He's the head of a Perth-based engineering company with plans to set up a $32 million advanced manufacturing precinct at Narromine.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
David Simmons has revealed on Monday Simmons Global's intention to move its operations to the Orana region and create 250 jobs.
The firm's website lists Terminal WA Airport, Bendigo Hospital and Perth's Elizabeth Quay among its projects.
The relocation to Narromine will take Mr Simmons 3500 kilometres across the country, but there's an element of returning to familiar territory.
"I'm a bush kid, I come from Barraba, just over there north of Tamworth," he said.
"Left home at 15, and just wanted to go and do something that wasn't a career around a country town, because I was excited in new age stuff.
"I was fortunate enough to work for a company that put me into the international projects scene, and I got an opportunity to start myself, and I bought my first company on my 25th birthday.
"Away we went."
The project at Narromine is planned to produce a wide variety of products across multiple industries, including unmanned aerial drones and solar UV monitors.