Board of Management

Board Members

Ms Vanessa Healy, Board Chair

Vanessa is a public and environmental health management consultant, who has worked extensively in the area of local and state government public and environmental health service delivery and practice, emergency management and cross organisational community related project’s and to the private sector including peak industry bodies.
Vanessa’s background includes experience working as an Environmental Health Officer in Local Government in Victoria including roles such as Team Leader, research at Monash University’s, School of Rural Health, and governance in primary health care services.

Vanessa’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2024.

Ms Peggy Ronnau, Deputy Chair

With a Bachelor Degree in Social Science and a keen interest in community wellbeing, Peggy brings strong knowledge of the service sector and experience as a corporate services executive. She has long been an advocate for improved mental services and has worked with homeless people in inner Melbourne who experience mental illness and in the Local Government sector, encouraging others to redesign their work roles to build better jobs.

Peggy’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Ms Margaret Lewis, Board Member
Appointment: 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2023

Mr Jeff Rigby, Board Member

Jeff is a corporate governance professional with a 20-year track record serving on Boards and as an independent adviser. This track record is founded on extensive experience in the Victorian public water utility sector through successive positions held over 15 years as Managing Director of three regional water utilities. Jeff’s portfolio of part-time non-executive director positions has included public sector entities (waste and resource recovery; adult and community education), National and State industry associations and non-government service organisations for people with disabilities. Jeff is currently an independent external member of audit and risk committees for three Victorian local government entities.

Jeff’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2025.

Ms Cindy Schultz-Ferguson, Board Member

Cindy brings an extensive background in governance, strategy and change management through line management and consultancy roles in public and private organisations, in Australian and globally. Cindy also has a strong commitment and experience in ensuring the consumer voice is an integral part of medical and health service research, development and delivery. While continuing to work in a small not for profit in inner Melbourne, Cindy also resides in the Mount Alexander Shire.

Cindy’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2024.

Ms Shan Wellham, Board Member

Shan is an energetic technology leader and business-enabler experienced in delivering transformative services to enterprise and government. Shan is strategically future-focussed and enjoys making the complex simple while bringing life and meaning to technology strategy for customers. Her aim is building psychological safety within and across teams and driving performance through personalised development activities based on strengths and interests.  Shan is focused on delivering value to organisations and the community through effective governance, technology expertise, commercial acumen and balancing risk with opportunity.

Shan’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2025.

Ms Alexandra Randall L’Estrange, Board Member

Lexi is a founder and director in health, technology and social innovation. She has over a decade’s experience in leadership and governance for social purpose in Australia and internationally. Lexi brings a strong focus on measurable outcomes to all her roles, drawing on her diverse background in STEM, business, and grassroots change.

Lexi’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2025.

Ms Linda McNeill, Board Member

Linda’s background as a risk adviser spans a number of highly regulated industries demanding robust assurance programs and management systems. She is a Lead Auditor to the ISO Quality, Safety, Environment, ICT and NDIS standards and has a degree in Business Entrepreneurship. Living locally with her young family, she enjoys using her skills for the community, as an Audit and Risk Committees member/chair for several local government, DELWP and Maryborough District Health Service. She is also a Board Member at Central Highlands Water. Linda has strong strategic and analytical skills, which she applies to deliver efficient and innovative outcomes.

Linda’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Ms Heather Holst, Board Member

Heather has worked for over 30 years in the housing and homelessness sector in Melbourne and regional Victoria as a volunteer, frontline worker, manager and board member. Heather wrote a history of Castlemaine for her PhD and is an Adjunct Lecturer in History at UNSW. Heather is the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies and a member of the panel reviewing the regulation of social housing in Victoria.

Heather’s appointment term is from 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2024.

Mr James Downing, Board Member
Appointment: 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2024

Ms Libby Fifis, Board Member
Appointment: 1 March 2022 to 30 June 2025