ANNE CUNNIFF 

Loddon Campaspe, Area Director, Department of Education & Training

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“The opportunity to be part of a dynamic and community led group of passionate people who listen, collaborate and support all children and young people to reach their individual potential is a huge privilege.” 

Anne has been involved in education for many years as a teacher, a principal and has held a number of regional leadership roles since 2003. She has taught in primary and special education settings in Gippsland, Melbourne and Loddon Campaspe.

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CAROLINE THOROUGHGOOD

Community Representative, and local Children & Families Advocate

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Caroline was born and raised in Melbourne and has lived in the shire for just shy of 15 years and has been involved with Go Goldfields since 2015. Caroline is a mum to 5 children aged 14 – 2.

She is involved in a range of community organisations including Maryborough Toy Library, Carisbrook Playgroup, the Australian Breastfeeding Association, the schools, and kindergarten her children attend and more recently with both the local Guide and Scouts groups. Caroline is a kindergarten by trade which has a large impact on her view on the importance of the early years for local children.

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DALLAS WIDDICOMBE

Executive Director, Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative

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Dallas Widdicombe is a proud Dharug man who holds a Bachelor of Social Work and an Advanced Diploma of Business (Governance). Dallas previously worked in the remote Western Australian community of Balgo for over seven years where he held positions including the Chief Executive Officer of the Wirrimanu Aboriginal Community.

Over the past six years Dallas has worked for the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative as the Executive Director overseeing the BDAC Medical Clinic and Family & Community Services teams.  In this time BDAC has grown to over 100 staff running various programs for his Community and has significantly increased the income of the organisation’s medical clinic.

Dallas has a huge passion for working to better the health of his people and believes self-determination plays an integral part in achieving this goal.

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GARRY HIGGINS OAM

Local Businessman, Rotary Leader and Volunteer

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Garry Higgins in partnership with wife Julie, have operated the Parkview bakery in Maryborough and St. Arnaud for thirty years. Prior to this Garry worked in local and State Government at senior manager positions. He has also served as a Councillor for the City of Maryborough. He has a strong belief in the capacity of communities to control their own destiny and has an ongoing commitment in “changing the way we think about ourselves and our capacity to change the world”.

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MARGARET AUGERINOS

Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Non-Violence

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Margaret Augerinos (B.SW) is a qualified Social Worker who has been working in the not-for-profit community services sector for the last 30 years.  Margaret has worked in many different settings including family counselling, community health, community legal services, and advocacy and rights organisations. 

Margaret is presently the Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Non-Violence (based in Bendigo which delivers the full range of programs for women and children who experience domestic violence including crisis response, therapeutic and recovery programs, as well as programs for men who use violence towards family members.  In addition, CNV delivers a range of community engagement and violence prevention programs.  CNV is recognised as a leader in Victoria in responding to and delivering a coordinated community response to family violence.

Margaret has served on several Boards and Committees over the years and is presently the Victorian representative on WESNET (Women’s Services Network – Australian Women’s Domestic and Family Violence peak), a board member of Homelessness Australia, an Executive Member of the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance and is on the Interim Board of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters.

Margaret has presented at many conferences nationally and internationally and has presented at side and parallel events at several sessions of the United Nations Committee for the Status of Women.

Margaret is a passionate supporter of human rights and in ending gender-based violence against women.

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NICKOLA ALLAN

Chief Executive Officer, Maryborough District Health Service

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Nickola Allan is a dedicated values-based leader and is well-known and respected in our community. Working as a nurse for 20 years, Nickola developed her extensive healthcare experience and skills in key leadership roles within rural and metropolitan Melbourne.  

As CEO, Nickola believes in values-driven leadership and building relationships based on trust and respect. She is passionate about providing clear direction, connection and empowerment to the organisation and our local community.

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MICHAEL OERLEMANS

Regional Director, Anglicare Victoria, North Central Region

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Michael Oerlemans is the Regional Director for Anglicare Victoria in the North Central region.  This region, with over 300 staff delivers a broad range of programs to children, youth, families and vulnerable Victorians., and is the largest region within Anglicare Victoria’s stable of programs.  The region stretches from Mildura in the north to Gisborne in the South, with services also provided in Wangaratta and Wimmera South-West.

Michael began his career in Sydney and Brisbane as a researcher in the fields of language and psychology.  In 1993 he moved to Melbourne to continue his studies, before locating in Bendigo in 1998.

During this time Michael worked for the Collaborative Health, Education and Research Centre at Bendigo Health providing a range of research and program evaluation services.  In 2004-2005 Michael facilitated the development of the first Integrated Cancer Services plan for the Loddon Mallee region.

In 2005 Michael joined the then Department of Human Services leading a number of program areas and in a range of roles including managing the area of Strategy, as Deputy Regional Director and from 2012 as Assistant Director, Individual and Family Support.

Following 10 years within State Government Michael joined Anglicare Victoria as Senior Manager for Out of Home Care, and following that Regional Development Manager.  In 2020 Michael was appointed Regional Director.

Michael holds a Masters degree in Cognitive Science, a Bachelor Arts with honours in Linguistics, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.  He holds the National Emergency Medal for work during the 2009 Victoria Bushfires and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Amnesty International.

He is also currently the Chair of the Inglewood and District Health Services and the servant of one of Anglicare Victoria’s therapy dogs, Lacey.

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NATHAN CHAPMAN

Executive Director, Loddon Area, North Division
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

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Nathan is a social worker who has worked in person-centred roles for the past 25 years, including working with people with disability, children and families, and supporting vulnerable people to give evidence to the criminal courts.  He has held numerous senior and executive positions, and brings strong leadership and strategic focus to his work.  Nathan is currently the Executive Director of the Loddon Area in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. 

Nathan’s values have strong foundations in social justice principles that support inclusion, equity, fairness and transparency.  He listens to the voice of community and service users, and sees this as critical to improving service systems both operationally and strategically.  Nathan is proud to serve the public and is privileged to support a range of initiatives across communities.

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CAROLYN BARTHOLOMEUSZ

Go Goldfields Backbone Manager

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Carolyn is a public policy expert with many years’ experience in policy development in regional economic and community development and governance. 

She has a particular interest in place-based approaches to ensure institutional systems and policy reforms are designed and implemented to meet individual needs of the places,  communities and people they are intended to benefit.  Carolyn is currently on leave from her regular role in State Government to work with collaborators and the Central Goldfields community leading the Go Goldfields Backbone Organisation.

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REBECCA HANLEY

Go Goldfields Independent Chair,
Executive General Manager Culture & Governance at Coliban Water

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Rebecca is a Maryborough resident and parent with a professional background in law.  

She is currently the Executive General Manager Governance & Culture with Coliban Water.  

Rebecca is energised by our purpose and the opportunity to contribute her professional expertise and commitment to her community.  

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