Our Board

Our Board of Directors govern the organisation with a strong commitment to serving the community.

Michael Smith - Board

Michael Smith

Chair

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Michael brings a lifelong commitment to working with vulnerable communities, which includes roles in youth homelessness, disability, local council and community legal assistance. Michael currently holds a senior leadership role in the Community Legal Centre Sector. He is particularly focussed on encouraging collaboration and partnerships across community health and legal sectors. Michael has been a Banyule Community Health Board Director since 2015.

Responsibilities:
Chair Board of Directors
Chair of Strategic Directions Committee
Finance, Investment, Audit & Risk Committee
Community Participation Committee

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts (Youth Affairs),
Master of Social Work
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors


Anthony O'Donnell - Board

Anthony O’Donnell

Deputy Chair

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Anthony was born and raised locally, and continues to live locally with his young family. Anthony has a long career in the health sector with a number of key leadership roles in large public hospitals including the Austin, Eastern Health and Royal Melbourne Hospital. Anthony brings experience in both clinical and non-clinical roles, and is currently Director of Medical Services at Royal Melbourne. Anthony has been a Banyule Community Health Board Director since 2011.

Responsibilities:
Deputy Chair Board of Directors
Chair Clinical Governance Committee
Strategic Directions Committee

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Nursing (Honors)
Masters of Health Administration


Craig Trenfield - Treasurer

Craig Trenfield

Treasurer

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Craig is a highly regarded and experienced leader in finance in the health sector. Craig has held a number of financial executive roles in health in Victoria. Craig is driven to ensure the local community have equitable access to high quality care and the facilities that enable this to occur.

Craig has been a Banyule Community Health Board Director since 2012.

Responsibilities:
Treasurer Board of Directors
Chair Finance, Investment, Audit & Risk Committee

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Business
Graduate Diploma in Accounting


Sonia Vignjevic

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Sonia is passionate about building inclusive communities. She loves spending time with her three beautiful kids and husband, going to the beach and dining out. Sonia is an Executive Manager with many years experience in multicultural, migration and settlement sectors. She has strong leadership, strategic and stakeholder engagement skills, specifically with International bodies, Government, academia and civil society.

Responsibilities:
Clinical Governance Committee

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts
Diploma in International Law
Post Graduate Certificate in Trauma Counselling & Psychotherapy
Former Victorian Multicultural Commissioner


Stephen Bendle

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Stephen is currently a public health consultant working in the profit-for-purpose sector. He has two adult boys and is proud to be a one-eyed Collingwood supporter. He has had a successful career in the public health and community development sectors. He has always lived in Melbourne and is passionate about health equity and access to those services that help support a community’s health.

Responsibilities:
Clinical Governance Committee
Strategic Directions Committee

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Education
Masters of Science
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors


Shannon Gleeson

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Shannon is a proud Wiradjuri woman who has lived locally on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land for the past 20 years. She has been an active member of the community, raised 3 teenage children and establishing a successful career in nursing with leadership roles within the public health system and she is currently working in the not-for-profit space. Shannon is passionate about ensuring the community have equitable access to high quality, inclusive and culturally safe healthcare and utilises her strong strategic analysis skills to engage stakeholders, government, and private sectors to enable this to occur. She believes in making positive changes that empower Mob to achieve their full potential. She enjoys gardening, netball, taking trips back to country and barracks for the Sydney Swans and the Canberra Raiders.
Shannon has been a Banyule Community Health Board Director since 2022.

Responsibilities:

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership


Jessica Walker

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Jessica is deeply committed to social policy, building inclusive communities and equal access to services. Jessica has more than 20 years experience in leadership roles in the Federal and Victorian Governments and in the not-for-profit sector. Jessica brings experience in policy, communications and stakeholder relations. She lives locally with her husband and two beautiful boys, and enjoys camping and getting out to the bush. Jessica has been a Banyule Community Health Board Director since 2022.

Responsibilities:

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Media Studies (Journalism)
Master of Communication (Public Relations)


Anita Wilton

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Anita is a respected healthcare leader who has undertaken roles in executive level operations, professional and clinical governance and direct patient care in hospital and community health care. Her work has included partnering with other health services and agencies to improve patient care and health outcomes.

Anita is a long-term resident of Banyule, and while her children were growing up, actively involved in their playgroups, kindergarten, and school committees.  She loves spending time with her family, and taking the dog to the various parks and river walking tracks in the area.

Responsibilities

Finance Audit and Risk Committee

Qualifications

Professional Certificate in Healthcare Management

Australian Applied Management Colloquium

Graduate Certificate Diabetes Education and Health Care

Graduate Certificate Enteral Therapy

Graduate Diploma Health Education

Graduate Diploma Dietetics

Bachelor of Science (Nutrition)


Acknowledgement: Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website (www.health.gov.au) for more information.

Disclaimer: Although funding for these Allied Health services has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.