Board Directors

DANE HUXLEY - Chairman

Dane Huxley is the Chief Executive Officer of the Mildura Base Hospital which is a privately owned and publicly operated Hospital through the Ramsay Health Care Group.

Dane was born in Melbourne and was educated at Monash University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and a Masters in Business Administration.

Prior to moving to Mildura in January 2000, Dane was Chief Executive Officer of the Bays Hospital Group from 1997-1999 and prior to that, held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Victoria House Private Hospital for the period 1989-1997.

Dane has been actively involved in a number of organisations in Mildura and has held positions as Chairman of the Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival, Chairman of the Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnerships, Board Member of the Chaffey Foundation and Chairman of the Mildura Rural City Council Audit Committee.

Dane has two adult children who live in Melbourne and he has a keen interest in walking, gym, golf and music.

PAM STRANGE - Director

Pam is the Climate Adaptation Manager for Horticulture and Forestry with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

She facilitates the Sunraysia Horticultural Extension Group that consists of the horticultural Industry Development Officers, representatives from Vic and NSW DPI’s and Council. The purpose of this group is to identify, develop and coordinate information and extension activities for the benefit of irrigation horticulturalists in Sunraysia.

Pam is also involved in projects planning and preparing for the future effects of climate change, and has had extensive experience in horticultural production, quality assurance, packing and marketing for a range of crops in Australia and New Zealand at grower, co-operative and corporate levels.

Married with 2 teenager daughters, Pam and her family are all active in local sport and the arts. She is a volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mildura Branch, since its inception in May 2008, and has lived in the Mildura region since 2005.

Pam applied for a position with Mildura Development Corporation because she believes that the Mildura region has the resilience and capacity to diversify, value add, adapt and prosper, despite the future uncertain water allocations, climate change and economic crisis.

MARIAN LUEHMAN - Director

Marian Luehman has over 30 years experience in human services and is the Chief Executive Officer of Sunraysia Residential Services Inc (SRS).

Marian has a background in training and education, and has continued her studies with a list of tertiary qualifications including a Bachelor of Social Sciences, Associate Diploma of Education, Graduate Diploma in Counselling and six TAFE Certificate IV qualifications.

In 1999 Marian was awarded Business Woman of the Year by the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women. In 2001 she was awarded a Department of Human Services Study and Travel scholarship in recognition for expertise and abilities and in 2006 was awarded Outstanding Contribution by an Individual at the Powercor Prime Business Excellence Awards.  

Marian has dedicated over ten years in voluntary roles with the Office of Public Advocate of Victoria and is also member on state, national and regional boards and committees representing people with disabilities.

Marian’s interests outside of work include renovating and designing furniture.  

DAVID STEVENSON - Director

Having spent many years working in a Chartered Accounting firm, David took up the opportunity to join Irymple Group as their Managing Director in the mid nineties.

Holding various appointments on local and international Boards representing the Dried Fruit Industry, including an extensive period as a Director of Sunbeam Foods.

In 2005 David led a management buyout of Irymple Group, forming SdS Beverages, later merging with HwCg, a leading United Kingdom wine supplier, now known as Neqtar Wine and Beverages. David was the Managing Director of Neqtar Australia incorporated SdS Beverages and Neqtar Wines until 2009.

David has recently been appointed Managing Director of Sunraysia Murray Group Training Ltd a long time, well established education and training provider in Sunraysia.

David is also a Director of the Mildura District Hospital Fund.

JENNY GRIGG - Director

Having spent 30 years as partner of a family farm at Patchewollock that included a trucking and grain trading business, Jenny recently moved to Mildura to pursue a career at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE as Director Business Development. 

During her years on the farm, she became actively involved in supporting the role of women in agriculture and participated in the 2nd International Women in Agriculture International Conference in Washington, later becoming Chairman of the Victorian Women in Grains group and more recently a Board member of the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women (FAAW).

In recent years, she worked in Community Development in the Mallee region and became a Churchill Fellow in 2004 researching the Cooperative movement in USA, Canada and Ireland.

Jenny has a Masters in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (Economics) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has extensive Board experience as past Director of Regional Water Authorities and more recently Mallee Agriculture Research Foundation (MARF).

Jenny is very excited about the future of the region and the potential for the Sunraysia/Mallee to develop economically during times of challenge and change.

CHRIS ELLIS - Director

Chris is General Manager Fruit Supply with Sunbeam Foods and has lengthy experience in Agribusiness across many industries and locations.

JAMES GOLSWORTHY - Director

Biography coming soon

MIKE MOONEY - Director

Biography coming soon

TONY MARTIN - Director

Biography coming soon

Staff Members

ANNE MANSELL
Chief Executive Officer

Anne Mansell was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Mildura Development Corporation in February 2009.

She has over 20 years experience in the horticulture sector as a partner in a family owned citrus and wine grape property, and also brings a wealth of experience in regional development having been a Project Officer, then the Executive Officer at the Sunraysia Area Consultative Committee.

Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Certificate of Business Management, and a Diploma in Corporate Governance, and has recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Planning.

Anne has been involved in a number of local organisations, including; Advisory Committee of the Lower Basin Laboratory- CRC for Freshwater Ecology; Mildura Rural City Councillor 1997-2003; Sunraysia Economic Development Board Inc; Sunraysia Citrus Growers; Mildura Schools Chaplaincy and she continues in her role on the Board of Mallee Family Care Inc.

HELENA HOWE
Economic Development Project Officer

Helena is originally from Mt Pleasant in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. She studied Business Office Administration in Adelaide before moving to Mildura in 1998 to commence work at MADEC Ltd.

During her three and a half years at MADEC Helena had the opportunity to work on projects such as the Murdi Paaki Aboriginal Health Summit, numerous Earth Building Summer Schools and the SunNet Internet project.

Helena joined Mildura Development Corporation (at the time called Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board) in February 2002 and has worked in a number of roles including Project Officer for the Mineral Sands Industry, Administration Manager and is currently the Economic Development Project Officer.

She has worked on projects including organising international trade fairs to China and Vietnam, strategic and business plans, writing government grants, and assisting with the development of the Mildura Region Economic Profile and Grow Mildura Region publications.

Helena has a Diploma in Management, a Certificate IV in Project Management and is currently studying a Certificate IV in International Trade.

She is currently on the Executive Committee of the Mildura Business Excellence Awards and has been involved in committees including the Mildura Sun Festival (2007 & 2008), Sunraysia Branch of the Alternative Technology Association, Mildura Rural City Council’s Environmental Task Team, Mildura Young Professionals Network (2006 & 2007) and the Mildura Murray Darling Wine Industry Association (Mildura Wines) (2006 & 2007).

Helena enjoys renovating, going to the gym and spending time with family and friends.

KARLA FOX
IWDS Project Manager

Karla Fox commenced with Mildura Development Corporation in late 2009, and is currently working in the role of Industry Workforce Development Strategy (IWDS) Project Manager.

Born and raised in Mildura, Karla moved to Adelaide in 2004 to study at The University of Adelaide, obtaining Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) with a major in Politics and an Advanced Diploma of Languages (Italian).

She went on to complete her graduate year at the Department of Health and Ageing working in The Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health; Aged Care (quality and compliance); and Health Programs.

Karla spent six months travelling through South-East Asia and Europe in 2009, before returning home to Mildura and taking up a role with Mildura Development Corporation.

Being back in Mildura means Karla gets to spend time with family and friends, cooking, reading, travelling, playing the ukulele, enjoying Italian film/literature, and community theatre. She loves the relaxed lifestyle, and enjoys being a member of Slow Food Mildura, and the Mildura Rowing Club.

GREG JOHNSTON
Project Manager - Innovation & Renewable Energy Development

Greg is originally from Manilla in Northern NSW and first moved to the Mildura region in 1988 as a Trainee Health and Building Surveyor at Wentworth Shire.

Whilst various career moves have taken him out of the Mildura area he has returned to the area and considers it home being married to a Mildura local and with three children who have largely been raised within the area. Greg and his family are active participants in sport and volunteer related activities within the community.

Greg has a Degree in Environmental Health with an Associated Attainment in Building Surveying and a Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning and plans to undertake further study in the sustainability field.

Greg comes to MDC with over 24 years of experience in Local Government Environmental Health, Building Surveying and Planning. Whilst project work presents a new challenge to Greg he has been involved with the World Ballooning Championships and event management assessment processes whilst working at Mildura Rural City Council and other Councils.

Greg has a strong interest in the built environment, sustainable living and is keen to assist people in using new technology / renewable energy to benefit their own business efficiency and in developing partnerships with companies who are proposing to build large / utility scale infrastructure projects.

TIM BRAND

Solar Hubs Project Officer

Tim is originally from Kingscliff on the Far North Coast of New South Wales. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Wollongong University (Member of Engineers Australia) and has worked in a variety of project management and electrical engineering roles. He is married with two children all of whom are actively involved in local sporting groups.

In 2000 Tim moved to Broken Hill where he worked in a variety of community based and commercial roles. He has always been drawn to roles which enable him to work with the local community to enhance opportunities and affect positive changes (Red Cross, Broken Hill Community Centre and PCYC amongst others), both as an employee and a volunteer.

Tim has been actively involved in and managing projects since 1999, with projects ranging from small engineering design to multimillion dollar construction projects. A strong interest in sustainable communities saw Tim most recently undertaking a role which involved introducing modern irrigation pumping technologies throughout northern Victoria.

Tim’s passion is for the efficient supply of electricity. He commenced working at the Mildura Development Corporation in 2011 as the Solar Hubs Project Officer with the belief that we can all have a role to play in reducing our reliance on coal.

CATHY VIOLI
Economic Development Officer

Cathy is an absolute local, passionate about promoting the Mildura region.

She began her working career in local accountancy firms, before taking up administrative roles at Mildura Headquarters of Victoria Police, then later at Mildura Police station.

Cathy joined Mildura Development Corporation (then Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board) in July 2005, keen to provide assistance with the development of the local community.

Having studied various administrative and project management courses, Cathy plans on continuing her studies in the fields of public relations, community development and marketing.

Cathy is the Secretary of the Mildura Young Professionals Network (MYPN), and a committee member of the Mildura Branch of The Blue Ribbon Foundation.