Our Board – Local People Working For The Local Community
The Bass Coast Community Foundation is managed by a Board of Directors who give their time on a volunteer basis.
PHIL FRIEDLOS – CHAIR
Phil joins the board having recently retired from a 35-year corporate career in Management Consultancy. He has broad-based experience in all aspects of running businesses across many industries, predominantly within the Resources and Financial Services sectors. Phil’s particular focus has been driving transformation within businesses and organisations through the effective use of technology. In recent years, he has specialised in improving performance through effective risk and quality management, and good governance.
After a number of years living and working across Asia Pacific, Phil and his wife moved permanently to Phillip Island at the start of 2016. Phil is a Deputy Controller with the State Emergency Services (SES) on Phillip Island, and also enjoys running, surfing, dog walking, and photography. He is passionate about animal welfare and environmental concerns, and is currently pursuing studies in canine well-being. Phil joined the board in 2020 and took on the chair role in 2021.
NINA BARRY-MACAULAY
Nina returned to her Bass Coast roots following study and work in Melbourne and overseas. She has a diverse background which includes a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and professional experience in the Arts and Culture industry, Events Management, Communications and Marketing, and Advocacy. Nina is a creative soul and athlete who dabbles in the theatre and sports, representing Australia in Underwater Hockey and treading many a stage board. She is a humanitarian at heart, and her passion for equality and sustainability drive both her lifestyle and her achievements. She loves her chooks and vege patch, and strives to be a role model and empower those around her.
JOANNE DIXON
Joanne joined the board in 2020 bringing a broad range of community engagement credentials from hands on through to strategic visioning. Currently she is the Assistant Manager, Admissions at the Phillip Island Nature Parks which encompasses strategic and financial planning, people management, compliance and versatility. Joanne has deep experience in the travel and tourism industry having worked in multiple roles over the past 10 years, following on from working in the community service sector within the Bass Coast Shire.
Joanne has a particular interest in increasing community awareness and engagement of the Foundation and is keen to promote further growth of relationships within the Bass Coast Shire and strengthen existing ones. Joanne has been a Phillip Island resident of over 30 years. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring our beautiful environment, photography and travelling.
SHARYNE MUNDAY
Sharyne is the current Principal of Newhaven Primary School. She has been a Principal in various primary schools in Gippsland for over 12 years.
With more than 20 years’ experience working in the education sector and a Masters in Leadership, Sharyne is driven by a belief that every child should be supported to thrive, regardless of their circumstances or background, and that education is the vehicle that makes this happen.
With this belief, Sharyne was instrumental in establishing the 2021 pilot Kids as Catalyst program at Newhaven Primary School, which has resulted in an increase in positive student connections within and outside the school, and an increase in trusted connections with adults at the school and in the community. She has also organised a student mentor program with Kids Hope, which matches students with a community member to have a special hour each week.
Sharyne lives in Inverloch. She has been on the committee of the Inverloch Tennis Club, promoting junior tennis in the Bass Coast and hitting a few balls over the net herself! She loves the Bass Coast and believes the local community has been a fantastic place to raise her family. In her spare time Sharyne loves reading and walking along the beautiful beaches of Inverloch when she is not pursing her other love – travelling the world and Australia.
KATHY HAWKE – Treasurer and Company Secretary
Kathy and her family moved from the Mornington Peninsula to the Bass Coast in 2013 after purchasing a small business in San Remo and have never looked back. Kathy has over 25 years’ experience primarily in senior roles throughout the Government and Insurance sectors. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Westernport Water and holds various qualifications including a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University, with a specialisation in Accounting and a Graduate Certificate in Risk Management and Corporate Governance. She is passionate about the development of sustainable community support programs for the Bass Coast Shire community and is dedicated to help improve and support the community in which she lives. Kathy permanently resides in Rhyll and joined the Board in 2021.
SOPHIE BOLDING 
Sophie is a local to the Bass Coast community. A collaborative, positive and enthusiastic young woman, she has worked in local government at both Bass Coast Shire Council and South Gippsland Shire Council for over 6 years in various areas with her current work fixated on supporting community group organisations and grant making.
Sophie is passionate about equality in sport, as well as community life, and demonstrates this through her commitment to women’s football, at local and State level. When Sophie is not chasing a footy or lifting barbells at gym, she spends time with family and friends, travels and enjoys a walk along one of our area’s beautiful beaches. She lives in Wonthaggi and joined the board at the end of 2022.
CHELSEA CAPLE
Founder and Director at SUMMERSALT Gymnastics in Wonthaggi, Chelsea has worked in community and stakeholder engagement with organisations such as the AFL, Calisthenics Victoria, Tennis Australia and Sports Environment Alliance. Chelsea holds a Bachelor in Exercise Science and Masters in Business (Sports Management).
Chelsea has a passion for governance, strategy, policy and business development, as a current Director at Latrobe Regional Hospital and Chair of their Community Advisory Committee, current Convenor of Gymnastics Victoria South East Region and previous Board member at Gippsland Women’s Health.
Chelsea has called the South Gippsland region her home most of life, growing up on a dairy farm, and after establishing SUMMERSALT five years ago, now resides in Bass Coast. She enjoys spending time on our beautiful beaches and exploring our walks with her two dogs.
The development of SUMMERSALT Gymnastics has brought to life Chelsea’s philosophy and passion for childhood development – that the active, fun movement SUMMERSALT provides, really is the launchpad for all sports – and life. She is focused on creating accessible and equitable opportunities to all who are lucky enough to call the Bass Coast region home.
AMY DYNES
Deputy Chair
After travelling widely, Amy settled in Bass Coast and has definitely found her home. Amy is a communications and stakeholder engagement professional with more than 20 years’ experience in the government, education, not-for-profit and private sectors. Amy holds a degree from RMIT University and is studying a Master of Business Administration at Federation University. She currently provides communications and community engagement services to support delivery of large infrastructure and renewable energy projects in Australia. Amy is passionate about achieving greater gender and social equality, and enjoys getting out and keeping fit in our beautiful Gippsland environment. She lives in Wonthaggi with her husband and three children.
CHARLES POPPLE
Charles is a professional engineer with 45 years experience in the energy industry, holding a number of executive management positions, and consulting roles. He has had significant involvement in strategic planning and developing and implementing plans to achieve defined goals and objectives. Charles is currently a part time Commissioner of the Australian Energy Market Commission, the statutory body responsible for making the rules governing the operation of electricity and gas markets in Australia based in Sydney. He is particularly interested in innovation and achieving better customer outcomes from utilisation of new technology in the energy sector.
Charles has a holiday house on Phillip Island and enjoys spending time in the area, particularly enjoying beach activities and the outdoors. Charles’ main interests include house renovation and dabbling with new technology and software development. He is looking forward to getting more involved with the Bass Coast community and being able to contribute to its well-being.
CAROL BLAIR
Patron
The Foundation has been built on the shoulders of many people.
Without the dedication and commitment, given freely, the Foundation could not have made the differences to our community that it has. Here we acknowledge past directors and thank them for all they have given to this community over many years:
| Alan Brown | Danny Luna | Kevin McMahon | Paul Beck |
| Alison Brooks (Dr.) | Dean Herbert | Kimberley Brown | Paul Sibly |
| Angus Cameron | Delyse Graham | Kirk Skinner | Paul Taranto |
| Anna Langley | Felicity Sist | Kirsty Mawer | Peter Colahan |
| Anne Davie | Gerry Lonergan | Martin Keogh | Peter Brooks (Dr.) |
| Bob Cardell | Heather Spooner | Melissa Hayes | Rachel Hornsby |
| Braxton Laine | Janette McNair | Merv Lincoln | Susan Davies |
| Bruce Hydon | Jocelyn Howson | Michael Malone | Sylvia Davey |
| Carol Blair | John Fleming | Morag Mackay | Christian Stefani |
| Catherine Basterfield | Kanen Dicker | Nigel Atkins | Polly Caldow |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
DEB WATSON
Deb’s 40+ year career has been in a variety of sectors in Australia and the USA including pharmaceuticals, biotech, tertiary education, small and large businesses, NFPs and even a city council.
Since moving to Wonthaggi in 2014 Deb has been actively involved in many community organisations including ArtSpace Gallery (President) and Bass Coast Health Inverloch Art Show (President), Wonthaggi Business and Tourism Association (committee), 3mFM Community Radio (ex-Station Manager), Bass Coast Adult Learning (ex-CEO) and Bass Coast Health Community Advisory Committee (Committee member).
Deb says she’s particularly happy to be living in a community that has such a high commitment to helping other people during difficult times. Even though the mining industry of the region is now history the ethos of coming together to create a thriving community is ever present and even relative newcomers can contribute.
Deb can be contacted at any reasonable time on 0493 110 802.