About us

NMRDA Committee

Chair

Bob McQuillen is the Managing Director of RMD Industries, a large manufacturing company with business sites across Australia and overseas. He has had significant senior management experience with a range of companies since 1992. Bob was Deputy Chair of the Melbourne North and West Area Consultative Committee from October 2007 and before that was Chairperson of the Northern Melbourne Area Consultative Committee from 1995 to 2007. He has been a Board member of NORTH Link/NIETL (the industry network for the north) since 1995.

Deputy Chair

Dr Anne Badenhorst is the Research Director, Housing at the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. She has over 15 years of senior management experience in education working in university, community and industry partnerships and engagement. In 2009 she was awarded her PhD, which examined learning and innovation in networks. Anne was a member of the Northern Melbourne Area Consultative Committee and Melbourne’s North and West ACC from 2001, and Secretary from 2003.

Committee Members

• Dr Leone Wheeler is the Head of RMIT University Learning Community Partnerships at Bundoora and the Head of RMIT Hamilton. She is also a Board member of the Hume Whittlesea and Inner Northern LLENs and has a strong interest in developing effective pathways for young people.
• Mick Butera has been the Executive Director of NORTH Link/NIETL, the industry network for the northern region, since 1989. He also has been a Board member of the Darebin Business Incubator since 1997.
• Cassandra Kemp has been a Director of Nexus Enterprises Pty Ltd for the past 15 years and is Coordinator of the Thomastown Traders Association. She was also a Board member of the Banyule Community Health Service for six years.
• Bob Waite is the CEO of the Darebin Enterprise Centre, and a Director of the Koorie Night Market. He has previously been Chair of Business Innovation and Incubation Australia and a Program Manager for DEEWR Indigenous Small Business programs in Victoria and the Northern Territory.
• Kevin Breen was an executive manager responsible for economic development and city planning at the City of Darebin. He is currently a Board member on five not-for-profit companies that support workforce participation. Kevin also consults in urban planning.
• Tom Melican is a councillor with the Banyule City Council. He has been involved in the IT and banking sectors for the past 36 years. Tom has extensive experience on various committees on issues such as transport, infrastructure, arts and tourism.
• David Turnbull is CEO of the City of Whittlesea, one of the fastest growing councils in Australia. Throughout his career he has amassed over 30 years of local government experience, mostly in managing growth areas where his passion for strategic planning has been put to best use.
• Michael Grogan is CEO of Sutton Tools Pty Ltd, an engineering manufacturer that produces and exports cutting tools across Australia and New Zealand. He is also a Director of MSA (Manufacturing Industry Skills Council) and Chair of the Inner Northern LLEN (Local Learning and Employment Network).

NMRDA Committee support

Tony Coppola
Senior Manager, NMRDA Committee
Suite 16, Level 1
University Hill
20 Enterprise Drive
Bundoora VIC 3083

Tel: 03 9935 0613
Email: tony.coppola@dbi.vic.gov.au