Board of Governance

Our Board of Governance comprises ten to thirteen persons.

Our Board’s role is to ensure that we:

• Stay focused on our Vision.
• Implement our Strategic Plan.
• Deliver the highest quality services to clients.
• Make sure that we provide a safe and healthy workplace for our staff and volunteers
• Use our resources wisely and cost effectively.

Board of Governance Membership

Chairperson: Robert Renton

Robert joined UnitingCare Werribee Support and Housing in February 2007. He's been a member of Crossroads congregation for the past 23 years, and he had a long association with homeless people's services. He was a member of Malvern and Caulfield Youth Accommodation Service Board of Management for several years, and he was Chairperson of the Board of Directors of MetroWest Housing Service from its establishment until its merger with Yarra Community Housing. Robert is a minister in the Uniting Church.

Treasurer: Kim Deneys

Kim is an accountant and has been practicing in Wyndham since 1978. He joined the Board of UnitingCare Werribee Support & Housing in 2007-8. He has been active in the local community and participated in Rotary, the Galvin Park Secondary School Committee, Wyndham Community Foundation, and has been the President of the local Chamber of Commerce. Kim is also a member of the Crossroads congregation.

Secretary: Gillian Kinder

Gillian joined the Board of Governance in 2010-2011, is a resident of Werribee and firmly supports the principles of social justice. She specialises in corporate governance and has worked with both not-for-profit and commercial organisations in project and organisation based roles. Gillian holds Fellowship of Chartered Secretaries Australia, is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors Australia and also participates at committee level in the Australasian Institute of Compliance.

Community Representative: Leigh Barrett

Leigh joined the Board during 2005-2006 as the Wyndham Council representative. Leigh was elected Councillor for the Truganina Ward in November 2005. In addition to his work as a Wyndham Councillor and a UnitingCare Werribee Support and Housing Board member, Leigh is involved with a range of community and local government organisations.

Minister of the Word: David Withers

David joined the Board in April 2006. He has been the Minister of the Word of Crossroads Uniting Church since January 2006. David describes himself as a person who is committed to building communities. He wishes to strengthen ties between the Crossroads congregation and the work of UnitingCare Werribee Support and Housing.

Crossroads Church Representative: Mary Dixon

Mary has been a Crossroads congregation member for over 50 years, on Church Council for over 25 years and a Board member since 2003. Mary is committed to the principles of social justice and reconciliation and believes the work of UnitingCare is central to the ethos of the Uniting Church.

Wyndham Council Representative: Cynthia Manson

Cynthia joined our Board in 2010. Cynthia was re-elected as a Councilor at Wyndham Council in December 2008. Cynthia has been involved with a number of committees including: Art in Public Buildings and Places Advisory Group, Metropolitan Waste Management Group - Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum , Municipal Association of Victoria, Municipal Strategic Statement Review Steering Committee, Reserve Advisory Committees, RDF Advisory Committee, Werribee Transit City Management and Wyndham Sports Centre Ltd

Henry Barlow

Henry has a long history of being involved with a variety of community and sporting groups, either on committees or playing sport. Henry was a Wyndham City Councillor for 12 years, 2 years as the Mayor and 1 year as the Deputy Mayor. Henry was directly involved on the construction of the athletics/soccer facility and the building of the new Grange Community Centre. Over a seven year period, Henry was Treasurer and Vice-President of the Victorian Local Governance Association and he is currently on the Committee of Management of the Grange Community Centre at Hoppers Crossing.

Uniting Church  Hoppers Crossing Representative:  Christine Morris

Christine is Hoppers Crossing Uniting Church’s representative on the Board and joined in late 2011.  Chrstine is a resident of Hoppers Crossing. Christine works as an English as a Second Language Teacher with refugees and migrants at Wyndham Community and Education Centre. Christine is active with TEAR Australia and Amnesty International and frequently lobbies government about issues of social and national justice. Christine believes in sustainable transport, is a member of Western Region Environment Centre and Western Women's Bicycle User Group and enjoys rogaining and orienteering.

Steve Michelson

Steve Michelson joined the Board of Governance in 2010. He has been a Board Member for a number of not for profit organisations, including community legal centres and a charity assisting parents who have suffered from miscarriage, premature or stillborn child birth. Steve is a firm believer in community service and multiculturalism. When he is not representing workers as a lawyer in the employment and industrial relations department of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Steve barracks for what he says is the best football team in the AFL - the Geelong Cats!
 

Mimi Asche

Mimi Asche was invited to join the Board in late 2010 to complement the Board's skills with her experience in healthcare management. Mimi is currently working as Director of Revenue Services at Southern Health Network with responsibility for Dandenong Hospital and Surgery Program. Mimi’s career began with nursing and has developed to include the operational commissioning of a 300 bedded private hospital in Malaysia, Group Manager Corporate Services at TLC Aged Care, and Strategic Health Manager at Mayne Health to name a few.

Mimi holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA), Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management, ,Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing Administration and she completed her midwifery Nursing in Monash Medical Centre and Nursing training in Assunta Hospital in Malaysia.