Board of Governance

A Board of Governance comprising 11 ministerial appointments and three members elected by Parliament oversees VicHealth. Two Board Committees, several advisory panels and a dedicated and professional staff support the Board.

The role of the VicHealth Board, acting on behalf of the Minister for Health, is to govern the organisation so that VicHealth fulfils its statutory responsibilities and delivers on its aims and objectives while acting ethically and prudently, remaining within the law. 

 

 

Jane Fenton, AM - Chair

Jane Fenton is principal of Fenton Communications, a strategic communications consultancy. She is a fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia, a life governor of Very Special Kids and director of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.  

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Brewster 

Gill Brewster is Executive Director of the Victorian Olympic Council and has worked extensively in sports administration. She has also taught in the primary sector. For many years Gill was General Manager of Museums at the MCG, responsible for the development of the National Sports Museum at the MCG. She is a member of the VicSport Women's Advisory Group and a committee member of the Melbourne Tigers Women's Basketball Club.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Sally Cockburn

Dr Sally Cockburn has some 20 years’ experience as a GP and is a well-known media commentator. Sally has a solid understanding of corporate governance through extensive experience on health and charity boards including seven years on the Metropolitan Ambulance Service Committee of Management and two years as chair of the Variety Club of Victoria. She has been a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women’s Health and is on the board of the Monash Medical Foundation and Family Planning Victoria. 

 

 

 

 

Sue Cormack

Sue Cormack manages her own consultancy business in Geelong and has vast professional experience at national, state and local levels in the areas of sport, recreation and education. Sue is national project officer for the Active Australia Schools Network, supporting Australian schools to develop sport and physical activity. She is also active in club and community development, supporting grass-roots delivery across the Barwon Region.  

 

 

 

 

Richard Dalla-Riva MLC

Richard Dalla-Riva, State Liberal Party MP for Eastern Metropolitan Region, was born in Orbost, Victoria and educated at Beechworth Primary School and Macleod High School. Before entering politics, Richard was a Seniors Police Detective with the Victoria Police. After leaving the Police Force, Richard held a variety of positions in business before being elected to Parliament in November 2002. He currently serves as Shadow Minister for Industry & State Development, Shadow Minister for Major Projects and Freedom of Information. 

 

 

 

 

Hugh Delahunty

Hugh Delahunty, State National Party MP for Lowan, has a long involvement in local government as a councillor and mayor with Horsham Rural City Council. He was an advisor with the Office of Rural Affairs and has links with many community and sporting bodies. He played with Essendon Football Club and is a life member of Murtoa Football Club.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Mei Ling Doery

Dr Mei Ling Doery is a medical graduate. She has a keen interest in human performance, which has been recognised with a Young Investigator Award from the European Space Agency. Her broad professional experience includes being a contributor to South-East Asian-based health promotion company MeggPower and a club doctor for Richmond reserves football team. Mei Ling has had a leading role with the Australian Medical Students Association, Ausdoctors.net, the UN Space Generation Forum, SpaceFutures and the Victorian Youth Space Forum.  

 

 

 

 

Belinda Duarte (nee Jakiel)

Belinda Duarte was born and raised in Ballarat and is a descendant of the Wotjobaluk people and the country of Poland. Belinda is national project manager Indigenous Employment Program with AFL Sportsready. She is also a qualified teacher, a former elite athlete and an ambassador for beyondblue and Go for your Life initiatives. Her professional experience involves extensive work with young people, Indigenous communities and high-risk groups.

 

  

 

 

Lindsay Gaze, OAM

Lindsay Gaze is director of coaching and player development for the Melbourne Tigers in Australia's National Basketball League. Lindsay is a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame board, and one of Australia's most prominent and experienced coaches. He represented Australia in basketball as a player in three Olympic Games and as a coach in four Olympics.

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Gordon

Peter Gordon, senior partner of national law firm Slater & Gordon, has been at the forefront of smoking and health litigation in Australia, involving class action litigation against the Australian tobacco industry and helping the US Department of Justice in a multi-billion dollar action against the tobacco industry. Peter has worked for asbestos victims for 20 years. In 2004, he established the $500,000 Slater & Gordon Asbestos Research Trust. He is also a former AFL director and president of Footscray Football Club. 

 

 

 

 

Professor David Hill, AM

Professor David Hill is director of The Cancer Council Victoria. One of Australia's leading public health researchers, Prof. Hill is widely regarded as a leading international expert in social marketing and public health campaigns. In 2001 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the promotion of community health, particularly in the development of cancer awareness and prevention programs.   

 

 

 

 

 

Kirstie Marshall OAM

Kirstie Marshall, State Labor Party MP for Forest Hill was elected to the Victorian State Government in November 2002. Prior to getting involved in politics, Kirstie was well known for sporting achievements. She was named the Victorian Sportswoman of the Year four times, was the Australian Skier of the Year six times and was awarded an OAM for her contribution to skiing and sports administration on the Queens Birthday Honour List in 2003. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerril Rechter

Jerril Rechter is Executive Director of Leadership Victoria. Jerril has extensive experience in leadership in arts, education, not-for-profit and youth sectors in Australia and is a recipient of a Winston Churchill Fellowship, Tasmania Day Award, and Australia Council Fellowship. In 2003 she was awarded a Centenary Medal for service in the Tasmania Together process as a Community Leaders Group member.

 

 

 

 

 

Professor Richard Smallwood, AO

Professor Richard Smallwood has a wealth of experience in senior medical and public health positions, recently as Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer. He is chair of the Victorian Ministerial Taskforce for Cancer, former chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council and past president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Prof. Smallwood is an international speaker in research, clinical and health service related topics, and author/co-author of some 250 publications. He is also chair of the National Blood Authority and a member of the Australian Medical Council Executive.