Fostering Regional Leadership
for Community Impact

Purpose

Fostering Regional Leadership for Community Impact

View our Strategic Plan
View our Strategic Plan 
Values

Agility, Growth, Leadership, Diversity
& Inclusion, Community

Strategic Priorities

  • Leadership

  • Alumni

  • Impact

History

Leadership Great South Coast (LGSC) is an example of community leadership in action, dedicated to nurturing future leaders in the region.

The idea for LGSC began in 2008, led by Josie Black OAM and a group of passionate regional leaders who identified the need for leadership development through research and community consultation. Their work highlighted the importance of proactive, values-based leadership in driving regional change.

In 2009, a Steering Committee was formed to design a structured, experiential program tailored to local needs. After four years of determined lobbying, state funding was secured in 2012 (and ceased on 31 December 2023), and the first LGSC program launched with 14 participants.

Since then, LGSC has grown steadily, running annual programs for up to 20 emerging leaders and building a strong network of 207 alumni. The organisation officially incorporated in 2017 and continues to grow in strength and impact across the Great South Coast.

Background

In 1989 the Hugh Williamson Trustees established and funded the Williamson Community Leadership Program (WCLP) based in Melbourne. Re-named in 2000 to Leadership Victoria the Program continues to evolve fostering and developing a new generation of leaders.

The WCLP was originally modelled on a Chicago based program. Leadership Greater Chicago has been operating on a proven model for 30 years, cultivating Chicago’s business, public and civic leaders through a deeper understanding of the issues facing their community and each other, building a better Chicago.

In 1996 the first regional Community Leadership Program commenced in the Gippsland. Victorian now has 9 Regional Community Leadership Programs with Leadership Great South Coast established in 2012.

Leadership Team

  • ANDREW CASTLES

    Executive Officer
    he/him

  • CATHERINE DARKIN

    Program Manager
    she/her

  • HELGA SVENDSEN

    Immersive Facilitator
    she/her

Board Members

  • RONDA HELD

    Chair
    Community Member
    Board Director South West Healthcare

  • ANGELA WILLIAMS

    Deputy Chair
    Jobs Coordinator; Workforce Australia Local Jobs South Coast of Vic

  • MELISSA MAHER

    Treasurer
    Finance Coordinator
    Moyne Shire Council

  • TRUDY MARR

    Head of Strategy and Projects
    are-able

  • RACHAEL HOULIHAN

    Deputy Editor
    The Standard – Australian Community Media

  • BARBARA MOLL

    Leadership Program Manager
    South West Healthcare
    LGSC Alumni

  • PAUL DILLON

    Co-Founder & CEO
    Regional Rising

  • JODIE HILL

    CEO
    Women’s Health & Wellbeing Barwon South West

  • MARK BARLING

    IT Coordinator
    Mpower
    LGSC Alumni

Our Community Leadership Program Alumni

Congratulations to our 207 Alumni for their ongoing contribution to the social, environmental and economic growth of our community via volunteerism across a range of sectors, including a diversity of place-based community projects, emergency services, strategic committees, governance positions, and local and state government roles.

Alumni Catch Up Details
Alumni Catch Up Details

  • Alex Mellert • Bob Wake • Brad Tozer • Daisy Ye • Danny Rook • Dominic Carswell • James Habel • Jan Barton • Janelle Tooley • Libby Swayn • Morag Rees • Sam Andrews

  • Ashleigh Pruys • Aylish Tobin-Salzman • Barbara Moll • Brit Watts • Damien Mason • Janine Marra • Jarrod Woolley • Kim Ayling • Mark Robson • Rebecca Campbell • Rebecca Faris • Rhianna Burns • Ryan Delony • Sarah Bubb-Dempster • Will Kerr • Tonia Wilcox

  • Alexandra Stoupas • Cate Corbet • Cathryn Walder • Claudia Klunker • Courtney Mathew • Emma Shortis • Jane Hinds • Jo-Anne O’Brien • Mark Barling • Michaela Meade • Mitchell Spencer

  • • Alison Kemp • Anna Sanderson • Claire Dagley • Daniel Knight • Daniel Pearson • Diana Dixon • Jennifer Thomas • Justin Harzmeyer • Kaye McDowall • Lachlan Farrington • Leesa ClausenBrown • Matine Tondkar • Raymon Barber • Sarah Irving

  • • Aaron Leddin • Ashleigh Glennon • Ben Marsden • Brendan Hyland • Carl Joyce • Craig McLeod • Ella Credlin • Heather Smillie • Jamie Pepper • Kylie McIntyre • Kylie Moroney • Lynden Brown • Oonagh Kilpatrick • Paul Dunn • Peter McLauchlan • Tania Penny

  • • Billy Edis • Catherine Darkin • Catherine Fitzgerald • Craig Kelson • Dominic Conheady • Emily Falla • Jason Van Der Heyden • Jerram Wurlod • Joe Sinnott • Joy Coulson • Kara Winderlich • Liam Arnott • Mandy Cohen • Michelle Badenhorst • Tim McPherson • Troy Lovett

  • Adam Kent • Amy Silvester • Andrew Povey • Anthony Dufty • Ashlee Scott • Ben Fraser • Bradley Collins • Brendan Donahoo • Jan Mackenzie • Jason Cay • Jason Eats • Juan Donis • Kate Roache • Kelly Barnes • Nikki Edwards • Rachael James • Sophie Baulch • Tafadzwa Chitava

  • Alison Quade • Andre Barr • Blessing Furusa • Julie Neeson • Julie Perry • Kate Haberfield • Lauren Peterson • Mark Brennan • Melanie Bennett • Penny MacDonald • Peter Gaffy • Phil Dennis • Richard Wade • Tony Harrison • Trevor Carr

  • • Alison Kennedy • Amanda Wearne • Brendan Hawkins • Delna Plathottam • Garry Peterson • Jacinta Lenehan • Jordan Smith • Juanita Dickinson • Leon Carey • Leon Senchenko • Rhonda Henry • Shane Stenhouse • Teremayi Manozho • Vicki Askew Thornton

  • Andrew Cameron • Angela Gowans • Angela Runganga • Carly Jordan • Daniel Meade • Emma Dart • Jackie Jeffrey • Jarrod Clarke • Jessica Fishburn • Michael Absalom • Paul McNamara • Paul Ross • Robbie Frawley • Samuel Rudolph • Sue Cassidy • Wayne Robertson

  • Adam Taylor • Alison Read • Ann Cunningham • Billy Greenham • Brendan Rea • Chris Hansford • Claire Holt • Craig Dettling • Emma Mahony • Gareth Colliton • Jason Thomas • Philip Hose • Sharnie McKenna • Sally Slater

  • Allan Miller • Angela Alexander • Carolyn Woods • Ellen Lyne • Glenn Britnell • Helen Chenoweth • Jacob Taylor • Dr Jacquie Cotton • Jarrod Woff • Jon Goodall • Kelly Edwards • Kelly McNaughton • Marcus Clarke • Megan Jackson • Paul Lougheed • Tammy Young

  • Alex Reardon • Belinda Bennett • Carol Weise • Clint Larkins • David Maher • David O’Connell • Emma Fitzgibbon • Janet Sloan • Janice Harris • Johanna Hansen • Lynda Smith • Nathan Anderson • Ronan Corcoran • Dr Sally Obst • Sharon Linke

  • • Aaron Moyne • Damien Teal • Fran Fogarty • Jason Hoy • Jessica Howe • Lisette Mill • Melissa Mitchell • Merran Fyfe • Michelle Sweeney • Rachel Munro • Roger Wilkinson • Ryan Weissel • Dr Tim Tutt • Tom Newton