He became CEO of the South West Development Commission in 1998, serving until he resigned in 2016 upon his preselection as the Labor candidate for Bunbury.
[1] In his role as the CEO, Punch was responsible for many aspects of The South West's development including projects such as the renewal of the town centre of Manjimup with an emphasis on food based tourism, redevelopment of Busselton airport and renewal of the water front in Bunbury.
He migrated to Australia at the age of 14 and joined his brother Tony and his wife Ann and recommenced high school in Manjimup.
In 1986 Beverley died following complications from a heart surgery and this had a devastating impact on him which formulated much of his later thinking about grief, loss and human relationships.
In 1998 Punch left Family and Children's Services to take on the role of CEO of the South West Development Commission.