new positions last week.

Prominent businesswoman Nikki Govan is chairwoman while property developer Craig Holden, fashion entrepreneur Dean Flintoft, real estate professional Fairlie Delbridge, businessman Manuel Ortigosa, hospitality entrepreneur Oliver Brown and property investor Steve Maras are directors.

Ms Govan said a selection panel had been tasked with creating a “skills-based board with experience across a wide range of areas”.

“This includes investment, economic development, retail, tourism, events and marketing and property development, and I’m confident we have achieved that through the selection process,” she said.

Ms Govan, the chairwoman of BusinessSA, annually will receive $25,000 while the six directors will be paid $950 for each meeting, plus expenses.

The Adelaide Economic Development Agency will take over the operations of the Rundle Mall Management Authority.

Ms Verschoor said the directors would “bring a wide variety of skills and experience to the new agency”.

“I’m looking forward to joining them on the board when we commence our meetings in February,” she said.

Ms Verschoor said the agency had been given a charter to stimulate investment and economic activity by promoting Adelaide as a “magnet city”.

“AEDA has been established to attract business, grow our visitor economy, attract residents and to market the city as a whole, while supporting Adelaide’s premier shopping destination, Rundle Mall,” she said.

Mr Maras said the agency’s directors shared “the goal of making Adelaide the best place to live, work and play but also the best place to invest”.

“This year is going to be an incredibly important year for the city as we bounce back from the impact of the pandemic and AEDA’s role will be crucial,” he said.

“We’ll use our collective skills, experience and connections locally, within Australia and abroad to ensure that the agency hits the ground running.”

Former senior council manager Ian Hill started as the agency’s chief executive last Monday.

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