President

Paula Nicholson

Paula believes her membership of the BMI Board allows her to assist in the facilitation of the maximum usage of this iconic facility in the CBD, inspiring collaboration with organisations concentrating on education, research, heritage, information dissemination, and community building.

Paula returned to live in Ballarat over 25 years ago, and has been active in the Not for Profit sector in Fundraising, Events, Community Engagement and Governance for over 15 years across a range of local organisations.

Having a long-term connection with Ballarat, she attended Ballarat College as a Boarder for the final two years of her secondary education, then completed a Science Degree at Melbourne University majoring in Psychology. Paula went on to subsequently work in Business Analysis, Human Resources, Customer Service and Management, in Melbourne and Singapore for multi-national Dunn and Bradstreet.

In 1996 she returned to Ballarat where, with her husband, they purchased the generational family business, Nicholson Construction. Having grown up in the small regional community of Nhill, Paula has an understanding of the way smaller communities can work together to create opportunities for advancement, investment and growth. She believes that Ballarat is a wonderful and unique place to live and one where those who wish to, can make a real difference to the future of this prosperous regional centre by getting involved and making and leveraging connections of their own.

To this end, she sees herself as a Community Builder and is committed to utilising her experience and large network to encourage the broader community to be involved with both the heritage and future of the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute.

Vice President

Jane Valpied

Jane is an accomplished property valuer, building designer & community and landowner engagement professional who has excellent communication and project management skills. Jane lives in Ballarat with her husband Tim & has three adult children. Jane is passionate about the preservation of Ballarat’s historic buildings. Jane loves to catch up with family & friends in her spare time.

Secretary

Cathy Drake

Cathy is a commercial lawyer and a director of Nevetts Lawyers.  She has lived and worked in Ballarat for over 25 years, and in that time has been involved in a number of local community not for profit organisations as a board or committee member and as a volunteer.

Treasurer

Dr Mike Stephens

Mike Stephens, the founder of Meridian Agriculture, has almost forty years’ experience in directing, managing and advising small and medium sized agricultural businesses. He has developed and directed industry projects, and consulted extensively on succession and transition in business. Before establishing Meridian Agriculture Mike worked as farm manager and managed very large holdings.

Mike holds a Diploma of Farm Management, an MSc, and a PhD (Farm Business Succession.) He is a Fellow of Ag Institute Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Churchill Fellow.

He lives at Yendon with Jo, his wife, where they are regularly visited by their four children who bring interesting grandchildren, stimulating conversation and good red wine.

Board Member

Malcolm Roberts

Malcolm Roberts is Ballarat born and educated. He has had a varied business career in hospitality, corporate management and senior management where he was responsible for delivering high levels of customer service. Malcolm has a firm commitment and passion for the Ballarat community and the region, supporting local small businesses and understands their impact on the economy of our great city. Malcolm sits on the Ballarat Art Foundation Board and is a proud Alfredton Rotarian.

Board Member

Edward Petrie

Edward has spent his entire life connected to Ballarat. Growing up in the nearby town of Ampitheatre and attending school in Ballarat, he understands the importance of connection to place as well as planning for the future.

Originally qualified as a heavy diesel mechanic and employed within the mining industry for close to a decade, Edward sought a change of career and is now an accountant for a local Ballarat firm. Edward lives in Ballarat with his partner and their young daughter. In his spare time, Edward enjoys walking, hiking, playing golf and spending time with his family and friends.

Board Member

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer has a Diploma of Business in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration and has an extensive understanding of business operations and management. She brings over 10 years of service and experience as a Company Secretary and Director to the BMI Board.

Jennifer enjoys being involved in the local community and is an active Rotarian and Past President of the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia & New Zealand; which ensures she keeps abreast of current management and governance issues.

Jennifer’s particular areas of interest in an organisation are finance, strategy, and governance.

Board Member

Charlotte King

Charlotte King is a researcher with the ABC’s Regional Investigations unit. She works in collaboration with regional and specialist reporters around the country to research, develop and produce original national stories, in the public interest, for programmes including Four Corners, Background Briefing and 7:30. Previously she worked as a news reporter in Mildura and Ballarat, where she covered the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and its aftermath, for national news and current affairs programs including AM, The World Today and PM.

Charlotte was nominated for a Walkley in 2020 for her Background Briefing story on preventable regional stillbirths with producer Andy Burns and awarded a Quill for the same story in the Regional and Rural Journalism category in 2021. She was also awarded a Quill in 2022 for her Background Briefing on a child abuse cover-up involving former members of the Victorian Government and the Ballarat Orphanage.

Board Member

Tom Gorman

Tom Gorman grew up on a farm in regional NSW before studying engineering in Melbourne where he met his wife who is from Ballarat.

In 2018 they moved to Ballarat where they are raising their young family. Tom loves exploring the old buildings and architecture around Ballarat, and by joining the BMI board hopes to continue to look after the historical Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute building and assets for future generations.

In his spare time you might find him playing golf, swimming, or out running around the lake.