Board

Hon Murray Criddle
Chair
Murray is a primary producer and a retired Member of the Western Australian Parliament. He was Member for the Agricultural Region from 1993 until his resignation in 2008 and Minister of Transport from 1998 to 2001. During his time in Parliament Murray was a member of a number of Standing Committees including Estimates and Financial Operations, Ecology and Sustainable Development and Public Administration and Finance. He was also a member of a number of Select Committees including Select Committee for Native Title and Select Committee for Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park. Murray was appointed in 2009 as a Ministerial appointment and Chairperson for a three year term.

Mr Andrew Pitcher

Deputy Chair
Andrew has extensive finance and management experience in the Mid West Region and is currently Regional Manager, Northern WA for Rabobank. In this role he supervises an area including the entire Mid West Region, Eastern Wheatbelt and pastoral regions through to Port Headland and subsequently has an excellent understanding of issues in the Mid West and rural Western Australia. Andrew was appointed to the Board in 2009 as a Community representative for a three year term and Deputy Chair for one year.

Cr John Sewell
John is a primary producer in the Kojarena Area. He has been involved in Local Governement sin 1992. He was president of the Shire of Greenough Council from 2003 until its amalgamation in 2007 and is currently Deputy Mayor of City of Geraldton-Greenough. John was Chair of the Finance and Town Planning Committees at the Shire of Greenough and also chaired the Geraldton Greenough Regional Council. He is currently a representative on the City's Moresby Ranges Management Committee, Coastal Planning Committee and other occasional committees. John was appointed to the Board in 2009 as a Local Government member for one year.

Cr Simon Broad
Simon’s family are pastoralists at Milly Milly Station in the Murchison Shire. He has served on the Murchison Shire Council since 1987 and is currently Shire President. In recent years he has been a strong influence in the Shire developing the Murchison Community Futures Plan, which led to a tripartite arrangement with the Shire, Mid West Development Commission and CSIRO to progress a diversification plan for the Shire and the greater Murchison area. Simon was also a member of the Carnarvon Regional Advisory Committee for many years and in 2002 was appointed to the new Carnarvon Zone Control Authority. Simon was re-appointed as a Local Government member in 2006 for a term of three years.

Cr Pauline Forrester
Pauline is a Councillor with the Shire of Chapman Valley and is a shire delegate on the Planning and Community Development Building Committee, Bushfire Advisory Group, Tourism and Reserve Committee and Finance and Audit Committee. Pauline is also a member of the Geraldton Cemetery Board, Creating a Better Yuna Committee, Yuna Townscape Committee, Nanson Townscape Committee and is an Ambulance Officer and Justice of the Peace. Pauline has also been actively involved with the Yuna Primary School since 1976 where in the past she has worked as an Education Assistant. Pauline was re appointed in 2008 for a three year term as a Local Government member.

Ms Yvonne Messina
Yvonne recently actively retired as Principal at Mullewa District High School (MDHS). During the principalship, MDHS was nominated and won ‘Outstanding School’ in Awards for Aboriginal Education, and was nominated for a State Government Award for Excellence in Community Service. Highlights of working at Mullewa include Aboriginal Education and appreciation for culture, mentoring of graduate teachers and local aboriginal trainees into successful teaching careers. Yvonne was appointed in 2008 as a Ministerial member.

Mr John Thomson

As the Managing Partner for RSM Bird Cameron in Geraldton, with senior management responsibilities for the Mid West region, John has particular interest in regional investment. John is a consultant to clients acquiring primary production, fishing including aquaculture, meat processing and transport interests in the region. He also has a particular interest in working with key stakeholders to develop and implement vertically integrated strategies promoting the development of regional resources. John is an active community member and has been involved with emergency management in Moora as well as advising and assisting Bendigo Bank with the development of the community bank concept in Western Australia. John was appointed as a Community member with the Mid West Development Commission for a three year term commencing in 2008.

Ms Vickie Petersen
Vickie, a former City of Geraldton Mayor, is a consultant and small business owner in Geraldton. Vickie’s previous roles included the Administration Manager / Part Owner of Boss Transport and Services from 1983 – 2006, President of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2000 – 2001 and Mayor of the City of Geraldton from 2001 – 2006. Currently Vickie is a Co-Director of Garden Mart Pty Ltd, Consultant for Employment Directions Network, Project Manager – Midnight Basketball with the City of Geraldton-Greenough and Senior Youth Outreach Officer also at the City. In 2003 Vickie was a State Finalist in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award. Vickie was appointed as a Ministerial member for a three year term.

Ms Meredith Wills

Meredith is Director of the Geraldton Universities Centre. She has been involved inthe university, TAFE and labour market sectors since 1974. Through an interest in the plight of youth and mature aged unemployedshe gained a teaching qualification and subsequently helped develop and teach on Anglicare’s labour market programs. Meredith subsequentlyspent 7 years with TAFE in the areas of adult education, leadership and community development. She is interested in the collaboration between schools, TAFE, university and industry to meet our regional workforce needs. Meredith has been appointed as a Community member for a three year term.

Mr Steve Douglas
Steve is Chief Executive Officer of the Mid West Development Commission. He is a member of the Board by virtue of his position.