OUR TEAM

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Our Team

Our Directors

Bruce Anderson

Chairman

Bruce Anderson

Chairman

Bruce is a highly experienced business leader who has successfully combined his 20+ years in senior executive roles at ASX and global companies with a broad contribution within the community sector. He is a community builder having held a variety of roles in organisations to create a better world. Bruce is most passionate and experienced in supporting secondary school students successfully transition to university then work and develop their leadership capabilities.

Bruce is currently Chairman of Ourschools Advisory Group, Chairman of Wesley Church UCA Congregation, and a Trustee of the Anglesea SLSC Foundation. Bruce is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an alumnus of the Williamson Community Leadership Program.

Ross McPherson AM

Director

Ross McPherson AM

Director

Ross McPherson is Executive Chairman of the McPherson Media Group, a fifth-generation family Newsmedia business which started with the Shepparton News in 1888; it now includes numerous newspapers, magazines, printing events and internet businesses. He joined the family business after practicing commercial law, having graduated from Melbourne and London Universities. Among numerous industry, local and philanthropic involvements, Ross chairs the Goulburn Valley Health Foundation, is a member of the Committee for Greater Shepparton, a past director of SPC Ardmona Ltd and Treasurer and past-president of the 8000-member International Newsmedia Association. He is a trustee of several charitable trusts and a member of the Melbourne University Council.

Tim Weight

Director

Tim Weight

Director

Tim Weight grew up in Melbourne and studied Agricultural Science at Melbourne University. Over the years Tim’s career shifted from living and working on the land to being instrumental in its development. At the same time, Tim was a Director on the Board of the local TAFE Institute; and he has now moved to working within the business of Vocational Education and Training as Executive Director Strategic Engagement at TAFE Gippsland.

In addition to his role at TAFE Gippsland, Tim’s employment and non-executive director roles have provided a broad experience within agribusiness, property development and feasibility assessment, regional economic development, corporate management, strategy, and governance.

Tim also has extensive experience as an Executive and Non-Executive Director on boards of public and private companies, private syndications, government and not-for-profit organisations.

Bernadette Lloyd

Director

Bernadette Lloyd

Director

Bernie Lloyd is the Chair of Bank First (formerly VTMB) and moved into corporate governance after 30 years in education in Victoria with the final 16 years in leadership positions. She understands the interdependence between schools and their communities and how high levels of trust enable productivity. She taught at her country high school for twenty years where she facilitated learning experiences for her students which gave them the capacity to enrich their own communities as well as preparing them for the world beyond their rural locale. Her leadership expertise resides in long-term strategic planning, building capacity in teams and sustaining and expanding growth in organisations. She facilitates Principal workshops in Victoria and Queensland with emphasis on school governance and ethical and performance cultures which sustain and empower.

Peter Hunt

Company Secretary

Peter Hunt

Company Secretary

Peter Hunt has over 38 years’ experience in business ranging from retail, aged care and education including 33 years running regional boarding schools across NSW and Victoria. Peter concluded his 23 years as Business Manager/Company Secretary at Ballarat Grammar in July 2018. He is also a director on the BGS Educational Service Ltd Board; Company Secretary and Trustee on the Ballarat Grammar Foundation; and his own private company. Peter has an MBA from UNE Armidale; is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Member of Institute of Managers and Leaders; a member of Association of School Business Administrators and a Justice of Peace in Victoria. He is passionate about rural education and the effective management of Foundations. His interests include psychology, behavioural finance, financial markets and is a life-long learner across a many-and-varied field of interests.

Black and white portrait of Jacob Chacko.

Jacob Chako

Associate Director

Jacob Chako

Associate Director

Jacob currently works as a Policy Advisor in the Australian Parliament – focusing on Indigenous Affairs and Social Policy. He is a Youthrive Scholar and completed a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws at Monash University where he was a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Ancora Imparo Student Leadership program. As a migrant to Australia, Jacob moved to Benalla with his family and remains deeply connected to that place. As one of the early participants of the Youthrive program, Jacob has witnessed the organisation grow and has been involved in its various programs. Jacob is passionate about rural policy and believes Youthrive plays a significant role in promoting regional and remote life in all its diversity. Though currently based in the Kimberley (WA), he still calls Benalla home.

Nick Young

Associate Director

Nick Young

Associate Director

Nick is completing the final semester of his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at Monash University. He is a Youthrive Scholar, a Monash University Excellence Scholar and the Senior Research Assistant to the Dean of the Monash Law School. Nick grew up in Warrnambool and cares deeply about access to education, particularly for rural people. He has volunteered as a teacher in East Timor and India and with UN Youth Australia. He is currently piloting the Youthrive Victoria Branch Out e-mentoring program to encourage and empower regional Victorian high school students to access further education.

Bernadette Lloyd

Director

Bernadette Lloyd

Director

Our Staff

Dr Maryann Brown

Chief Executive Officer

Dr Maryann Brown

Executive Officer

Dr Maryann Brown was appointed CEO of Youthrive Victoria, formerly Macpherson Smith Rural Foundation Ltd (MSRF), in July 2016. Prior to this Maryann was Senior Education Advisor of MSRF and was responsible for developing the mentoring and leadership programs.

Passionate about helping young people live great lives and committed to supporting rural communities, Maryann considers herself very fortunate to be leading Youthrive Victoria and engaging with so many inspiring participants and supporters from across rural Victoria. A lifelong learner, Maryann enjoys collaborating on projects and addressing perennial social problems in new ways.

Prior to joining MSRF in 2011, Maryann worked extensively in the education sector as a secondary teacher, curriculum leader and teacher educator. She has strong connections with rural and regional Victoria through her work at Federation University where she was a Senior Lecturer and program coordinator of the Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary). She has qualifications in education and business. Her doctoral work explored contemporary ways of learning in teacher education.

Maryann volunteers in the local community and beyond and has various board and committee roles. She lives at Smokeytown and loves the land, her family and friends, her animals and the garden.

Louisa West
Communications & Office Administrator

Louisa West

Communications & Office Administrator

Louisa joined the Youthrive team as Communications/Office Administrator in July 2021.

By following a career path in fine arts, photography and VCE secondary teaching, Louisa has developed a great passion for education and the importance of providing young people with opportunities to thrive through learning.

Having grown up in the Wimmera region of western Victoria, Louisa resonates with the Youthrive vision and is grateful to be a part of this passionate team and organisation that supports rural communities.

Escher Russell

Leadership Program Coordinator

Escher Russell

Leadership Program Coordinator

Escher Russell has been associated with Youthrive Victoria since 2018. He is studying the Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University and is passionate about having thriving rural communities.

Bree-Anna Cummins
Branch Out & Rural Youth Network Coordinator

Bree-Anna Cummins

Branch Out & Rural Youth Network Coordinator

Bree-Anna grew up in Caramut, in the south-west region of Victoria. After completing her schooling at Mortlake College, she moved to Ballarat to study acting. Since attending the Leadership Camp in 2017, Bree-Anna has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Acting with Federation University. She is continuing with further study, currently completing Certificate 3 in Floristry, and engaging in free-lance performance work.

Bree-Anna has always been passionate about contributing to the lives of young people, having mentored many throughout her ongoing engagement with the arts programs at her school. She sees the RYN and Branch Out programs as an exciting new possibility to build stronger ties, stronger communities and stronger youth on the foundation of leadership. She is also passionate about Women’s Health and is set to become a certified Menstrual Cycle Coach by the end of 2021.

Finn Poxon
Rural Youth Network Coordinator

Finn Poxon

Rural Youth Network Coordinator

Having grown up and attended school in the small rural community of Boort, Finn has developed an ethos of giving back to the community that supported him. Finn is keen to assist and support young people from rural communities to increase their connections through activities presented by Youthrive Victoria, as well as promoting and expanding the RYN online platform for both young people and relevant services and organisations. With well developed facilitation skills, Finn has participated in Dream Seeds workshops (for Year 5/6 students) and has coached on the Young Rural Leaders program.

Charlie Bracey
Rural Youth Network Coordinator

Charlie Bracey

Rural Youth Network Coordinator

Charlie is a youth worker with over 10 years experience in the field. She has a strong passion for mental health and is a youth and teen Mental Health First Aid instructor. Charlie moved to the Central Victorian Region 5 years ago and is excited to be working with Youthrive and all the young people connected to them.

Our Alumni Committee

Sam McColl
President

Sam McColl

President

Sam, who grew up in Ararat, moved to Ballarat in 2014 for work and study. Sam is passionate about local communities and has supported his community through a number of different organisations including; the CFA, St John Ambulance, AIME, Guide Dogs Victoria, headspace, and through political avenues as well.
Sam studied at Federation University and has tertiary education in Live Production, Leadership, and Management. Sam is now working full-time as the Venue and Events Manager at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute – Ballarat’s independent home of Arts and Culture.
Sam was first involved in Youthrive (then MSRF) as a participant on the July 2017 Leadership Program. He then became more involved within the organisation in 2019 as a member of the Alumni Committee and as a coach on the leadership program. He continued to be on the Committee in 2020 as Vice-President during one of the most challenging years, not only for the Alumni Committee and Youthive Victoria, but for all young regional people in Victoria.
This year, Sam’s goals are to use the resilience and skills that were built in 2020 and drive the committee forward to creating stronger and deeper connections across the state.

Maddy Merzvinskis
Vice President

Maddy Merzvinskis

Vice President

Maddy is originally from the regional town of Ballarat, and moved to Melbourne halfway through her degree at Swinburne University of Technology. She recently graduated from a Bachelor of Communication Design with Honours and is now working as a designer in the field of advertising, where she loves to collaborate, create and problem solve. Since attending the Young Rural Leaders Program in 2017, Maddy has been an enthusiastic and engaged member of Youthrive Victoria’s Alumni, having returned to the program as a Coach, presented multiple Dream Seeds® workshops, and used her design skills to promote a range of events and opportunities within the organisation. This year she looks forward to developing new opportunities for the Alumni to continue their leadership learning and personal growth.

Madelief Johnston
Secretary

Madelief Johnston

Secretary

Maggy Sessions
Treasurer

Maggy Sessions

Treasurer

Anna Findlay
General (Events)

Anna Findlay

General (Events)

Growing up in the King Valley, Anna has given back to the community through countless hours of invested community service. Throughout her years at the school she dedicated herself to involvement in leadership teams initially as a House Captain and in following years as School Captain. Within the community Anna eagerly served as a CFA member from the earliest age she could, appreciating the opportunity to combat one of the major issues in the surrounding regions. Having undergone multiple work experience programs, including with the Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Anna has discovered a driving desire to work in the field of scientific research. Midway through a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Medicinal Chemistry at The University of Melbourne, Anna aims to research the medicinal applications of natural compounds. It is important to her to continue giving back to the communities around her, and as such, she deeply cherishes the opportunity to work with Youthrive.

Jorgie Thompson
General

Jorgie Thompson

General

Jorgie is originally from Phillip Island Victoria and has moved to Burwood to study a Bachelor of Nursing/Midwifery at Deakin University. Jorgie loves being involved in Youthrive Victoria due to the connections she makes with young people who grew up in similar rural environments and their shared enthusiasm for projects that improve rural students’ educational outcomes. Rural health is a particular passion for Jorgie and she hopes to use her degree to improve rural/regional health outcomes.

Jorgie Thompson
General

Jorgie Thompson

General

Caroline Sutton
General

Caroline Sutton

General

Caroline is an enthusiastic person from Monbulk. In secondary school Caroline formed an initiative that educated other students about the variety of sexualities and genders to encourage a more inclusive school culture. She was also extremely passionate about the music and performing arts program at the school. After graduating Caroline attended Youthrive Victoria’s Leadership program in July 2019 and now studies Cert IV in Companion Animal Services at TAFE. Further, Caroline volunteers at the RSPCA, and Umpires Community Netball. She aspires to work within the animal industry to help to advocate for animal health. Caroline loves rural communities, the peace and quiet it brings and being able to look after the land as it looks after us.

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