Neerim District Health Service > About

Board of Management

Our executive board members

Sean Dignum

PRESIDENT

Board member since 2015. Sean has a dairy farm in Neerim South and a strategic advisory consultancy in Melbourne. With an extensive network of contacts, his expertise is in advising companies and government during challenging periods such as service transition, sector reform, restructuring, business development, issues containment and media management. He has advised on several major government health campaigns and hospital projects. He is a Board member of the Committee for Gippsland, a former director of Latrobe Regional Hospital and is on several Baw Baw shire community group committees.

Catherine Gale

MEMBER

New Board member. Cathy and her husband David have a Limousin beef stud in Neerim South, but she is better known as one of Melbourne’s top family lawyers. As well as Resolve Conflict Family Lawyers in Melbourne, Catherine is principal of Gippsland Mediation Centre in Drouin. She is a former President of The Law Institute of Victoria and The Law Council of Australia, and currently is on the board of the College of Law Victoria, the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Mark Dunsmuir

MEMBER

New Board member. Mark is a Director of a leading local accounting and financial advisory firm, Pursuit Advisers, based in Warragul. Mark is a Chartered Accountant and Bachelor of Business and has been working in public practice as an accountant for 20 years. Before establishing his own firm, he was principal of the Business Services division of a major accounting firm, working with clients in Dairy, Fishing, Real Estate, Construction and Development, Manufacturing and Engineering services, advising on Taxation, Financial Management and Corporate Governance. He is a former Board member of Gippsdairy, Gippstafe and Fairview Homes for the Aged. He is also Chair of School Committee Chair of St Joseph's Primary in Warragul.

Arie Café

VICE PRESIDENT

Board member since 2015. Arie is managing director of Victorian Engineering & Land Surveying and Arie Cafe & Associates Licensed Land Surveyors. He was President of the Victorian Division, National Councillor and President of National body of the Institute of Engineering Mining Surveyors Australia (IEMS), and a Fellow of this body and subsequently a fellow of the Surveying and Spatial Science Institute when it replaced the IEMS. Arie was previously a Director and Vice President of Neerim Hospital Board, as well as a community representative for Melbourne Water on the Tarago Reservoir committee.

Barrie Armitage

MEMBER

New Board member. Barrie is a retired lawyer and lives at Neerim South where he breeds Angus cattle. He is a former Councilor of the Shire of Warragul and has had extensive experience in education, health and aged care. He has served on a State secondary school council and the board of a major independent girls’ school. As a long- time board member of a leading Victorian social service organization, he was responsible for the planning, funding and construction of a 30-bed nursing home. He has also developed a 100-unit retirement village for a not-for- profit organization that he established.

Prof Graeme Jackson

MEMBER

New Board member. Graeme is a Neurologist at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Deputy Director of The Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, and the founder and Director of the Brain Research Institute. He is internationally recognised as an expert and authority in MR technologies, particularly in the field of epilepsy. He is also a Professorial Fellow of the Department of Medicine Austin Health/Northern Health at The University of Melbourne. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Radiology at The University of Melbourne, an Honorary Neurologist at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne and a board member of Neurosciences Victoria and The Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health. Graeme grew up in the district, currently has a home in Rokeby and conducts a general neurology practice in Warragul.

Robert Southgate

TREASURER

Board member since 2000. Robert joined the NDHS Board as Treasurer. Before retiring, Robert was the owner of Gippsland Metal Recyclers. Previously, he was an Administration Officer at the Forrest Commission Victoria, Neerim District for 29 years. Presently Robert assists local community groups finalise their accounts to meet end of financial year requirements.

Jenny Muir

MEMBER

New Board member. Jenny is a key member of the executive team behind the Tarago Gardens residential development in Neerim South, featuring 40 home and land packages for retirees. Born and raised in Neerim South, Jenny and her husband David currently live in Lillico. The Muirs have been long term supporters of our hospital and aged care facility, as well as being involved in many local community activities. Jenny has an extensive background in education management and is a member of Warragul Business Group.