Board of Management

Raelene Hanratty, Chair 

Raelene has been a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since July 2015.

Raelene and her husband Dennis dairy farm at Upper Maffra West where they have raised 7 children.

Raelene is dedicated to the local community and has held many executive committee positions on various organisations. She is currently the Deputy Chair of Southern Rural Water’s ‘Macalister Customer Consultative Committee’, the secretary of the Heyfield Tennis Club, and the treasurer of the Nambrok Newry Junior Football Club.

Raelene is committed to ensuring that Heyfield Hospital and Laurina Lodge provide quality services to the Heyfield and District community.

Appointed to the Board in 2015.

Anne Wootton, Vice Chair

Ann has been in executive and general management since 1998.  Ann’s career has been in professional services, firstly in Australian law firms in knowledge and operational management, moving to the compliance and risk management services industry in executive management roles. Her most recent executive role was in the Property services industry and as an executive director of a global risk management company.  She has worked with clients from major Australian banks to Fortune 500 organisations globally.

Ann was employed by SAI Global from 2000 – 2017, an ASX-200 public company until acquired by private equity and delisted in December 2016.  For the majority of this time, Ann was in executive management positions in Australia and the USA.  Firstly, as General Manager of the APAC Compliance Division, followed by President of the Americas Compliance Division.  Ann was most recently the Director of the Property Division achieving significant year-on-year growth, with annual revenue in excess of $180m.  Ann was also an Executive Director and member of EXCO of this global organisation.

Ann has recently retired to Gippsland in country Victoria and is on a steep learning curve in developing a very different skills set!

Ann has previously served on not-for-profit boards:

• The Governance Risk & Compliance Institute – a board representing the Compliance and Risk professional industry in Australia
• The Good Samaritan Board – a board overseeing an accommodation shelter in Melbourne for women and children who seek refuge from domestic violence

Professionally, Ann is interested in non-executive Director roles in Victoria and NSW and consulting in her areas of expertise.  Ann and her husband Morris Bellamy have formed a consulting partnership called Cretata Executives.

Appointed to the Board in 2019.

Peter Skeels 

Peter has over 36 years’ experience in the provision of financial, commercial, and strategic advice within the utility and service provision industries. His past roles have included Financial Planning and Strategy, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, Customer Services.  Peter is currently employed with Gippsland Water where his substantive role is General Manager, Operations. In recent years, Peter has been extensively involved in the justification, financing, construction and delivery of the Gippsland Water Factory project, a $230m advanced wastewater treatment and recycling project located near Morwell, Victoria.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Business, Monash University with majors in Accounting and Economics and is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants (FCPA). He has held the following voluntary appointments, Past Chairman, Gippsland Branch CPA 1998 – 2004, Director and Deputy Chairman, Gippsland Grammar School, Sale 2004 – 2013 and Director Heyfield Hospital Incorporated 2014 – present.

Peter’s primary recreational interests revolve around scuba diving where he is recognised by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors as a Master Scuba Diver Trainer and with Technical Diving International as an Instructor.

Appointed to the Board in 2014.

 John Sundermann

John was educated at Heyfield primary school and Gippsland Grammar, spending a semester at the University of Illinois in year 12. On finishing school, John has worked on the family farm at Heyfield running angus cattle stud, a poll Dorset sheep stud and a dairy farm.

John has been President of the Catholic College (Sale) school Board, Secretary/Treasurer of the Seaton Fire Brigade, Secretary and Treasurer of the Heyfield Golf Club and a member of the Macalister Consultative Committee for Irrigators.

Appointed to the Board in 2014.

Sarah Christian

Sarah grew up in Heyfield and completed a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University. After travelling overseas and working at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London UK, she returned to Australia to complete a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Flinders University in Adelaide. Sarah completed her specialist training with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2014.

She enjoys teaching and also works part time for Eastern Victoria GP Training as a Medical Educator and Training Advisor. She is passionate about addressing the rural shortage of Doctors and medical services. Sarah has three beautiful children and loves spending time with her extended family.

Appointed to the Board in 2017.

Liz Driffield

Appointed to the Board in 2023.

Glen Williamson (Observer)

Since 2019, Glen has been a Commercial Executive looking after 7 small global businesses in the role of Chief Operations Officer for a private entrepreneur with a combined turnover of $50 million dollars, covering all facets of operations such as Risk Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions and Financial Governance in industries as varied as Technology Hardware, Digital Software Services, Motor Sport and Meal Replacement Shakes across a multitude of geographies. Prior to that, Glen was a Global Procurement professional for more than 20 years. Glen brings experience across the Retail, Pharmacy Distribution, Not for Profit, Finance, IT, Facilities Management and Telecommunications Technology industries ns many times along the journey. Glen also has an interest in Mental Health and is currently studying to gain a Diploma of Counselling with the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors.

Appointed as an observer in 2024.

David Graham (Observer)

David was educated at Heyfield Primary and then Gippsland Grammar for his secondary years. After finishing year 12, he worked with a Timber Import/Export company in Melbourne for 4 years before returning to work in the family business. David has been Sole Director of Vern Graham Pty Ltd since July 2000. He served as a Board Member of Heyfield & District Community Financial Services for 11 years, including 3 years as Treasurer. Being a keen sportsman, David has served on committees of numerous local clubs and community organisations.

Appointed as an observer in 2024.

Mary Manescu (Observer)

Mary is the CEO of Omeo District Health (ODH). Prior to her appointment at ODH, she held a range of clinical nursing and senior leadership roles in the private and public health sector. She also worked extensively for the Department of Health (Victoria) in various areas including regulation, major capital works, performance and information management. Mary holds a Master of Health Services Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Beyond her substantive role, Mary is an accreditation surveyor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards

Appointed as an observer in 2024.