New regional role for Michael Bailey

Michael Bailey OAM has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation (NTDC) and he said he’s looking forward to not just being “on the sidelines saying stuff” but really getting stuck into making change.

Mr Bailey officially starts in the role on July 1 after a month’s break, having stepped away from a 13-year role as Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO.

The father-of-two adult children lives in Launceston with his wife Jen and 90-year-old mum, a beagle dog and a cat and he said he’s looking forward to basing himself more at home rather than having to travel the Midland Highway and work away every week.

He said he is also looking forward to sitting and watching the budget roadshow for the first time rather than having to run it.

This week he’s been on his version of a farewell tour, saying goodbye to TCCI members and stakeholders that he’s built relationships with over the years with the organisation.

Mr Bailey said that when he’s found his feet with the NTDC he’ll be working to get councils’ infrastructure strategies lined up and establish a collective and agreed wish list to push hard at upcoming budgets and elections.

“I’ll be working closely with councils and looking hard to see what we can do differently behind the scenes to achieve better outcomes,” Mr Bailey said.

“What I'm keen to do is work across the region collaboratively and I think there’s great opportunity - we all want the same thing - for Tasmanians to have a great future and a community that we’re proud of and want to live in.”

Acknowledging there may be times when the two worlds of representing individual businesses as opposed to specific regions may collide, Mr Bailey said what he has learned at the TCCI can be applied to achieve economic outcomes on a broader scale.

“The two roles are different but in many ways they're similar as member organisations and what I learned in my role with the TCCI is that place-based solutions are the best solutions - centralised solutions don’t work in Tasmania from what I can see, what does work is working with communities to improve things.

“An idea for Launceston could have a different effect in Huonville or Scottsdale for instance.

“What I’m really looking forward to is working with the local government sector with that mindset - they’re the ones that really understand what is needed to happen in a community to improve things across the board, whether that be business growth, housing or participation in the workforce.”

The decision for Mr Bailey to leave the TCCI came in the quiet of the Western Arthurs mountains while on a bushwalk in the Southwest National Park.

Mr Bailey realised he wasn’t looking forward to going back to work, and his wife suggested he could do something different.

“I realised I needed a change, and when I told the board they were phenomenal and we worked together on an exit plan,” he said.

That plan included TCCI chief operating officer and company secretary Colleen Reardon moving into the acting CEO position and she will officially take over from Mr Bailey at the start of the new financial year.

“Colleen will be the first female CEO for the TCCI and more importantly, she’s extremely capable and I’m proud to be leaving the organisation in such good hands,” Mr Bailey said.

NTDC Board Chair Allison Anderson said the Board was delighted to secure a leader of Mr Bailey’s calibre following a highly competitive recruitment process.

“Michael is one of Tasmania’s most respected leaders, with an exceptional track record in advocacy, strategic leadership, and building strong partnerships,” Dr Anderson said.

“His deep understanding of Tasmania’s economic landscape positions NTDC strongly as we continue to champion investment, liveability, and sustainable growth across Northern Tasmania.”

Mr Bailey replaces outgoing NTDC CEO Chris Griffin, who had a strong tourism background and fulfilled his three-year, fixed-term contract.

Mr Griffin is credited with successfully launching Launceston’s bid as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and establishing the regional collaboration model between the seven northern councils.

Previous NTDC leaders include former The Examiner newspaper editor Mark Baker (four years) and inaugural NTDC CEO Maree Tetlow who led the development of the region's first Regional Economic Development Strategy before stepping down in 2019.

Mr Bailey currently serves on the boards of the Tasmanian JackJumpers (since 2021) and TasBuild (since 2020).

He previously held senior roles at the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, Country Club Tasmania and the Australian Maritime College.

He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2024 for his services to business.