Nicole Ferrie
Interim CEO
Nicole is a skilled and trusted executive leader with a deep understanding of the Bendigo community.
Nicole has a strong focus on diversity and inclusion and is passionate about including the voices of people with lived experience in organisational planning.
She has held positions on several boards, including Centre for Non-Violence and Annie North Women’s Refuge, the national Our Watch Media Advisory Board and national Mindframe Media Advisory board.
Her advocacy work with victim-survivors of family and domestic violence has seen her present locally and internationally - including at parallel events at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York and at the 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters in The Hague.
Nicole is a member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia and the International Association for Public Participation.
Prior to moving into Executive roles, Nicole was a multi-award-winning journalist whose career in the media spanned 25 years, with her work long been acknowledged for helping shape community attitudes - in particular around gender equality and social justice issues.
Nicole Birks
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.
Dale Hardy
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
Emma Millard
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.
