Our Members

Business and community members

Patricia (Tricia) Currie – Chair

Having lived and worked in the region for over 40 years, Tricia brings a wealth of experience and understanding as a community member. Tricia is a connector of people and purpose in all settings and brings a strong rural lens to a multitude of strategic tables. She was CEO of Women’s Health Loddon Mallee and held executive roles in community and primary health. Tricia is an experienced director, chair, advocate, partnership broker, and initiator in health, education, skills, and training. She has been the chair of the North Central Local Learning and Employment Network, Victorian Women’s Health Network, Gowrie Victoria, Gender Equity Victoria and in her second term on the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership. She has extensive networks in the community sector, agriculture, and business.

Leah Taaffe – Deputy Chair

Leah has been the Chief Executive Officer of Community Living and Respite Services since January 2020. Leah led CLRS’s transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and has transformed the organisation in response to the new business model required in the NDIS operating environment. Leah brings 16 years of experience in human services leadership and community services to the Partnership. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (Hons), is a GAICD and is currently studying a Masters in Leadership.

Stephen Booth

Australia and New Zealand Head Government Relations and External Affairs, George Weston Foods (including Don KR Castlemaine). Stephen has 30 years of engagement building with a complex array of stakeholders in large transformation projects and more than 20 years of policy, project and engagement experience with business, government and social community sector. He understands government at both ministerial and bureaucratic levels and across Australia’s three tiers of government. Stephen specialties are government, economics, regional development, workplace relations, communications, project management, negotiation and stakeholder engagement. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Economics, Economics, Politics majors.

Rodney Carter

Rodney is a descendant of Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta people. As CEO of Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA) for 10 years, Rodney’s leadership has been pivotal in steering DJAARA to achieve sustainable development and effective management of cultural heritage. Rodney is enthusiastic about expanding the region’s tourism offering to support skills and opportunities for our communities to participate. Rodney is a respected Elder, skilled in Sustainable Development, Environmental Issues, Government, Biodiversity and Conflict Resolution. Currently a member of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and Co-Chair of the Elders Voice, Rodney is a strong community and social services professional with a Diploma in Government (Investigations).

Claire Flanagan-Smith

Claire is the Principal and Co-owner, RM Consulting Group, and is a stakeholder engagement and strategy specialist with a foundation in environmental policy and engineering. With expertise in the factors shaping regional development, she works with communities, businesses, and governments to investigate and manage our region’s most complex challenges. Claire facilitates multidisciplinary teams to build understanding, overcome divisions, and create strategies that strengthen regional resilience and protect what communities value. Passionate about doing the work that matters, she is committed to supporting thriving and sustainable regional communities in Loddon Campaspe.

Mark Francis

CEO, Campaspe Port Enterprises. Mark has 30 years of experience in varying roles in the visitor economy sector, including 10 years as CEO of Murray Regional Tourism prior to joining Campaspe Port Enterprise. He is an active member on the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC). Mark holds a Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Events) and an Associate Diploma in Small Business

Craig  Hunter

Craig is Chairman of StartUp Central Victoria. He has 20 years executive experience in the information technology, regional development, and education sectors. His roles have included Director of 2 startups headquartered in Bendigo, which created 200+ high skilled professional jobs and raised over $50 million capital. Craig’s experience as Director of Government Engagement for Clear Dynamics, involved Artificial Intelligence and digital strategic planning. He has a passion for community development, networking and planning within the Bendigo region. Craig is a proud alumnus of La Trobe University Bendigo Campus, where he received his tertiary qualifications.

Anna Lamont

Anna is the Executive General Manager of Strategy, at Coliban Water and has 18 years of experience in Business Transformation in both the private and public sectors. Anna has designed and led transformational change for organisations in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, the UK and the Solomon Islands. Her current role includes strategy and performance, strategic planning, climate and carbon, rural modernisation, water resource management, transformation oversight and change leadership. Anna holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology).

Robert Musgrove

Robert Musgrove is the General Manager, Corporate and Public Affairs, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. He has 37 years’ experience in the banking sector, at both customer service and head office levels. He played a pivotal role in developing and expanding the Community Bank® model, which is now achieving considerable success both for the banking sector and hundreds of communities. He is a director of the Bendigo Art Gallery.

Lexi Randall-L'Estrange

Lexi is Non-Executive Director, founder and business owner with experience across public, private, non-profit, and social enterprises sectors in Australia and Internationally. Her career has spanned climate change adaptation, software and IT, water, health and aged care, research, and regional and economic development. Lexi is currently Non-Executive Director of Coliban Water, Dhelkaya Health, and Castlemaine Institute, where she is part of the Wellbeing Economy team. She is co-owner and Director of Research Path, a software company providing data management and software platforms to leading Australian clinical trials and registries. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Hons), Master of Business Administration and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Regional Development Australia representative

Stephen Tinker

Steve is the Regional General Manager, Western Victoria for Telstra. Through this role, Steve has developed a great appreciation for the varied communities across the region.

Steve brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the telecommunications industry and has a deep understanding of the connectivity challenges faced in regional areas. He has hands on experience in the establishment of telehealth services and in addressing mobile phone black spots.

Steve is also a member of the Governance Committee on the Murray Primary Health Network (PHN).

As an RDA committee member, Steve brings valuable experience and insights in relation to digital and telecommunications and how digital connectivity policy affects the region.

Victorian Government representative

Mr Chris Hotham, Deputy Secretary Budget & Finance, Department of Treasury and Finance

Local Government and TAFE CEOs

Mr Andrew Cooney – CEO, City of Greater Bendigo

Andrew is a highly regarded executive who is passionate about community development and enjoys long, established relationships, locally, regional and at the State Government Level. He first joined the City of Greater Bendigo as Director of Corporate Performance and led the City's involvement in the Development of Galkangu and also served as Director of Commonwealth Games. Prior to joining the City, Andrew's previous roles include; Executive Director with DELWP (now DEECA), General Manager Governance and Strategy at Coliban Water, Director Community and Corporate Services Gannawarra Shire and Manager Organisational Development at Loddon Shire Council. He is currently on the Board of Goulburn Murray Water and Bendigo Strikers Netball.

Lincoln Fitzgerald – CEO, Loddon Shire Council

Lincoln comes to Loddon Shire Council with a wealth of experience in Local Government, coming from the City of Greater Bendigo and having previously worked for Mount Alexander Shire Council. He has held diverse roles including project management of major projects, asset management, health promotion, strategy development, contract and facility management. Lincoln’s career has focused on building, leading and managing diverse teams and large businesses in the region and overseas.

Darren Fuzzard – CEO, Mount Alexander Shire Council

Darren has been the CEO of Mount Alexander Shire since 2016. Prior to this role, Darren was a Director at the City of Greater Bendigo and Loddon Shire having joined local government after 11 years working in a variety of roles across Victoria for VicRoads. Darren is a civil engineer, was born in Bendigo and has a strong passion for, and understanding of, the Loddon Campaspe region. Darren is also a long standing and active Board member of Rural Councils Victoria.

Pauline Gordon – CEO, Campaspe Shire Council

Pauline has over 25 years’ of experience in local government, working across a variety of senior roles in Victorian and Queensland councils. Before her appointment at Campaspe, Ms Gordon was the Director Community Strengthening with Mornington Peninsula Shire and has worked in Director roles with the City of Greater Bendigo, Nillumbik Shire Council, Gympie Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Council. Pauline has an extensive background in applied social science and a particular passion for community and cultural development, as well as economic development and tourism. Last year Pauline was appointed to the board of the Murray Regional Tourism Board.

Sally Jones – Interim CEO, Central Goldfields Shire

Sally is an accomplished leader with 24 years of experience in Local Government, most recently serving as the General Manager of Community Strengthening at Kingston City Council. She has held executive positions in metropolitan and rural councils across multiple directorates. Sally’s extensive qualifications, including an MBA in Innovation and Leadership, a Graduate Certificate of Business (Applied Business), a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership, and an Advanced Diploma of Government, underpin her expertise in driving strategic outcomes and fostering organisational excellence. An Associate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Sally is a Board Member for Local Government Professionals (LGPro) and the not-for-profit Westgate Community Initiatives Group (WCIG), reflecting her commitment to governance, innovation, and community engagement.

Bernie O’Sullivan – CEO, Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Bernie is a senior executive with extensive leadership experience in the government and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to becoming CEO of Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Bernie held roles as Director Strategy and Growth at the City of Greater Bendigo, Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Deputy Secretary Regions in both the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Bernie has deep experience working with communities and a strong understanding of the issues impacting regional Victoria, especially in the Loddon Mallee region. Qualifications include Master of Public Affairs, Bachelor of Agricultural Science, GAICD.

Sally Curtain – CEO, Bendigo Kangan Institute

Sally is an accomplished public sector senior executive with significant experience in leading transformational change across state and local government. Before she was appointed as Bendigo Kangan Institute’s CEO, Sally successfully led organisational and operational changes within diverse and complex public sector agencies including the former Department of Justice, the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), the City of Casey, and VicRoads. In her role, Sally oversees the operations of Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute, VETASSESS and eWorks.