IF THERE’S one thing Rod Kelly knows best, it’s finance.

The retired Westpac banking executive has announced he will run as a councillor candidate at the March election.

After 40 years in banking, the Warwick born-and-bred farmer said he believed he could help the council establish “a strong foundation for taking the region to another level.”

Mr Kelly said he wanted to ensure Southern Downs was well-positioned for growth.

“This can be achieved through attracting new investment to the region while ensuring existing business continues to flourish, that ratepayers receive value for money and are not burdened by annual increases beyond CPI,” he said.

“It is simply about the region being able to continue to prosper and grow, at the same time, ensuring every aspect of council decisions are ratepayer and stakeholder-centric.”

Mr Kelly has qualifications in accounting and banking and finance.

He sat on a state ministerial committee assessing leasehold land rentals and served on the executive committee for the Queensland Rural Press Club for three years.

He is also a board member of Safe Streets — a Queensland charity — and is a fellow graduate of the Australia Rural Leadership Program.

During his banking career as Queensland Manager with Westpac, Mr Kelly also oversaw the Northern Territory commercial and agribusiness and led a team of 100 staff responsible for assets and liabilities of more than $4billion.

In that time he forged strong links with customers, industry and all levels of government.

When he retired from Westpac, Mr Kelly was honoured as the first Agribusiness Ambassador, acknowledging his banking knowledge and experience.

Following his retirement as the Westpac State Manger for Regional Queensland Commercial and Agribusiness, Mr Kelly and his wife Debbie have moved back to the region permanently.

Mr Kelly said he timed his retirement from banking with the election.

“I want to give something back to my community and that includes all of the Southern Downs region as my family ties cover most of the area within,” he said.

The Southern Downs have strong ties for the Kellys.

The couple have held grazing interests in the district since 1995.

Mr Kelly’s father Jim moved from Stanthorpe to Warwick in 1955 and married his mother Shirley (Cronin) who was born in Allora.

Mrs Kelly is also Warwick-born and raised, coming from a long line of farming families in Sandy Creek and Karara.