BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Scott Kelly
Board Chair
READ SCOTT'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2017
Board Positions:
- Board – Chair
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Member
Scott is an experienced business executive with a background in business ownership. Scott brings key skills to the board including the ability to think strategically, an analytical approach and a solid understanding in commercial and financial foundations.
Scott was part of the infrastructure sub-committee which played an integral role in overseeing the construction of ConnectGV’s state of the art facility that was officially opened in 2021.
Scott joined the ConnectGV Board as he was looking for ways to give back to his local community.
Jenny Foott
Deputy Board Chair
READ JENNY'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2017
Board Positions:
- Board – Deputy Chair
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Member
- Fundraising Sub-Committee – Chair
Jenny is a Director and owner of FOOTT, a leading waste and recycling business in regional Victoria. Bringing a wealth of business management and marketing experience to the Board, Jenny is eager to ensure Connect GV continues to evolve and thrive through the challenges of the NDIS scheme.
Having a family member with a disability she understands the challenges and is passionate about assisting people with a disability to live their best life.
Jenny is a graduate of St Vincent’s Nurse program (Div 2), the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD course) and Goulburn Murray Fairley Leadership program (2020).
Sal Pennisi
Board Treasurer
READ SAL'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since July 2016
Board Positions:
- Board – Treasurer
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Chair
Salvatore is a Shepparton local who has grown up and lived in Shepparton his whole life. Having completed a Master’s in Business Administration and being a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant) with over 10 years’ experience in the accounting industry, and as the Director of local accounting firm, AHA Accounting and Business Solutions, he brings a wealth of knowledge within the business and financial fields.
The main reason Salvatore joined the ConnectGV Board was to enable him to give back to his local community and to follow his passion of supporting those within the local community living with disability.
JennY Cook
Board Director
READ JENNY'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since January 2014
Board Positions:
- Board – Member
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Member
Jennifer is a registered nurse with extensive experience and has completed further study in the areas of Mental Health Science, Child and Family Practice and Management. Her current position is the Executive Manager, Youth and Family Services, The Bridge Youth Service.
As the mother of a child with special needs, and who attends ConnectGV, Jennifer knows first-hand the difference an establishment such as ConnectGV can make in the lives of those living with disability. The Cook family chose ConnectGV for their son because of the strong commitment ConnectGV has with ensuring clients are supported in the very best way that they can be.
Jennifer’s contribution to the organisation is two-fold; as a parent, Jenny gives a voice to the participants, their families and caregivers, and in her role as an Executive Manager at a local not for profit organisation that also values and invests in the local Goulburn Valley community
READ SCOTT'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2017
Board Positions:
- Board – Chair
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Member
Scott is an experienced business executive with a background in business ownership. Scott brings key skills to the board including the ability to think strategically, an analytical approach and a solid understanding in commercial and financial foundations.
Scott was part of the infrastructure sub-committee which played an integral role in overseeing the construction of ConnectGV’s state of the art facility that was officially opened in 2021.
Scott joined the ConnectGV Board as he was looking for ways to give back to his local community.
READ JENNY'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2017
Board Positions:
- Board – Deputy Chair
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Member
- Fundraising Sub-Committee – Chair
Jenny is a Director and owner of FOOTT, a leading waste and recycling business in regional Victoria. Bringing a wealth of business management and marketing experience to the Board, Jenny is eager to ensure Connect GV continues to evolve and thrive through the challenges of the NDIS scheme.
Having a family member with a disability she understands the challenges and is passionate about assisting people with a disability to live their best life.
Jenny is a graduate of St Vincent’s Nurse program (Div 2), the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD course) and Goulburn Murray Fairley Leadership program (2020).
READ SAL'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since July 2016
Board Positions:
- Board – Treasurer
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Chair
Salvatore is a Shepparton local who has grown up and lived in Shepparton his whole life. Having completed a Master’s in Business Administration and being a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant) with over 10 years’ experience in the accounting industry, and as the Director of local accounting firm, AHA Accounting and Business Solutions, he brings a wealth of knowledge within the business and financial fields.
The main reason Salvatore joined the ConnectGV Board was to enable him to give back to his local community and to follow his passion of supporting those within the local community living with disability.
READ JENNY'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since January 2014
Board Positions:
- Board – Member
- Finance, Audit & Infrastructure Sub-Committee – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Member
Jennifer is a registered nurse with extensive experience and has completed further study in the areas of Mental Health Science, Child and Family Practice and Management. Her current position is the Executive Manager, Youth and Family Services, The Bridge Youth Service.
As the mother of a child with special needs, and who attends ConnectGV, Jennifer knows first-hand the difference an establishment such as ConnectGV can make in the lives of those living with disability. The Cook family chose ConnectGV for their son because of the strong commitment ConnectGV has with ensuring clients are supported in the very best way that they can be.
Jennifer’s contribution to the organisation is two-fold; as a parent, Jenny gives a voice to the participants, their families and caregivers, and in her role as an Executive Manager at a local not for profit organisation that also values and invests in the local Goulburn Valley community
Angela Buxton
Board Director
READ ANGELA'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2021
Board Positions:
- Board – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Chair
Angela brings to the ConnectGV Board a wealth of knowledge within the education sector, having been a teacher for over 30 years. She has been an educational leader within the Goulburn Valley for over 10 years. Her current role as Principal of the Verney Road School provides an invaluable link to our organisation and its participants.
Originally a secondary teacher, Angela completed extra study in autism teaching then went on to complete a Master of Education, specialising in disability teaching.
Angela feels privileged to be a member of the ConnectGV Board as she is passionate about supporting the development of inclusive communities and the important work which ConnectGV does within our local community.
Melissa Pace
Board Director
READ MELISSA'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2021
Board Positions:
- Board – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Member
- Fundraising Sub-Committee – Member
Melissa moved to the Goulburn Valley to join Cameron’s Lawyers, working predominantly in the areas of property, commercial and wills, after completing her Bachelor of Law with Honours at Victoria university in 2017. Prior to this, she completed her preadmission practical legal training with Leo Cussen Centre of Law in Melbourne. During this time Melissa was also predominantly volunteering and interning with numerous community and not-for-profit organisations, whilst concurrently undertaking her law degree and practical legal training.
Wanting to contribute to her local community and believing it is essential that all members of our community, particularly those living with disability, feel as though they belong, Melissa jumped at the opportunity to join ConnectGV as a board member. Melissa’s background in law and her experience as a solicitor will enable her to bring a legal perspective to issues that the board may deal with.
Peter Eastaugh
Board Director
READ PETER'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since November 2022
- Board Positions: Board – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Member
Dr Peter Eastaugh graduated from Melbourne University with a MBBS in 1983, working at St Vincent’s Hospital and follows by working at the Royal Children’s hospital. Peter made the move the Goulburn Valley, opening his own practice and working at GV Health as a consulting physician, later becoming Clinical Director of Paediatrics between 1996-2011. His ongoing pursuit of education has seen him qualify with a Graduate Diploma of Epidemiology and Masters of Medical Science (Clinical Epidemiology). He has served as a member of various Victorian Government committees and became an honorary senior lecturer at Melbourne University Department of Rural Health in 2000 to 2007.
Peter is an active member of the Shepparton community, having been the recipient of numerous awards. He joins the ConnectGV board bringing with him many years of invaluable medical and clinical experience and hopes to pursue the ongoing support of those he has advocated for over the last 30+ years – children becoming adults, with developmental disabilities. His key goal as part of the board is to explore the possibility of ConnectGV becoming an educational facility for people with disabilities.
Jacinta Russell
Company Secretary
READ JACINTA'S BIO
Jacinta Russell is the Chief Executive Officer of ConnectGV, a position she has held since July 2022. Prior to commencing at ConnectGV, Jacinta held the position of Executive Director at Goulburn Valley Health as well as various other management positions across metropolitan and regional health services. Jacinta brings a wealth of experience from previous roles in health administration, corporate and clinical governance, business and ensuring participants and clients have an opportunity to determine and be supported in their care needs.
Jacinta is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Masters of Science from RMIT, Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management (Quality & Safety) (UTAS), Graduate Certificate in Management (AIM), Professional Certificate in Health Systems (Uni of Melb), a Bachelor of Science (La Trobe Uni), Prince 2 Practitioner qualifications and is a graduate of the Fairley Leadership Program (FF 2014). Jacinta is also a member of the Australian College of Health Services Management.
Jacinta is actively involved in the local community, having been born and raised in Shepparton. She currently holds Board Director positions at Primary Care Connect (Board Chair and Chair of Clinical Governance sub-committee) and a Work Trainers & Recruitment Select, she was also a previous Board Chair of Goulburn Murray Community Leadership .
Jacinta is passionate about assisting the most vulnerable people within our community, via her paid and volunteer work. When not working Jacinta enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, friends and family, in our beautiful region.
READ ANGELA'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2021
Board Positions:
- Board – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Chair
Angela brings to the ConnectGV Board a wealth of knowledge within the education sector, having been a teacher for over 30 years. She has been an educational leader within the Goulburn Valley for over 10 years. Her current role as Principal of the Verney Road School provides an invaluable link to our organisation and its participants.
Originally a secondary teacher, Angela completed extra study in autism teaching then went on to complete a Master of Education, specialising in disability teaching.
Angela feels privileged to be a member of the ConnectGV Board as she is passionate about supporting the development of inclusive communities and the important work which ConnectGV does within our local community.
READ MELISSA'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since October 2021
Board Positions:
- Board – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Member
- Fundraising Sub-Committee – Member
Melissa moved to the Goulburn Valley to join Cameron’s Lawyers, working predominantly in the areas of property, commercial and wills, after completing her Bachelor of Law with Honours at Victoria university in 2017. Prior to this, she completed her preadmission practical legal training with Leo Cussen Centre of Law in Melbourne. During this time Melissa was also predominantly volunteering and interning with numerous community and not-for-profit organisations, whilst concurrently undertaking her law degree and practical legal training.
Wanting to contribute to her local community and believing it is essential that all members of our community, particularly those living with disability, feel as though they belong, Melissa jumped at the opportunity to join ConnectGV as a board member. Melissa’s background in law and her experience as a solicitor will enable her to bring a legal perspective to issues that the board may deal with.
READ PETER'S BIO
ConnectGV Board of Directors since November 2022
- Board Positions: Board – Member
- Quality Review Sub-Committee – Member
Dr Peter Eastaugh graduated from Melbourne University with a MBBS in 1983, working at St Vincent’s Hospital and follows by working at the Royal Children’s hospital. Peter made the move the Goulburn Valley, opening his own practice and working at GV Health as a consulting physician, later becoming Clinical Director of Paediatrics between 1996-2011. His ongoing pursuit of education has seen him qualify with a Graduate Diploma of Epidemiology and Masters of Medical Science (Clinical Epidemiology). He has served as a member of various Victorian Government committees and became an honorary senior lecturer at Melbourne University Department of Rural Health in 2000 to 2007.
Peter is an active member of the Shepparton community, having been the recipient of numerous awards. He joins the ConnectGV board bringing with him many years of invaluable medical and clinical experience and hopes to pursue the ongoing support of those he has advocated for over the last 30+ years – children becoming adults, with developmental disabilities. His key goal as part of the board is to explore the possibility of ConnectGV becoming an educational facility for people with disabilities.
READ JACINTA'S BIO
Jacinta Russell is the Chief Executive Officer of ConnectGV, a position she has held since July 2022. Prior to commencing at ConnectGV, Jacinta held the position of Executive Director at Goulburn Valley Health as well as various other management positions across metropolitan and regional health services. Jacinta brings a wealth of experience from previous roles in health administration, corporate and clinical governance, business and ensuring participants and clients have an opportunity to determine and be supported in their care needs.
Jacinta is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Masters of Science from RMIT, Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management (Quality & Safety) (UTAS), Graduate Certificate in Management (AIM), Professional Certificate in Health Systems (Uni of Melb), a Bachelor of Science (La Trobe Uni), Prince 2 Practitioner qualifications and is a graduate of the Fairley Leadership Program (FF 2014). Jacinta is also a member of the Australian College of Health Services Management.
Jacinta is actively involved in the local community, having been born and raised in Shepparton. She currently holds Board Director positions at Primary Care Connect (Board Chair and Chair of Clinical Governance sub-committee) and a Work Trainers & Recruitment Select, she was also a previous Board Chair of Goulburn Murray Community Leadership .
Jacinta is passionate about assisting the most vulnerable people within our community, via her paid and volunteer work. When not working Jacinta enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, friends and family, in our beautiful region.
ConnectGV acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are located in Shepparton which forms part of the Yorta Yorta Nation. We honour and pay our respect to Elders and leaders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture.
ConnectGV is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion at the workplace. It expects its employees to consistently demonstrate its values through the quality of their work and interaction with all stakeholders.
Contacts
Office
12-16 Bowenhall St
Shepparton VIC 3630
Post
PO Box 1666
Shepparton VIC 3632
Email Directory
reception@connectgv.com.au
NDIS Enquiries:
ndis@connectgv.com.au
Feedback:
ceo@connectgv.com.au
