Our Board
Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) is governed by a skills-based, nine-member board with a mix of five appointed and four elected directors. Together, they bring to the organisation many years’ experience and knowledge of both the health sector and communities within our region
Dr Rob Grenfell – Board Chair
Rob has lived in the Grampians region for most of his life, having grown up in Horsham and returning to Natimuk where he practiced as a rural General Practitioner in the early days of his career.
Rob’s career has focused on public health with extensive experience in government, not-for-profit and private sectors. After a stint in Melbourne – where he held roles at CSIRO as Director of Health and Biosecurity, National Director of Cardiovascular Health at the Heart Foundation, and Senior Medical Advisor at the Department of Health Victoria – he returned to Natimuk in 2020 and shortly after commenced as Public Health Physician Specialist in the Grampians Public Health Unit.
Rob has specialist expertise in health system analysis, strategic planning, governance, health risk management, and equity-focused care. He is passionate about access to healthcare in rural communities and bringing innovative systems to improve equity in regional settings.
Jan Milliken – Deputy Chair
Jan is a veteran of the nursing industry having worked predominantly in community health settings over many years in the Grampians and Barwon Southwest regions. She has worked as a clinician in consultancy, nursing management and more recently CEO.
She has post graduate degrees in cancer/palliative care, clinical nursing and nurse practitioner at Masters level. Jan has held senior leadership positions both in nursing and on boards (Palliative Care Victoria, Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership (PCP) and more recently Western Victoria Primary Heath Network. She is a nurse with a passion for all things nursing and this has led her to take up positions that require independent decision making…most notably remote area nursing emergency response. Jan is excited about the reforms taking place in the primary care setting and hopes to be part of the changes.
Associate Professor Bernard Shiu- Director
Bernard is the owner and Clinical Director of Banksia Medical Centre in Newcomb. He was awarded the RACGP Victorian GP of the Year Award in 2020. Bernard is Deputy Chair of the RACGP Victoria Faculty and serves as an examiner for the college, as well as a supervisor and medical educator of almost 10 years. Bernard regularly lectures at Deakin University’s School of Medicine and serves as an expert member for numerous official scientific and research organisations. He has been invited to multiple DHHS committees as a medical expert and has also been a Director of the Australian GP Alliance since 2019.
Dr Jane Opie – Director
Jane has worked as a General Practitioner since the early 1990s including roles as a practice owner, GP subcontractor and Clinical Director overseeing clinical governance.
She supervises GP Registrars and medical students, holds the position of senior clinical lecturer with Deakin University’s School of Medicine and holds a Masters Degree in Public Health. Jane was previously the medical advisor for WVPHN. She is passionate about improving health, wellbeing and health care services to the community and continues to work to reduce inequity and champion quality preventive health care.
Tyrone McCuskey – Director
Tyrone McCuskey is an experienced executive and non executive director with over 25 years’ leadership across health, disability, and community services. He currently serves as Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee at WVPHN and Independent Chair of Western Victoria UFS Dispensaries Ltd.
As CEO of McCallum Disability Services Ltd for over a decade, Tyrone led the organisation through the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), expanded supported accommodation and employment services, and embedded quality frameworks that enhance client outcomes. His strategic input underpinned significant organisational growth through successful mergers, land acquisitions, resilience planning during COVID-19 and extensive stakeholder engagement.
A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Certified Practicing Accountant, and an alumnus of the Williamson Community Leadership Program, Tyrone is committed to ethical leadership and inclusive, regionally responsive health care. His lived experience in rural and remote communities informs his advocacy for inclusive, sustainable health services that honour the dignity and needs of all individuals.
Karen Heap – Director
In 2004, Karen, a proud Yorta Yorta woman and a well-respected leader within the Victorian Aboriginal community, was appointed CEO of Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC). Since then, Karen has been responsible for the strategic vision and significant expansion of the organisation.
Over the past 15 years, she has utilised her vast knowledge, skillset and extensive experience within the Aboriginal service sector to successfully grow the organisation. Karen has introduced a full health unit and a wide range of family support services, including family violence programs, social and emotional wellbeing, kinship care, mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and justice.
Family service programs include home and community care for Elders and people with disabilities, maternal and child health and Stolen Generation support workers. Since becoming CEO in 2004, her staff has increased from 15 to 112 and is still growing, while BADAC has become a thriving community space.
Brandon Howard – Director
Brandon brings 25 years of CEO and Executive leadership experience across many sectors, including public/private health, aged, disability, youth and family, and residential out of home care and foster care.
Throughout Brandon’s professional career he has experience in managing complex, diverse and highly regulated industries, driven by a focus on transformation and continuous improvement. Brandon also understands the importance of empowering and equipping staff to build a highly engaged culture, while managing the tension between mission, financial sustainability, and risk. Brandon brings strong governance experience, currently holding non-executive board roles across health and community organisations.
Having lived in Geelong most of his life and having worked across the western district, Brandon has a passion for wanting to make a lasting difference within regional and rural communities.
Professor Gary Rogers – Director
Gary is a health professions educational leader, public health researcher and GP with a focus on HIV medicine. He commenced as Professor and Dean of the School of Medicine at Deakin University in June 2020 after working as Professor of Medical Education and Deputy Head of School (Learning & Teaching) at the Griffith University School of Medicine, as well as undertaking clinical work in the Infectious Diseases Unit at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Gary has a deep understanding of the history of primary health care policy in Australia, as well as the considerable challenges that currently fact the sector. He also has considerable financial management experience through the multiple leadership roles he has fulfilled in primary health care, not for profit and education sectors.
Cath Jenkins – Director
Cath and her family live on their farm in South Purrumbete where they operate a livestock enterprise. Cath is an independent business consultant with Rural People Co, working with rural organisations, farm business in the areas of strategy, people management and leadership development.
Cath is the current Chair of Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, having previously been a board member since 2015. She is Chair of Vic Catchments and was appointed to the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council in March 2024. From 2011–2014 Cath was the inaugural Treasurer of Barwon South West Women’s Health and Wellbeing and was involved with the working group set up to establish the organisation.
Cath has an Agricultural Science degree and is a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Cath is passionate about working with rural and regional communities and has a strong understanding of the need for strong policy, partnerships and advocacy.
Our Executive team
Craig Wilding: Chief Executive Officer
Craig has worked in healthcare for more than 30 years. He initially trained as a radiographer at RMIT and following the completion of his internship was employed at Ballarat Health Services. He spent five year as CT Team Leader at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane before returning to Ballarat Health Services to operate Ballarat’s first MRI and later became the Deputy Director of Radiographer and Diagnostic Services. Completion of his MBA led to further opportunities in management, initially working as the Director of Medical Administration and Junior Medical Workforce, which then led to an Executive role taking carriage of Primary and Community Care. During this time he was seconded to Rural North West Health as an interim CEO for six months whilst recruitment was undertaken.
The recent amalgamation that created Grampians Health, provided Craig with the opportunity to work in the role of Chief Operating Officer of Community and Aged Care Services and as the designated Chief Allied Health Officer, managing aged care, mental health, allied health and ambulatory care and primary and community programs.
Andrew Giddy: Executive Director Strategy, Engagement and Integration
Andy’s role aims to ensure alignment between the strategic directions of WVPHN and the work that we undertake to support better health outcomes across our region. The role works with all of the teams across WVPHN to support engagement with our stakeholders to make sure their voices are heard in the development of programs. The role also combines feedback from stakeholders with the diverse data sets that are available to WVPHN to tailor our activities to our regional needs. We support First Nations health, Population and Public Health, data analytics and research.
Integration within the primary care sector and integration between primary care and tertiary care is a key focus. The Primary Care Integration team support this system connectivity through Practice facilitation, Digital Health, Healthpathways and Workforce Development
Prior to joining WVPHN in March 2021, Andy worked in the University, TAFE and Clinical Research sectors and sometimes works as a veterinarian in Emergency Animal Disease outbreaks, wildlife and bushfire response. Andy is a director on several not-for-profit and public sector boards.
Nigel Jarvis: Executive Director Finance, Commissioning and Contracts, Company Secretary
Nigel has many years of finance and corporate services experience in the health sector, including executive roles within the private acute setting. Nigel also has public health experience through previous employment and board director role. He holds a degree in Commerce, is a Certified Practicing Accountant and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently serving on the Ballarat Foundation board as Treasurer, and Chair on its Finance Committee. He is the Deputy Chair of the Beaufort and Skipton Health Services board. He is the Treasurer and Chair of WVPHN’s Finance and Audit Risk Management sub-committee. Nigel is also a member of the Finance Consultative Committee for the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education.
In his executive role, Nigel leads the Finance, Commissioning and Contracts directorate to work with stakeholders to implement system design that strengthens the quality, financial sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery in the primary health care sector.
Nigel is also the Company Secretary supporting the Board of Directors’ regulatory compliance obligations.
Claire Tehan: Executive Director People, Culture and Business Operations
Claire is a strategic human resources and business operations leader with over 18 years of experience spanning local government, not-for-profit and corporate sectors. She brings deep expertise in organisational transformation, employee engagement, and aligning people strategies with business objectives to support inclusive, high-performing cultures.
At Western Victoria Primary Health Network, she oversees People and Culture, Governance, ICT, Risk, Marketing and Communications, Procurement, and Business Enablement, supporting a strong, values-driven organisation focused on better health outcomes for the region.
Prior to joining WVPHN, Claire led the strategic people and culture functions Hume City Council as Manager People and Culture, where she developed and implemented the organisation’s first Safety Strategy and led a shift to a forward-focused performance model through the Quarterly Check-In initiative. Earlier in her career, she held national and regional roles with Opteon Property Group and contributed to HR, governance, and business operations across the mining, health, and local government sectors in Victoria and Western Australia.
Claire holds a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and is a Certified Professional Member of AHRI and a graduate of the Leaders for Geelong program.
Organisation Chart
Download the Western Victoria Primary Health Network Organisational Chart (PDF 109KB)