Our Members

Business and community members

Ian Cesa - Chair

Doctor Ian Cesa is President and CEO of Horizon Consumer Science, an international consumer research and analytics consulting firm he established whilst living in the United States.

After 45 years living in cities in Australia, the US, and France, Ian moved back to the region to a farm in the Upper Murray region (Tintaldra) and is embedded in the community as an active member of Upper Murray Community Recovery Committee, Towong Shire Economic Recovery Working Group and Chair of Corryong Health.

Ian has a solid understanding of the region and its diverse economic drivers and opportunities with a specific interest in agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, and transport.  Ian has substantial experience chairing committees/boards including the Australian-American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles and Melbourne University USA Foundation. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology, a Masters and Bachelor of Arts, Psychology.

Jo Murdoch- Deputy Chair  

Jo Murdoch is the Managing Director of North East Water and the Chair of the Victorian Intelligent Water Network.

An experienced senior executive Jo has a proven record of driving business transformation, innovation and operational excellence. With 20+ years in the water and local government sectors, Jo’s passion for collaboration and continuous improvement has helped organisations deliver tangible benefits for the communities they serve.

Prior to joining North East Water in January 2022, Jo held executive roles at Barwon Water in Geelong and Yarra City Council in Melbourne. While in Geelong Jo was a member of the Committee for Geelong Board, and Deputy Chair of the G21 Geelong Region Alliance Health and Wellbeing Pillar. While in Melbourne, Jo served on the Board of LGPro and the Local Government Management Australia.

Jo has post graduate qualifications including an MBA, is an accredited Evolve Communities Ally, and is IAP2 certified. She was also recognised in the Institute of Public Administration Australia’s Top 50 Public Sector Women Awards for 2022 for her leadership commitment and contribution during the Covid-19 crisis.

Felicity Williams

Felicity Williams has held senior management positions in marketing, public relations and communications in industries including tertiary education, secondary education, and not-for-profit organisations. She founded and ran a highly successful business and marketing consultancy during which she provided practical assistance and support to small and medium sized businesses in a wide range of industries throughout North East Victoria.

She was Marketing Manager for Wodonga TAFE, and then took up an Executive Director position at Bendigo TAFE. She then returned to the North East to manage a secondary school. In September 2014 Felicity took up the role of CEO of The Centre for Continuing Education, fulfilling her desire to return to the tertiary sector.

Felicity is passionate about the vocational education and training sector because it links people to community and industry, and because education has the power to change lives. Felicity has now taken on the role of CEO of Upper Murray Family Care, which supports holistic programs supporting families and communities in north east Victoria.

Bess Nolan-Cook

Bess is the CEO of Tourism North East, the regional tourism board for Victoria’s High Country.  Bess has a background in marketing, communications and major events and prior to joining Tourism North East, was the Director of Marketing and Communications at DoTerra Australia & New Zealand.  Bess holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art in Technical Production from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and is passionate about driving meaningful outcomes that positively support the visitor economy and the region.

Katie Warner

Katie is the CEO of the North East Catchment Management Authority, with extensive experience in business and policy development, and strategic planning. She is a member of the La Trobe University Regional Advisory Board and Secretary of the Beechworth Wanderers Cricket Club. Katie holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from Monash University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She and her family are deeply connected to North East Victoria including through a family farming operation. Katie maintains a strong interest in her local community including through local sporting groups due to her sport obsessed boys.

Amber Gardner

Amber has lived and worked in the Ovens Murray region for the past 15 years and is passionate about delivering strong economic, social and environmental outcomes for the region. As the inaugural CEO of Alpine Resorts Victoria and previous CEO of Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board and CEO of Tourism North East, she has a comprehensive understanding of the regional tourism industry, a key economic driver in Ovens Murray.

With extensive domestic and international experience encompassing FMCG and telecommunications, Amber also brings her strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen to other key regional focus areas, including improved digital connectivity, investment in transformative infrastructure and support for business reliance and growth.

Amber is also a Director of Outdoors Victoria, a representative on the Telstra Regional Advisory Committee and holds a Master of Marketing and Bachelor of Media and Communications. She was Chair of the Partnership from 2021-2022, having previously held the position of Deputy Chair.

Diarmuid Kelly

Diarmuid is well known to OMRP members and Hume regional executive through his previous role as the Regional Recovery Director at Emergency Recovery Victoria (2021-23). He regularly participated in OMRP meetings and provided valuable insights and considerations. Diarmuid is a highly respected and skilled collaborator with a deep working understanding of the region, the operating environment, and of the Victorian State Government. Diarmuid has a Bachelor of Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering and has recently focused his career on senior executive roles leveraging multisectoral partnerships for a common goal across a variety of sectors including state government, education, corporate and not for profit.

Diarmuid is a graduate of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program.  He is currently the Associate Dean of Strategic Partnerships and Enterprise at Charles Sturt University based on the Albury-Wodonga Campus.

Charlotte Morris

Charlotte has over 16 years supporting Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) work with the Defence sector. Prior to her current role she had 5 years in the State Government of Victoria in the Defence Industry Unit. From 2016 – 2020 Charlotte was also responsible for the management of the Victorian Defence Alliances, industry clusters of over 400 SMEs targeting work in the Defence supply chain. More recently Charlotte has been leading the DMTC’s Industry Capability Development Program, which aims to create a network of Defence-ready companies with benchmarked, globally competitive capabilities.

Charlotte has a Bachelor of Science (Hon) Information Technology and Society. She is currently the Program Leader, Industry Capability Development; DMTC and Government Relations/Alumni Engagement and DMTC Liaison; Defence Science Institute (DSI).

Judith Dixon

Judy is currently the Strategic Projects Lead for Mansfield Autism Statewide Services and has been instrumental in sharing the vision and attracting funding to build a therapeutic care farm for expanded service provision for autistic people and their families.

She has a diverse employment background spanning not for profits, consulting, local government, state government, education, and the tourism industry, including the region’s Alpine Resorts.  Her expertise includes economic development, education, tourism and marketing.

Judy is well experienced in leading and contributing to multi-faceted board and communities having spent numerous terms on government and community boards.

Judy holds a Bachelor of Education and a Graduate Diploma of Management and is a graduate of the Fairley Goulburn Murray Community Leadership program.

Regional Development Australia representative

Grant Jones

Grant is the Executive Advisor and Technical Director with GHD Pty Ltd specialising in infrastructure planning, options assessments, business case development and technical investigations. He co-founded Malt Shed Brewery in Wangaratta and is the Managing Director and head brewer.

He is committed to building a vibrant and sustainable region by undertaking leadership roles with an approachable, balanced, strategic and motivated work ethic.

Victorian Government representative

Tony Bates PSM – Deputy Secretary, Financial Policy and Information Services, Department of Education and Training

Local government CEOs

Phil Paterson – CEO, Wodonga TAFE

Phil commenced in the role of Chief Executive Officer in April 2019 having joined Wodonga TAFE as the Chief Financial Officer in 2016.  Prior to commencing with Wodonga TAFE, Phil worked in the commercial sector for a range of multi-national manufacturing companies such as Mars, Caltex Australia, Compaq and Unilever.

Phil brings a strong financial and commercial acumen combined with highly effective leadership skills.  He has a Master of Business Administration, is a certified Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

William Jeremy – CEO, Alpine Shire Council

Will commenced in the role of Chief Executive Officer in July 2022 having joined Alpine Shire Council in early 2016 as Manager Asset Development, before stepping into the role of Director Assets in 2017.

Prior to commencing in Local Government, Will’s career spanned more than 16 years in the private sector as a project manager in the oil and gas industry, initially for Shell and more recently for Woodside Energy. Will has a Masters Degree in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford in the UK, and is a Chartered Professional Engineer and member of Engineers Australia. Will is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Will is passionate about the future sustainability of our Shire and enjoys making a difference for the community in which he lives.

Peter Keane – CEO, Benalla Rural City Council

Trevor Ierino – CEO, Indigo Shire Council

Trevor was appointed to the position of Indigo Shire Council CEO in 2018 after a career spanning more than 30 years in both public and private sector industries. These included banking, motor vehicle manufacturing, food manufacturing, printing services, as well as 10 years as chief financial officer with Goulburn-Murray Water, Australia's largest rural water authority. Trevor’s most recent role was Director of Business Services at Wodonga City Council, a position he held for 10 years.

Kirsten Alexander – CEO, Mansfield Shire Council

Juliana Phelps – CEO, Towong Shire Council

Juliana has served as Towong Shire Council’s CEO since 2009. Prior to taking on this role, she held the position of Director Community and Corporate Services. Juliana is a Chartered Accountant and has experience with auditing private and public organisations.

She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Charles Sturt University as well as a Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Economics). Juliana is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Prior to joining Council, Juliana held a senior management position in the manufacturing sector in Albury Wodonga. Juliana is passionate about the sustainability of rural communities and small rural councils and, for ten years up to late 2020, was the Hume Region representative on the Rural Councils Victoria board.

Brendan McGrath – CEO, Wangaratta Rural City Council

Brendan McGrath has over 25 years’ Victorian local government and private sector management experience.

With post graduate Business Management qualifications and in CEO roles since 2008, initially with Indigo Shire and now with Rural City of Wangaratta, Brendan’s strengths lie in human and financial resources management and policy, strategy, and business development.

His Bachelor of Applied Science degree and early local government and private sector management experience in community and recreation areas gives him a strong understanding of the importance of working with people in the communities they live in.

Brendan is a current non-executive director on the boards for North East Victoria Regional Tourism Board and GOTAFE Wangaratta.  He is also the former President and Board Member of Local Government Professionals, the peak body for Local Government professionals in Victoria and former Board Member of Procurement Australia, a National Procurement aggregation company.

Matthew Hyde – CEO, Wodonga City Council

Matt has over 25 years’ experience in local government across Queensland, NSW and Victoria. He has held CEO roles since 2016.

His strengths lay in collaborative leadership and in securing buy-in  from senior management, elected officials and government entities to deliver targeted outcomes and results. Matt's decision-making and direction-setting are guided by his foundational values of Equity, Integrity and Respect.

Matt holds Bachelor of Science (Botany), a Master’s in Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He was formerly a director of Local Government Professionals NSW until taking on his role at City of Wodonga. He is currently a non-executive director on the La Trobe University Albury Wodonga Campus Regional Advisory Board.