About Us

Jessie Harman has spent the past three decades in the tertiary education sector, as academic, senior manager and now consultant.

Her expertise spans business development, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance and compliance. Her PhD is in the field of social enterprise and she continues to provide strategic advice to new and established nonprofits and social enterprises.

Alongside her professional career, Jessie is an active board member and volunteer. She is presently a Director of Rotary International, Director of Rotary Foundation Australia and Director of UNE Partnerships – the training company owned by the University of New England. She is also Chair of the Central Highlands Integrated Water Forum.

Jessie is a member of the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast.

Qualifications PhD, MBA, BA(Hons), GAICD

Maria is currently Customer Services Manager at Medtasker where she is responsible for digital program delivery of the Medtasker platform to hospitals across Australia and New Zealand.

She previously worked at Telstra Health and GE Healthcare delivering digital solutions for health services in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. She managed solution delivery across care areas including Pathology, Radiology, Hospitals, Aged Care, Disability and Community Care.

Prior to that, she was a Medical Scientist at Dorevitch Pathology. Maria’s areas of expertise are business leadership, strategic planning, program management and process improvement.

She is enthusiastic about the power of digital solutions and data analytics to improve health outcomes and about finding innovative ways to improve & simplify program implementation to deliver the solutions and business outcomes health organisations need.

Maria’s passion is enablement. By building connections and communities, she ensures the organisations she works with thrive and the next generation build successful careers.

She previously served on the Committee of Management for BDNH Group and as a mentor for VIC ICT for Women.

Qualifications BSc, GAICD

David Pierce has worked in the health sector for four decades, as a general practitioner, with a focus on mental health, and as a research academic and teacher at The University of Melbourne.

For five years he was the Director of the University Department of Rural health. He is an author of more than 50 research articles and book chapters in the Australian and international literature.

He is currently a Principal Fellow (Associate Professor) at The University of Melbourne. David has focused for many years on primary care mental health. His work has contributed to addressing barriers to care in rural areas and to the provision of evidence based non-pharmacological therapies in primary care. His doctoral thesis addressed the provision of Problem Solving Therapy for depression in primary care.

David is a long-term resident of Ballarat. He has experience in leadership and governance in both health and broader community organisations. He was co-opted as member of the BCH Quality of Care Committee for two years before being appointed to the Board as a Director in May 2022.

Qualifications MB, BS, MGPP, MMed, MD(Research), FRACGP, FASPM, GradDipTheol, MAICD

Kerry is currently employed with Ramsay Health as the National Accreditation Officer and has over 20 years’ senior management/executive experience with strong clinical and quality backgrounds, working in regulation, acute care (both public and private), rehabilitation and aged care. She is a highly skilled leader in leading and managing organisational change at both strategic and operational levels.

Kerry currently chairs the Board of Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) and has served on a number of boards previously including Breastscreen Victoria, Baptcare, Victorian Cytology Service and Mercy Hospitals Inc and as a member of the Finance and Audit subcommittee of VicHealth and held Ministerial appointments as a member of the Victorian Clinical Council and previous Victorian Quality Council.

Qualifications MBA, BBus. HAdmin, Grad Cert Applied Risk M’ment, Diploma Risk Management and Business Continuity, RN, GAICD
Membership: FAICD, FGIA, FACN, FAAQHC, MRMIA

Shelley is experienced in financial management, strategic planning, and community engagement, committed to driving positive change and enhancing the impact of Ballarat Community Health.

Shelley’s background as the Head of Finance & Executive Corporate Services at Pinarc Disability Support provides strong financial literacy and governance skills. Shelley has led the implementation of numerous systems, workflow automation and financial transparency processes during her career.

Previous experience across the not for profit and regional public health sectors has fostered Shelley’s in-depth understanding of clinical governance and compliance requirements. Shelley is a Certified Practising Accountant, ensuring a robust foundation for effective internal controls and risk management.

Shelley’s connection to the Ballarat and Central Highlands communities, including involvement in community leadership programs, has provided a thorough understanding of local needs and aspirations for the region. Shelley’s collaborative approach with stakeholders carries through to her role as Director, seeking to align the organisation’s strategies with community priorities and expectations.
Qualifications BCom (Acct & Fin), CPA

Mikel is a certified CEO with the CEO Institute and has over 25 years’ experience growing businesses across Australia. This experience includes extensive leadership expertise, spanning directorship, executive management and financial stewardship roles.

Mikel has held roles with a variety of Boards for more than 15 years, across corporate, public health and not for profit settings. Mikel presently holds Board Director positions with Hesse Rural Health Service (Chair of the Finance, Risk & Audit Committee) and the Association of Children with Disabilities (Vice President).

Following a recent move to the Ballarat region, Mikel is passionate about contributing to the Ballarat Community Health Board, embedded within his local community.
Qualifications BComm, CCEO, CPA

Andrew Howard is an executive level manager, administrator & leader, with a broad range of skills and experience developed over a diverse career of seeking and embracing opportunity and challenge.
Andrew Howard is currently employed as Chief Executive Officer at Ballarat Hospice Care Inc.

His professional background includes management experience across government and government-funded disability and health sectors and private Residential Aged Care.

Andrew also has substantial Director-level governance experience, has offered private business consulting in the general practice (medical) sector, and is owner/operator of start-up small business further broadening generalist business and management skills.
Qualifications Grad Dip Admin (Mgt), GAICD

David Malone has held senior executive positions in the health sector for over 20 years, spanning the not-for-profit, private, and government sectors.

David is currently employed as Chief Executive Officer at the Skin Health Institute. Prior to this, David held a number of executive roles in the Victorian Department of Health. David was Director, Covid Pathology Operations and Improvement; responsible for establishing relationships with private pathology companies and scaling COVID testing capacity across public laboratories. While in the Department, he also led teams responsible for developing the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

David’s professional experience includes CEO roles at the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), Healthway (the West Australian Health Promotion Agency), and the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA). David was awarded a Centenary Medal by the Australian Government in 2003 for his work as CEO of the APA.

David has also worked as an advisor to the World Health Organisation and previously chaired the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations.

Qualifications MBA, B.App.Sc. (Physio), B.Sc., GAICD

Qualifications BA/LLB, LLM, GAICD

Pauline is a senior Commercial and Investment Manager at energy services business AusNet Services and has over 20 years’ experience in senior management and executive roles across several sectors. This includes key roles in utilities, postal and manufacturing businesses across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Pauline brings her expertise in finance, risk management, internal and external audit, procurement, change and project management, quality and governance, supply chain and human resources to the Board.

Pauline is currently an Independent Director at Federation University Australia, Brisbane Education Services and School of Mines Ballarat Ltd.

Qualifications MBA, BBus (Acc)., GAICD, FICAANZ, Graduate Leadership Program Harvard Club of Australia