Meet RDA Pilbara CEO Daiva Gillam

Starting as RDA Pilbara CEO in early June, Daiva Gillam has quickly made an impression on a wide range of stakeholders with her enthusiasm, energy and appetite for sustainable and equitable regional development.

We caught up with Daiva to get her thoughts on the role so far and what she hopes to add to RDA Pilbara's ongoing engagement and activities.

You are going on for three months in as CEO, how have you found things so far?

It’s been such a positive and energising couple of months since joining RDA Pilbara. I’ve really enjoyed getting out in the community, meeting stakeholders and hearing directly about their priorities across the region.

What stands out most is how much passion there is for the Pilbara’s future – everyone I’ve spoken with is genuinely committed to finding solutions that create long-term benefits for our communities and industries. It’s given me a clear picture of the opportunities ahead and how RDA can continue to play a role in achieving regional economic development outcomes.

What attracted you to join RDA Pilbara?

What really attracted me to join RDA Pilbara was the chance to be part of an organisation that’s right at the heart of shaping our region’s future. I’ve always been passionate about the Pilbara, and the incredible opportunities we have here - not just in resources but in building strong, connected communities and diversifying our economy. RDA’s focus on collaboration, innovation and creating sustainable outcomes really spoke to me. It felt like the perfect fit to bring my experience, networks and energy to something that makes a real difference.

Tell us a little bit about your background and the experiences and skills you bring to RDA Pilbara?

I’ve been really fortunate to wear a few different hats over the past 20 years – working in mining, government, Aboriginal relations and I also serve as the Deputy Mayor of Karratha. Each role has given me a different perspective on how the Pilbara works, and what makes it such a special place that we are proud to call home. I love engaging with people, finding common ground and turning ideas into action. I’m a connector at heart, and at RDA I get to channel that into projects that will help the Pilbara thrive.

What does life away from work look like for you? What’s one thing about you that people might not expect?

Life outside of work is centered around my two teenagers, who are 15 and 16. Most days I’m their private taxi, driving them to sports, ballet, and part-time jobs. Recently I was also appointed as chief driving instructor, which has really tested my patience and been one of the hairiest things I’ve done as a parent! Teaching my daughter how to ride the clutch then saw me sacked as chief driving instructor and my nerves are nearly back to normal now, with my hubby Mick in the hot seat from here on.

Something people might not expect about me is that I lived in Winsen in Germany as a teenager and graduated from high school there, going on to study German linguistics at Monash Uni here in Australia. My fluency in German definitely helped me coast through the rest of my studies!