New health leaders appointed

BELLARINE Community Health has welcomed two new members to its board including a Western Victoria Primary Health Network director and a Bellarine-based senior advisor.
BCH board chair Fay Agterhuis said the election of Mark Harris and Lucy Simms was “further demonstration of the work in place to build a professional, skill-based board to drive the strategic agenda of BCH”.
Mark has lived in Ocean Grove for 22 years, and has been a director of WVPHN since 2012 and Hope Bereavement Care since 2016.
He believes strong business governance is the foundation for better primary care and has a broad knowledge of local services.
“As a board member of BCH, I will advocate strongly to provide better health care to our growing community,” Mark said.
“My work in Ocean Grove as a practising physiotherapist and as a Deakin University lecturer in Population Health, highlights the importance of a regional focus on disadvantage across all Bellarine communities.”
Lucy is a Bellarine resident who grew up in Point Lonsdale and brings experience from senior roles advising private, not-for-profit and government sectors.
She has engaged directly with board members across a range of projects and opportunities, and has a strong understanding of the challenges, governance and decision-making principals that are required of directors.
“I am deeply connected and dedicated to my local community and now in the fortunate position of having time and capacity to offer a fresh and unique contribution,” Lucy said.
“CH is the critical core of the future wellbeing of my community.”
BCH chief executive officer Garry Ellis said it was great to see Lucy and Mark join “an already diverse group to assist with the future growth and development of BCH”.
“The range of qualifications and experience they bring to our board of directors will strengthen the groups’ strategic and operational planning,” Garry said. “I look forward to working with them all, as we continue to develop a valuable healthcare service offering for the Bellarine community.”
Mark and Lucy were appointed following an election process which allowed BCH financial members to have their say, with a ballot count supervised by independent scrutineer Susan Salter.