Smart Specialisation team- Ben

Ben Gebert heads up the food and fibre stream of the Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy (GS3), a regional development initiative executed under partnership between F&FG, the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA) and other peak regional bodies such as Destination Gippsland and the Gippsland Climate Change Network.

Ben’s role focuses on stimulating collaboration and facilitating the development of opportunities that have significant potential to improve the region’s competitive and social advantage – from seaweed to craft malting, the gamut of opportunities under development is broad, whilst remaining  focused on the Gippsland region’s strengths.

Ben Gebert

Ben has worked with F&FG for the last two years, having originally been seconded to the GS3 work within F&FG from a role as a strategic partnership broker within the higher / further education sector.

Ben’s strong passion for developing resilient regional and rural communities has carried him across Victoria from his family farm in the Wimmera-Mallee and into roles in corporate finance as an Agribusiness Banker, the stint in education, and now into regional and industry development.

Ben is a strong believer in the collective knowledge and will within the populations of rural and regional communities, and the importance of working together with external expertise in a collaborative, constructive manner to solve challenges and build opportunities for prosperity.

The GS3 methodology guides collaborative development of this nature, and places an onus on institutional players to truly engage with stakeholders in order to develop projects at a regional level, rather than to run reactive consultation or carry forth a pre-determined outcome.

When considering what it is that he loves most about working with F&FG and on the GS3, Ben says:

“It is the chance to work with a broad range of passionate, knowledgeable stakeholders on truly innovative opportunities that could see new industries; pathways to employment; businesses and the revitalisation of some of our communities that need a helping hand.

Gippsland is a phenomenal part of the world, and I’m stoked to have a meaningful career in a regional area where myself and my family can thrive”.