mmg.com.au

New chief executive Hayden Cook has been a regular in the region for the past 10 years to visit immediate family, has been a member of Rich River Golf Club for six years, and was even married in Echuca last October.

He has worked extensively in the city, but his roots — and passion — lie in regional Australia.

Mr Cook grew up on a farm 35km north of Geelong and was educated at Geelong College before attaining a degree in agricultural economics from the University of New England in NSW.

He has since worked as research economist for the Victorian Farmers’ Federation, a senior adviser to then parliamentary leader of the Victorian National Party Peter Ross-Edwards and as a director of several organisations, including the City of Melbourne.

Mr Cook began his three year appointment at C4EM two weeks ago and said he was excited by the challenge.

‘‘We (C4EM) can speak with one voice and champion issues and projects to all levels of government in a unified way that no other organisation in the region has been able to do in the past,’’ he said.

‘‘We don’t pursue a single vested interest. Rather, we represent the collective interests of the cross-section of businesses, community and other stakeholder groups in Echuca-Moama.’’

To read more see today's Riverine Herald.