Board chair

Joined Board of Directors in August 2016

Vicki is currently a director and committee member of a number of community organisations. Until recently, she enjoyed a long and distinguished career over 40 plus years in the banking finance industry with the last 26 years at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank where she held many senior management and corporate positions including roles of State Manager in Victoria and Western Australia for almost a decade.

She has been heavily involved in supporting the not-for-profit and community sector. Past appointments, advisory board member of the Curtin University School of Economics and Finance, director of Foundation Housing Ltd (Perth WA), committee for the Supported Accommodation Group and chair of the LeadOn Bendigo Youth Driving Program.

Vicki is currently a director of the Bendigo Art Gallery, a board member of The Ulumbarra Foundation and a Trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria(NGV). She is also a committee member of the White Ribbon Foundation in Bendigo, a member of the NGV Audit and Compliance Committee and Victorian Foundation for living Artists Committee. Outside of this Vicki spends time with family and friends and looking after her two young Grandsons.

Board deputy chair

Joined Board of Directors at 2016 Annual General Meeting

Dean McKay has previously held roles spanning budget, capital development and corporate governance responsibilities in the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance is currently a management consultant to the Australian health care sector with Paxton Partners.

In his current role, he has worked across national and state governments, Local Health Networks and with individual health services to develop new health care funding models, evaluate the impact of new policies and programs, develop strategic plans to guide future service delivery and make recommendations to improve the financial and operating performance of health services.

Dean is a physically active person with a passion for health, and enjoys playing AFL football, touch football and running – particularly running after his 2 year old son.

Having moved to Bendigo in 2014, he has become well attuned to the strong sense of community in the area and the potential to achieve positive impacts through community-based initiatives. He sees his role on the BCHS Board as an opportunity to leverage his consulting experience across the health sector to provide meaningful improvements to the health and wellbeing of the local community.

Board member

Joined Board of Directors at 2015 Annual General Meeting

I am a director of Beck Legal solicitors Bendigo and an accredited business law specialist practising predominantly in the areas of workplace relations , local government and elder law.

I am also currently a director of Law Council of Australia and Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise and a former director and president of the Law Institute of Victoria and as well previously served as a Councillor at City of Essendon.

I reside in Kangaroo Flat and was born in regional Victoria outside Shepparton . I have maintained a keen interest in regional communities and ensuring that all residents have equal access to quality essential services such as health, education and recreational facilities.

During 16 years in Bendigo, I have been involved in many community organisations ranging from Bendigo Bombers ( inaugural chair), Bendigo Tennis, Kangaroo Flat Football and Netball Club, Australian Industry Group and Bendigo Professional Services Group.

My first-hand observation and admiration of the role BCHS plays at the grass roots level in my local community in assisting many underprivileged residents in their health needs attracted me to the BCHS board.

I am excited to be involved in BCHS's future direction in attempting to turn back the tide of generational reoccurring health issues.

Board member

Joined Board of Directors at 2012 Annual General Meeting

Tom is the director of Bendigo-based marketing consultancy, Bridge Inbound Marketing.

Tom is passionate about taking a pro-active approach to health and wellbeing and is committed to helping improve the Bendigo community.

As a board director of BCHS for the past four years, Tom has been witness to much of the crucial work that BCHS undertakes in our community.

He is devoted and enthused to continue to be a part of the organisation’s future direction, improving generational health and life quality of the Bendigo community, particularly those from disadvantage.

Board member

Joined Board of Directors in May 2017

Katie is a founding director of ESE Consulting, a Recruitment, Human Resource and Training company based in Bendigo. She holds a degree in Business and has qualifications as a MBTI and DISC Facilitator and is a qualified OH&S Supervisor. Katie is also a Director of The Discovery Centre and is passionate about contributing in the not-for-profit sector.

Katie is very excited about being involved in BCHS’s future direction, to continue to assist in improving people’s health and the disparity within our community.

Board member

Joined Board of Directors on January 29, 2019

Melanie Eddy has joined the Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors.

The director at Tyndall Eddy Partners accounting firm in Bendigo has joined the board to further passions around equality, social justice, family, health and wellbeing.

“The health, both physical and mental, of myself and my family has always been very important to me. Because of this I have always placed a high priority on putting effort into preventative health and wellbeing measures," Melanie said.

"This includes utilising local health services, participating and being involved in local sporting communities, creating and fostering relationships within our school community and implementing healthy eating habits.

"I have also always had a strong sense of social justice in the past.

"I have tried to work out a way to utilise my finance expertise to help those that need it most.

"Being a BCHS Board Director is a perfect way for me to act on my belief in equality for all by using my finance experience and also my passion for health and wellbeing.”

Board member

Joined Board of Directors at 2016 Annual General Meeting

A highly passionate, community focused, technology and sport enthusiast who wants to make a difference.

Throughout my career I have managed and been involved with a number of key projects across several varied industries including Information Technology, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Banking and Finance, Telecommunications and Health.

As well as my working history, I'm also currently a Director of the Bendigo Business Council as well as a shareholder in Bendigo Community Ventures.

Specialities: Business Analysis, Project Management, Release Management, Technology, Marketing, Community Engagement, Corporate Strategy.

Board member

Joined Board of Directors on November 26, 2019

Danielle Couch is a Public Health Researcher who brings a strong interest in public and rural health, media, health workforce, communities and social models of healthcare.

She is excited about getting involved in BCHS with its social model of health and focus on providing accessible, quality health and social services.

Danielle holds a Master of Public Health and a PhD in public health with her work recognised by the inaugural Violet Vines Marshman Postdoctoral Fellow in Rural Health at La Trobe University in Bendigo.

She has an extensive history working in population health, health promotion and primary prevention with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, funding and commissioning organisations, digital health and peak consumer health bodies.

Danielle has worked with Murray PHN, Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative and Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group.

She is an Associate Editor with the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry and a member of the Public Health Association of Australia and The Australian Sociological Association.