INTRODUCING OUR PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2019 NORTHERN MALLEE LEADERS PROGRAM Louise Ackland Gail Ahearn Colignan, Vic , Vic

Raised in the Mallee, Gail’s childhood was spent on Louise completed her studies at a dry land farm at Powlett Plains, La Trobe University in in central . and then began her career as a Secondary Teacher in rural areas After completing her secondary including Mount Beauty and schooling, Gail continued her Red Cliffs. studies at the Institute of Technology which led to a Since the early 90’s Louise and career in administration. her husband have developed and managed large-scale horticulture After a ten-year break from the properties including vineyards, workforce to have a family, Gail stone fruit and citrus orchards, and returned to work in the education nut plantations throughout , sector and completed a Diploma the Riverland and the . of University Administration, Bachelor of Business (HRM) Their two daughters have also and Cert IV in Workplace Training gone on to build careers in the & Assessing. horticulture industry. Louise’s skills lay in integrated management Gail relocated from Bendigo to systems and quality assurance and Sunraysia in 2002 to continue she is incredibly passionate about work in the education sector for advocating for strong representation a further 16 years and now for farmers and the horticulture currently works in administration industry. in both a virtual and face to face environment.

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Rotary Clubs of Sunraysia Women in Ag Vic Funded Place Recipient Scholarship Recipient Eliza Allomes Linda Bennett , Vic Mildura, Vic

Eliza was born in Mildura where she Born and raised in Murrayville, completed a Bachelor of Accounting Linda relocated to Mildura as an at La Trobe University and has worked 18-year-old trainee nurse through in a local firm for the past 4 years. the ‘old’ Mildura Base Hospital. She was also a fruit packer and Eliza got a taste for volunteering home care worker. Linda has at university where she joined a two adult daughters and will be group called Enactus that carried out celebrating 30 years of marriage community projects. Since then, Eliza later this year. has undertaken various roles within the Mildura Young Professionals In 2010 Linda relocated to the Network, became a member of the Whitsunday’s where she worked Rotary Club of South Mildura and a as a nurse’s assistant in community Director of MADEC. care, during this time Linda completed a degree in social work Eliza also enjoys learning about and worked in Child Protection. holistic approaches to managing Returning to Mildura in 2017, Linda stress in a professional environment, commenced working with MASP travelling and spending time with where she is currently working with loved ones. young people transitioning from out of home care to independence.

Linda is passionate about finding ways to support people who feel powerless to have a voice and ability to self-determine.

Proudly Supported by Proudly Supported by Paula Bond Kim Brown Mildura, Vic Mildura, Vic

Paula Bond is an experienced Kim has lived in Mildura for most operational and people leader of her life and is married with two with a career spanning 25 years in children. hospitality, retail and financial services across and the United After completing her schooling Kingdom. at Mildura Senior College, Kim commenced further studies at Looking for a tree change and to SuniTAFE, gaining a Cert II and III in reconnect with her regional roots, Business Administration. Kim worked Paula and her family recently moved at SuniTAFE in Administration for the to Mildura from Sydney. following 10 years before leaving in 2016 to begin a new chapter in Paula has vast leadership experience her work life, taking on the role of and has led customer facing teams, employment consultant at WDEA networks of stakeholders and most Works. Kim has found that being recently national operational delivery an employment consultant is her in a large-scale financial services absolute passion. organisation. She thrives on sharing her knowledge and skills to grow She loves helping her clients and and develop others and is keen to really enjoys the rewards of changing share her experience with the Mallee people’s lives and supporting them community. through their barriers to obtain gainful employment.

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Mildura Deakin Rotary Scholarship Recipient Melissa Castleman Ben Ezeabia Nichols Point, Vic Mildura, Vic

Melissa was born in Mildura and Ben is a Nigerian. He studied has lived here for most of her life Mechanical/Production Engineering apart from time spent living in in Enugu State University of Science Melbourne, Adelaide and travelling and Technology, 1995. Australia and overseas. Ben has a vast range of work Melissa completed a degree in experiences including: Training Visual Arts at Mildura’s La Trobe Maintenance Engineer in Nigerian University and has worked at the National Petroleum Corporation, Christie Centre for the past 12 years Maintenance Supervisor in West as a disability support worker and African Portland Cement Company arts facilitator. Her work life has (Now Lafarge), Production Manager been varied though and even now in Unilever Nigeria, Factory Manager in her current role, Melissa divides in Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria, Head her time between ArtRageUs and of Supply Chain in Orbit Chemical Aroundagain. Industries Ltd Kenya, Plant Manager in Unilever Nigeria and Plant Manger Outside of her work, Melissa’s Sesame Processing in Olam Nigeria. interests are art, reading, gardening, playing ukulele, getting out in In 2018, Ben moved to Australia, nature, especially kayaking and working in Olam Orchards Australia spending time with her partner Carwarp as Plant Manager for Chris and their children Alice Almond Processing. He is a and Oscar. member of the Diggerland Church at Red Cliffs.

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Scholarship Recipient Marissa Featherston Parthee Gana Gol Gol, NSW Mildura, Vic

A long-term employee at the Mildura A civil engineering professional, Health Fund and a Senior Manager Parthee migrated to Australia from responsible for the Hospital and Sri Lanka in November 2011. He Medical Team and Audit Functions. moved to Mildura in September 2014 to take up a position with Mildura Marissa is a devoted mother of Rural City Council as Technical Officer 3-year-old twins, and wife to Adam. and his current role at council is now She loves to experience new sights, as Engineering Design Team Leader. tastes and experiences and has a Parthee has also completed passion for fitness and wellness. a professional honours degree in In her past, she has been a fitness Road Engineering and Construction instructor. Marissa believes personal at the University of Tasmania. development is forever evolving. Parthee currently holds the position Marissa is originally from Broken Hill of Secretary of Sunraysia Indian and from a farming background. This Association Inc. (SIA) and actively upbringing is the reason she likes to participates in community activities that are organised by SIA. In his live sustainably and pass a more leisure time, Parthee plays cricket conscious way of living onto the and badminton. Both Parthee and next generations. his wife have an interest in singing and dancing and have performed in several of their community events.

Parthee strongly believes that the NML Program provides an opportunity to connect to the community and is Proudly Supported by eager to grow in his understanding of how he can contribute to the community with positive change.

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NML Alumni Scholarship Recipient David Gardner Gayle Guyomar Mildura, Vic Koorlong, Vic

David was born in Berri, South Gayle was raised in Nangiloc where Australia, but has spent the majority she was educated at Nangiloc of his life in Mildura. Primary and Mildura Technical School throughout the 1970’s and He completed a Bachelor of 1980’s. She has been married for Commerce at La Trobe University 17 years within a modern family, Mildura and started work as a combining his, hers and their tax accountant for 5 years. He children. Their eldest is 34 and then expanded his accounting youngest 14 years old. knowledge into management and Gayle comes from a family of finance accounting, working for the community minded people - her Mildura Rural City Council. grandparents were Nangiloc David’s current role is the financial pioneers, committed to various controller of Southern Cross Farms, boards and committee groups, and where his small background in her mother a CWA Committee and agriculture has come in handy. Mildura Show Society committee member. Gayle feels that now is her David and his wife Melissa time to act within Sunraysia. welcomed their first child into their family in 2018. Along with sleepless Her work focus has been customer nights, he enjoys catching up with services, working with Mildura Fruit mates, renovating (very slowly) and Juices Pty Ltd, 4 years; Mildura watching the cricket. Independent Star, 7 years; and currently, Senior Customer Services Officer at Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation, 10 years.

Proudly Supported by From the NML Program Gayle wants to devote her time and intensity to a community project.

Proudly Supported by Angela Harvey James Jarvis Mildura, Vic Red Cliffs, Vic

Having lived and worked in Broken Originally from Sydney and then Hill for most of her life, Angela Goulburn NSW, James completed moved to the Sunraysia area two High School in Goulburn before years ago after accepting a position studying at Australian National in Dareton with Far West Local University in Canberra. Health District. Now working with Sunraysia Community Health Services Afterward he spent several years as Manager of the Family Violence at his parents family owned Park Program, Angela is a Social Worker Newsagency, initially working part with a Masters degree in Social Work time and then full time, even helping from Charles Sturt University. to manage until it was sold to new owners. After trying a few things, he Angela is mother of two boys, and, now he finds himself in the Mildura with her husband, has operated an air where he has long had conditioning and home maintenance family ties and is looking to get into business for ten years. something more out of his comfort zone. Previous positions within the human services (25 years) include mental He currently volunteers at the Red health, drug and alcohol, disabilities, Cliffs Community Resource Centre child wellbeing and family violence. and is learning a great deal.

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Scholarship Recipient Jamuna Jackson Jay Jeyakanthan Mildura, Vic Mildura, Vic

Jamuna is from the minority Tamil Jay is an experienced civil engineer people of Sri Lanka. In the late (BSc. Eng. Hons) and certified project 1980s, civil war drove her to seek manager (PMP and Prince 2) with asylum in Australia. After a short a demonstrated history, working in stay in Melbourne, Mildura became the construction industry for more her home. This was a big step for than fifteen years. He is a strong Jamuna, as she made the journey programme and project management by herself. professional with an MBA in Project Management.

Over the years she has had Born in Sri Lanka, Jay migrated to many interesting employment Australia and has freshly relocated opportunities in education, retail, to Mildura to hold a vital position administration and community- as a Team Leader for Infrastructure service work. Development at Mildura Rural City Council (MRCC). Jay is looking Jamuna worships at Riveredge forward to helping enhance the Church and God comes first services of the Engineering Unit and in her life. It is important to in contributing to accomplish the Jamuna to help people from low vision of MRCC in making Mildura, socio-economic and migrant the most liveable place. backgrounds, empowering the to live meaningful lives. He is a strong believer of understanding the community and feels that the NML Program will be invaluable to focus more on his assistance to this region.

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NML Alumni Scholarship Recipient

NMLP Pay-It-Forward 2018 Scholarship Recipient Brenton Lewin Cathy Monteleone Mildura, Vic Merbein, Vic

Brenton was born and raised Cathy has lived in Mildura most in Mildura but has also lived in of her life where she attended Seymour and Melbourne. St. Joseph’s College Mildura. Since leaving school she has He has been a member of the enjoyed working for large police force for the past 14 years, organisations in the financial sector. where he has performed a number of various roles. Cathy has been studying accounting at La Trobe University Mildura and In 2016 Brenton volunteered as a is currently the Finance Services mentor for the New and Emerging Manager at Sunraysia Community Community Leadership Program. Health Services. Cathy feels that He is interested in sport and plays being part of an organisation cricket for the Mildura Settlers that continually gives back to Cricket Club. the community is gratifying and rewarding. Brenton is looking forward to the opportunity to develop community In her spare time, Cathy enjoys relationships and enhance his cooking desserts, has travelled leadership skills, to be able to give throughout and is looking something back to the community forward to exploring other parts and drive change. of the world in the future.

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Victorian Branch (Mallee Regional Group) Scholarship Recipient

Paul O’Neill Kimberley Parker Mildura, Vic Mildura, Vic

Proceeding from a 15-year career Kimberley was raised in Red Cliffs in the international banking and and still calls the Northern Mallee finance sectors, Paul has drawn region her home. upon his successes as a business and investment analyst to apply Having recently completed a these skills in an area that he is Certificate III in Childhood Education passionate about – disadvantaged and Care, Kimberley hopes to work communities. within the early childhood sector to create positive experiences for Over the previous 12 years working our local young people. Committed for remote indigenous corporations, to developing her skills and self- Paul has initiated strategies and confidence to maximise her delivered programs supporting opportunities, Kimberley is looking self-sustainability and employment forward to the challenge of the 2019 opportunities for indigenous Northern Mallee Leaders Program. members; increasing funding revenues, developed financial In her spare time, Kimberley enjoys assistance programs, fostered dancing, singing and catching up with networks and collaborations her friends, and is looking forward to with NGO’s, including Western the opportunity to learn more about Australian and Victorian Aboriginal our community and finding the best bodies, Federal and State way for her to become involved. Government Departments and Philanthropic benefactors.

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Scholarship Recipient Lucy Parr Nadia Teuma Mildura, Vic Mildura, Vic

Lucy was born in Mildura in 1994 Nadia was born & raised in Mildura and has remained a resident of and following completion of VCE the Sunraysia region. at St Joseph’s College, she relocated to Adelaide and completed a Following her secondary education Bachelor of Nursing degree at at Mildura Senior College, Lucy Flinders University. Nadia gained went to La Trobe University in extensive experience in adult Mildura and completed a Bachelor medical, surgical and oncology of Human Services and Master of nursing and it was in Adelaide that Social Work. Lucy commenced she found her passion for working working in the Community Services in the nursing management area. Sector in 2015 within the Family Services program at Mallee Family Nadia relocated back to Mildura Care. Lucy then moved into a with her husband, working both specialist role at Mallee Sexual at the Mildura Base Hospital as an Assault Unit Inc. Mallee Domestic Associate Nurse Unit Manager and Violence Services (MSAU-MDVS) with La Trobe University as a Clinical in 2017 which is a position Lucy still Educator. In 2018, a change in career maintains and a career she is very with a community health focus lead passionate about. Nadia to Sunraysia Community Health Services where she is currently In Lucy’s spare time she enjoys working in the Preventative Health spending time with her friends, her area. dog and going to the gym. Nadia has two beautiful girls, she is actively involved with their sporting activities, local netball and swimming Proudly Supported by clubs and enjoys spending family time by the river.

Proudly Supported by Sam White Jennifer Zappia Mildura, Vic Mildura, Vic

Sam grew up in Wollongong Born and raised in Mildura, Jennifer where he attended the University completed a Bachelor of Commerce of Wollongong studying Electrical degree at The University of Sydney. Engineering. Upon the completion of her studies in 2016, she was awarded the Jack After graduating Sam moved to McCormack Perpetual Prize in Mildura for a job as a Graduate Industrial Relations Practice. Electrical Engineer with Cristal Mining in 2015 where he has In 2018, Jennifer was awarded an spent the last 4 years working. Agriculture Victoria Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarship. While not away at work Sam enjoys Jennifer is currently a member on playing soccer and travelling and Agriculture Victoria’s Young Farmers has taken up positions on both the Advisory Council. The council Mildura Young Professionals Network consists of eight dynamic young and Nichols Point Soccer Club people, from various agricultural Committees. industries and , who advise government on issues affecting young people in agriculture and on program delivery.

Jennifer is committed to fostering mentoring and collaboration amongst young farmers in our local community.

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Agriculture Victoria and Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Funded Place Recipient OUR VISION OUR MISSION Transformational leadership Developing people in active across the Northern Mallee. business and community leadership roles.

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