1304.5 - Stats Talk WA (Newsletter), Dec 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/01/2004   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

Regional Director Accepts Position with International Monetary Fund

Bon Voyage and Good Luck!
From all your friends and colleagues in Western Australia

Col Nagle (centre) and friends on Scarborough Beach at an ABS social and sporting event early in 2002

After almost six years as Regional Director and Western Australian Government Statistician, it is time for me to move on and make way for new leadership in the ABS Western Australian office. I spent the first thirteen years of my career with the ABS in Canberra working on foreign trade, international investment and balance of payments statistics, followed by an eighteen month "apprenticeship" in the ABS Tasmanian office before moving to WA. While I have enjoyed each of the career opportunities I have had with the ABS, the opportunity to live and work in Western Australia has certainly been a highlight.

The Western Australian office had long been regarded as a high performing office with very capable staff. I found that to be true, and my hope is that we have maintained and enhanced that reputation over the past six years. My aims over that time have been to strengthen our relationships with State Government agencies, to develop a comprehensive understanding of their information needs, and to develop the capabilities within the WA office to deliver timely and innovative responses. I also sought to improve our representation of your information needs in ABS forward work program deliberations.

There have been some significant achievements in these areas - a revitalised Statistical Policy Committee with wider Terms of Reference and broader representation; increased corporate focus on, and funding of issues such as social capital, democracy and citizenship; and improved quality of annual State Accounts.

On 1 December 2003, Mr Alan Hubbard will take up duties as the new Regional Director of the ABS Western Australian Office. I wish Alan and the WA office all the best for the future.

I will be taking leave to undertake a one to two year assignment with the International Monetary Fund as Multi-sector Statistics Adviser in Cambodia - you may need to wish me luck too! Thank you for the support and assistance you have provided to me and to the ABS. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in WA and will miss Perth and the many friends and acquaintances I have made here.

Colin Nagle
Regional Director, WA