RIC farm bank appoints Orange-based staff as executive directors

The federal government's farm bank opened in Orange in early 2019.

Alli Gartrell has been appointed Executive Director Program Delivery, Paul Dowler as Executive Director Corporate Services and Chris Rawlins as Executive Director Transformation and Engagement.

Ms Gartrell will be overseeing loan delivery and joins the RIC after four years as manager of program administration at the NSW Rural Assistance Authority managing the loan and grant portfolio and 10 years at the ANZ bank in Sydney and the Central West.

Mr Dowler's business unit covers finance, IT and human resources.

The former chief financial officer at Charles Sturt University has had 32 years experience in universities.

Mr Rawlins will lead the team comprising communications, digital content, business development, policy and the RIC's program to digitise its loan delivery.

He was previously the executive general manager of strategy and technology at LiveBetter.

CEO Bruce King, who was also based in the Orange region before his appointment, said the new executives would assist the RIC to build a stronger regional Australia through affordable loans.

"Alli, Paul and Chris bring valuable experience to the RIC from across the private and public sectors," he said.

"Notably, all three already resided in Orange where the RIC is based.

"It is important for us to work in regional communities where we are closer to our customers and their appointments are testament to the talent on offer at our doorstep in regional Australia."

The appointments follow a recruitment campaign launched late last year for an additional 80 permanent and fixed-term staff to boost the loan handling capacity and operational capability of the RIC.

Mr Dowler said the organisation needed to process loan applications as efficiently as possible.

"It's essential that in providing affordable loans to farmers and farm-related small businesses in financial need that the corporate framework of the organisation is supporting the needs of the RIC," he said.

The three executive directors replace John Newcombe, Duane Roberts and Julia Brown who were acting in the roles while the executive search was underway.

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