More than 40 new members have been appointed to a group which provides a regional voice to the Victorian Government.
The members were appointed across the nine regional partnerships, including Goulburn Regional Partnership and Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership.
In total, 67 people have been appointed to roles across the regional partnerships, including 42 new members and 25 who are returning for another term.
The members of each group have been chosen for their strong connections to local community, industry and business groups, and experience in leadership roles.
The members will be a direct place-based voice to the Victorian Government, with the Regional Development Victoria Regional Partnerships established in 2016 to connect local community and business leaders with all tiers of government.
The partnerships recognise that local communities are in the best position to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by their region and give a voice to regional communities and businesses to advise government and guide the delivery of local services, support, and programs.
The Goulburn Regional Partnership is chaired by Stuart Locke, who is Seymour Passengers Services general manager.
Mr Locke is active in the Seymour community, is board director of Bus Association Victoria, GO Seymour president, an appointed member of Seymour Flood Recovery Group, and a representative of Seymour Football/Netball Club.
This is his third term on the partnership.
Deputy chair is Colleen Furlanetto, who is the Timely Emergency Care Collaborative Department of Health consumer adviser.
Other members are Cobram real estate sales agent Brendan Mustica, La Trobe University Shepparton campus head Elizabeth Capp, Giannarelli Group Seymour business manager Kelli Giannarelli, Furphy Engineering system improvement lead Leon Sargeant, GO Nagambie executive officer Marlene ‘Sissy’ Hoskin, Fruit Growers Victoria grower services manager Michael Crisera, and Flavorite Group chief executive officer and director Mike Nichol.
Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership will be chaired by an experienced chief executive officer and manager in the health sector, Tricia Currie, who will serve her second term on the partnership.
She is the Women’s Health Loddon Mallee chief executive officer, and also chairs the Loddon mallee Regional Strategy for the Prevention of Violence Against Women.
She is also involved with Gender Equity Victoria, North Central Local Learning Network, Gowrie Victoria, and Women’s Health Services Council of Victoria.
Deputy chair of this regional partnership is Moama’s Leah Taafe, who is Echuca’s Community Living and Respite Services chief executive officer.
It is her second term on the regional partnership.
Other members of the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership include Castlemaine Institute co-founder and company secretary Lexi Randall-L’Estrange, Coliban Water strategy executive general manager Anna Lamont, RM Consulting Group principal Claire Flannagan-Smith, Clear Dynamics government engagement director Craif Hunter, Campaspe Port Enterprises chief executive officer Mark Francis, Dja Dja Wurrung Group chief executive officer Rodney Carter, Don KR Castlemaine government relations and external affairs national head Stephen Booth
Over the past few years, the partnerships have supported a range of initiatives to deliver benefits to local communities.
The Goulburn Regional Partnership helped secure $15 million to fund the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub to give Seymour locals and families vital access to health, wellbeing, and community services.