Nickola Allan

Board Chair, Chair of the Board Governance & Nominations Sub-Committee

Nickola Allan is a registered nurse with over 20 years experience, currently employed as the Director of Clinical services at Maryborough District Health Service. Nickola has worked at MDHS for 10 years in various roles. In her current role, Nickola has been a key driver for access to services for the community of the Central Goldfields Shire with the roll out of a Women?s Health Clinic delivering women's health screening services being a key achievement. Nickola has also been focussed on GP retention and has been heavily involved in the conceptualisation of the Nurse Practitioner Model at MDHS, to restore the work-life balance of our hard working GPs. Nickola is also heavily involved in the Maryborough Community as a coach and a player for the Royal Park Netball Club, which keeps her busy when she is not being a mum to three young daughters.

Jessica Kelly

Deputy Board Chair

Jessica is currently Food Technical Coordinator at True Foods where she is responsible for their product innovation program. A graduate of Federation University with a Bachelor of Food & Nutritional Sciences, Jessica has been engaged in multiple administration & leadership roles within the tertiary sector focused on student engagement & wellbeing. Jessica is passionate about young regional people reaching their potential, and has participated in multiple regional-focused leadership programs including the MSRF Young Rural Leaders Program, Leading Excellence Maryborough, Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Leadership Academy and most recently the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program.

Miriam Codognotto

Chair of the Board Infrastructure Sub-Committee

Miriam has lived in Central Victoria for over twenty years with her husband. They have two boys, one studying at Highview College, the other in local primary school. The choice of Highview College was based on an agreement with the College’s core values. Small class sizes and good facilities were a bonus. Miriam is a qualified town planner who has worked for over twenty years in Local Government, but now works in private practice. She also holds post graduate qualifications in Management and Community Planning and Development. Serving is an important part of Miriam’s life and she currently serves as board members with the local primary school and her church.

David Hewitt

Board Director

Diploma of Teaching (Secondary), Bachelor of Laws (Hons)

Currently the Principal of a Law firm with the right to hold Trust funds on behalf of clients. Property Law is the mainstay of David’s practice. He has advocacy skills and a good knowledge of Employment, Criminal and Family Law. David was employed by the Justice Department as a Duty Lawyer. He has demonstrated experience in running a business and in managing the affairs of others in the commercial space.

Vincent Peile

Chair of the Ecumenical Life Board Sub-Committee

Educated De La Salle College Malvern. Completed studies at Catholic Theological College Melbourne, Caulfield Institute of Technology, University of New South Wales. Recently retired as Community Relations Advisor, InvoCare Australia where he worked in grief and loss counselling. Prior to that Vincent worked in counselling in most states of Australia and England.

Nicole Sweeney

Board Director

Nicole Sweeney is the Human Resources Manager at Mandalay Resources, Costerfield Operations, managing the employment relationships for over 200 employees. Nicole has worked in the Human Resources field since completing her undergraduate degree in 2002 and has been in her current role for seven years. She loves working in the mining industry and is passionate about increasing opportunities for women in non-traditional roles. She sees the greatest challenge to getting more women into underground mining jobs is tackling barriers presented through workplace culture and out-dated stereotypes. Prior to joining Mandalay in 2011 she ran her own consulting business for a number of years while her daughter was little, providing HR support and advice to a range of small and medium sized businesses in the Bendigo and Ballarat regions. Nicole is currently studying a Masters of HRM, and will graduate later this year – only one unit to go! Nicole lives in the beautiful town of Castlemaine with her husband Scot and their daughter Isabella. Nicole brings a natural energy and honesty to all that she does.