This is an opportunity to create a unique and attractive maritime hub of international standing.
Drawing on Port Hedland’s rich maritime history, the proposed Maritime Precinct will create multiple opportunities for new economic activity in retail, hospitality, tourism, cultural, as well as training and education – supporting the Government’s goal of revitalising the town’s West End.
Hedland Maritime Initiative is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pilbara Ports Authority, a Government Trading Enterprise.
The vision is to:
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- provide residents within Port Hedland’s West End area with the opportunity to voluntarily sell their property for a commercially attractive, government-guaranteed market price, consistent with the Port Hedland West End Improvement Scheme 1 (IS1); and
- plan and develop the maritime precinct to support the revitalisation of the area into a vibrant precinct that minimises potential conflicts with existing land uses.
Team
Managing Director, Hedland Maritime Initiative
Karlene Bylund (BComm; AssocDipAccounting; DipProjectManagement, GAICD)
Karlene Bylund joined the Port Hedland Port Authority in March 2010 and held roles in property and commercial management before serving as Pilbara Ports Authority Director Commercial from October 2017 until June 2020.
Ms Bylund’s responsibilities at the Port Hedland Port Authority included property tenure management, obtaining property valuations and working on residential leases, as well as management of commercial leases and service provider licences.
As commercial lead, she has worked across critical infrastructure and service provider projects, major tendering and procurement activities. In 2020, Ms Bylund led the development of Australia’s first LNG ship-to-ship bunkering licences.
Prior to joining Pilbara Ports Authority, Ms Bylund held roles with several State Government agencies and Government Trading Enterprises where her responsibilities included corporate governance, financial, physical resources and operations management.
Ms Bylund has lived in remote and regional WA most of her life, including Karratha and Port Hedland. She and her husband have four adult children and run a small sheep and alpaca farm in the WA Wheatbelt.
Manager, Hedland Maritime Initiative
Chris Vale (Grad Bus Admin, Ongoing MBA studies)
Chris started as Manager with HMI in October 2024 overseeing the team and delivery of the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-back Scheme. His close stakeholder collaboration and engagement with the community and regulatory agencies makes his role fundamental in the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-back Scheme acquisition process and objective for Port Hedland’s West End Redevelopment.
Chris brings his wealth of leadership, project management, and operational experience in projects across diverse sectors such as oil & gas, and infrastructure. Originally from Queensland, Chris moved to Port Hedland with his family in 2018 joining Pilbara Ports where he held roles with Terminal Operations as Utah Maintenance Superintendent and Asset Planning as Electrical Governance Superintendent. With a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Chris is currently undergoing studies to obtain his MBA. Outside work, Chris plays golf and enjoys the Pilbara lifestyle with his family, going camping and fishing with his wife and two teenage children.
Project Manager, Hedland Maritime Initiative
Desiree Grossmith (Dip ProjectManagement; BAVisCommunAMkt; MAEcoCommunITm)
Desiree joined HMI in October 2024 as Project Manager managing the delivery of a broad range of projects including demolition and redevelopment of acquired properties, and management of marketing, communications, and stakeholder engagement activities related to the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-back Scheme.
Desiree brings her diverse cultural background and longstanding experience in project management, local government, property and asset management, and stakeholder engagement to the role. She has delivered a range of projects in construction and infrastructure maintenance for numerous residential and commercial buildings with Town of Port Hedland as Property Management Officer since 2015, where after developing a passion for delivering projects Desiree obtained her Diploma in Project Management.
Being a long-term resident of Port Hedland after moving from Perth in 2011, Desiree’s earlier career includes roles in mining and construction and she contributes her local knowledge and well-established relationships with the local community whilst also having formerly owned and operated a self-established mobile food business selling locally made, handcrafted ice cream. Originally from the USA, Desiree moved to Australia in 2010 and with established roots in Switzerland, she spent six years living in one of its Italian regions attending university gaining qualifications in marketing, communications, and international tourism through achievement of Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Arts, and Master of Arts in Economics and Communications degrees. In her free time, Desiree loves experiencing live music, travelling overseas, scuba diving, and enjoying outdoor life in the Pilbara with her husband, three young children, two Labradors, and caring for her chickens and ducks.
Property Management Superintendent, Hedland Maritime Initiative
Alan Rance
Alan joined HMI in May 2024 as Property Management Superintendent. His role is fundamental in managing the extensive portfolio of properties acquired through the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-back Scheme from his close involvement with tenants and local real estate agents.
Alan is a seasoned professional in real estate, property management and insurance, as an owner of a property management company in Perth for 15 years and a home claims assessor at a major General Insurance company prior to this role. Alan is originally from England though a long-standing WA resident of 26 years and moved to Port Hedland for the role joined by his wife, two children and energetic chocolate Labrador. Alan enjoys the daily variety of his role and on weekends loves going on new adventures exploring the Pilbara, learning the ropes of the local fishing lifestyle while trying to avoid getting his car bogged when discovering new places.
Customer Officer, Hedland Maritime Initiative
Samantha Young
Samantha joined HMI in November 2022 as a Receptionist which has since evolved to a pivotal role in the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-back Scheme acquisition process as Customer Officer. Close collaboration between owners and stakeholders in the acquisition process along with overseeing fit outs for short stay accommodation properties are some of the key contributions Samantha provides to the team.
Samantha is a support professional with experience in immigration and community services working previously as a support worker with Youth Involvement Council. Born and bred in Zimbabwe, Sam and her husband moved to Port Hedland in 2010, where they raised their five children after living previously in Perth and New Zealand. Outside work Sam is a self-developed cake creator, formerly operating a custom baking business venture, who enjoys spending time with family and caring for her plants.
