Our Board Members.
All our Jeparit Preservation Society Inc. (JPS) board members have the dedication to focus in assisting small regional communities with their history, cultural identity, ongoing sustainability and development of social enterprise initiatives.
Rohan Van Zyl Viljoen
Board President
Rohan Viljoen studied Internet Communications at Curtin University and has worked for Optus, AAPT, I.A.G. and Australia Post delivering web-enabled projects and business improvement/analysis. He is passionate about small communities (both offline and online) and has served as an office bearer for multiple community committees in the Wimmera-Mallee region of Victoria. Rohan holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Educational Design (Monash University), has undertaken a Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills (Torrens University) and is currently studying for a Master of Education at Queensland University of Technology.
Melanie Casale (Wayman)
Founding Board Member
Melanie has extensive experience working for non-profit government organizations having previously worked within indigenous health affairs (VACCHO), quality, compliance and risk management (DOXA – Womens Health West), service improvement (Ambulance Victoria) and Optus as a performance improvement specialist. Holding a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Science (Psychology) enables Melanie to embrace the diverse health and welfare challenges within small communities and in developing strategic outcomes that provide inclusive benefits to all stakeholders.
Kristen Beaton
Founding Board Member
Kristen Beaton delivers competency and experience working with non-profits having previously worked as a youth worker and facilitator for local youth, creating activities and projects in a safe supportive environment. Kristen holds a Bachelor of Social Science (PSYCHOLOGY), Diploma of Business, and Certificates in Youth Work, Disability Support, Child and Family Intervention.
Rebecca Kozak
Board Vice President
In 2011, Rebecca Kozak was recognized by the Victorian Government for her commitment to “Victorian sport & recreation”, after establishing and managing a community sporting group in Mildura. Rebecca excels in establishing safe working environments for people with diverse capabilities and is a champion for equality and equal opportunity within the local community.
Mark Fogarty-Young
Founding Board Member
Mark Fogarty-Young is a philanthropist who seeks to promote the welfare and preservation of small communities and their historical significance. Mark provides a wealth of financial knowledge having worked in the retail and financial services industries. As a former financial planner, Mark delivers governance insight, support and knowledge to assist in the development of community-based initiatives. Mark is passionate about community development and prides himself in his commitment to enable small regional townships to maintain their vibrant identities.
Leeanne Lindorff
Founding Board Member
Leeanne Lindorff brings to JPS her passion and training knowledge to provide educational experiences for engaging individuals and community groups. Having previously worked with the Wimmera Regional Library providing training solutions for Tech Savvy Seniors, the Centre for Participation in Horsham and Federation University, Leeanne helps drive our delivery in developing training solutions that benefit the growth of knowledge and understanding throughout the wider regional community. Leeanne holds a Diploma of Community Services (Federation University), and a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment.