Our people

Meet our Board

Our Board brings extensive experience and diverse skills to support our CEO, including specialisations in finance, human resources, government, community development, management, information technology and grassroots Neighbourhood Watch.

Stewart Cathie GAICD

President

Stewart is a seasoned executive with 30+ years of experience in information technology and corporate banking. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles in IT service delivery, sales management, and project management functions. In the past decade, Stewart has led teams driving digital transformation leveraging AI and cloud technologies in critical business areas such as credit risk, anti-money laundering, and payments fraud detection.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from Swinburne University and is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Stewart also has certifications in Project Management (PMP) and Change Management. A firm believer in good governance, he emphasizes strategic planning and robust risk management frameworks, recognizing the growing significance of cyber security risks.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Stewart is married with two adult children. He maintains an active lifestyle through cycling, running, gym, and snow skiing. Having experienced living environments ranging from semi-rural to inner city apartments across Greater Melbourne, Stewart advocates for community engagement strategies and safer communities in collaboration with Victoria Police.

Paul Santamaria

Vice President

Paul is a senior executive with more than 25 years’ experience in the public, private and NFP sectors, having worked in North America, Europe and Australia. For the past 10 years, Paul has held senior executive in State Government, focussing his leadership in the areas of governance, risk, audit and compliance, strategic planning, and integrity and ethical behaviour.

Prior to government, Paul led teams in operations and customer services in highly complex regulated environments including shareholder services and employer and commerce advocacy. Paul is a graduate of the Company Directors Course with AICD and has certificates in Board Leadership and Management Development. Paul recently completed the Executive Colloquium at Monash University/Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership and is currently completing an MBA at RMIT.

Paul has a passion for building safe, inclusive communities with a particular focus on the safety of children and young people. Paul has also spent time fundraising for charities focussed on youth homelessness.

Paul is married to Lisa and they have 3 adult children. He spends his time between Melbourne and Rye, and when he’s not cycling is often supporting his beloved Richmond Football Club. Paul joins the Board following in his father’s footsteps – an inaugural Neighbourhood Watch Victoria Board Member.

Geoff Kloot

Secretary

Geoff Kloot has been a dedicated member of Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) in Manningham since 1985, starting as a Zone Representative. By 1991, he was the Area Manager and took on the role of newsletter editor a year later, positions he still holds. Geoff joined the Executive of NHW Region R4D1 in 2005, becoming Deputy Chairman, then Chairman, and later, after a restructure, was Chairman of Manningham Neighbourhood Watch. He served as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of NHW Victoria from 2015 to 2017, where he especially enjoyed helping establish new NHW groups.

Geoff's has been honored with multiple awards, including the Menzies electorate Australia Day Award in 2007, Neighbourhood Watch Victoria State Award of Honour in 2007 and Sgt John Cain Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Neighbourhood Watch R4D1 in 2010. He won the NHW Australasia Malcolm Grant OAM Volunteer of the Year Award in 2013 and was the City of Manningham Citizen of the Year in 2016.

Professionally, Geoff brought his experience as a senior manager in a State Government agency and later as a management consultant to NHW. His innovative approach led to projects like the Junior Watcher Activity Book and Community Safety Guide, funded by government grants.  

Geoff is a strong advocate of business planning and annual budgeting and firmly believes funds raised by NHW should be used directly for community safety projects. Geoff is married and cherishes time with his family, including two children and four grandsons. He also enjoys photography. 

David Viney

Treasurer

David is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) having undertaken a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Business.  Undertaking a wide variety of accounting and administrative functions over the past 35 years. David is the Administration Manager at the Victorian Transport Association (a not-for-profit association) and brings to Neighbourhood Watch extensive knowledge of the NFP sector.

David is involved in supporting several other community groups – principally The School of Hard Knocks, supporting disadvantaged Australians, and as Chairman of Save Port Melbourne Gateway, a local group that promotes the appropriate development of the areas adjacent to the Port Melbourne Foreshore.

Growing up and educated in Tasmania, before moving to Adelaide and finally settling in Melbourne some 18 years ago, he can now be regarded as a Victorian, more so because of his undying support of the Richmond Tigers. David is married and with his wife and spoilt dog enjoy the lifestyle offered by Port Melbourne and surrounds.

Edwina Ogilvie

Board Member

 

Edwina is an executive with 25+ years experience in strategic marketing, communications, project and program management and business development. She has a successful track record at two of the world's largest professional services firms, PwC and KPMG. Prior to professional services, Edwina worked for US-listed Computer Sciences Corporation (now DXC) commencing as a Business Analyst and progressing to Project Management, Product Management, Account Management and Business Development roles. Edwina is adept at strategy development and execution, project governance, capitalising on growth opportunities and managing risk. She is an innovative thinker with a pragmatic approach who enjoys working side by side with senior stakeholders to achieve organisational objectives. Her career to date has afforded her insights into the unique challenges and opportunities within listed companies and private and family-owned businesses so she brings a different perspective to the Board of Neighbourhood Watch Victoria.

Edwina holds a Bachelor of Economics from La Trobe University and is a member of Women on Boards and the Institute of Community Directors. Throughout her career, Edwina has worked across time zones, geographies and cultures as well as her roles taking her to the UK, US, Canada, India, South Africa and throughout Southeast Asia. Through these experiences, she developed her love of travel. Outside of her professional life, Edwina enjoys reading all sorts of novels, and podcasts, watching everything from documentaries to dramas and reality TV and planning the next travel adventure for herself and her husband. 

Elizabeth Johnston

Board Member

Elizabeth (Liz) has a background of working in local government in the areas of community development, social justice and planning. She has a background in the community safety promotion and crime prevention space and brings this experience to her position on the Board of Neighbourhood Watch Victoria.

Liz holds a Master of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminal Justice) and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Crime Prevention. She is passionate about making the community feel safer, improving connections and reducing social isolation as a way of improving wellbeing. Liz is an active volunteer mentor through the TAC L2P Learner Driver Program and has previously held a role on the State Government’s Involve Youth Advisory Committee.

Outside of her professional life, Liz enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling and quilting. She stays active through sailing, participating in the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme and competing through the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria where she is a former member of the General Committee (the board). Liz is always looking for opportunities to enhance her knowledge and enjoys working with the community to empower their own sense of safety.

Megan Love

Board Member

Megan is a senior executive with a career of more than 20 years in the human resources space working for international global businesses in sectors such as logistics, transport, retail, events, hospitality, banking and finance. The roles have been varied although with a strong foundation on being a true human resources business partner and strategic advisor. With the constant changes faced by many businesses over the past decade Megan has honed her skills in change management, workforce design and strategic management.

Megan is a passionate, driven and intelligent leader with a proven track record of building a connected and engaged workforce to deliver the strategic business plan. This is achieved whilst driving growth with a commercial acumen and ensuring the best talent is in the right roles to deliver. Megan’s current role is as the Executive General Manager, People, Capability & Development at the Victoria Racing Club – a role that engages with the business at all levels to deliver an end to end people management support leading them through the return out of the pandemic. 

Megan has completed a Bachelor in Public Relations, a Masters of Business Administration and numerous development programs around leadership, mentoring and coaching. Megan is an Affiliate Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors. Megan is fortunate to move between Melbourne and the Surf Coast living with her husband and their dog.

Rhonda Rotherham

Board Member

Rhonda has been an active and dedicated member of Neighbourhood Watch in Geelong since 1994, initially as a Newsletter Editor and later as Area Coordinator. By 2005, she assumed the role of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Division Coordinator, a position she held until 2016. After a short break, she returned in 2018, invigorating the Geelong region's Neighbourhood Watch. 

In 2009, Rhonda was elected to the Neighbourhood Watch Victoria Board, serving terms as both President and Vice President. She involved in navigating significant changes within the program, reinforcing its strength and purpose.

Her commitment to community extends beyond Neighbourhood Watch; she has served as Vice Chairperson of the Bellarine Community Support Register and as President of the Geelong Branch of Queenscliff’s Cottage by the Sea. Rhonda lives in Wallington with her husband, Peter. They have adult daughters. She loves spending time with her granddaughter in Sydney, and her hobbies include music, gardening, and travelling.

Throughout her life, Rhonda has championed community connectedness, emphasing the importance of Neighbourhood Watch in fostering such bonds. Rhonda is a strong advocate for community connectedness and the important role Neighbourhood Watch can play in developing it. She believes that getting to know neighbours and feeling part of a community is a step towards a safer community.

Carolyn van der Ree

Board Member

Carolyn has been an active and dedicated member of Neighbourhood Watch South Mitchell since 2018, initially as an Events Coordinator and later as the Secretary, Media Coordinator and Grants sub-committee. In 2019, she assumed the role of Secretary of Mitchell Shire Neighbourhood Watch Inc. Group, a position she’s held ever since. 

In November 2023, Carolyn was elected to the Neighbourhood Watch Victoria Board. In this role she can draw on her past career as an accountant and running her own business. She also has been involved with writing policies and procedures for both her employer and during lock-downs she devoted this skill set to her local Neighbourhood Watch group. Her commitment to community extends beyond Neighbourhood Watch; she has served in the local Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee and the Southern Mitchell Local Safety Network Committee. 

Carolyn is eager to contribute to the overall wellbeing of Neighbourhood Watch in a general board position. With her keen involvement to her local group, Carolyn can contribute first-hand knowledge about the issues and challenges the groups face in the community, especially as she comes from the regional town of Wallan.

Carolyn lives with her husband, Jack, who is also involved in Neighbourhood Watch South Mitchell. Between them they have 5 children, many grandchildren and even some great grandchildren. She loves spending time with raising Burmese kittens, reading a book, doing genealogy and travelling.

Our Patron

Shane Patton APM

Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police

“Victoria Police are, and always will be, about engaging with our community. We work with the community and we are a part of the community because, without their consent and their trust, we can’t do our job.

“I understand the many demands on police officers because I’ve been privileged to have grown up as one. My experiences make me particularly proud to be the Patron of Neighbourhood Watch Victoria, working in partnership with the community to promote crime prevention and create a safer State.”

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Neighbourhood Watch Victoria acknowledges the 38 mobs, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate, live, and gather as employees and volunteers. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

At Neighbourhood Watch, we believe everyone has the right to feel safe and welcome. We are committed to ensuring diversity, inclusion and equity are embedded throughout our organisation – in the work we do, the services we deliver and among our staff, volunteers, and the communities we work with.

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