Board members

David McDonald BCom, CA, Dip FP

Board Chair

Chair of Sustainability & Finance Committee

Chair of People & Culture Committee

David has over 20 years’ experience providing tax and business services to a wide range of clients across diverse industries including the not-for-profit sector.

He has been a Director of West Carr & Harvey for over five years and has developed a loyal following through his honest and trusted advice.

David’s passion for giving back to the community has seen him act as a Director on the Board for the Geelong Kindergarten Association. He is also the current Treasurer at St Joseph’s Football and Netball Club and regularly provides honorary (pro-bono) services and financial assistance to several local not-for-profit organisations.

Jenny Acopian BSc, DipEd, MA

Member of People & Culture Committee

Jenny has worked in education for more than 40 years, both in Australia and overseas, as a teacher, university administrator and consultant to the higher education sector.

She is a published author and served on the reference group that guided publication of the history of BCYF and its predecessor organisations.

Jenny is a committed Rotarian and enjoys her community involvement.

Adjunct Professor Lucy Cuddihy, RN, DN, RM, MBA

Deputy Chair of BCYF Board

Chair of Client Services Quality Committee

Dr Lucy Cuddihy has held senior roles in health management in Victoria for over 20 years. Most recently, she was appointed to the position of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria in 2005 and is an Adjunct Professor in the Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Lucy worked for 23 years in paediatrics and holds post basic qualifications in Paediatric Intensive Care and Neonatal Paediatrics. She completed a Doctor of Nursing at La Trobe University, Melbourne in 2005 and holds graduate qualifications in Organisational Change and Development and a Master of Business from RMIT, Melbourne, Victoria

Dr Cuddihy has served on expert advisory panels to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, advisory boards within the Deakin University, Faculty of Health and was a member of the Victorian Health Service Review Council.

Vittoria De Stefano, BCom/LLB (Hons), MBA, GAICD

Member of People & Culture Committee

Vittoria De Stefano is a Principal Lawyer at Harwood Andrews, practicing in both Business Law and Property Law.

Vittoria advises clients in all aspects of commercial transactions, from due diligence and negotiation of the terms of the sale to completion, and understands the importance of providing commercial, practical and timely advice to clients to ensure they achieve their desired outcomes.

Vittoria holds a Masters of Business Administration with specialisations in Leadership and Communication and Strategy and Planning. Vittoria is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course.

Vittoria has an interest in licenced businesses, and regularly advises clients on the acquisition of businesses with liquor licences and ongoing compliance matters. Her recent experience includes acting for the vendors and purchasers of various motel businesses and licenced hotel businesses, including electronic gaming machines and acting for landlords and tenants to negotiate the terms of commercial leases, agreements for lease and mortgages of lease.

Vittoria joined Harwood Andrews in 2004 and was admitted to Practice in 2005.

Christine Heath, BEc, Dip (Inv & Fin)

Member of Sustainability & Finance Committee

Christine has broad professional experience including a 15 year career as a Corporate Superannuation Manager for large corporates including Westpac Financial Services and Aon Consulting. More recently, she has spent the past 15 years managing business and finance at Pace Advertising Pty Ltd in Geelong.

Christine’s involvement in the community has seen her fill roles including as a past Board Member of Anam Cara Foundation and presently on Anam Cara Project Appeal Committee. She is also a Community Mentor through Volunteering Geelong, a Community Member on Word for Word Festival and an Advisory Committee Member of Rotary Club of Geelong Central.

Kate Morrissy, BEd, BA, Grad Dip Business Management, GAICD

Member of Client Services Quality Committee

Member of People & Culture Committee

Kate has over 30 years’ experience across health and community services organisations and has held a range of leadership positions including as the former Executive Director, Strategy and Sustainability at BCYF.

With post graduate qualifications in Health and Business, Kate also has an extensive background in quality and organisational strategic development and is currently the Executive Officer at the Institute for Health Transformation at Deakin University, where she is helping to shape this new entity as a global leader in health research.