Chief Executive Officer 

Gerard is responsible for implementing Board decisions; providing strategic advice to Board Directors; working with the Board on the Strategic Plan and the day-to-day leadership and management of all BCHS services and activities.

Gerard's previous roles include: CEO Mildura Rural City Council, CEO of Greater Taree City Council, Director of Health and Community Services at Ringwood and Heidelberg Councils, Director of Community Services and Acting CEO at the Shire of Campaspe and Director of Community Services at the City of Knox.

He has also worked for the Municipal Association of Victoria, Spastic Society of Victoria (now Scope); the Outer East Regional Housing Association, STAY Youth Refuge and the YMCA.

Gerard is a board member of Haven Home Safe, a tragic Collingwood Football supporter, enjoys woodworking, reading, writing, social research and watching most sports.

Executive Leader

People and Culture

Portfolio

Respectful workforce strategy

• People and culture (HR)
• Employment and payroll
• Volunteers and students

Nicole joined BCHS in 2019, moving into the People & Culture area in early 2020. Her role covers all aspects of human resources including all stages of the employee lifecycle, payroll, training and development including student placements and volunteers.

Nicole is a Professional Member of the Australian HR Institute and brings more than 13 years’ experience working in Community Service organisations such as CVGT, Vivid Echuca, Connecting2Australia and Radius Disability Services.

Previous HR roles with Skilled Group provided unique experiences in all areas of human resources and industrial relations.

Nicole spends her ‘free time’ chasing after her 2 young children, assisting with local events, watching live music and experiencing new things and places.

Executive Leader

Wellbeing, Inclusion and Independence

Portfolio

Access, Inclusion and Vulnerable Communities

• AOD clinical services
• AOD non-residential
• Settlement Services
• Refugee and Cultural Diversity
• Loddon Mallee AOD consortia

Executive Leader

Risk, Quality and Compliance

Portfolio

Risk and Quality Framework

• Risk and compliance
• Quality and accreditation(s)
• Policy and procedures
• Health and safety
• Podiatry and physical activity

Emma Millard joined BCHS in February, 2011, after starting her career as a podiatrist. Emma has held various clinical and leadership roles within BCHS, centred primarily around allied health, quality, and risk.

Emma currently provides coordination and oversight to all things risk, quality and compliance across BCHS, and has a keen interest in health service governance.

As well as her undergraduate podiatry qualification, Emma holds a Graduate Diploma Health Services Management, Certificate in Rural Paediatric Practice, and Certificate in Governance and Risk Management. Emma is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  

Executive Leader

Better health

Portfolio

Primary health and clinical services

• Clinical services
• Paediatric and children's health
• Allied health
• Forensic mental health

Graem has more than 35 years health industry experience starting from hospital training for nursing with Swan Hill District Hospital in 1981. He has held positions at all levels of nursing, including Director of Nursing, and has been a CEO/CE at Robinvale District Health Services, Castlemaine Health and Southwest Hospital and Health Services (QLD). He is a Public Service Medal Awardee, a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and has served on the Loddon Mallee Water Board, The Sunraysia LENS, Australian Hospitals and Health Association, the Echuca Based Area Consultative Committee and more.

He is a Rotary Paul Haris Fellow and as CEO of RDHS received the inaugural Sun/Herald State Health Services Innovation Award, State and Federal Gold Business awards for Quality and the State Rural Health Service of the Year.  

Graem is a Registered Nurse, has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Monash), Graduate Diploma in Rural Health (Monash) and MBA (Ballarat University). He also is graduate of the Australian Institute Company Directors.

He is passionate about making a difference and would seek to have a legacy of achievements that lead to better outcomes for all service areas that he may influence.

He deeply believes in local Community Capacity Building and that staff all have the capacity for self-growth and development.

Executive Leader

Community Services

Portfolio

Human and Community Services

• Children, Youth and Family Services
• Mental health and counselling
• headspace and youth services

Peter joined the BCHS Executive team in September, 2018. Prior to this, Peter was CEO of CatholicCare Sandhurst.

Peter's passion for people, counselling and social work has driven him to work for organisations ranging from the Victorian Government to private practice, and his expertise has been called upon to lecture at La Trobe University.

Peter's compassion has drawn him to roles including as Operations Manager for a homeless services provider and bushfire case management services. Peter has also worked with the Salvation Army, St Luke’s Anglicare, Catholic Family and Community Services, Australian Association of Social Workers and Loddon Mallee Housing Services (now Haven; Home Safe).

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Recreation), Bachelor of Social Work, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and a Master of Social Work (Human Services Management).

Peter has held various executive management positions at Regional, State and National levels and served on many boards and committees.

• Business and capital development
• Long term financial plan
• Fleet and facilities
• Finance and investment
• IMT - digital and data

• Front of house
• Records management
• Marketing and promotion
• Marketing and promotion
• Advocacy
• Health Promotion