The Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors has welcomed three new members.

Vicki Pearce, Josh Pell and Dean McKay bring a wealth of knowledge to the organisation.

Vicki has extensive experience in the banking finance industry with the past 26 years at the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank in senior roles including state manager of Victoria and Western Australia.

A BCHS board position continues Vicki’s passion of helping communities.

“I hope to make a difference to many people, especially those who are disadvantaged within our community,” Vicki said.

“I am keen to roll up my sleeves and get involved and assist in any way that I can to help people to gain access to positive life options.”

Vicki said gaining an understanding of the capability of BCHS teams and how they make a difference and change lives had made her very proud to be part of BCHS.

“It is wonderful that the BCHS team support a myriad of programs across our area,” Vicki said.

Josh Pell brings a passion for Bendigo, community and innovation to the BCHS board.

“I’ve joined the board so I can play a part in ensuring that Bendigo remains a community that is healthy both physically and mentally,’’ he said.

“I want to ensure that our platforms and programs continue to embrace and develop new ways of doing things to further support our community.”

Josh said BCHS was uniquely placed to a lead, drive and deliver innovative programs to encourage better physical and mental health in the community.

“I hope to achieve a focus on how BCHS can utilise emerging technology to deliver our current and future programs. With the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the population generally being more technologically ‘connected’ it’s important that BCHS adapts to this change to continue to deliver programs. I’m also very keen on preventative health and ensuring the population can get access to quality healthcare regardless of financial or social standing.”

Dean McKay held roles spanning budget, capital development and corporate governance in the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance before becoming a management consultant to the health care sector.

Dean was motivated to join the BCHS board after seeing Bendigo’s strong sense of community since moving to the city in 2014 and recognising the potential to drive substantial benefits in health outcomes through community-based models.

“I see a role on the BCHS Board as a great way to leverage my experience consulting across the health care sector into a role with the potential to achieve substantial improvements in health outcomes at a local level,” he said.

“I see BCHS as a key player in redressing a range of specific challenges the Bendigo community faces with respect to disparities in health outcomes and access to health services.

Dean said his immediate impression was that BCHS people were highly capable, passionate about what they do and committed to working together to improve the health and wellness of the community.