Staff Members
ANDREW MILLEN
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Millen is the Chief Executive Officer of the Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board (SMEDB).

Having 16 years Local Government experience, Andrew has been employed in various roles including Strategic Town Planning, Business Development Planning and until recently as the Manager - Economic Development at the City of Monash in Melbourne before taking up his current position with the SMEDB. With a Bachelor of Applied Science (with Hons) in Urban and Regional Planning (RMIT), Andrew established one of Victoria’s first Local Government Economic Development Units in the mid 1990’s.

Andrew continues to combine strategic planning, business investment and economic development roles in one of regional Victoria’s most dynamic locations, the Mildura region.

HELENA HOWE
Economic Development Project Officer

Helena is originally from Mt Pleasant in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. She studied Business Office Administration in Adelaide before moving to Mildura in 1998 to commence work as an Administration Assistant at MADEC Ltd.

During her three and a half years at MADEC Helena had the opportunity to work on projects such as the Murdi Paaki Aboriginal Health Summit, numerous Earth Building Summer Schools and the SunNet Internet project.

Helena joined SMEDB in February 2002 and has worked in a number of roles including Project Officer for the Mineral Sands Industry, Administration Manager and is currently an Economic Development Project Officer. She has worked on projects including organising international trade fairs to China and Vietnam, strategic and business plans, writing government grants, and assisting with the development of the Mildura Region Economic Profile and Grow Mildura Region publications. Since commencing at SMEDB Helena has completed a Certificate 4 in Project Management.

She is Vice President of the Mildura Sun Festival and serves on the committee of the Sunraysia Branch of the Alternative Technology Association and Mildura Rural City Council’s Environmental Task Team. She was also on the committee of the Mildura Young Professionals Network (2006 & 2007) and the Mildura Murray Darling Wine Industry Association (Mildura Wines) (2006 & 2007).

CATHY VIOLI
Economic Development Officer

Cathy is a Mildura local, growing up on her parent’s sultana property.

She began her working career in local accountancy firms, before pursuing a position as Personal Assistant at the Mildura Headquarters of Victoria Police. She then transferred to the Mildura Police station in an administrative role.

Cathy joined Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board in July 2005 as Economic Development Officer, keen to provide assistance with the development of the local community.

Cathy has studied various administrative and project management courses, and plans on continuing her studies in the fields of administration and community development.

She is the Secretary of the Sunraysia Animal Rehousing Group (SARG) and a member of the Mildura Young Professionals Network (MYPN).

MAJELLA BALLARD

North West Rural Skills Connect Project Manager
Majella hails from the Mallee township of Manangatang, was educated in Robinvale before moving to Mildura in 1983.  Her career spans numerous local industries from managing the historical Showboat Avoca is the mid ‘90’s, delivering Hospitality industry training for MADEC and TAFE before entering the labour hire and recruitment industry.  In 2002, Majella took on a career in telecommunications as Regional Manager for Neighbourhood Cable and was involved in the expansion of the local broadband internet network and completed her Advanced Diploma in Business Management.  In 2007, Majella spent time in Bendigo working with Bendigo Community Telco.  Joining the SMEDB team in September 2008 as Project Manager of North West Rural Skills Connect Project, Majella brings together her local networks and business skills to assist rural communities in Buloke Shire and the Cities of Swan Hill and Mildura to link the transferable skills of the farm related rural sector to the rural industry skills gaps in industries such as Engineering, Transportation, the traditional Trades, Meat processing, Health, Finance, Hospitality and others.

Family and Community are the key priorities for Majella who is the 10th child in her family of 12 and has three sons of her own.  She has been an active community volunteer including 5 years as a volunteer fire fighter, local church member and sits on two steering committees raising funds for local charities through the Bendigo Bank Telco’s community enterprise model.