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The CVGT Employment team
CVGT Employment has a diverse workforce of people who believe in our purpose of connecting more people to meaningful work. We are proud that our team brings the skills, passion and compassion to support the work we do.
A career at CVGT Employment is more than just a job. It is an opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives and make an impact in the many communities in which we live. Our team is over 300 members and we are continuing to grow, offering many others the opportunity to join our team.
Through actions, we are committing to ensuring CVGT Employment maintains a social and collaborative culture.
Board of Directors
The Board of eight members is responsible for the governance and strategic oversight of the organisation. It is a professional and diverse team with a broad and complementary mix of skills and experience.
Lee Bombardieri, BBus(Acc), GAICD
Member of the Board since September 2017. Mr Bombardieri has held senior executive roles in large manufacturing, construction materials supply and major infrastructure development in regional Victoria and Southern New South Wales. He has also served as Shareholder, Director and Dealer Principal of a multi franchise regionally based automotive dealership for a number of years. Mr Bombardieri has 26 years of extensive commercial experience in leadership and manufacturing with a particular strength in business acquisition and integration. Mr Bombardieri has previously served as Chair of a number of education sector governance Boards and Committees.
Judith Holt, BBus(Acc), FGIA, FCG, GAICD
Member of the Board since September 2019. Ms Holt held senior management roles in local and state government for 25 years at Loddon Shire Council, Mount Alexander Shire Council, and Coliban Water and has qualifications and extensive experience in finance, corporate governance, and risk management. Ms Holt’s current roles include the Chairperson of Fosterville Gold Mine Environmental Review Committee, Director of Campaspe Ports Enterprise Pty Ltd and GWM Water, Member of the Audit & Risk Committees of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (Victoria) and the City of Greater Bendigo and the Independent Chair of Marist College Bendigo Finance Committee. She was previously a Board Director and Inglewood & Districts Health Service and Western Water.
David Richardson, BA, MBA, FAICD
Member of the Board since September 2016. Mr Richardson has extensive experience in strengthening engagement with industry, government and the community and has held a wide number of executive management roles. He currently serves as the Campus Director for BendigoTAFE, and prior to that was the Partnerships Manager for Deakin University, and was the Chief Executive Officer of Strategem Financial Group. He was previously an Independent Director of Coliban Water Authority and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Mr Richardson has also served as the Chairperson of the Victorian Government’s Regional Partnership for Loddon Campaspe and as a member of the Regional Development Advisory Committee (RDAC).
Elizabeth Corbett, BSW, GDM, MHA, FAICD
Member of the Board since September 2016. Chairperson from October 2021 to October 2023. Ms Corbett is an experienced non-executive director, small business owner, tertiary educator and management consultant having worked with organisations across Australia and internationally. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has over 30 years’ governance experience on a range of boards within government, health, community services, disability and professional associations. Ms Corbett has held numerous office bearing positions, including as the Chair of Yooralla Society Victoria, Treasurer of General Practice Support Services Ltd. and President of the Victorian State Government’s Disability Services Board. Ms Corbett is currently the Deputy Chair of the Board of Daylesford Macedon Tourism Board, and an Independent Member of the Nominations Committee of Outcome Health.
Jan Boynton, BTRP, FAICD
Member of the Board since September 2016. Ms Boynton has more than 25 years’ experience in executive positions including: Former Regional Director with Regional Development Victoria, CEO of Radius Disability Services and Director, City Strategy with the City of Greater Bendigo. Ms Boynton has served as Chairperson of Bendigo Art Gallery, Deputy Chairperson of Lifeline Loddon Mallee, Director of North Central Catchment Management Authority, and as a member of the Victorian Government's Councillor Code of Conduct Pane, the AICD Bendigo Regional Forum and the AICD Not for Profit Chairs Panel. After 8 years of dedicated service to CVGT, Ms Boynton resigned from the Board in September 2024 for personal reasons.
Paul Macartney, GAICD
Member of the Board since September 2017. Mr Macartney is the CEO of Fixus Technologies, a software development business that specialises in creating software solutions for the health industry. He has held executive level roles with a digital flavour for more than 25 years. Mr Macartney has previously served as Regional Chair for the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as a Non–Executive Director of the Central Victorian Business Network, the Bendigo Business Council and Community Foundation Central Victoria. Mr Macartney is currently a Director of Digital Streets, Bendigo bHive and Eaglehawk UFS and is a member of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee for Bendigo Food Share.
Fleur Jackson, BA/LLB, AccS(PI) GAICD
Member of the Board since September 2017. Ms Jackson is an accredited specialist in personal injury law, employed as Senior Practice Leader, Work and Road Claims Victoria at Slater & Gordon Lawyers. Admitted to legal practice in 2003, Ms Jackson has established herself as an expert in WorkCover and common law injury claims, with additional experience in public liability and motor accident litigation and is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Australian Lawyers Alliance, and the Bendigo Law Association. She previously served as the Honorary Secretary of Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee. Ms Jackson currently serves as Chairperson of Girton Grammar School, and as a Deputy Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria Workers Compensation Committee.
Helen Symes, BBus(Acc), Dip. Fin. Planning, CertIV Agriculture, CPA, GAICD
Member of the Board since January 2019. Ms Symes is a Certified Practising Accountant and has over 29 years of diverse finance experience across a wide range of industries including healthcare, emergency services, corporate agriculture, media and public practice. Ms Symes started her career with Deloitte's and has held senior finance roles in both private and government organisations, including Ambulance Service Victoria, Warakirri Pty Ltd and Wimmera Health Care Group. Ms Symes is a partner in a dryland farming enterprise and a Non-Executive Director of Coliban Water and VicWater.
Sharon Seyd, BA(Fine Arts)
Member of the Board since 2025. Ms. Seyd is an experienced business consultant and educator with over 35 years of dedication in adapting business practices, to meet specific objectives; enhancing the effectiveness of systems, while supporting people and leadership. She has founded and led three arts organisations, producing numerous high-profile projects in theatre, film, and live events. As the founding director of Jumpleads NFP, she designs and facilitates community development programs. Since 1997, she has operated her consultancy, Mosaic, and contributed to arts business courses at VCA, Melbourne University, and Deakin University. Sharon is passionate about leadership, skill development, and supporting creative and entrepreneurial pursuits.
Executive Management Team
Led by CEO Jason Russell, CVGT Employment’s Executive Management Team is responsible for the daily operations of our business. Our leadership team has extensive industry experience and strong skillset to enable the wider team to deliver results, and further cement CVGT Employment as a leader in delivering employment services to a wide range of people.
Jason Russell
Jason Russell joined CVGT Australia in 2019 to lead the business. He was attracted by the commitment of the board to the organisation’s purpose, employee welfare, and to providing quality service to jobseekers and employers. He comes from a background in local government, having worked for three years as chief executive of the Kerang-based Gannawarra Shire Council, followed by a four-year term at the Campaspe Shire in Echuca. Jason has also sat on the boards of several groups, including the Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning Employment Network, Murray Tourism Board, Kyabram Fauna Park, Rural Councils Victoria and numerous regional development committees. He enjoys having a positive impact on the people who use CVGT Employment’s services and helping people to change their lives. He believes the difficulties facing job seekers trying to navigate the employment system are underestimated but finds it rewarding to see how securing a job can improve a participant’s confidence and sense of self-worth.
Fleur Cousins
Fleur is a vastly experienced executive, having arrived here at CVGT Employment after 27 years in local government, as well as community and corporate services roles in Victoria. Her career focus has been on providing meaningful services, while providing opportunities for people to have better outcomes. These passions drew Fleur to CVGT Employment in 2022. She believes CVGT is a passionate, values led organisation focussed on making a difference to individuals and communities. Away from CVGT, Fleur is a Director on the Board for Moama Anglican Grammar School.
Amanda Finnis
Amanda Finnis loves the challenge of using digital technology to improve customer service and the efficiency of the business, which she describes as being on a transformational journey. Amanda joined CVGT Australia in 2020 after a varied career across book publishing, education, government departments and Coliban Water. Amanda chooses to work for CVGT Employment because it focuses on helping people find work. She believes employment is one of the most important parts of people's lives – not just so we can afford a decent standard of living, but because it adds to our sense of wellbeing and worth.
Tania Morton
Bringing a wealth of experience from the public sector, Tania Morton is leading a large and diverse team here at CVGT Employment. She is passionate about achieving change for people and communities, giving purpose and helping them to overcome challenges through meaningful employment. Tania arrived at CVGT after more than 30 years with the Victorian justice department, having most recently been the Loddon Mallee's Regional Director and overseeing teams in areas such as youth justice, community corrections and corporate services. She has extensive training in leadership and management.