Our People

I am currently Senior Manager Technology and Change Risk with AIA Australia and was previously risk partner for the transformation, cyber fraud and enterprise change functions at Nab; providing governance, advice and control assurance across an investment portfolio of over $1.5Bn and a four year company-wide transformation and cyber security uplift agenda. Prior to this, managing a consulting business for 10 years advising in areas of strategy development and execution, innovation, risk management, information technology and security for clients. I am also a foundation golf member at Gardiners Run, playing every Saturday where I am enjoying watching our course mature into a great showcase for the club. I have also had the pleasure of being part of the current phase of the Kingswood Drive redevelopment, Constitution modernisation and several other significant changes to secure a strong future for our club.

I have an MBA, Graduate diploma of business (Strategy Innovation) and an associate diploma in banking and finance, I am also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Risk Management Association of Australia and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

My golfing ability well that is another matter, however I have managed to win 2 monthly medals at the old course and the inaugural 2014 Spring cup at Gardiners Run. Other interests include riding my E-bike and gardening.

I have been a board member of CPCC since February 2010 and during that time I have been involved in the construction of Gardiners Run, the redevelopment of the Country Club and the recently revised Constitution and Policies and Procedures.

For over 30 years I was involved in a charity called the Victorian Woodpeckers which was part of the furniture industry. I had various positions on the committee, including President for 8 years. We supported the underprivileged and homeless children of Victoria via donations and fully furnished numerous homes for various organisations. I was also inducted as a life Membe. I started my working life as a qualified refrigeration mechanic and due to various opportunities and circumstances, I became General Manager of a furnishing fabric wholesale company in my late 20’s. When the fabric company was sold, I started my own company as a manufacturer’s agent and one of the agencies that I represented was upholstery leather from a world-renowned Austrian tannery. I was approached by the Austrian company to become the General Manager/Director of the impending Australian daughter wholesaling company, which was to service the Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, Hong Kong, China and Dubai markets, with exclusive agents in each state of Australia and major cities in my territory. I have spent a considerable amount of time travelling overseas both for work and pleasure. In Australia we were the leading importer and supplier of quality upholstery leather for the architectural/contract/upper end of the domestic markets, automotive OEM/aftermarket and the 2 major domestic and international Australian airlines. The Austrian company then formed a joint venture company in Fuzhou China. I was invited to join the board and was on the board for 8 years until my semi-retirement.

I then reinstated my previous company and still represent the Austrian tannery on an agency agreement. I have been associated with them for over 35 years.

I firmly believe that it is imperative to be total trustworthy in all business dealings and to have an excellent work ethic.

I joined the Country Club in 1986 and held a variety of positions within the Wine Club including President, Treasurer and Cellar Master over fifteen  years. I  have been fortunate enough to win the George Masakers Trophy ( Wine Club B & F)  a record eight times. I have been a golf member since 2010 and won the Neville Evans Cup in 2019. I have been a Board Director since 2012 and held the position of Treasurer since 2016.

I have been involved in the development of Gardiners Run golf course since its inception in 2014 and the refurbishment of Kingswood Drive facility which was completed in 2020. Both major projects have been completed within budget and are now standout landmarks  in the Yarra Valley. The past year has been very challenging but I am sure that we have a solid foundation with cash reserves going forward to see our club invest wisely in future projects for even greater returns.

The development of the golf course, a new bowling green and the rebuild of Kingswood Drive has been truly impressive. I look forward to this momentum continuing and CPCC remaining a welcoming and friendly place for members, their families, friends and our local community.

My career was in business and particularly corporate finance. With a B.Com, Diploma of Business (Banking & Finance), an MBA and a FCPA the die was cast!

Opportunities arose and our family was fortunate to experience life in London, Sydney, Dublin and Jakarta. Back in Melbourne, I started a company in 1997 which provided merger & acquisition advice to the small business sector up until I retired in 2014.

Away from the Club I enjoy spending time with my wife, 3 children and four grandchildren, keeping the garden under control, supporting the Hawks and the occasional holiday (covid-19 permitting)!

Retiring from Victoria Police as an Inspector in 2016 after 43 years with senior leadership appointments across emergency management, major event planning, business continuity, crisis management and community engagement. Awarded the Australian Police Medal in the 2008 Australia Day Honours.

Since retiring from Victoria Police spent 2 years with Emergency Management Consultancy Services developing, delivering and assessing emergency management practices within the oil and gas industry in Australia and New Zealand.

Outside of working life has been involved with a number of local and regional sporting clubs and leagues including and was awarded Clubman of the Year for the Blackburn Football Club in 2014.

General Manager – Barbara Kelly

Barbara Kelly’s involvement in the club industry started in 1990 when she was first employed at Chirnside Park Country Club in the administration area of the Club. Due to her enthusiastic and rapidly developing knowledge and understanding of both the Club and Golf industries she was promoted to General Manager and Company Secretary in 1994.

Under Barbara’s astute leadership, Chirnside Park Country Club’s business has grown substantially as reflected by the increase in staff numbers from 10 to 65 during this time. With two diverse sites providing a range of ‘state-of-the art’ sporting and hospitality services, the club is now one of the most sought-after venues in the area.

Between 2002 and 2014 Barbara played a key role in the re-zoning and sale of the golf course at Kingswood Drive and the establishment of the new golf course, clubhouse, and maintenance facility in Lilydale (Gardiners Run) which is now ranked in Australia’s top 100 public access golf courses.  Following the establishment of Gardiners Run, Barbara’s industry experience and knowledge was integral to the successful major redevelopment of the Kingswood Drive site, completed in 2020/2021,  which now encompasses ultra-modern tennis and lawn bowls facilities, wedding/function rooms, a family bistro, sports bar and gaming area.

Her other roles included:

• Councilor – Clubs Victoria – 2005 to 2014, where she served as President, Vice president, Treasurer & Secretary.
• Councilor – Community Clubs Victoria – 2015 to present.
• Executive Committee Director – Golf Management Victoria – 2015 to present.
• Golf Management Victoria – Conference Sub-Committee Member for National Conference 2001, 2011 & 2019.
• Director – Frontier Hospitality – 2019 to present.

Gardiners Run Manager – James Woite