Brett Stonestreet PSM

Brett Stonestreet PSM - Chair

Chair

Brett Stonestreet PSM brings more than 40 years of local government experience to his new role as Chair of RDA Riverina, having held leadership roles in several councils across NSW and Victoria. Brett was recognised in 2023 with a Public Service Medal for outstanding service to the community of Griffith. Well‑known for his long tenure as General Manager of Griffith City Council until 2025, Brett has earned a reputation as a steady and respected leader, guiding major projects and championing community‑focused decision‑making.

From building a private hospital to driving new housing initiatives, Brett has always found fulfilment in delivering projects that respond directly to community needs. He is equally inspired by the Riverina itself—its people, its ingenuity, and the lifeblood of the river systems that sustain the region. Above all, Brett’s work reflects a deep respect for place and a commitment to leaving the region stronger for future generations.           

Patricia Wilkinson

Patricia Wilkinson GAICD - Deputy Chair

Deputy Chair

Patricia is an experienced regional economic development professional who has worked in business development and expansion, R&D and new product commercialisation, regional coordination, tourism marketing and experience development.

Patricia holds a Master of Economic and Regional Development and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Her work has contributed to the strategic tourism direction for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; implementing tourism master planning, delivering new park development, the introduction of Ecotourism Destination Certification and inbound tourism development on behalf of the agency.

Now based in Wagga Wagga, Patricia has worked directly with State and Commonwealth Government bodies delivering industry expansion and job creation programs, providing support and advice to businesses in regional locations across NSW.

Patricia has worked in a range of regional roles including as Business Development Manager, Executive Officer of Riverina Regional Tourism, Regional Manager for AusIndustry (Riverina/ Murray), and Area Manager Tourism NSW (Western NSW) and recently as a Senior Advisor for the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship.

Patricia operates her own consultancy striving to unearth new and innovative solutions to ensure our regional communities are dynamic and prosperous.

As a long-time advocate for regional economic development, Patricia brings a practical focus to RDA Riverina; encouraging strategic thinking, collaborative partnerships and striving for sustainable regional economic development.

David Bardos

David Bardos - Board Member
Strategic Advisor in Trade, Transport, and Regional Growth

Board Member

David Bardos has over 25 years of experience in supply chain logistics, international trade, education, and stakeholder engagement. He has led growth-focused projects across regional Australia and built strong networks in infrastructure, transport, and trade.

David played a key role in the redevelopment of the $23 million PCYC Wagga Wagga facility and was nominated for Wagga Wagga Citizen of the Year in 2023, recognising his contribution to the community and commitment to regional development.

With a background in Australia’s port and logistics sectors, David brings a commercial mindset to his community work. He is known for his collaborative approach and focus on delivering results.

He currently serves as:

• President, PCYC Wagga Wagga

• Board Member, PCYC NSW

• Board Member, Regional Development Australia Riverina

David holds a Commerce degree and postgraduate qualifications in supply chain management, strategic planning, and finance. He is married and a proud father of two adult children.

Dallas Tout

Dallas Tout - Board Member

Board Member

Dallas grew up in Gundagai as 4th generation in the town and has always been heavily involved in community work from a young age. Dallas began his career at Charles Sturt University where he has been a Senior Finance Manager for 20 years. Dallas was elected to Gundagai Shire Council at the age of 33, where he served 12 years of which 6 years were as Deputy Mayor.

Following this, Dallas made the move to Wagga where he was Deputy Mayor of Wagga for 7 years, having held that position since 2014 after being elected to Wagga Wagga City Council in 2012. Following council elections in 2021 he became Mayor of Wagga Wagga. He is in his 21st year as a Local Government Councillor, is President of the NSW Public Libraries Association and the President of the local Make A Wish Branch and also a Member of the Board of Carevan Wagga which is a relatively new group in Wagga dealing with food insecurity.

Ray Willis

Ray Willis - Board Member

Board Member

Ray is an experienced Senior Executive with a strong history working across Riverina regional agencies and is currently an adjunct professional with Charles Sturt University.

A Riverina local, he has a passion for agriculture, natural resource management, biosecurity, and ensuring the best outcomes for customers through collaboration and partnerships.

As General Manager and Executive of the Riverina Local Land Services Board, he now leads a team of 70 staff throughout the Riverina region that support local primary industries, natural environment, biosecurity, Aboriginal cultural heritage and emergency management.

Previous to this, Ray served the Riverina as General Manager of the Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority.

Ray has strong experience in industry engagement, with roles on the national wild dog action plan stakeholder engagement group, the NSW government and industry apiary consultative committee, the national NRM environmental biosecurity subcommittee and spent two years as the ministerially appointed representative of the NSW state pest animal committee.

Sue Molyneaux

Sue Molyneaux - Board Member

Board Member

Sue is the Human Resources Manager for Casella Family Brands, Australia’s largest family owned winery, with over 700 employees.

Sue moved from Sydney to Griffith just over 10 years ago to work in the wine industry, and joined Casella’s in November 2009.

As one of the Riverina’s largest employers, Sue is involved with different committees within the region as either a panel member or audience participant in relation to workforce development and attracting people to regional areas. This experience has provided her with the ability to understand the issues facing regional employers.

Sue is passionate about living in the country and continues to promote regional living at every opportunity and is a Country Women’s Association member.

Mark Hillis

Mark Hillis - Board Member

Board Member

Mark Hillis is a retired dealer and principal of the Hillis Motor Group (1986 - 2013 ) and the current owner of the Wagga Caravan Centre.

Born in Melbourne and schooled in Wagga Wagga, Mark moved to Sydney for 5 years before returning to Wagga to begin his career with the family business, Hillis Ford. For 27 years Mark managed and built the Hillis Motor Group business.

Mark represented the national motoring body, serving on the Ford National Dealer Council as Vice Chair, the Ford Dealer Advertising Committee, the Daihatsu National Dealer Council , the Ford Credit and Daewoo National Councils.

Mark Hillis and Darren Daley created the Australian Automotive Management Systems (AAMS) and thoroughly enjoyed showcasing that product to the world, including the Toyota Head Office in Belgium.

Mark is a current member and Paul Harris Fellow with Wollundry Rotary (25 years) and is a district student exchange coordinator.

He serves on the Calvary Hospital Palliative Care Advisory board, the CSU Community Advisory Board and is a member of the Help Cambodia committee providing assistance to children and their families in Cambodia.

Mark strongly believes in his community and the benefits it provides to ensure a balance between commercial success, family and leisure time, as well as countless opportunities to assist in the community.

Mark is married to Christine Hillis and enjoys keeping an eye on their 5 adult children and 3 grandchildren.

Melissa Boxall

Melissa Boxall - Board Member

Board Member

With 24 years experience working in the local government industry across four Councils in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Riverina regions, Melissa has led a diverse range of portfolios including commercial enterprises, tourism, economic development, community services, governance, regulation and compliance and strategic and development planning.  Melissa has a strong understanding of the experience of the communities living in regional and rural areas and along with her strong community service backgrounds she is passionate about creating vibrant, places and spaces that foster economic and social opportunities.

Melissa is the General Manager of Temora Shire Council. Melissa’s experience working in one of the fastest growing local government areas in NSW means that she has significant knowledge to support sustainable and well-planned growth to encourage diversified housing and employment opportunities and she has worked with the development industry, community stakeholders and government agencies to deliver Local Strategic Planning Statements, Local Infrastructure Plans, Town Centre Plans, Masterplans, and an Employment Lands Strategy.

Melanie Reeves

Melanie Reeves - Board Member

Board Member

Melanie Reeves has over 15 years of experience in regional and rural strategic planning, commissioning, regional development and stakeholder engagement. With strong family ties to Tumut, and a proud Wiradjuri woman, she has led complex cross-sector initiatives across the Riverina, strengthening workforce capability, health system integration and the development of innovative pilots that enhance regional reach, federal and state funding and support local communities.

Melanie is currently with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), where she works alongside communities, government partners and regional stakeholders to support the implementation of Closing the Gap priorities. Her role focuses on strengthening place based engagement, supporting community led initiatives and ensuring policy settings translate into practical outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the region. This work aligns closely with her own heritage and personal commitment to advancing opportunity, equity and self determination for First Nations peoples.

She maintains strong involvement in local First Nations planning and community activities throughout the Riverina, volunteering to support NAIDOC celebrations, cultural events and cross sector engagement initiatives that foster trust, collaboration and culturally informed decision making.

Isabel Virgona

Isabel Virgona - Board Member

Board Member

Isabel Virgona is a town planner and has worked across consultancy, local government and state government both as a ministerial adviser and now as a Director in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. Originally from Sydney, Isabel now lives on a sheep farm on the Hay Plains in the Western Riverina and is passionate about housing, jobs and infrastructure in the bush. She is also keen for metro and regional communities to continue to be connected, and to attract a few more city dwellers to the region!