Invest SA drives economic growth by supporting business investment and promoting SA’s competitive strengths to local, national and international investors.
Formally Chris was CEO – Regional Development Australia (Adelaide) where he was leading multiple initiatives including RDA’s Regional Blueprint, cross departmental projects at the State and Federal level, and development of the RDSA investment pipeline of over 750 projects.
Prior to that he established Edge International Consulting which provided commercial opportunity identification and investment facilitation services to domestic and international businesses to unlock long-term, sustainable projects (including infrastructure development and international joint ventures) to invigorate local economies, build wealth and create jobs. Chris was the Managing Director of Edge International Consulting for a decade.
Before working for himself, Chris was with the Australian Government in a variety of positions including as Consul & Trade and Investment Commissioner in Sapporo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, where he led Energy and Agribusiness Investment Teams across North-East Asia.
Employment History
Nov 2022 Executive Director | Invest SA, Department of Trade and Investment
April 2022 Chief Executive Officer | Regional Development Australia – Adelaide
2012-2022 Managing Director and Principal Consultant | Edge International Consulting
2008-2012 Australian Consul / Trade and Investment Commissioner | Sapporo, Japan
2004-2008 Australian Deputy Consul-General / Trade and Investment Commissioner | Osaka, Japan
2003-2004 Australian Consul / Trade and Investment Commissioner | Fukuoka, Japan
1999-2003 Business Development Manager | Australian Trade Commission, Osaka, Japan
1999 Joined Australian Trade Commission
Academic History
2006 Macquarie Graduate School of Management
2004 Australian Graduate School of Management
2002 Monash / Mt Eliza Business School
1991 Graduated Adelaide University
BA (Major – Japanese Language)
1986 Graduated Immanuel College, Adelaide
Japanese Qualifications
1996 Japanese National Language Proficiency Test – Level 1
2005 Department of Foreign Affairs Japanese Proficiency Test – Level 1