Skillset
Alex Banner
Choosing Community, Purpose, and a Life That Fits
Where It All Began
Alex Banner didn’t grow up in Bathurst — she chose it.
Originally from England, Alex moved to Sydney as a teenager and spent years building a successful corporate career. But when she and her family made the decision to relocate to regional NSW in 2020, something about Bathurst instantly felt familiar — the open countryside, the relaxed pace, and the warmth of the people.
“It reminded me of where I grew up in England,” Alex says. “I remember arriving and just feeling like I belonged.”
It wasn’t a move for convenience — it was a conscious return to the kind of life she valued: grounded, connected, and full of possibility.
Local Connections
In Bathurst, cycling became Alex’s bridge to place – and to people. From the backroads to Cudal and Neville to the winding routes through Sofala, she’s found beauty in the stillness of country roads, and in the shared moments along the way. Whether it’s a chat over coffee at a local café, a wave from a fellow rider, or the friendships formed through her cycling group, these experiences have deepened her sense of belonging.
“There’s something freeing about it,” she says. “You see things most people never do — the colours, the space, the people.”
It’s this connection — to both place and people — that defines how Alex experiences Bathurst. For her, it’s not just about scenery, but about the daily rhythm of community life: the friendly nods on the street, the weekend markets, the change of seasons that mark time so vividly here.
A Career with Purpose
After 15 years at Westpac Group, Alex was ready for change. She had learned from exceptional leaders, grown through challenge and responsibility — but wanted to see her work make a tangible difference.
Today, as Senior Manager – Business Services at Skillset, Alex leads across governance, corporate services, marketing, and operations support — the strategic foundations that enable Skillset to deliver real impact in regional NSW.
Her leadership is built on three things: clarity, collaboration, and care. She empowers her team, builds strong relationships, and helps steer the partnership between Skillset and Elevate — ensuring both organisations continue to grow and innovate for regional communities.
“Working here, you can actually see the impact of what you do for the local community,” Alex says.
A Life Well Chosen
Alex loves the simplicity of life here: the time saved from commuting, the proximity of everything, the sense of space and freedom. She speaks with affection about watching her daughter grow up surrounded by community, sport, and opportunity.
And as someone who came from England, Alex also treasures Bathurst’s deep heritage — from Wiradjuri Country to the sandstone buildings and the daily chime of the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon, which she can see from her office window.
“It’s a reminder of how layered this place is,” she says. “Old and new, proud and humble, always evolving.”
What Belonging Looks Like
When people ask why she chose Bathurst, Alex smiles.
“You don’t have to be from a place to belong,” she says. “You just have to care enough to contribute.”
That’s what she’s doing — in her work, her community, and the life she’s building here.
Bathurst, for Alex, is proof that belonging isn’t about origin. It’s about choice — and choosing to live with purpose, in a place that feels like home.
Yinaagalangbu, gibirbangbu, buraaygalangbu gawaymbanhadhu nginyalgir Wiradjurigu ngurambanggu.
Ladies, gentleman and children welcome to Wiradjuri and to country.