Bijai Kumar – Chief Executive Officer

Bijai Kumar was formerly economic development manager with Penrith City Council, for some seven years, where he was responsible for local and regional job creation and investment attraction. He was Council’s nominated director on Boards of the Penrith City & District Business Advisory Centre and the NSW Business Chamber (Western Sydney Regional Council) as well as executive committee member of the Town and City Centre Association in Penrith.

He has previously worked as manager Western Sydney, with the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services and Local Government Financial Services. He held senior roles in Fiji before settling in Australia, and has worked as a consultant with and in agencies operating in the South Pacific Region.

He has a Masters in Development Economics and Project Planning, from Bradford University, in the UK.

Mr Kumar had a significant role in council’s economic development review which culminated in the creation of the new economic development entity and its board of senior private-sector representatives drawn from the across the Metropolitan area.

Ben Artup – Manager Industry and Investment

Ben Artup was the economic development officer at Blacktown Council from 2002 to 2009. In this time he developed and implemented Blacktown’s first economic development and tourism plans, along with delivering several industry strategies including; the Blacktown Motor Sport Parklands (motor sport industry cluster), Office Accommodation Attraction Strategy (commercial centre office development) and the Blacktown Tourism & Commercial Branding Strategy (visitor attraction & marketing).

Ben graduated from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) with Bachelor and Honours Degrees in Economics & Finance, including a final Thesis that modelled the impact high technology industries have on the economic performance of Greater Western Sydney.

Ben was previously employed at UWS (1997-2002) as a Senior Research Assistant specialising in economic development & policy research for Western Sydney government & private sector clients. Ben grew up and lives in the region and is an enthusiastic athlete and is currently the Australian Mountain Running Champion (2009).

Jacqueline Benedek – Corporate Support
A Penrith-born resident of Penrith Valley, Jacqueline Benedek has over 15 years administrative experience with bodies such as the Taxation Institute of Australia, the Australian Taxation Office and USAID. She has been with the PVEDC since February 2008. At her leisure, Jacqueline enjoys watching films, reading and caring for her young family.