Our Members

Business and community members

Anne Mansell

Anne has lived in Mildura for most of her life and has been involved in the horticultural industry for well on 40 years. She was the CEO of Dried Fruits Australia, a role she used to promote innovation and to advocate for improved biosecurity arrangements and expanded exports. She has also previously held the position of CEO of Mildura Development Corporation.

Currently, Anne serves as Chair of the Northern Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network, Board member of Murray Valley Wine Growers Industry Development Committee, and Panel member on the Advisory Boards for Mallee Regional Innovation Centre and La Trobe University Mildura Campus.

Anne is a voice for the growing horticultural sector and will bring valuable insights on education, jobs, skills, and how water policy affects the region. Importantly, Anne is also a committee member for the Regional Development Australia Loddon-Mallee region, providing vital cross-government linkages.

Glenn Stewart

Robinvale Community Development Advisor. Glenn has a strong background in education, youth and indigenous engagement and community activities. He has a demonstrated history of brokering relationships and forming linkages which has proven successful in gaining positive outcomes for not only the Robinvale community, but also the broader Mallee region. Glenn holds a Bachelor of Science Education and has over 25 years’ experience in the education sector. He is a founding member of the Mallee Regional Partnership and current Board Member of the Robinvale District Health Services.

Fiona Best

CEO of Birchip Cropping Group, a not-for-profit organisation led by dryland farmers aiming to improve the prosperity of Australian broadacre farmers through applied science-based research and extension. Fiona brings together experience in the education and agriculture sectors with a passion for the success of rural communities. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Commerce.

Brett Millington

CEO and Board Director of Mildura Regional Development. Brett was a past President and Board Member of the Institute of Water Administration in Victoria and has over a decade of executive management experience in water infrastructure and natural resources. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours (Geography/Environmental Studies), a Graduate Diploma in Executive Business Operations and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Florence Davidson

Executive Officer of Christie Centre Inc, an innovative organisation supplying disability services with the aim to achieve equity and inclusion for people of all abilities. Florence has a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit field specifically for championing the rights and equity needs of people with different abilities and disadvantage. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Habilitation) and over 30 years of professional experience.

Sharon Johnson

A proud Wangkumarra woman and Out-of-Home-Care Health Navigator at Sunraysia Community Health Services. Sharon is a Health Professional who holds a Master of Public Health and has over 26 years’ experience working in Aboriginal primary health care, public health, prevention and education, chronic disease management, child protection and policy/strategy. She is an appointed member of the AHPRA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia’s Accreditation Committee Member and an AHPRA registered Aboriginal Health Practitioner.

Regional Development Australia representative

Leonie Burrows

Leonie is a Mildura based management consultant who has 25 years' experience in local government, including a number of years as a Council CEO at Mildura Rural City Council. Her background in local government has mainly been in the community services and regional economic development areas, although she has managed the traditional technical services area of roads, waste and parks and gardens.

In her consulting roles she has also undertaken some Acting CEO roles. This has included roles as CEO of the Australian Tablegrape Growers Association, CEO of the Australian Citrus industry and CEO of Buloke Shire. She has also undertaken seven months as CEO of the Sunraysia Institute of TAFE.

Ms Burrows is Chair of Sunraysia Community Health Service and is a member of the Loddon Mallee Regional Development Australia Board. Previous roles include Chair of Sunraysia Institute of TAFE , Chair of the Victorian TAFE Association, Chair of Lower Murray Water Corporation, Chair of the Mildura Transport and Logistics Cluster and involvement in numerous other community organisations. For four years she was also Executive Officer of the Alliance of Councils for Rail Freight Development.

Victorian Government representative

Louise Perry – Deputy Secretary, Fairer Victoria, Engagement and Coordination, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

Local government CEOs

Wayne O’Toole – CEO, Buloke Shire Council

Wayne was appointed Chief Executive Officer in January 2022 and had previously held the role of Interim CEO during the recruitment process.

Wayne was Director Works and Technical Services since September 2018, and began his time at Buloke in 2017 as a Manager Statutory Services. In his three years leading the Works and Technical Services directorate, Wayne has been involved in flood recovery works, increased project delivery, the Working for Victoria Program, as well as focusing on Buloke’s road network and increasing customer satisfaction.

Previously to Buloke, Wayne spent 7 years at Mount Alexander Shire in a number of roles including Manager of Development Services and Manager of Healthy Environments. He has a strong background in the private sector in project management and senior leadership roles and completed his Masters of Business Administration in September 2020.

Geoff Rollinson– CEO, Gannawarra Shire Council

Council's former Director Infrastructure and Development, Geoff Rollinson was appointed Council Chief Executive Officer on 21 December 2022.  Geoff's earliest qualifications and experience are in agriculture. He gained extensive experience and knowledge in Local Government when working with both the former Borough and Shire of Kerang and then the Gannawarra Shire upon amalgamation in 1995. He has a Diploma of Civil Engineering and held the positions of Works Engineer and Manager of Operational Services with Gannawarra Shire from 1995 until he started in the Director Infrastructure and Development in 2011.

Scott Barber – CEO, Swan Hill Rural City

Scott will be joining Council and the Swan Hill community in early June 2022.

Scott has held Executive roles at Goulburn-Murray Water, Murray River Council and most recently Director of Projects & Strategy at Wagga Wagga City Council.

Scott has completed a Master of Applied Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Graduate Certificate in Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Martin Hawson – CEO, Mildura Rural City

Martin was appointed Chief Executive Officer in April 2022 and had previously held the role of Interim CEO during the recruitment process.

Martin has a broad and extensive background in community services leadership and management experience in local government.

Prior has been his appointment as CEO, Martin held the position of General Manager Community since June 2003 and Manager of Aged and Disability Services for five years previous to that. Martin has a Masters of Health Science and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.