Narelle Heard
Narelle is passionate about the land, having been born and bred on a dryland farm south-west of Horsham in the Wimmera, where she also operated a farming business for many years.
Narelle is a Director for Princes Court Limited and is an experienced Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary with nearly 12 years of board-level experience. She has a strong background in governance, strategy, financial, audit and risk management, investment, and project management with particular experience in the agricultural, land, water, and resource industries.
Narelle is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Course. She is a member of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Board Direction.
Narelle’s qualifications include:
Narelle’s memberships include:
Robert Matthews
Having grown up on the family farm at Meringur, Robert has been involved in dryland wheat and sheep farming his whole life. After 13 years in the Commonwealth public service working in employment counselling, Robert returned to full time farming in 1998.
With a keen focus on all areas of natural resource management, combatting soil erosion, resource efficiency and the further development of biological farming methods are major priorities for Robert.
Robert is currently serving as: Director of the Red Cliffs Association Board; Secretary of the Koorlong Hall Committee; and member of the Mallee Natural Food Group Board. Robert is also sole director of Kurnwill Quarries.
Robert was first appointed to the Mallee CMA Board in October 2021. Robert’s current term of appointment is from 01 October, 2025 to 30 September, 2027.
Janice Kelly
Janice Kelly has over 25 years’ experience as a primary producer and 35 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant. Janice is an experienced Finance and Corporate Services Manager and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
Janice has provided significant input into organisational strategic plans both as a board member and senior manager.
Janice was first appointed to the Mallee CMA Board in October 2019. Janice’s current term of appointment is from 01 October 2023 to 30 September 2027.
Andrew Charles
Andy Charles (a descendant of Yorta Yorta/Wemba Wemba Aboriginal tribes) brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise with over 15 years’ experience within the Family and Community Services sector and has demonstrated a dedicated commitment to improving the well-being of families and communities through innovative and client-centred approaches.
Andy holds a master’s degree of Management, Post Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy, and a Diploma of Community Services, and has developed his skills over time through hands-on experience in a variety of roles within the sector and community. He has a proven track record of advocating for vulnerable children, youth, and families, developing and implementing programs that address social inequalities, and fostering partnerships with local organisations to support families in need.
Andy approaches his work with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the complex issues facing families and communities today. He believes in the power of collaboration, community engagement, and a strengths-based approach to empower individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.
He is currently the Executive General Manager of Child and Family Services (Victoria/NSW) at Mallee Family Care, as well as the Executive Chair of the Mallee Child and Family Services Alliance and President of the Irymple Football Netball Club.
Andy’s current term of appointment is from 01 October 2025 to 30 September, 2029.
Ann Hodge
Ann Hodge is a primary producer with customer representative committee experience, including three years in executive positions. Ann has an ongoing interest in water policy and the environment, exemplified by her membership on the Irrigators’ Share Committee, formed to make recommendations to DELWP regarding water policy and recent appointment to the Victorian Constraints Measures Program.
Having dairy farmed at Leitchville for the last 20 years, the Hodge family recently moved to Barham on the NSW-Victorian border. Ann is Chair of the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project Gunbower Stakeholder Advisory Group, and previous Chair of the Torrumbarry Water Services Committee at the Goulburn-Murray Water Corporation (2018-2020).
With a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Ann brings skills, knowledge and experience in committee leadership, primary production, water policy and community engagement.
Ann was first appointed to the Board in October 2021. Ann’s current term of appointment is from 01 October 2025 to 30 September 2029.
Ruwan Jayasinghe
Ruwan is a chartered professional civil engineer and a fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia. He has worked extensively in floodplain management, asset management, and facilitated the delivery of multi-million-dollar capital works programs and flood overlay planning scheme amendments. Currently he works for City of Stonnington in a leadership role in asset management, as well as for the Institute of Civil Infrastructure, where he assesses civil engineers for state registration.
Prior to 2022, Ruwan worked with all Catchment Management Authorities as a member of the Victorian Floodplain Manager’s Forum for three years. One key function of this forum is sharing knowledge in flood management for the common good of all Victorians.
Ruwan also worked for Melbourne Water in various technical and leadership roles for 26 years. During this period Ruwan engaged constructively with many organisations and communities to facilitate positive outcomes across Victoria. This included contributing to many statewide committees, projects and publications such as: the Victorian Flood Mapping and Data Guidelines, Melbourne Water’s Flood Mapping Technical Specifications, Benchmarking Australian Rainfall and Runoff 2019 for Victoria, City of Melbourne’s Integrated Climate Adaptation Model Steering Committee and the Victorian Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme.
Ruwan was appointed to the Mallee CMA Board for a period of four years commencing 1 October 2023.
Kym McIntosh
Kym McIntosh grew up in north central Victoria on a mixed cattle, sheep and cropping farm. After completing a Bachelor of Recreation, Kym worked in community leisure and then took some time to travel. Kym went on to work in state government including roles with Sport and Recreation Victoria, and Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services) in project management/disability services and then undertook further studies to obtain a graduate certificate in Natural Resource Management through Deakin University.
Kym and her husband recently purchased her parent’s small dryland farm near Kerang, where they manage a herd of Angus. Kym also assists her husband with his Melbourne-based landscaping business, and is employed as an L2P coordinator for an organisation which supports volunteers to help young people obtain their driver’s licence.
As an active member of her local Enhancing Northern Waterways Advisory Group (hosted by the North Central CMA), and Mallee CMA Board Member Kym is able to follow her passion of protecting and enhancing waterways and the environment.
Kym’s current term of appointment is from 01 October, 2025 to 30 September, 2029.
Gregory Lewis
Having grown up on a family farm near the Welsh border of England, Greg moved to Australia in 2012 and made this move permanent from 2014. Greg has since been employed by Olam Orchards Australia growing almonds throughout the Sunraysia region and is currently Operations Analyst based at the Carwarp Processing Facility.
Greg has a BSc (Hons) in Sports and Exercise Science from Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK and a Graduate Certificate in Agribusiness from Marcus Oldham College.
Greg brings knowledge of agriculture and particularly irrigated horticulture combined with analytical skills and a keen interest in sports and recreation.
Greg currently represents the Mallee CMA Board as: Associate Board Member (ABM).
Greg’s current term of appointment is from 03 June 2025 to 30 June 2026.
Mallee Catchment Management Authority
Cnr Koorlong Avenue and Eleventh Street
Irymple VIC 3498
P 03 5001 8600
The Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) acknowledges and respects Traditional Owners, Aboriginal communities and organisations. We recognise the diversity of their cultures and the deep connections they have with Victoria’s lands and waters. We value partnerships with them for the health of people and country. The Mallee CMA Board, management and staff pay their respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners’ obligations, rights and responsibilities to use and care for their traditional lands and waters.
© 2020 All rights Reserved.