BOARD DIRECTORS
RWAV’s board is made up highly experienced health care and business professionals. The board is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of RWAV.
Adjunct Associate Professor Morton Rawlin AM
Board Chair
BMed, MMedSci, FRACGP, FARGP, FACRRM, DipPractDerm, DipMedHyp, DipFP, DipBusAdmin, GAICD
MoreAffiliate Professor Grant Phelps
Jane Polett
Roger Chao
Board Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
BA (Politics/Philosophy) BEc GDipBus MBA GAICD FGIA
MoreDr Louise Manning
Dr Rosemary Kelly
Mathew Muldoon
John Biviano
Catherine McGovern
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Adjunct Associate Professor Morton Rawlin AM
Board Chair
BMed, MMedSci, FRACGP, FARGP, FACRRM, DipPractDerm, DipMedHyp, DipFP, DipBusAdmin, GAICD
Morton is an experienced GP and medical educator. He is currently in clinical general practice in suburban Melbourne and previously practised in rural Victoria for 10 years. Morton is Chair of the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaborative and a past Chair of the Mental Health Professionals Association and is a board member of the Mental Health Professionals Network. He is also the Medical Director of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Victoria. He is a member of the RACGP Victoria Council.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Board Chair
• Governance Committee Member
• Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee Member
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Board Chair
• Governance Committee Member
• Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee Member
Affiliate Professor Grant Phelps
Deputy Board Chair
BMBS, MBA, FRACP, FRACMA, FAICD
Grant is a retired physician and gastroenterologist whose specialist clinical practice was in regional and rural Victoria. In the latter part of his career, Grant moved into management and leadership roles at organisational and system level, with a focus on clinical quality and clinical engagement. Having worked for government in several jurisdictions, through this, Grant has held leadership roles in the national safety and quality agenda, and has also held major professional level roles including a 2-year period as President of the Adult Division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians from 2016–18. Grant teaches clinical governance with a focus on helping healthcare boards and executive teams understand this critical aspect of their work, and consults to organisations on their clinical governance and clinical leadership. Grant is an experienced and qualified board director, having attained Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2018, and currently chairs a major sporting organisation.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Deputy Board Chair
• Chair of the Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee
• Nominations and Remuneration Committee Member
• Deputy Board Chair
• Chair of the Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee
• Nominations and Remuneration Committee Member
Jane Poletti
Board Director
LLB, BSc, MMgt (Strategic Foresight), GAICD
As a lawyer and business consultant, Jane has worked for many years with company boards and executives across a range of areas including IP commercialisation, SaaS businesses, healthcare products/services, privacy compliance and data/IT security. Jane is General Counsel for ID Consulting. She has served as a Director of BreastScreen Victoria, Ballarat Health Services and chairs RWAV’s Governance Committee.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Chair of the Governance Committee
• Audit and Risk Committee Member
• Chair of the Governance Committee
• Audit and Risk Committee Member
Roger Chao
Board Director
BA (Hons), BEc, Grad Dip Bus, MBA, FGIA, FAICD
Roger is an experienced CEO, Chair, non-executive director, board consultant and course/workshop facilitator, with experience in the health, human services, law enforcement, regional economics, disaster relief, education, transport and environmental industries. He has sat on and chaired numerous private company, public sector and not-for-profit boards and audit and risk committees. Roger has also consulted with numerous boards, published numerous articles and conducted webinars on corporate governance, risk and strategy. He brings strong governance experience, commercial acumen, risk management and strategy skills combined with a passion for innovation and business development. Currently, Roger chairs the Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation, is a director and chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Melba Support Services, and is an independent member of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Roger is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed their Boardroom Mastery program, and is also a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia. Roger is currently a facilitator, assessor and writer for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and teaches their Company Directors Course, as well as numerous other short courses.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
• Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Dr Louise Manning
Board Director
BSci(Hons), DipLang, MD, FRACGP, FACRRM, DRANZCOG(Adv), GAICD
Louise is a rural GP obstetrician practising in a number of locations across Central Victoria where she delivers general practice, obstetric and sexual health services. After growing up in a small town, she has lived experience of the difficulties of accessing healthcare in rural and regional areas, and is dedicated to advocating for equitable health outcomes, regardless of geography. In addition to her clinical duties, she undertakes consulting, medical education and advocacy work. She is also a non-executive director and the current President Elect of the RDAV. Louise recently returned to study in 2024 and is undertaking a Masters of Public Health through The University of Melbourne.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee Member
• Audit and Risk Committee Member
• Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee Member
• Audit and Risk Committee Member
Dr Rosemary Kelly
Board Director
BCom, MPP, EdD, DipEd, Claritas/CFA Investment Certificate, MAICD
Rosemary has had a varied career as an academic teaching economics, public policy and industrial relations, and as a consultant, advocate, health union official and as a director. She brings strong governance and strategic skills to the Board, as well as knowledge and depth of experience in health policy, economics and investment. Rosemary is currently a member of the Investment Committee of Cbus, a major Australian superannuation fund. She was the Secretary of the Victorian Psychologists Association Inc for 20 years and was Assistant Secretary and Secretary of the Medical Scientists’ Association of Victoria, which counts dietitians and audiologists among its members. Rosemary knows first-hand the difficulties in attracting and retaining health professionals in rural and regional Victoria. Rosemary is a member of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, and a committee member of Quit Nukes.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Chair of the People and Culture Committee
• Governance Committee Member
• Chair of the People and Culture Committee
• Governance Committee Member
Mathew Muldoon
Board Director
CA, BEc (Acc), RITP, MAICD
Mat is a Chartered Accountant of 30 years standing with experience as an Auditor, Banker and Registered Liquidator. Joint founding Partner of a Chartered Accounting firm specialising in Corporate Advisory, Business Recovery and Turnaround, Valuations and Forensics, Mat brings his considerable financial experience combined with the commercial learnings gathered running numerous businesses to the Board. Mat is a longstanding Board member of Ballarat Community Health Limited and has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committee whilst he has been on the Board and is well aware of the issues facing the health workforce in regional areas.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Audit and Risk Committee Member
• People and Culture Committee Member
• Audit and Risk Committee Member
• People and Culture Committee Member
John Biviano
Board Director
BAppSci, GradDipBus, MBus, GAICD, FIML
John is an experienced CEO and senior executive who has held many roles in various hospitals, in government (Health Department), and in professional associations related to healthcare. Until recently, John was the CEO of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), where he had major involvement in various sustainability in healthcare initiatives, Indigenous health and ‘Building Respect’ cultural improvement strategies.
John’s expertise encompasses leadership, strategic policy development, professional standards and government relations. At RACS, he led the college through the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw the digitisation of a range of member offerings, including aspects of training. He remains a key advocate for good corporate governance and the need for leaner and competent skills-based boards.
RWAV special responsibilities:
• Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee Member
• People and Culture Committee Member
• Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Committee Member
• People and Culture Committee Member
Catherine McGovern
Board Director
For nearly 30 years, Catherine has worked as a consultant, senior executive, adviser and government relations specialist with a particular focus on health, social services, social policy and industry development. Catherine is currently Partner and Co-founder of Evaluate, an economics consulting company, where she is engaged in the evaluation and development of efficient and cost-effective services and policies, principally in relation to health and lifesciences. Prior to this, Catherine worked in the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries with responsibilities for government relations, stakeholder engagement, policy development, regulatory affairs and communication in Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. Catherine is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a past board member of Marriott Support Services, Melbourne City Mission and Victoria Legal Aid.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
RWAV’s executive team are the senior leaders in the organisation. They ensure RWAV delivers on its key objectives and priorities and strategies are implemented.
Lauren Cordwell
Joanna Willatts
Kate Temby
Shay Madzikanda
Shay Madzikanda
Martin Bede
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Lauren Cordwell
Chief Executive Officer
BHlthSci(Hons) MPH PostGradDipMgt GAICD AFCHSM
Lauren Cordwell is the Chief Executive Officer at RWAV. Lauren has been an integral part of the RWAV team since 2018, demonstrating a remarkable strategic vision to improve access to health care in rural Victoria. As an experienced senior executive and health policy analyst, she is committed to finding practical solutions to address the challenges preventing communities in rural Australia from accessing affordable and safe healthcare. For over 20 years, Lauren has designed and implemented innovative programs with communities, health professionals and government agencies that continue to have a lasting benefit. Many of these programs relate to primary healthcare, general practice, workforce, First People’s health and community engagement.
Jo Willatts
General Manager - Service Delivery
Social Work (BA Hons), DipSW
With a background in social work and a proven record in recruitment, project management, and business development, Jo brings strategic leadership and a wealth of experience in driving positive outcomes within the health, human services, and State Government sectors.
Jo specialises in managing health professional recruitment and outreach programs, including the More Doctors for Rural Australia and 3GA programs. Her focus is on implementing innovative workforce strategies and clinical governance to bolster RWAV's mission of enhancing healthcare accessibility in rural and regional Victoria.
Having previously excelled at RWAV, Jo spearheaded successful internal change initiatives while fostering strong relationships with external stakeholders. Her efforts consistently align with RWAV's strategic direction, ensuring a cohesive approach to driving impactful change.
Beyond her professional expertise, Jo's passion lies in uniting communities and championing positive transformations in rural healthcare in Victoria.
Kate Temby
General Manager - Strategy and Partnerships
RN, GradDip(Health Promotion), PRINCE2, Mini MBA
Kate is a Registered Nurse highly experienced in health promotion and project management. Her people and program management skills enable her to be agile and adaptable while maintaining an outcomes focus on improving quality access to primary healthcare. Kate’s extensive experience working with all levels of government, the community and stakeholders across the sector have provided her with insights into the challenges rural communities and health professionals face.
With her strengths in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and collaborative partnerships, Kate has led the design and delivery of many innovative and strategic health promotion and grants programs, supporting better access to health services, health information and activities across communities.
Whilst at RWAV, Kate has led the transformation of the RWAV grants program, enhanced the administration of a number of programs and developed the RWAV allied health portfolio. She has also led the development of the RWAV research program of activities.
Having worked at RWAV since 2020, Kate will continue positively influencing the rural healthcare workforce and access to services.
Shay Madzikanda
General Manager - Finance and Risk
Msc (Fin), FCCA, FGIA, CA
Shay brings over 20 years of financial management experience in commercial and not-for-profit organisations. He has a rich and varied experience in multiple finance and leadership roles in the United Kingdom and Australia, including CFO, GM Finance & IT, Commercial Manager Operations, Finance Manager and Accountant.
His extensive leadership experience is augmented by an FGIA, FCCA, CA, a Masters in Finance and an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.
Snezana Lamevski
General Manager - People and Culture
GAICD, PostGrad HRM
Snezana is a Human Resources leader with more than 15 years of experience in management, playing a pivotal role in driving team transformations across diverse industries, including FMCG, automotive, government, and non-profit sectors.
With a curiosity for business and its associated complexities, Snezana fosters collaborative partnerships to cultivate a highly motivated workforce that effectively executes strategic plans.
Martin Bede
Company Secretary
LLB BCom FGIA
Martin is a governance professional and lawyer with experience in private practice and in-house legal roles. He has been a company secretary for public and private sector organisations across a range of industries including VicTrack, Regis Healthcare Limited and Dairy Australia Limited. He holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia (GIA) and is a fellow of the GIA.