Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia names new Chief Executive

The Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia has announced that Robyn Sermon has been appointed as its new Chief Executive.

Revealing the appointment, Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia (RASWA) President, David Thomas advised “the RASWA Council is extremely pleased that Robyn will be joining the Society at a time when it has endured two tough years, but at the same time experienced a very successful 2021 Perth Royal Agricultural Show.

“Additionally, the future redevelopment of the Claremont Showground will feature high on our future plans and we were very impressed with Robyn’s credentials in relation to this.

“Robyn has executive leadership and board experience in a range of industries, including agriculture, and together with her broad and unique skillset is ideally suited to lead the Royal Agricultural Society in Western Australia.”

Sermon (pictured), a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has served long periods on not-for-profit boards including the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), also working on executive teams having served as the Executive Officer on the WA Future Fund Board working with a Board of preeminent Western Australians to fund and develop community partnerships.

During her time at Rio Tinto, Sermon was instrumental in the development of the partnership with the RASWA as a major exhibitor at the 2017 Perth Royal Agricultural Show, celebrating 50 years of iron ore exports.

Advising that Sermon is well equipped to lead RASWA in its next very important chapter, Thomas added “Robyn is also the owner of a farm in the wheatbelt and with a highly successful career focused on regional stakeholders, she is passionate about the role of agriculture and the importance of strategic partnerships that connect business, government and communities.”

Sermon is the current Chair of the Curtin WACHS Regional Health Alliance and since 2019 has been the Executive Director Innovation and Development WA Country Health Services.

She will start in her new role on 8th March.