The Gordon Board
David Bowen (Board Chair)
David Bowen retired as CEO of the National Disability Insurance Agency in 2017 after 5 years in the position. He is one of the key architects of that scheme. David worked in Government for over 35 years and held several senior positions including as CEO of both State and Commonwealth Agencies for over 20 years.
David has professional qualifications in law and extensive senior experience in corporate governance, strategic planning, financial and risk management. He has over 25 years experience as a member of government Boards and Committees, including as Board and Committee Chair.
David has a long interest and involvement in professional education and continuous learning. As the architect of the Professional Standards Scheme, he worked with many professional associations in developing continuing education modules to meet the requirement of the scheme. He has also had long term involvement in several academic Institutes including as a Board member of the Injury Risk Management Research Centre (UNSW) and as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Sydney University Rehabilitation Studies Unit.
David has a long involvement in community organisations, with a specific interest in disability. He was very involved in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. He continues to be involved in the Geelong area providing pro bono assistance to several organisations for people with disability and as a long term foster carer as Chair of the BCYF Carers Reference Group and as a co-chair of the Western Division Carers Advisory Group.
Darryl Mohr (Deputy Chair)
Darryl brings to our Board extensive experience in governance, risk management, banking and finance following more than 30 years in the Financial Services sector. Darryl is also a Committee member for Regional Development Australia (Barwon South West region), a joint Federal and State Government initiative to promote economic sustainability across regional Australia.Darryl is currently completing a Master of Public Policy and Management (University of Melbourne) to build upon his broad educational background that includes a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), CPA Australia accreditation, Company Director (AICD Graduate), Harvard Business School seminars (Boston USA and Shanghai China), Wharton Business School - Advanced Risk Management Program (Pennsylvania University USA).
Jennifer Cromarty
For more than 20 years, Jennifer has worked across Federal, State and local government, with commercial and not for profit organisations – supporting them to engage with their stakeholders, members and community for economic and community development outcomes.
Jennifer has significant experience in running small businesses, is a Board Director of community hospice Anam Cara House Geelong, a member of the Barwon Regional Partnership and is the founder and Chair of local not for profit Creative Geelong Inc.
From 2019-2022, she was the CEO of the Committee for Geelong. These skills and experiences are supported by extensive knowledge of economic development, planning, creative industries and a spirit of collaboration to ensure Geelong is a cohesive, resilient community that gives hope and inspiration for future generations.
For more than 15 years, Jennifer has worked with First Peoples across the country and is committed to ensuring the voice of First Peoples and Traditional Owners is honoured, respected and recognised.
Trish (Patricia) Crossin
Trish has a teaching background, specialised in Technical and Further Education and Higher Education as a member of the National Australian Education Union TAFE Executive and Director of the Northern Territory Institute of TAFE.
As a former Senator (and first woman to represent the NT), she has direct knowledge and experience working as a member of the federal Government. She is also an experienced Director with an extensive background in corporate governance, risk management and strategic planning as Chair and Board member of community, education and sporting organisations and statutory authorities.
Her previous board positions include Directorship of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, Australian Indigenous Agribusiness Company, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Pty Ltd, President of Netball NT and Netball ACT and currently Director of Westjustice Community Legal Centre, St Columba’s College, Asthma Foundation NT, Wyndham City Council Reconciliation Advisory Committee and Special Advisor to Gender Equity Victoria.
Trish has a National Service Award from Asthma Australia, life membership of the National Tertiary Education Union and was a founding chairperson of the NT Working Women’s Centre. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Diploma of Teaching and Bachelor of Education.
Corrina Eccles
Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles has 24 years of employment experience in Aboriginal organisations in the region. She brings knowledge and experience of community engagement, awareness of Education providers and sectors, advocacy for cultural values, support and connection. She is a board director on various boards in the region, both Government and community level, and a member of many advisory and committee groups.
Corrina has undertaken board governance training. She brings Aboriginal cultural knowledge of the community and country, a perspective of reconciliation and knowledge, advice on, and support of, cultural values and culturally safe practice. Corrina holds strong cultural values relating to positive outcomes for community, youth, education and reconciliation.
Patti Manolis
Commencing on the Board September 2021, Patti brings over 30 years of senior management and leadership experience in the Local Government sector and a deep commitment to lifelong learning, the exchange of ideas & information and empowerment of communities. Patti’s board experience includes her most recent role of 14 years as CEO and executive board member of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, two terms as Independent Director on the Board of the G21 Region Alliance (2017-2020), Founding Director and President of Libraries for Timor-Leste Inc (2004-2014), President of Public Libraries Victoria (2016-2017), Member of the State Library Board of Victoria’s Advisory Council on Public Libraries (2016 – 2021) and member of the Bill and Melinda Gates inaugural International Network of Emerging Library Innovators(INELI) selected in 2011.
In March 2016, following nomination by the Women in Local Democracy (WILD) group based in Geelong, Patti was one of 20 inductees to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in recognition of her achievements in public libraries statewide, nationally and internationally. In 2019 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the Library and Information Services Sector.
Professional qualifications include Bachelor of Education, Graduate Diploma of Business and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Damien Marchant
Being elected to the Board in August 2023, Damien brings over 25 years construction industry experience both residentially and commercially. Damien joined the TAFE sector because he believes TAFE has the ability to generate positive outcomes not only for our students but for our community as a whole, and as a Gordon staff member, this responsibility is not lost on him.
Damien brings many years of experience in community engagement after his roles in the strategic planning and community education pieces of the successful campaign to ban gas fracking in Victoria.
Damien a teacher in the plumbing team at The Gordon’s East campus. Damien is also a member of the AEU Gordon sub-branch executive and former president of the AEU sub-branch where he worked with staff and management to navigate employment issues, conflict resolution, and formal consultation. Damien is also the Mental health first aid and crisis support contact for the students in the plumbing department.
Before joining The Gordon, Damien managed the design detailing department and cost and estimating department at a local prefabrication company as a qualified building designer, worked as a commercial plumber in the HVAC and medical gases field, ran his own small plumbing business and was a director of a boutique horticulture company.
Damien is a proud product of The Gordon TAFE, and as such, has a passion to ensure we never lose focus of our responsibility to our staff, students, and community in driving positive outcomes.
Joe Ormeno
Joe was appointed as Chief Executive Officer as of 3 October 2019, a role he had been acting in since 6 May 2019. Joe joined The Gordon in February 2009 as Chief Finance Officer, a role he continued until December 2014. In July 2014 Joe was appointed to the Chief Operating Officer role and concurrently retained the role of Chief Finance Officer until December of that year. Prior to The Gordon, Joe spent five years as General Manager Finance and Administration with St. Laurence Community Services. He has also held various executive roles in corporate services within the private and not-for-profit sectors.
Joe holds a number of leadership roles across the Community and the TAFE Network and also brings a wealth of leadership and board experience to the Institute.
Daniel Smedley
Daniel joined the Board in 2016. Daniel has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer involved in business and commercial law and has been recognised by industry groups and peer review bodies as a leading lawyer in his field of expertise. He is the Executive Chair of The Lantern Legal Group Pty Ltd which comprises the law firms Harwood Andrews and Sladen Legal. Daniel is accredited as a specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria and is a member of Law Institute of Victoria and Taxation Institute of Australia committees. Daniel is regularly invited to speak at state and national industry conventions, conferences and workshops.
Matthew Wright
Matthew is the Branch Manager of Strategic Engagement at the NDIA. He has over 20 years’ experience in the disability sector. He was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations and Murray Human Services, and a senior manager with Oakleigh Centre and Able Australia. Matthew was an Adviser Diversity at National Australia Bank developing the NAB's Disability Action Plan.
Matthew has represented Australians with disability at the U.N Conference of State Parties, has been a member of the AHRC Reference Panel on the National Enquiry into Employment Discrimination, IAC’s Housing Innovations Working Group, the Australian Law Reform Commissions Disability Advisory Committee, the National Disability Workforce Strategy Committee, the Victorian Governments NDIS Implementation Task Force, and was one of the three members of the National Disability and Carers Alliance.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts and Post-Graduate Diploma in HRM and IR from the University of Melbourne. He is a fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program with Leadership Victoria and the McKinsey ELP. He has a severe hearing loss from birth and identifies as part of the Deaf community.