Ex-US law maker drumming up business for CDU

A former US law maker who also served in the United States Air Force has been appointed to a newly created strategic business role at Charles Darwin University in Alice Springs.

Kelly McCarthy had been a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 2013 until a family decision brought them to Australia this year.

“My primary role is to develop opportunities for Trades training at CDU in the Central and Northern Australian regions,” Mr McCarthy said.

“This will entail interacting with the business community, understanding their workplace skill needs and establishing a plan to meet those needs.”

Mr McCarthy said one of his first tasks would be to meet with industry leaders, government agencies and other groups.

“We will explore how CDU can support the mining industry, perhaps with a view to offering courses to develop the skills of a home-grown workforce for the five-mines project, particularly as the industry moves away from the FIFO human resource model.”

Born and raised in Montana, Mr McCarthy found “employment and adventure” in the US Air Force before working for the US intelligence community for 20 years. He then returned to Montana to join a regional banking firm shortly before the Global Financial Crisis.

“It was an exciting time to kick off a career in banking, but the firm weathered the storm and was even able to open new branches during the chaos,” he said.

Mr McCarthy led the Minority Finance team and served on the Montana Board of Investments which oversees the state’s $17 billion retirement, trust and operating funds, while serving in the Montana legislature.

“I earned a reputation for non-partisanship and collaboration and became one of the “go to” people when tough legislation needed help through the process.”

Mr McCarthy holds an MBA in Global Business from the University of Texas and a Science degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Outside the workplace, he is a “gym junkie” and a “food nerd” who hopes to someday master the BBQ smoker.

Mr McCarthy said he would be interested to hear from anyone wishing to discuss trades training opportunities in the Red Centre. He can be contacted via email at kelly.mccarthy@cdu.edu.au