Leadership Great South Coast, in partnership with iGen Foundation and the Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development, recently presented Jack Archer, CEO Regional Australia Institute.

Jack spoke about current population trends in regional Australia and discuss how we can encourage population growth to the Great South Coast region.

Jack highlighted the benefits of international migration and how it should be a ‘top priority’ to boost regional economies, increase population size and help to strengthen local communities.

International migration is responsible for over half the population growth in Australia, but Regional Australia has lower population growth than the cities – as it does not attract its share of international migrants.

Regional communities can increase migration to their areas if they are proactive. Jack Archer

Jack Archer, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Australia Institute

Jack has been with the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) since its inception in 2012, and developed the RAI’s policy and research program including major products such as Australia’s Regional Competitiveness Index and Australia’s Online Library of Regional Research. Jack took up the role as Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2015.

In previous roles as a consultant and public servant, Jack contributed to major regional reforms in water, climate change, indigenous issues and industry.

Jack holds a Bachelor of Natural Resource Management (Hons 1) from the University of New England and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Originally from Paterson in the lower Hunter Valley of NSW, he now lives in the hills west of Canberra.