Jan Campbell is an accomplished economic development professional and entrepreneur with over three decades of experience spanning local government, small business, and brand communications.
From 2019 to the present, Jan has served as an economic development practitioner in regional NSW, in local government (Wingecarribee) and most recently state government; driving strategic and sustainable economic outcomes for the Southern Tablelands region. Her work focuses on positioning the area as a destination for investment, visitation, work, and residential life, in close collaboration with a broad range of local stakeholders.
Jan’s local government career reflects a consistent thread of placemaking and community-centred economic development. As Collective Impact Coordinator for Campbelltown City Council (2016–2019), she built collaborative practice across more than 25 agencies to tackle entrenched social and economic disadvantage in Claymore. Earlier roles with the City of Sydney saw her support small business growth, cultural precinct development, innovative strategies for laneways and small bars; and sustainable local economies across villages including Newtown, Glebe, Redfern, and Green Square, and contribute to the development of the Sustainable Sydney 2030 strategy. A secondment to Leichhardt Council added further experience delivering marketing strategy and shopfront improvement initiatives.
Parallel to her public sector career, Jan has run her own business for more than 30 years. As Director of Creative Resources Management Pty Ltd since 1985, she has overseen a suite of design and creative communications enterprises with a focus on graphic design, wayfinding, architectural glass and Tintacks Music. In this capacity she has managed financial control, human resources, compliance, and business development, while also working directly as an Account Manager delivering project management, client liaison, and production services for the long-standing brand communications consultancy.
Jan holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Sydney (2003–2008, Distinction average, Dean’s Honours List 2004), a Diploma in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland. She has extended her professional capability through IAP2 certification in public participation and engagement, international placemaking study at Manchester University and participating in the IFHP World Congress in Copenhagen.
Beyond her professional roles, Jan has an extensive record of community leadership. She founded and led the Newtown Main Street Committee and served as President of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, where she secured tangible placemaking outcomes including a heritage paint scheme for the King Street/Enmore Road conservation area, removal of overhead powerlines at no cost to Council or community, and reinstatement of heritage streetlighting. She also founded Friends of Camperdown Cemetery, securing Bicentennial grants for heritage restoration, and serves as Associate Director for the Newtown School of Arts Trust (t/as 5 Eliza).
Known as an honest broker who is comfortable navigating conflict to reach genuinely acceptable outcomes rather than settling for compromise, Jan brings a rare combination of strategic economic development expertise, hands-on small business acumen, and deep community engagement experience to every project she takes on.
After 20 years as a public servant, Jan is returning to independent practice.