Our members

Business and community members

Peter McAllister – Chair

Peter has a strong foundation in Food Manufacturing within regional Victoria. As General Manager of True Foods, one of the largest Australian-owned manufacturer of bread goods, Peter led the successful move of the business out of Melbourne to settle in Maryborough.

Peter has also held a broad range of regional leadership roles including on the Bendigo Manufacturing Group, as Chair of the Food Manufacturing Sub-Committee, and as a Member of Regional Development Australia Loddon Mallee. Peter served on the Committee for Maryborough as well as 9 years on the Maryborough District Health Service Board, the final 6 as Board Chair. Peter lives in Ballarat with his family.

Lee Morton – Deputy Chair

Lee’s extensive experience spans various sectors including transport, infrastructure, building and construction, mining, sustainability and water, at the highest level of government bodies, including local, state, and federal. Lee has a strong background in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, change management, media, marketing, and leading high-performing teams. Lee is also a member of a local Ballarat Energy Network.

Sophie Ellis

Sophie has worked as a Senior Lawyer for many years in the community legal sector where she assists young people, workers and their families. Sophie has built collaborative networks to improve understanding of how law can be a positive driver of change to improve health and life outcomes for children and young people.

Sophie is a member of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and a keen advocate for social justice and environmental sustainability. Sophie also brings a strong skillset in research and analysis, mediation, communication and a deep knowledge of social justice issues.

Stuart Squire

Stuart brings broad experience in the delivery of capital projects from across many Victorian Public Sector areas including roads, transport, parks, local sport and currently, the health sector. Stuart is passionate about leveraging those experiences and connections to co-design key economic and social outcomes for the region.

Stuart holds both a Masters of Engineering Technology and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. Born and raised in Ballarat, Stuart has a vested interest in the future of our region, with 2 young children at heart.

Chris Whitefield

Chris has led corporate strategy, stakeholder and community engagement, communications, marketing and environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives across the public and private sectors for more than 20 years.

His current role with Australia’s leading developer and manager of public infrastructure sees him work closely with all 3 levels of government in the delivery of value-for-money infrastructure that provides demonstrable long term community benefit. A proud Ballarat local, Chris is also a board member of Australia’s leading photographic festival, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, and is part of the subcommittee delivering the National Centre for Photography in central Ballarat.

Regional Development Australia representative

Stuart Benjamin

Stuart Benjamin is the Chair of RDA Grampians and has been leading the committee since 2012.

A strong advocate for the region, Stuart has 30 years’ experience across multiple business sectors and is the Director of the Elmstone Property Group – a multi-faceted land and construction group operating across Western Victoria – as well as the Director of Aviation Accommodation Australia.

Stuart also chairs the Grampians New Energy Taskforce (GNeT) – working across the region to lead new approaches and practices to drive a low-carbon economy in Victoria.

Born and raised in regional Victoria, Stuart studied and worked around the globe before settling in Ballarat in 2000 where he now lives with his 4 children.

Victorian Government representative

Dr Lance Emerson, Deputy Secretary, Victorian Agency for Health Information, Department of Health

TAFE representative

Mr Darren Gray, Pro Vice-Chancellor VET & University Pathways / Chief Executive TAFE Federation University Australia

Local Government CEOs

Dr Tim Harrison – Chief Executive Officer, Ararat Rural City Council

Dr Tim Harrison came to the Chief Executive Officer role at Ararat Rural City Council after a diverse career including senior roles in local government in Victoria and Queensland, developing social enterprise organisations in the community sector, as well as leadership, research and engagement roles in higher education. Tim’s local government experience includes senior roles in engineering, service delivery and corporate strategy.

Tim holds a qualification in engineering, a Master of Business Administration and a doctorate where he explored relationships between social policy and community engagement. He is the author of government-funded reports on regional social service delivery and regional population dispersal and he has undertaken significant economic development projects in regional communities. Tim established the Regional Incubator for Social and Economic Research (RISER) and remains passionate about working with communities throughout rural and regional Victoria

Shane Walden – Chief Executive Officer, Golden Plains Shire Council

Bradley Thomas – Chief Executive Officer, Hepburn Shire Council

Bradley joined Council in January 2019, having previously held the position of Executive Manager, Business Performance, with the Mount Alexander Shire Council. Bradley has extensive knowledge of local government finance, information technology and corporate reporting. Bradley holds a B.Comm, an MBA and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He is passionate about ensuring a high functioning organisation that delivers quality services to the community.

Derek Madden – Chief Executive Officer, Moorabool Shire Council

Derek Madden commence as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Moorabool Shire in 2018 and was previously employed by Cardinia Shire Council as General Manager Corporate Services.

Prior to this, Derek worked at the Moreland City Council, City of Melbourne and Exon-Mobile. Prior to moving to Australia Derek worked in Ireland and the United Kingdom. He holds a Certificate in Digital Strategies for Business, Masters of Applied Science in Organisational Dynamics, an MBA from Victoria Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Business from the University of Limerick, Ireland.

Jim Nolan – Chief Executive Officer, Pyrenees Shire Council

Jim was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with Pyrenees Shire Council in December 2014. He has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and 25 years’ experience in local government at Glenelg, Southern Grampians and Northern Grampians. Jim has experience across infrastructure, project delivery, community and economic development.

As CEO, Jim is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Council, the delivery of the Council Plan and the implementation of Council decisions. Jim also has direct responsibility for economic development and communications.

Evan King – Chief Executive Officer, City of Ballarat

Evan King commenced as City of Ballarat in February 2021. Previously, Evan was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hepburn Shire and has a Local Government career including executive roles at Pyrenees Shire Council as the Director of Corporate and Community Services and Hepburn Shire Council as the General Manager Corporate Services.

Prior to working in Local Government, Evan had an extensive career working in manufacturing and held senior management positions with Mars Wrigley and FMP (Bendix Mintex) as well as working within the social sector as the Business Manager for Salvation Army Western Victoria.

Evan has a Bachelor of Business from Federation University, is a qualified CPA and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Having lived and worked in rural and regional Victoria all his life, Evan is passionate about rural living and ensuring that those who live in regional Victoria have access to high-quality services and facilities.