Dianna Somerville

Dianna Somerville - Chair

Chair

Dianna is passionate about regional Australia and wholeheartedly believes in creating and enhancing prosperous and sustainable regional communities. As a fourth generation family member of the automotive industry, Dianna is currently the Chair of the Thomas Bros Group of companies based in regional NSW. She also holds director roles in her family's property investment companies. Dianna established Regional Grants, Tenders and Corporate Services (RGTC) in 2014 to help regional businesses, schools, clubs and not-for-profit organisations write competitive and successful grant, tender and award applications. Dianna now uses her grant and tender knowledge to assist the government through sitting on community and federal advisory and grant assessment panels and committees.

Up until 2022 Dianna worked as the Community Manager for Bridge Hub, a regionally based, globally connected whole of life innovation hub for the Australian agrifood industry. Through this role Dianna spent time between Israel and Australia building innovation networks and matching agritech to research and test bedding opportunities. Dianna also played a significant role in the establishment of the Charles Sturt University incubator and innovation hub.

Dianna is the founder of Regional Pitchfest, a national regional based innovation and pitch program funded by Australia Post and later by the NSW Government which saw her lead over 80 events across regional Australia from 2016 - 2019. Dianna also spent time observing and learning from both the Silicon Valley and regional US innovation ecosystems. Her passion for regional Australia coupled with her entrepreneurial spirit has seen Dianna become a voice for innovation in the bush.

She is a distinguished graduate and the recipient of the Chief of Defence Force Sword of Honour for Leadership from the Australian Defence Force Academy. Dianna served on HMAS Tobruk, Yarra and Parramatta during her time as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Dianna is a Level One Certified Coach and an alumni of the International Executive Coaching and Leadership Organisation (IECL). Dianna is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of NSW.

Dianna spent 10 years working for the Department of Defence once she resigned from the Navy.  She worked in Estate planning, base operations, management and contract governance areas for the Department of Defence. She assisted in the delivery of two multimillion dollar projects at RAAF Wagga and Kapooka and completed her time with Defence working with the National Contract Transition Team.

Dianna is currently the Chair of Regional Development Australia Riverina Board and has previously served as a Director on the Country Hope Board, assisting children with life threatening illnesses in the Murray-Riverina area.

Born and bred in the Riverina, she has a sound understanding of the diverse elements of a regional community. She currently resides with her husband and two children on their cropping farm in the Riverina.