Dianna Somerville

Dianna Somerville - Chair

Chair

Dianna is passionate about regional Australia and wholeheartedly believes in creating and enhancing prosperous and sustainable regional communities. As a fourth generation family member of the automotive industry, Dianna is currently the Chair of the Thomas Bros Group of companies based in regional NSW. She also holds director roles in her family's property investment companies. Dianna established Regional Grants, Tenders and Corporate Services (RGTC) in 2014 to help regional businesses, schools, clubs and not-for-profit organisations write competitive and successful grant, tender and award applications. Dianna now uses her grant and tender knowledge to assist the government through sitting on community and federal advisory and grant assessment panels and committees.

Up until 2022 Dianna worked as the Community Manager for Bridge Hub, a regionally based, globally connected whole of life innovation hub for the Australian agrifood industry. Through this role Dianna spent time between Israel and Australia building innovation networks and matching agritech to research and test bedding opportunities. Dianna also played a significant role in the establishment of the Charles Sturt University incubator and innovation hub.

Dianna is the founder of Regional Pitchfest, a national regional based innovation and pitch program funded by Australia Post and later by the NSW Government which saw her lead over 80 events across regional Australia from 2016 - 2019. Dianna also spent time observing and learning from both the Silicon Valley and regional US innovation ecosystems. Her passion for regional Australia coupled with her entrepreneurial spirit has seen Dianna become a voice for innovation in the bush.

She is a distinguished graduate and the recipient of the Chief of Defence Force Sword of Honour for Leadership from the Australian Defence Force Academy. Dianna served on HMAS Tobruk, Yarra and Parramatta during her time as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Dianna is a Level One Certified Coach and an alumni of the International Executive Coaching and Leadership Organisation (IECL). Dianna is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of NSW.

Dianna spent 10 years working for the Department of Defence once she resigned from the Navy.  She worked in Estate planning, base operations, management and contract governance areas for the Department of Defence. She assisted in the delivery of two multimillion dollar projects at RAAF Wagga and Kapooka and completed her time with Defence working with the National Contract Transition Team.

Dianna is currently the Chair of Regional Development Australia Riverina Board and has previously served as a Director on the Country Hope Board, assisting children with life threatening illnesses in the Murray-Riverina area.

Born and bred in the Riverina, she has a sound understanding of the diverse elements of a regional community. She currently resides with her husband and two children on their cropping farm in the Riverina.            

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
Director of External Engagement, Wagga Wagga & Albury-Wodonga
Charles Sturt University

Board Member

David is the Director of External Engagement at Charles Sturt University and manages the Wagga Wagga and Albury-Wodonga campuses. He has over 20 years of experience in business and project management, supply chain and logistics, and relationship management.

A strong advocate for regional communities, David is the President of PCYC Wagga Wagga and a Regional Development Australia Riverina Board member. In 2023, David was nominated for the Wagga Wagga Australian Citizen of the Year for his contribution to the local community, particularly in constructing the brand new $23M PCYC Wagga facility.

David is passionate about building personal and professional relationships with diverse people, and eagerly does so in his roles across stakeholder engagement, leadership, and development.

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 has over ten years’ experience in strategic planning and management in health with expertise in program management, finance and commissioning. She is passionate about advancing patient centred care in regional and remote communities, leveraging healthcare information technology to facilitating innovation and collaboration. She is a catalyst for positive change in the Murrumbidgee health landscape.

In her current role, Melanie leads a transformative initiative in the Murrumbidgee Health and Knowledge Precinct. She collaborates with diverse stakeholders to drive local health reform projects and innovation for the region. Her strategic expertise in health project management enables her to support health from enhanced efficiency and quality of care across primary to tertiary levels. Her background includes leading local health reform initiatives, developing program strategic direction and establishing long-term objectives and strategies for both non- profit and for-profit health care organisations, and implementing effective systems to improve efficiency and quality of care and patient satisfaction throughout the continuum.

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!