St. Luke's

Respect | Hope | Fairness

St Lukes Senior Staff Profiles

David Pugh
Chief Executive Officer

Dave began his career as a science teacher in the Northern Territory. But a long-time interest in vibrant communities led him to take on a role as an Aboriginal Community Worker in Arnhem Land. He joined St Luke’s in 1989 and oversaw the development of the community services area with a particular interest in providing support to people with a psychiatric disability. Dave became CEO in 2006.

He enjoys contributing through boards and committees so he currently serves as Vice President of the Victorian Council of Social Service and sits on the Victorian Children’s Council, Bendigo +25, Star Community Cinema and Community Sector Bank.

His four children are his greatest achievement. He also enjoys cycling so much that he has ridden 600 km over a week from South Australia back to Bendigo. Usually he enjoys social rides a lot closer to home.

Lauren Bean
Deputy CEO

Lauren Bean, newly appointed Deputy CEO, has worked in a diverse range of communications and management roles, with a strong focus on community.

She has extensive and varied experience in corporate finance, marketing communications, event management, not for profit and broadcast free to air television.

Until a recent tree change brought Lauren and her family to Bendigo, she worked at one of Australia’s largest financial institutions in Business Banking and Corporate Affairs, and managed a wide variety of marketing and communications projects.

Lauren has Undergraduate Studies in Education, a Master of Arts in Communication and has worked as a sessional lecturer at RMIT University in Melbourne. She has particular interests in identifying ways to better support local communities and organisations within a corporate environment.

In her spare time, she is passionate about food and loves to create new recipes with her husband and two daughters, enjoys photography and listening to jazz.

John Bonnice
General Manager, Children Youth and Family Services

As General Manager, Children, Youth and Family Services, John oversees out of home care, children’s, family support and youth support services. With over 30 years experience in welfare and youth work, John’s professional background includes casework, youth development, service coordination and program management.

He worked with the Young Christian Workers Movement, and Melbourne City Mission in youth development and employment and training before spending ten years working with the Department of Human Services in juvenile justice and child protection.

A member of St Luke’s staff since 1998, John has also been Program Manager for Youth Services, and Senior Manager for Youth and Family Support Services.

Marg Brooks
General Manager, Community Services

Strong communities underpin the work St Luke’s does with individuals and families, which is why Marg is committed to community capacity building.

She has been with St Luke’s since 1995 in a variety of roles that have given her a rich diversity of experience. Her current role matches her particular passions of mental health, disability support, community education activities, and capacity building with communities. When she completed her social work degree, its strengths based approach attracted her to St Luke’s.

Marg also sits on the board of Vicserv, the peak body for psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services in Victoria. She is a keen bushwalker with fond memories of a long walk on the Freycinet Peninsular in Tasmania.

Russell Deal
Creative Director, Innovative Resources

Russell builds dry-stone walls in his spare time. He brings the same passion to slot the right pieces together to his work with Innovative Resources.

A stalwart since 1991, Russell has seen it grow to a team of 18 people, a bookshop and warehouse, and a publishing company with sales in Australia and overseas of over $1.6 million.

As Creative Director, Russell focuses on publishing original materials and training people in ways that material can be adapted and used. A teenaged stint as a volunteer at the local Spastic Centre left him disturbed by the indifference that overlooks the needs of people with a disability and the burden placed on their families and carers.

Though he has also trained as a psychologist, teacher and manager, Russell sees himself primarily as a social worker influencing social change through the creative arts. Outside Innovative Resources, he likes to spend as much time as possible with his two grandchildren.

Phil Eddy
Senior Manager. Community Programs

Phil has worked in the mental health sector for 30 years. He has worked in a range of clinical and management roles during that time in community mental health and the community sector within Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and ACT. Phil returned to St Luke’s in a Senior Manager role in May 2009 after Managing Mental Health Services in Tasmania. Phil has extensive experience in service and policy development within the Health and Human Services field in State, Local Government and the Community Sector. Phil is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse with Grad Dip Management and currently supports a wide range of community programs including Gamblers Help, Financial Counselling, Victims Assistance and Counselling Program, No Interest Loans Scheme, Personal Helpers and Mentors Program (PHAMS), Disability Services and Respite programs.

Yvette Jaczina
Senior Manager, Mental Health and Housing

The changes in people simply because another human being believes in them make this a worthwhile job for Yvette. She has worked in mental health and housing for many years in metropolitan, regional and rural settings.

In her current role, Yvette oversees St Luke’s mental health services, as well as the Echuca SAAP, and a psychiatric disability SAAP service. A member of the Committee of Management of EASE [Emergency Accommodation and Support Enterprise )

Yvette looks forward to a time when people experiencing mental illness are less isolated and have far more opportunities to participate in the community and the workforce. She enjoys reading, music, activities in the bush and beautiful places, and once dipped her toes in the Arctic Ocean.

Di O’Neil

Director of Mission and Training

Di believes discrimination is a good thing, as long as it is positive in favour of those for whom the world is less fair. A veteran of 40 years in the sector, Di’s part in developing the philosophy and practices of the strengths approach is one of the most exciting things she has done. Now she works across St Luke’s, government departments and the human services field generally to develop a culture of strengths based, socially just management and practice. She wants to see children’s voices heard in strong, inclusive communities and enjoys working in partnership with Indigenous peoples. After years of sitting on local and state-wide boards and committees, Di is enjoying a break. She is indulging herself and sitting on the Committee of Management of the Harry Trott Reserve in Bendigo.

Suzi Sordan
HR Manager

Suzi was appointed as St. Luke’s HR Manager in 2009. Her areas of responsibility include industrial/employee relations, coordination of staff recruitment and support, retention, WorkCover, payroll, policy development, OH&S, organisational learning, performance management and Quality and Systems. Suzi has solid experience as a HR Generalist both in the not for profit sector and the manufacturing industry.

Suzi has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Postgraduate qualification in Business Management and a Master of Business. She believes our people are our greatest asset, and that talented and engaged staff are the key to organisational success. The HR team’s vision is to create a work environment where people choose to stay and continue their journey with the Agency. The HR team’s values are to provide support and care for those who take care of others.

Suzi enjoys cooking and is game to try new dishes, well at least once. Walking her dog Cosmo is one of her favourite pastimes. She has a gym membership and good intentions.

Georgena Stuckenschmidt
Chief Financial Officer

Georgena has an eye on the future. She values the work St Luke’s does with young people, especially, as they are the ones who will shape our society.

Georgena manages finance, IT systems, fleet and property, and general and regional administration. She works closely with both the Board Audit and Risk, and Finance & Property Committees.

For the last three years, Georgena has also served on the Board of Cobaw Community Health, currently as treasurer. When she needs a break, she sings.

A member of St Paul’s Cathedral choir, she has also performed with the Bendigo Theatre Company. She is also working with Anglican parishes in Bendigo to develop a youth group.