Board of Directors
Don Atherton, President
Don first became involved with Mambourin in 1996, helping with the construction of the Mambourin Sensory Gardens.
Don led a team of colleagues from Werribee Lions who stepped in and provided all assistance necessary to successfully complete the project. Don joined our Board in the same year and became President of the Board in 2000. Don received a Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Intellectual Disability Agencies in 2006 for his outstanding service to the sector. Don is also a Justice of the Peace, and currently works as a technical consultant to the steel industry.
Julie Mason, Vice President
Julie is the Principal of the Baden Powell College. She has been a local Principal for the last 12 years. Prior to joining Mambourin's Board in September 2002, Julie had been Chair of Mambourin's capital fundraising committee, dubbed "Grow Ability". Julie has seen massive changes since joining the Board, and has contributed significantly using her professional skills.
Governance processes have been developed substantially, together with encouraging an enterprise culture and more professional approach throughout the organisation. Julie is a member of Wyndham Rotary and in 2006 was awarded the Principal of the Year.
Vern Fettke, Treasurer
Vern joined Mambourin's Board in October 2003, and has been Treasurer since 2004. Professionally, Vern is the Managing Director of Homestead Financial Group, a business that he started in 1997. Prior to that he had 20 years' experience in the hospitality industry. Vern has a wide range of community involvement, including President of the Werribee Chamber of Commerce, and a mentor of Wyndham Rotaract.
Vern is also Chair of the Wyndham Community Foundation. Vern said "I've always wanted to assist people with disabilities however I don't have the necessary skill for direct personal help so through the Board with the skills I have is a real way for me to contribute using my business skills."
Cathy Jeffkins, Secretary
Cathy joined the Mambourin Board of Directors in 2005 and was nominated to the role of Board Secretary in 2008. Cathy is also currently the President of the Manorvale Primary School Council, where she has been a Council member since 2002. At various times Cathy has also been a committee member of the St Andrews Fair, Weerama Festival, Miss Weerama Quest and Hoppers Crossing Football Club.
Cathy understands the resource challenges faced by many Committees and Boards when it comes to budgets, volunteers and audience awareness. She hopes her growing Board experience and input will help Mambourin achieve success both corporately and for the communities that Mambourin serves. Cathy is currently employed by the Department of Defence and specializes in project management governance. Cathy is married with one child and enjoys gardening, integrity and laughing.
Andrew McGowan, Director
Andrew joined the Board at Mambourin in late 2005. Since that time he has developed an understanding of the political, social and economic factors that impact on our community. He currently chairs the recently established Risk Sub Committee and represents Mambourin on the Ison House Committee of Management. Prior to his involvement with Mambourin Andrew spent 6 years on the Manorvale Primary School Council, including 2 years as their Council President. Andrew and his wife Vicki have lived in Werribee for over 20 years.
They have two children aged 20 and 17. In a professional capacity, Andrew has been a member of the Victoria Police for 30 years and works in the Force's Security Intelligence Group. Andrew has a Graduate Diploma in Terrorism, Safety and Security, as well as graduate qualifications in applied management and security risk management. He brings to the board a sound background in managing security risks and hopes to apply this experience to helping Mambourin grow and achieve its strategic objectives
Mary Gillett, Director
Mary Gillett was the Member for Werribee (Tarneit) in the State Parliament from 1996 until 2006. For ten years before that, Mary was a union official with the National Union of Workers. Mary’s interest in disability services is both professional and personal. Her connection with Mambourin started when she was our local Member of Parliament.
Mary was always concerned to represent the special interests of Mambourin with the State Government and other local disability service providers with enthusiasm. Mary’s family has volunteered as a Host family with Interchange Western for the last two years, an experience which they all find intensely rewarding. Mary joined the Board of Mambourin after her retirement from State Parliament in 2006 so that she could continue to help to improve Mambourin’s services for the benefit of our clients and our staff.
Krist Davood, Director
Krist joined Mambourin's Board in June 2009. Krist is an experienced director with a demonstrated capacity to adding value by sharing his insights on Information Technology, Risk Management and Governance. Krist gained his strong business leadership skills with product management, delivery credentials and strategic planning with an impressive list of Top 100 companies in the utilities, telecommunications, retail banking, manufacturing, construction, resources, management consulting and insurance industries. Krist is a veteran of more than eight $100 million plus software and hardware implementations globally.
Krist enjoys bringing his skills to bear in the capacity of director of a community service organisation. "Being on a professional and well run Board like Mambourin gives me to opportunity to give back to the community whilst having fun and getting new skills along the way", Krist said.
Barry Fitton, Director
Barry joined Mambourin's Board in September 2009. Barry holds a Diploma in Superannuation Management and Occupational Health and Safety, and a Certificate IV Training and Assessment. He was a director of Co-Invest (Building Industry Long Service Leave Board) for five years and a licensed dealer in securities when working as a co-ordinator for C-Bus.
Barry has extensive experience as an advocate in various State and Federal tribunals and extensive experience in the management of occupational health and safety and workers compensation matters. Barry has also represented Government as the chairperson of various committees. Barry is the father of a Mambourin client, Michael, who attends our Stanford Street Sunshine service. Barry is retired from full time work, so has time available and is using that time to make a genuine contribution to the governance at Mambourin.
Megan Puszkar, Director
Megan joined Mambourin's Board of Directors in October 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Media Studies, and has been admitted to Practice as a Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of Australia. In her current role she is a practising with Harwood Andrews Lawyers in their Werribee office.
In previous roles Megan has worked for Job Watch Inc in their Employment Rights Legal Centre and as a Customer Service Officer in Darebin Libraries. She has also completed an intensive ENS International Negotiation and Influencing Program on Positively Influencing Clients and obtained certificate of Negotiation; and completed the Wyndham City Leadership Program in 2009. Megan holds a range of professional memberships. Megan is a young lawyer who practices, and lives her life, with a very strong ethical and moral compass. She is driven to help improve the lives of people who experience disadvantage in our community.
Printable page...
