The Community Foundation was very pleased to have a new Director join the Board as of July 2025: Jess Reeves, Mirboo North resident took up the role when Gerard O’Shea resigned somewhat unexpectedly.
Gerard O’Shea joined the Board in November 2024, having been a member of our Audit and Risk sub-committee for a year. He had not anticipated that an exciting opportunity would arise during 2025 to work and study in Canada for a year. Even in his short time involved with the Community Foundation’s governance, Gerard was a great contributor, not least in respect of our Business Continuity planning. While he will be missed, there is no doubt Gerard and his young family will gain an amazing experience.
Thankfully during the Director recruitment process run by our Nominations Committee in 2024, three candidates were qualified for directorship, with only two vacancies at that time. We were thrilled that Jess Reeves agreed to join the Board when the vacancy arose.
Meet our New Director
Jess Reeves, who is a lecturer and researcher in regional transformations and sustainability in the Future Regions Research Centre at Federation University’s Gippsland campus, brings a range of skills and expertise to the role. She moved to Gippsland in 2017 and Mirboo North in 2023. Jess has strong governance experience and is involved in many regional committees including the Gippsland Lakes Co-ordinating Committee, Gippsland Climate Change Network, Latrobe Valley Regional Mine Rehabilitation Stakeholder Reference Group, Gippsland Forestry Dialogue. She is also the South Gippsland representative of the Gippsland Pride Initiative.
Become a Member of the Foundation
Did you know you can be a member of the Community Foundation? All of our Directors and the folks on our sub-committees are members of the Community Foundation. Our members are invaluable, they provide the core strength of the organisation: from connections across the community, ideas shared and local knowledge.
For a small annual fee ($20 or $10 conc) you get to be part of a group of people keen to support and strengthen the communities across our District. Find out more on our website or drop into Co-Space for a membership form.