Our Board
Windermere has a voluntary Board of Management that guides the direction of the agency in partnership with management and staff.
Our Board members have diverse experience and expertise in welfare, business, government and the community, and an understanding of social justice principles, research, and governance systems. Board meetings are held every two months, culminating in an Annual General Meeting (usually in October) at which board members are nominated and office bearers elected. The Windermere Annual Report is also tabled at this AGM and lodged with Corporate Affairs.
Our Board Members:
Carl Strachan - Chairman
Carl is the Chairman of Windermere and has been involved with Windermere since 1992 when it was a small, struggling community organisation.
Carl has been involved in Windermere since it became an Incorporated Association in 1992. Carl has been the key driver in fundraising initiatives for Windermere for over 15 years. Carl is on a number of Boards and has significant involvement with the funding of Stem Cell research in Australia and overseas.
Many years Board of Directors at Monash Early Research and Development, owned and managed a number of hospitality business, international business interests.
Ian Forsyth - Vice Chairman
Ian is the Deputy CEO Workcover Victoria. He has a background in journalism, management and is now completing the Leadership Victoria course on Not for Profit Board membership. He has recently been a Board member of the TAC.
Ricki Ryan - Treasurer
Ricki is a chartered accountant and is the Director of RJRyan and Associates. Ricki is a local business person who supports businesses throughout the SE of Melbourne.
Dr Kevin McKenzie
Kevin has a Masters in Business Administration and a Doctorate in Business Administration. Kevin has recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and is the Manager Smart Networks Strategy
at SPAusnet.
Dr Tricia Szirom
Tricia Szirom Consulting. Tricia has over 35 years experience in the not for profit sector and in government across the range of service types including education, child and family services, and health. Through her consultancy work is involved in the development of state-wide strategic plans, training in Appreciative Inquiry, lifetime membership of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Elizabeth Mildwater
Elizabeth is the Group General Manager, Victoria for Transurban and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. Elizabeth is a lawyer and has recently completed a Masters in Asian Studies. She is also completing the Leadership Victoria Not for Profit Board membership course.
Innes Willox
Mr Willox is the director of international and government relations for the Australian Industry Group, with policy and advocacy responsibility across the federal and state government systems including economics, trade, defence, climate change, industrial relations and communications and technology issues. He has served as a member of the organising committee of the American-Australian Leadership Dialogue and is a member of several public and private sector advisory councils.
Nicola Mendleson
Nicola has strong business and management expertise, and has established and grown a successful public relations consultancy, and provided high level strategic advice to a range of executives. Nicola has been a communications, marketing and public relations professional for over 22 years, encompassing a broad range of in-house and consultancy roles, as well as voluntary work. For 13 years, she has been a director and principal of communications consultancy, Mendleson Communication. Mendleson Communication has won a number of awards for its work and been successful in being appointed to a number of Victorian and Federal government panels.
Max Warwick
In 1985 Max and brother opened Warwick Fabrics New Zealand and Australia and in 1988 Warwick Fabrics UK Ltd. In 1995 Warwick Fabrics UK Ltd won The Queens Award of Export Achievements. The first Australian company to ever win this award, by exporting more than 95% of all turnover to 40 countries around the globe. Today the group of Companies has added offices in South Africa and extensive distribution in Europe and Asia, selling fabrics for Upholstery, Drapery, Age care, Hotels, Transport and Marine. There is now a second generation of great management within the group, with Tom and I still playing an active role, even if less hectic. This has given me to opportunity to develop our Angus Stud and potentially to give back to the community some of my time for charity works.
Pam Usher
Pam joined the Management Team of the Invicta Bus Group in 1995 as a change agent and was responsible for all the Policies and Procedures so vital to the success and fair play of a large business. In 2001 Pam headed a Management buyout of Invicta and spent 8 very successful, challenging and happy years as Managing Director. During this time Pam sat on several Industry committees, and was the first female member of the Busvic Council. The past 18 months have been extremely rewarding in the work done with refugee groups, aboriginal communities, and the Melbourne Community Foundation. Her most personal work has been with Kindred Spirits, a small foundation set up to advance the wellbeing of the socially disadvantaged, through donations of education, care, training and personal support. Pam Is a Trustee of this Foundation.