Meet Our Board
Our Board of Directors is a group of hardworking volunteers who drive the future direction of our organisation with their expertise and enthusiasm.
Phil Drummond
Chair
Phil has served in the local government sector for 23 years. Phil has a degree in Business and post-graduate qualifications in Human Resource Management and Business Administration.
Phil has two adult children and enjoys travelling with his wife. He is also an avid reader and is learning to enjoy gardening.
Leisa Harper
Secretary
With over 25 years of experience in education and business development, Leisa holds an MA in Business Administration and an MA in Educational Leadership (Psychology). She also runs her own consulting company, AgilityFX.
Leisa loves living in the Gippsland region, where she enjoys bushwalking and spending time with her family.
Vacant
Treasurer
Edwin Vandenberg
Acting Treasurer
Since joining the board in 2016, Edwin has leveraged his expertise in economics and finance to support the organisation’s growth.
Edwin enjoys spending time with his family and tending to the animals on their farm, and is a keen off-road racer.
Gary Dore
Member
A lifelong resident of Gippsland, Gary is joyfully retired after a fulfilling career in the public sector.
Gary had a number of roles during his career but the majority of his time was spent in risk management, occupational health and safety, insurance and claims management.
Driven by his commitment to the community, Gary joined Headway, a Gippsland-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting people with disabilities.
His interests are in gardening, family and family history research.
Emma Vandenberg
Member
Emma is a PhD student investigating respiratory support for preterm babies.
Emma's previous experience working at Headway motivated her to join the board of directors.
Emma is interested in fashion and interior design and enjoys reading. She enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Scout and Finch.
Kate Yeowart
Member
Kate has a strong commitment to supporting and assisting others, which motivated her to join Headway Gippsland Inc. She is passionate about family and community, and believe in the importance of helping individuals and families who face challenges due to ABI to engage more fully in their community.
With a background in active netball umpiring and professional development course presenting, Kate also brings unique experiences as a qualified National Sky-diving judge. She enjoys entertaining friends and family at their rural home in Gippsland, where they appreciate the peace and beauty of the region.
In addition to her involvement with Headway, Kate has been active in sporting committees and boards for over 25 years, also serving on the Board of Kindergarten Parents Victoria, working towards improving access to pre-school education. Her advocacy efforts include contributing to the central fund for preschools to manage sick and long service leave provisions.
Jo Harris
Member
Jo brings a wealth of experience in financial management and leadership, underpinned by a strong commitment to people and good governance.
Her diverse career spans various sectors, including local government, health, and not-for-profit organisations.
Community-minded and dedicated, Jo is an active member of the CFA and a local adult horse riding club. In her leisure time, she enjoys riding her horses, reading, camping, and bushwalking.
Come and join us!
Becoming a board member can equip you with invaluable leadership skills, as well as provide an avenue to make a real difference in your local community.
We pay our respects to the traditional custodians, their elders and ancestors of the lands, which our organisation sits. We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and welcome you to our service. Headway Gippsland is committed to treating all people with dignity and respect.