GACC Committee Members

Mr David Power - Chair	Mr Bruce Connolly - Deputy Chair
Dr Barbara Johnson	Mr Robert Ashworth
Mr Geoff Hill	Mr John Hutchinson OAM
Dr Ann Dettrick	Mr Peter Heilbuth
Mr Bob Stevenson	Professor Val Clulow
Mr Michael Grogan	Rick Stockdale
Jon McNaught	Mr Mark Close (ex-officio member)
Ms Maree McPherson (ex-officio member)

Mr David Power - Chair The GACC Chair David Power is a partner with the Gippsland-based legal firm Davine Fitzpatrick. A qualified solicitor, Mr Power brings a wealth of legal, financial and business planning management skills to his position on the Committee. An active member of the Moe Rotary Club, Mr Power is committed to the development of greater opportunities for Gippslanders and is passionate about the future of the region.
Mr Bruce Connolly - Deputy Chair Bruce Connolly is the Director of Nexus Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd, an economic development consultancy firm based in East Gippsland. His company works closely with businesses, government agencies and industry sector groups to develop innovative solutions to stimulate business and regional growth across Gippsland and other parts of Victoria. Mr Connolly is a member of the International Economic Development Council (recently elected to the Council's International Development Committee) and the Competitiveness Institute. Mr Connolly has used these memberships to develop international contacts and networks that can be used to assist businesses and organisations. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Agriculture Gippsland Inc.
Dr Barbara Johnson A Doctor of Philosophy and Certified Practising Agriculturalist, Dr Johnson has a distinguished academic and teaching career, including roles at McMillan College, Melbourne University and Monash University Gippsland and is a former Regional Education Officer for the Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group. Dr Johnson’s involvement in community activities has included Uniting our Rural Communities Inc., Gippsland Region Council for Adult, Community and Further Education and the Gippsland Agribusiness Forum. Dr Johnson is presently a member of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority's Latrobe Baw Baw Community Consultative Committee, and the Land and Production Portfolio Group.
Mr Robert Ashworth Employed as the Shire of Wellington's Economic Development Executive, Robert Ashworth has a professional and personal committment to making Gippsland a better place to live and do business. Mr Ashworth has previous experience in international grain trade and infrastructure development. He is a former Gippsland Manager of Regional Development Victoria, and Investment Manager with the City of Latrobe.
Mr Geoff Hill Following a background in private enterprise including small business ownership, Geoff Hill has been employed in Gippsland local government for the past twenty years undertaking a diverse range of functions focussed on economic and community development. Mr Hill is currently Manager Business Development at Latrobe City with a key role in encouraging sustainable expansion of the City’s industry and employment base. This role follows nine years as Development Manager for South Gippsland Shire Council with responsibility in the areas of Economic Development, Tourism, Community Strengthening, Youth Development, Arts and Culture and Local Laws. Mr Hill has a strong understanding of the business and community environment and of the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Gippsland region.
Mr John Hutchinson OAM Born, educated and initially employed at Yallourn, John Hutchinson enjoyed a variety of senior management roles in the State Electricity Commission of Victoria including responsibility for all electricity generating assets, before becoming CEO of the Coal Corporation of Victoria and leading Energy Brix Australia into positive activity. Mr Hutchinson ia a former Council member of Monash University and a current Chair of the Monash Gippsland Advisory Council. He is a senior member of the Moe Rotary Club, President of the Power Industry Association, Inaugural and now Past Chairman of the Gippsland Community Leadership Program (GCLP) and a Board member of GREEN Inc. On 26 January 2008, Mr Hutchinson was awarded an Order of Australia medal for service to the community of the Gippsland region through executive roles with a range of organisations, to tertiary education, and to the energy industry.
Dr Ann Dettrick Dr Dettrick has taught in Gippsland for thirty-three years at tertiary, secondary and primary levels, worked extensively with school councils, and taught professional development programs across the region. Dr Dettrick worked in Canada for one year as an International Fellow, has taught in the United States, and completed research for the University of New England, Deakin University, and University of South Australia. Dr Dettrick’s particular passion is ensuring that education in the Gippsland region grows and flourishes.
Mr Peter Heilbuth Peter Heilbuth has worked at East Gippsland Institute of TAFE for the past eleven years in teaching and management roles. Mr Heilbuth was a recipient of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) “Flexible Learning Leader” scholarship, which provided him with an opportunity to travel throughout Australia and overseas to Canada and the UK in 2002. Mr Heilbuth has a Masters degree in Education, an Honours degree in Politics and a Bachelor of Arts and is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation through Swinburne University.
Mr Bob Stevenson Bob Stevenson brings to the GACC some thirty years industrial experience in the power industry, private sector heavy engineering and business development. Mr Stevenson’s role as the Gippsland Regional Manager of the Industry Capability Network (Vic) Ltd involves assisting industry and authorities in project involvement, competitive procurement, export assistance and networking. Mr Stevenson’s close association with a wide variety of businesses across all of Greater Gippsland is an asset to the committee.
Professor Val Clulow Professor Val Clulow is the Head, School of Business and Economics, Monash University, Gippsland Campus. Professor Clulow has researched and published internationally in the areas of retailing, service industries, business strategy and marketing education. Before moving into academe, Professor Clulow worked in the retail industry in Australia as a senior management development manager and as a private consultant. Professor Clulow has a depth of business experience in service related industries and has worked as a consultant to a wide range of Australian firms. She has also supervised PhD and Masters research studies in business strategy in areas such as retailing, utilities provision, community banking, call centres and business start-ups. Professor Clulow has extensive experience in the design of both consumer-based surveys and interview schedules used in competitively funded projects, for the collection and analysis of data in areas related to retailing, housing, learning in a business context and frontline service delivery. Professor Clulow is based in Churchill and enjoys an occasional game of golf or relaxing at her property near Noojee.
Mr Michael Grogan Michael Grogan has over 30 years experience in the meat and livestock industry and is the Director of two of the largest Registered Training Organisations delivering training to the Meat and Food Industries in Australia. Micahel's previous positions include roles in Business Development as well as heading the Korean Office of the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation. A Registered ISO Lead Auditor in Food Safety and Quality Systems complements ongoing National and International projects. Michael is also a Director of a leading manufacturer in Warragul specialising in re-cycled rubber products. Michael returned to Warragul in 2003 after living in Melbourne, Queensland and South Korea. Michael has a network that will complement the GACC Committee and shares a vision to promote projects within Gippsland.
Rick Stockdale Rick Stockdale has had a diversified work history. After studying Law and Commerce at Melbourne University Rick managed a small engineering and manufacturing business, taught English to tertiary qualified migrants for the Commonwealth Government and then worked for IBM as a Systems Engineer and Business Analyst. In the early 1980s Rick studied business administration at Swinburne University and established a computer software business specialising in developing  customised software applications on IBM midrange computers for a diversified range of industry sectors.  More recently Rick and his partner Marie have entered the hospitality industry establishing a successful vineyard, cellar door and restaurant in West Gippsland. Rick brings to the committee experience in small business, a network of contacts in the Gippsland tourism industry and a strong desire to make a difference in the development and promotion of Gippsland as a region.
Jon McNaught Jon was born and educated in Gippsland, Jon began his career at Australian Paper Maryvale. After receiving a double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Commerce, he has spent the last six years working as an engineering consultant with GHD across Australia, including Melbourne, Mildura, Darwin and Hobart. Jon moved back to Gippsland in 2007, where he currently manages GHD's Gippsland consulting business, requiring regular travel and business dealings with people across East, West and South Gippsland. He is also involved with Engineers Australia, and is Chair of the Gippsland Group. Jon is passionate about developing a sustainable and prosperous Gippsland region, with strong commercial and social links.
Mr Mark Close (ex-officio member) Mr Close represents the Australian Government at Committee meetings, and is the Departments' Liaison Officer for Gippsland.
Ms Maree McPherson (ex-officio member) Maree McPherson is the Executive Officer to the Committee. Maree has over twenty years experience in community development work with several years in senior management roles in Gippsland. Maree has tertiary qualifications in social welfare, as well as in business, majoring in labour - management relations. She is a fellow of the Gippsland Community Leadership Program, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Maree's career has predominantly been in non-government and statutory agencies. She has been a member of management and advisory committees for a range of local, state and national organisations, and is an experienced Company and not-for-profit Director. She is currently independent Chair of the Audit Committee for the Bairnsdale based Noweyung Ltd, an organisation providing education and support services for adults with intellectual disabilities. Maree is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Traralgon Central.