Board of directors

Joseph Connellan is Board Chairperson. He has 20 years experience in public policy development and the delivery of services for older people, people with a disability and people with a mental illness. Joseph has particular expertise in managing and developing new solutions in human services including housing, disability and financial services. Joseph was previously the CEO of Headway Victoria, Supported Housing Ltd and the Abbeyfield Society (Victoria) Ltd.

Mary Maddigan held the position of Chairperson from 2009 to 2011. Mary has lived in the Essendon area for 30 years and has been an elected Board Member of Doutta Galla since 2007. Mary is experienced in public sector administration and project management. Holding an Honours degree in psychology, she has a particular interest in mental health and well-being. Mary is keen to contribute to the key mission of Doutta Galla: to significantly improve the health, well being and quality of life in our community.

Trevor Sinclair was a Moonee Valley Councillor for almost nine years and was elected to the Doutta Galla Board in 2001. He was proud to be of assistance in the development of the new Niddrie Hub project which was officially opened in August 2006. The Community Health Facility in the North West is of great benefit to the local community. Trevor has also has a long association with Lionsville, Essendon Adult Day Centre, Essendon Youth Accommodation Group and other groups. He is committed to working with the community.

Gillian Hamerston has lived in Moonee Valley for 11 years. In that time, she has worked extensively in education, research, community relations and fundraising and has been a volunteer for a variety of local community projects, including the Home Tutor Scheme, environmental re-vegetation and aged health care. She is committed to caring and effective service delivery in all areas of community health, and to ‘positive marketing of new initiatives’ as a means of promoting that service.

Philip Templeton has been a resident of Flemington for over 18 years. He has been a Board Member of Doutta Galla since 2004. Philip has operated an Architectural practice in Flemington for 15 years and has been involved in many local Boards and community groups including Aged Care, School Council, Royal Children's Hospital and Flemington Traders. He is currently the president of Flemington Rotary Club and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for his services to the community in 2004. Philip was a finalist in the Spirit of Moonee Valley Community Awards in 2005. Philip has an ongoing commitment to the improvement of the lives of people in the inner North West of Melbourne.

Di Missan has lived in Ascot Vale and Footscray for close to 30 years. Elected in 2011, Di has a strong belief in the value of community based health services accessible to people living in their local community. Di has worked in the community, government and health sectors for the past 25 years. For the past nine years, Di was the Manager of Breacan, an information and support service for Victorian women living with breast or gynaecological cancer. Previous to this Di was employed in Children’s Services, Youth Policy and Programs and Indigenous Services. Di has served on a number of interdepartmental committees and advisory groups and is committed to actively involving consumers in service planning.

Elected in 2011, Kerren Clark is a senior consultant at the Clifton Group and principal of Numbat Consulting. Kerren is a community member of the Medical Practitioners Board of Australia (Victoria) and of the Consultative Council for Human Research Ethics. Kerren is also a member of the Swinburne University Human Research Ethics Committee. Kerren has previously worked for the Australian Physiotherapy Association, the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Australian Services Union and state and federal members of parliament. Kerren holds a science degree, a Graduate Diploma in Health and Medical Law and a Diploma of Company Directorship. Kerren brings to her role as Director experience in ethics, stakeholder management, and health service delivery.

David is a qualified accountant who has been a partner in Chartered Accounting firms for more than 26 years practising in the Audit and Assurance Division. He has experience with companies and organisations of all sizes including a number in the not-for-profit sector.
David has been the Chairman, Victorian Institute of Teaching Audit Committee, Member of the International Committee Red Cross (Past Member of Red Cross Tsunami Committee), Past Member and President, Barton Institute of TAFE Board, Past Member of the Executive, Association of TAFE Institutes and Member of Commonwealth Reference Group Looking at National Strategy to Enhance the Status of Vocational Education and Training.
David was appointed to the DGCH Board in September 2012

Stephen is a local Kensington resident and author and editor of ten books and collections on Australian history, nationalism, and popular culture. A former member of the Community Consultative Committee of the Medical Practice Board of Victoria, he is also the Vice President of the Institute for the Study of French Australian Relations and a committee member of the International Australian Studies Association.

Doutta Galla Community Health Service is a Company Limited by Guarantee with a Board of Directors drawn from members of the local community. The company seeks to appoint Directors with expertise in the areas of community services, law, finance, health, fundraising mental health and governance.

The Board consists of between five and nine Directors. Directors are either elected by Doutta Galla members or appointed by the Directors as outlined in the Doutta Galla Constitution.

The Board governs and directs the business of the company. The Board is responsible for setting the overall governance and strategic directions for Doutta Galla Community Health Service including developing the governance policies that make clear the boundaries within which the CEO will work. The CEO establishes, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, all operational policies essential for the effective management of the organisation.

Board Members serve a three year term.