healthy-thought

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Health promotion is a powerful and cost effective way to maintain a healthier community. It enables people to increase control over and improve their health.

Staff

To contact an individual staff member, phone reception on (03) 9667 1333 or send us an email.   

 

Chief Executive Officer


Jerril Rechter 

Jerril Rechter

Jerril Rechter, CEO

Jerril has extensive experience in leadership across the areas of arts, community and not-for-profit sectors.  She comes to VicHealth from Leadership Victoria where she held the position of Executive Director since 2009. Before this, she was CEO of Footscray Community Arts Centre, CEO/Founder of Stompin Youth Dance Company, and Artistic Associate at the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts.
 
She has served on various state and national boards and committees, including VicHealth's as Board Member from 2004 to 2010. Her ministerial appointments include her membership in the Australia Day Committee in Victoria.

Jerril is a recipient of a Centenary Medal, Tasmania Day Award, and Fellowships from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Australia Council, Harvard Club of Australia, the Australian Davos Forum-Future Summit, and Williamson Community Leadership Program (Leadership Victoria).

Jerril holds a Master of Business Leadership from RMIT University.


 

 

Senior officers
 

john fitzgerald

John Fitzgerald

John Fitzgerald
Executive Manager, Strategic Advisor

John joined VicHealth in April 2009. He is a leading academic in the field of drug and alcohol research and policy making, working locally, nationally and internationally to translate research into policy outcomes. In 2008 John was recognised for his research and policy work on alcohol consumption among AFL footballers. John has an extensive publication and research grant history and joins VicHealth following his appointment as Associate Dean Knowledge Transfer in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. In addition to academic publishing, John has expertise in short film-making, rich digital media and innovations in linking research to policy.  

 

Brian Vandenberg

Brian Vandenberg

Brian Vandenberg
Executive Manager, Knowledge and Environments for Health (Acting) 

Since 2007, Brian has led VicHealth's tobacco control, alcohol harm reduction and UV protection programs. During this time Brian was also contracted as an advisor and policy writer for the National Preventative Health Taskforce’s discussion paper "Australia: the Healthiest Country by 2020" and the accompanying technical report on alcohol. In 2011, Brian was contracted to the Commonwealth Department of Defence to assist with an independent advisory panel review of alcohol use in the Australian Defence Forces. Brian has previously been a senior advisor to the Victorian Premier's Drug Prevention Council, and has also worked for the Commonwealth Government to develop the National Alcohol Strategy 2006-2011. In 2002-2005, Brian established and managed Living Room primary health service, a drop-in and outreach service for street based injecting drug users in the Melbourne CBD. 

 

Lyn Walker

Lyn Walker

Lyn Walker
Executive Manager, Participation and Equity for Health

Lyn has a background in human service management and has worked in the public health field for the past 23 years. Lyn's predominant areas of focus have included development of gender-specific services and programs, and advocacy for legislative and policy reform in key areas. Lyn has written and co-edited a range of publications focusing on the social and economic determinants of health, and supported development of the first International monograph on Mental Health Promotion: Concepts, Emerging Evidence and Practice. She is a member of the Adult Multicultural Education Services Board and the Global Consortium for the Promotion of Mental Health, and supports the activity of a range of state committees and working parties.   

 

Kerry Grenfell 

Kerry Grenfell

Kerry Grenfell
Executive Manager, Communications

Kerry has extensive experience in marketing and communications across a diverse range of sectors including government, infrastructure, consultancy, and not-for profits. Areas of focus in her previous communications roles have included childcare policy, women’s health, disability, ageing, community services development, sustainability and water. Kerry’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business Communications, Queensland University of Technology, and Bachelor of Arts, Politics and Media, Griffith University. 

 

 

Nick Boyle

Nick Boyle

Nick Boyle
Executive Manager, Corporate Support (Acting)

Nick joined VicHealth in 2009, bringing 15 years of professional experience in strategy and operations management to the organisation. Nick’s qualifications include Bachelors of Engineering and Commerce. He has worked in construction management and IT development and has five years experience in management consulting for local and state governments. Nick specialises in strategy, governance and operations management.

 

 

Randall Kent

Randall Kent

Randall Kent
Chief Financial Officer (Acting)

Randall has a broad range of experience in financial management, human resources and governance in the health and community services sector. He returns to VicHealth after originally working with the organisation as its Director of Finance and Administration from 1988 to 2006. He was previously CEO of Kensington and Flemington Community Health Centres and Commissioner of Wesley Mission Melbourne. Since 2006, he has provided technical advice to the World Health Organisation and the National Preventative Health Taskforce.

 

 

 

 

CEO's Office

Jerril Rechter Chief Executive Officer 

 

Participation and Equity for Health

Lyn Walker   Executive Manager


Physical activity

Cameron McLeod   Acting Manager
Kathleen Brasher  Senior Project Officer
Vanessa Phillips  Senior Project Officer
Shelley Salter  Senior Project Officer
Alex Pusenjak Project Officer
Annabel Sides  SSAPP Coordinator


Social connection

Irene Verins  Manager
Jim Rimmer  Senior Project Officer
Therese Riley  Research Leader 


Reducing race-based discrimination & supporting diversity

Kim Webster  Manager
Debbie Darnell  Senior Project Officer
Currently vacant  Senior Project Officer


Preventing violence against women

Renee Imbesi  Manager
Liz Murphy  Senior Project Officer
Kiri Bear  Senior Project Officer
Janelle Cribb  Project Manager–Special Projects


Economic participation

Irene Verins  Manager


Health inequalities

Kellie Horton  Manager
Ben Waterhouse  Senior Project Officer


Knowledge management & workforce development

Irene Verins  Manager
Sarah Posner Project Officer
Karlee Field  Short Course Trainee


Unit administration

Aaron Dore  Acting Manager, Program Support
Cassie Nicholls  Project Officer
Kristen Finney Project Officer
Betty Bougas  Assistant Project Officer
Marnie Shine  Program Support Administrator

 


Knowledge and Environments for Health 

Brian Vandenberg  Executive Manager (Acting)


Tobacco, alcohol & UV

Brian Vandenberg  Manager
Sean O'Rourke  Project Officer
Rachel Petrie  Project Officer
 

Food & nutrition 

Julie Woods  Acting Manager
Melissa Deutscher  Project Officer


Knowledge

Lisa Thomson  Manager
Tessa Hillgrove  Senior Project Officer–Surveys
Nikki Honey Senior Project Officer – Research Coordination
Fiona McKay  Senior Project Officer–Environments for Health
Candice Shean  Project Officer

 

Environments for health

Sue McGill  Manager 

Matt Cameron Project Officer 

Unit administration

Michele Agustin-Guarino  Manager–Program Support & Special Projects
Beth Gazzara  Project Officer

 


Corporate Support


Randall Kent
Chief Financial Officer

Nick Boyle Executive Manager (Acting)
Kerry Oehm  Executive Assistant


Information and communications technology (ICT) 

Martyn Baker  ICT Manager
Xa Dinh ICT Officer
Paul Grant  ICT Officer
Jeevan Jeyarajah  Assistant ICT Officer


Business & risk systems

Nick Boyle  Manager
Alana Mlinarevic  Contracts, Procurement and Risk Coordinator


Finance

Alex Benbow Finance Manager
Daniel Nguyen  Financial Accountant
Larna-Grace Pack  Finance Support Officer
Annie Lee AdministratrionTrainee

People, culture & development

Julia Galante  People, Culture & Development Coordinator
Marnie Shine  People Culture and Development Administrator


Resources & knowledge support 

Kathy McLinden  Manager
Eromi Paiva  Officer-Resources & Knowledge Support
Chris Davis  Support Officer-Resources & Knowledge Support
Gabrielle Mercieca   Support Officer-Administration & Facilities
  


Communications

Kerry Grenfell  Executive Manager


Media and communications

John Fulcher  Communications Manager
Jane Gardner  Senior Media Officer
Andrew Park Strategic Communications Advisor


Publications (print and digital)

Margarita Paguio  Publications Manager
Samantha McCrow  Publications Coordinator
Heather Smith  Publications Coordinator
Natalie Lleonart  Administration Officer


Unit administration/event support/study tours

Jo Hillas  Administration Coordinator


Front of house

Helene Finnie  Receptionist   



Associates

Cochrane Collaboration

Rebecca Armstrong
Jodie Doyle
Belinda Hall
Tahna Pettman

 

Victoria Walks  

Ben Rossiter  Executive Officer
Charmaine Chew  Community Engagement Coordinator