About Us
The Founders
Ready Communities was founded by Kerry Grace and Dr. Chad Renando in 2023. Both founding partners have broad experience in regional community and economic development serving in a range of roles across business development, leadership, industry, academia, education and community engagement.
About
Kerry Grace
Through her company, Evolve Group Network (est. 2004) Kerry has delivered a broad range of work including strategic planning, program delivery, vocational education, social enterprise development and events for NGOs, Aboriginal Corporations and government.
Between 2016 (to 2023) Kerry held the role, Director of Regional Development for Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast and Norfolk Island. Kerry has worked in regional community and economic development for over 20 years.
About
Chad Renando
Chad has over 30 years’ experience in leadership positions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors in the United States and Australia. Following his role leading an award-winning incubator in 2017, Chad focused on understanding and supporting place-based initiatives to address systemic contributing factors to resilience in rural communities. His passion integrates his roles as a Research Fellow (Innovation Ecosystems) with the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence at the University of Southern Queensland, his work mapping and measuring systems through not for profit Startup Status, and as General Manager with the Global Entrepreneurship Network
Australia.
