Cr Kim O’Keeffe has lived in Shepparton for most of her life.  Greater Shepparton offers a wonderful lifestyle and is a wonderful place to live and work. Kim has run her own business in the service and training industry for the past 28 years. Kim’s vision is for growth and to prosper with forward thinking and a progressive approach. She is passionate about the Greater Shepparton community and sees opportunity, diversity and so much potential for the region.

Peter Harriott is the CEO of Greater Shepparton City Council. Before that he was the CEO of Wattle Range Council (South Australia) 2013-2016 and a Director at Greater Shepparton City Council 2000-2012. Over the past 30 years he has worked in local government throughout Victoria as well as 3 years on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Peter has a Bachelor of Civil engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration.

Mayor Cr Jennifer Alden represents the Lockwood Ward and this is her second term on Council. She has a Doctorate of Public Health with a special interest in agenda-setting and food policy.

Cr Alden has three decades of experience working to improve health and wellbeing in the community and is passionate about achieving positive outcomes that ensure people can enjoy the best quality of life possible in an equitable manner.

Her work on Council has included support for action on climate and biodiversity breakdown, the development of food policy that supports health, environmental and social outcomes, localising our food system and improving food security through the development of a food hub. She has a long-standing interest in global food security and sustainable food systems, as well as renewable energy technologies as a pathway to job creation and resilience.

In 2018 she was awarded the Municipal Association of Victoria’s McArthur travelling fellowship for international Local Government research, travelling to Italy to research UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. This assisted in the successful designation in 2019 of Bendigo becoming Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Cr Alden is chair of the Bendigo Regional Food Alliance and former board member of Bendigo Foodshare. Most recently she was CEO of urban agriculture not-for-profit, Cultivating Community, and she published the book Liberated Eating in 2002.

Craig Niemann has over 30 years’ experience working in local government. He has been the Chief Executive Officer at Greater Bendigo City Council since December 2007 and was Director, Organisation Support prior to that.  He previously served as CEO of the Shire of Loddon. Craig has excellent knowledge of the Central Victoria area and a tremendous understanding of community issues and processes. He plays a key role in facilitating and encouraging the self-reliance of local communities, with a strong focus on community engagement and improving services.

Councillor Daniel Moloney is public relations and stakeholder relations professional who was elected to represent the City of Ballarat’s North Ward.  He served in the 2016 – 2020 Council term and in October 2020 was re-elected for the 2020-2024 Term.  He was also elected Mayor of Ballarat from October 2020 to October 2021.

Cr Moloney brings to his role as Councillor more than 20 years’ of high‐level policy experience advising and working with corporate directors, councils, government departments and ministers.

His strong background in tourism includes work as a Board Member of Ballarat Regional Tourism and as a marketer with V/Line; his communications experience includes work advising Victorian government agencies, a London-based charity, and as a suburban Melbourne-based journalist.

Cr Moloney’s extensive business experience includes management of state government campaigns, work for the Victorian Office of Fair Trading and Business Affairs (now known as Consumer Affairs Victoria) and the establishment of his own small business, a Ballarat and Melbourne-based public relations company.

He has worked for some of Australia’s biggest transport and infrastructure companies; he is passionate about public transport and as one of the thousands of Ballarat residents who regularly commute by train to Melbourne to work, he is determined to see public transport services continue to improve.

Cr Moloney has a BA (Journalism) RMIT, MBA (Federation University Australia), Dip Business; he was made a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia in 2016 in recognition of his achievements in the industry.

Cr Moloney grew up in Ballarat and region, and returned to raise his two children.  He remains active in the community in volunteer roles in addition to his elected representative role.

Evan King commenced as City of Ballarat in February 2021. Evan has spent the past two and a half years as CEO of Hepburn Shire, and has a Local Government career which includes executive roles at Pyrenees Shire Council as the Director of Corporate and Community Services and Hepburn Shire Council as the General Manager Corporate Services.

Prior to working in Local Government, Evan had an extensive career working in manufacturing and held senior management positions with Mars Wrigley and FMP (Bendix Mintex) as well as working within the social sector and notably working as the Business Manager for Salvation Army Western Victoria.

Evan has a Bachelor of Business from Federation University, is a qualified CPA and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Having lived and worked in rural and regional Victoria all his life, Evan is passionate about rural living and ensuring that those who live in regional Victoria have access to high quality services and facilities.

Stephanie Asher has been a Greater Geelong councillor since 2017 and the Mayor since 2019. A resident of Ocean Grove, she is passionate about standing up for the community in a strong and principled manner. Mayor Asher chairs the Council’s Sustainability Performance portfolio and CEO Employment Matters Committee and she is Deputy Chair of Finance and sits on the Audit and Risk Committee.

Mayor Asher also represents the City of Greater Geelong on the Regional Capitals Australia committee and she was elected Chair of the G21 Geelong Region Alliance in November 2020. Mayor Asher is CEO of a management consultancy with a successful career as a corporate strategy, policy and communications specialist. She is also the best-selling author of Susan Alberti’s authorised biography.

Martin Cutter was recently appointed CEO of the City of Greater Geelong, following several years at the City of Melbourne in a range of roles including Director of Corporate Services and Director City Business. He held senior roles at Australian River Co, ANL Limited and KPMG before entering the public sector.

Cr Gulline has called Longerenong home for 25 years. Originally from Queensland, she moved to the Wimmera after meeting her late husband Don.

As well as a prominent farmer in the region, she is an experienced teacher from pre-school and primary to TAFE and university levels.

The mother of three’s qualifications include a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Education, Diploma of Accounting, Diploma of Teaching – Primary-Preschool, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Governance of Registered Organisations.

She has served the Wimmera through involvement in organisations such as Wimmera Development Association, Regional Development Australia (Grampians) and Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership.

Cr Gulline is also an active member of the Victorian Farmers Federation and a strong contributor to the Wimmera Machinery Field Days, local Landcare groups and Horsham Hockey Club.

Sunil has worked in Local Government for 24 years, including 12 years in senior management.  He was previously Director Infrastructure Services at the City of Maribyrnong, where he had finance and operational responsibility for over 120 permanent staff and the delivery of services and programs totalling $60 million.

Prior to this, Sunil worked at the Surf Coast Shire Council for more than 14 years in a range of management positions including General Manager Governance and Infrastructure, Director Corporate Services, Director Infrastructure and Infrastructure manager.  He was also with the Hume City Council for six years and the Shire of Bulla for over two years.

Cr Sharon Gibson is a West Ward Councillor and was first elected to Council in December 2008, October 2012 , October 2016 and again in 2020. Cr Gibson served one term as Mayor and four terms as Deputy Mayor with three being consecutive. Cr Gibson has been elected for a second term as Mayor of Latrobe City Council.

Cr Gibson is a trained Grief Counsellor, ran a sexual abuse survivor support group and has worked extensively in the Counselling area, including the courts. She has been actively involved with Community and Business Associations. She has worked across the country in finance, computers, accounting and personal assistant sectors and has managed a ski lodge at one of the ski resorts.

Cr Gibson sits on four State MAV Committees, including, Emergency Management, Transport, Environmental and Professional Development Reference and has done for a number of years.

Cr Gibson has a regular segment on Gippsland FM each week called “Valley Talk” and is a Board Member. She is also on the Lowanna Secondary College School Council.

Cr Gibson has lived in the Latrobe Valley for most of her life and currently lives in Yallourn Heights. She is married and has two sons that keep her very grounded.

Steven joined Latrobe City Council in 2014 as General Manager Community Infrastructure and Recreation. He was appointed CEO in December 2018. He has over 20 years’ experience in local government, including eight years at Bass Coast Shire Council, where he worked as Community and Economic Development Director and prior to that, Infrastructure Director.

Steven has a degree in Civil Engineering and graduate certificate in Business Administration.

Cr Jason Modica became a Councillor for the first time in 2016. A ceramic tile ‘tradie’ and father of two teens, Cr Modica lives in Nichols Point and is passionate about the region he calls home.

During his first term, Cr Modica served as Deputy Mayor twice and held the Arts and Culture portfolio as well as supporting the environment and sustainable farming. He represented Council at the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin Plan, Municipal Association of Victorian annual general meeting and on the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance Board.

Cr Modica is passionate about social and regional economic development, energy transition, water literacy, service access and social justice.

He is keen to shape the local community’s future, putting honesty, integrity and authenticity at the centre of representation, as well as fighting for transparency and good governance.

Cr Modica was elected Mildura Mayor at the 2020 Annual General Meeting.

Sarah commenced in the role of Chief Executive Officer in early August 2019. Sarah has over 20 years of leadership experience within local government, in South Australia, Queensland, and now Victoria. She has experience across many areas of local government services, including urban planning and design, asset management, economic development, community development, health, wellbeing and safety, libraries, theatres, cultural centres and the arts, environmental planning and projects, and major project delivery and implementation.

In addition, Sarah has been responsible for leading large teams and for changing organisational performance and culture. With a focus on good governance and sound financial management, Sarah combines this local government background with private sector and state government experience in the justice sector, most recently in courts administration. Sarah has built on undergraduate qualifications in library and information management, change management and a Masters. Sarah is passionate about working with community, making a difference to the people who live, work and visit our region, and ensuring that Council is focussed on adding value, operating efficiently, and providing responsive customer service.

Dean was born and raised in Wangaratta to parents both in retail businesses before heading to Melbourne for 6 years to study and to work in the Real Estate field.

He returned home to Wangaratta in 1995 to be closer to family and friends and opened his first Real Estate office. Throughout his time away he always appreciated the closeness of a small community and what a country lifestyle had to offer.

After 20 successful years in Wangaratta, a fantastic marriage and two beautiful children he and his wife opened the Rees & Rees lifestyle store in 34 Ovens Street to expand on their property development business and lifestyle loves.

Elected to Council in 2016 and Mayor for the last 2 years, Dean’s priority and focus for the Rural City of Wangaratta has been on the economic development and growth of Wangaratta to ensure it continues progressing into a modern city.

Brendan McGrath’s philosophy is for Council to provide the best customer service to residents and visitors, work in partnership with the community when possible, and maintain a financially robust bottom line.

These three pillars will ensure Council remains a viable, relevant and responsive organisation well into the future.

Mr McGrath commenced as Chief Executive Officer of the Rural City of Wangaratta on 11 February 2014.  Prior to this he had been Chief Executive Officer of Indigo Shire Council, a role he had held since February 2008.

Before starting with Indigo Shire, he was the General Manager of Community and Recreation with Mitchell Shire and had at different times acted as Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Corporate Services.

Brendan has also worked in the private sector in the conference, accommodation and hospitality areas and has managed recreation facilities.

Mr McGrath is a board member and current vice-president of LGPro, the peak body for Local Government professionals in Victoria.  He is also a board member with Tourism North East Victoria.  He has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and is studying Business through the Australian Institute of Management.

Vicki was born and raised in Warrnambool. Her professional life has been predominantly spent in client and financial service roles within the banking and aged care sectors.

Vicki established and became a director of Peter’s Project in Warrnambool in September 2008 after the death of her husband Peter, aged 49 years, from Oesophageal Cancer. The Victorian south west regional community embraced the Peter’s Project ethos and its goal to bring vital radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients in the local region.

Peter’s Project was primarily set up as a lobbyist group to be heard by both Victorian State and Federal governments. After 7 years of hard work, community engagement and locally fundraising $5mill (in a 9 month time frame), the $30mill South West Regional Cancer Centre, an integrated cancer service providing radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a community support centre, opened its doors to deliver treatment on the 18^th July 2016.

Vicki and the Board of the Peter’s Project Foundation continue to financially support regional cancer services into the future.

Vicki was chosen as the Victorian Australian of the Year Local Hero in October 2016 and announced the 2017 Australian of the Year – Local Hero in January 2017.

In January 2018, Vicki was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours for significant service to Community health through the provision of access to radiotherapy treatments for people with cancer in South West Victoria.

Vicki was elected to Warrnambool City Council in October 2020 and was elected Mayor of Warrnambool in November 2020.

Vikki King was appointed Interim CEO of Warrnambool City Council in July 2020. Her substantive role is Director, Community development. Prior to working at Warrnambool City Council Vikki was Manager, Social, Cultural and Community Services at Parramatta City Council.

Vikki holds a Masters of Management from the University of Technology Sydney and is a member of IPAA, LGSA & LGMA, ACOSS and NCOSS.

Vikki aims to make a significant contribution to achieving the organisation’s goals, and to improving community outcomes for all.

Wodonga Mayor Cr Kevin Poulton is a first-time Councillor, having lived in the area for almost all his life.

Born to dairy-farming parents, Cr Poulton is an active community member in the region, and has governed on boards and committees in the education, disability, sport and fundraising sectors. He is a dad to five young children.

Cr Poulton holds business management qualifications in retail, hospitality, events and marketing and has been a radio presenter and entertainer for almost two decades.

Mark Dixon commenced his role as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wodonga City Council in April 2019.

Prior to his appointment Mark was the CEO and Managing Director of Wodonga Institute of TAFE for a period of four years.  During his tenure at the TAFE, it grew to be the most successful regional TAFE in Victoria winning the Australian Large Training Provider of the Year in 2018.

Before entering civilian life, Mark was a military officer for more than 30 years in both the British and Australian Armies.  He has seen active service in Iraq and Afghanistan and worked throughout Europe and the United States.

Mark is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and also holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the UK’s Cranfield University.  He has completed the Cranlana Institute’s executive leadership program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course.

Mark continues his association with the Defence as an Honorary Colonel for the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps and is also a member of the Ovens Murray Regional Partnership, supporting Regional Development Victoria.