CEO

Prior to joining Bendigo Community Health Services as CEO in 2024, Mandy Hutchinson was CEO of Northern District Community Health, which services the communities around the Kerang region of Victoria.

Prior to that six-year appointment Mandy was the Gannawarra Shire Council’s first Director Community Wellbeing.

Mandy is also a founding member and current chair of the Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health, which works towards reducing health inequity in rural and regional Victoria via the advocacy and work of its 11 community health members.

Mandy is a passionate advocate for the health and wellbeing of regional people.

Executive Leader

Engagement and Advocacy

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 3^rd 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.

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.