Fred Maddern
Chairman

OBE
Justice of the Peace
Member of the Australian
Institute of Company Directors

Fred has been a member of the Care Connect Board since the inception of Care Connect as Westcare Linkages in 1994.

Fred was formerly Executive Officer of the Australian Vietnamese Services Resource Centre prior to retirement in December 2003. He has served on a number of boards for community organisations. He is currently Chairman of the Board for WPC Group Skilling Australia.

Fred was a mentor for the Victorian University NEIS program, former CEO of the Melbourne Western Region Commission, former member of the Western Institute Council and board member of the Footscray Society for the Aged.

Fred served as a Councillor for the City of Footscray for 24 years and served as Mayor for two terms. He is a past President of the Australian Local Government Association and Municipal Association of Victoria representing local government at three Australian Constitutional Conventions.

In 1981 Fred was awarded an OBE for services to the community and local government. 

Maureen Borghesi
Deputy Chairperson

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Social Work

Maureen worked in community services for over 20 years prior to her retirement from Maroondah Council in February 2001.  During that time she was involved in a wide range of areas with the Western Region Commission and local governments in the Western, Eastern and Central Regions. 

During that time she held management positions in Foster Care programs, Family & Children’s Services, Aged & Disability Services and as a senior manager with regional programs including libraries and the arts. 

As Manager of Aged & Disability Services (Maroondah Council) Maureen had a close working relationship with Care Connect and has been an active member of the board since 1998.

Michael Diamente
Director

Bachelor of Commerce  
Certificate in Project Management
Certified Practising Accountant

Michael has been employed with the global AXA Financial Services Group for over 20 years in a variety of roles. As Finance and Operations Manager, Acquisition and Succession within AXA’s financial advice network, Michael currently manages the operations of AXA’s market-leading adviser recruitment, growth and succession offers.

He has also been responsible for the integration of business mergers and acquisitions, served as senior project manager and business analyst in the areas of change management and business process re-engineering as well as holding various operational finance roles throughout the organisation.

As a qualified CPA and an experienced finance professional, Michael brings valuable commercial acumen to the board and has been an active board member since 2003.

Elizabeth Drozd
Director

Bachelor of Arts (Multicultural Studies
Australian Competent Manager Program - Accredited Mediator 
Cert. IV in Training and Assessment
Diploma of Business (Human Resources)

Masters of Social Sciences

Elizabeth has over 20 years experience helping refugees and those with disabilities live more fulfilling lives. Many of these years have been spent working with reputable charity organisations such as The Australian Polish Community Services and local government.

Her distinguished career includes community service development for refugees through the management of support programs and implementation of access and equity principles.

Elizabeth has gone on to manage multidisciplinary teams, pioneer research into migrant settlement and mental health and has authored and co-authored several publications on the lives of everyday people from her native Poland who were caught up in the horrors of WW2 - lest they too be forgotten.

Robert Farmer
Director

Diploma of Applied Science

Robert has extensive experience in delivering team-based customer care and technological innovation to large scale service environments.

As Executive General Manager of Pracom’s Outsourced Services Division, he was responsible for delivering solutions to some of Australia’s largest companies such as Vodafone, Optus and the Victorian Government.

Robert is now the CEO of RUN Corp Limited, a company managing over $10 billion of property assets.

During Rob’s career he has established and operated various businesses such as a leading service centre, warehousing and logistics operation, a technical field-services force and various advanced technology solutions.

Marcia Griffin
Director

Bachelor of Arts               
Bachelor of Commerce      
Diploma of Education         
Masters of Business Administration (Preliminary Year)

Marcia worked as an economist for the Australian Wool Corporation and travelled the world extensively. She then took on the role of CEO of POLA Cosmetics Australia and New Zealand.  Following this period she sat on numerous boards related to large scale retail and printing operations.

In the last 10 years Marcia has been sought after as a public speaker and consultant specialising in strategic planning, brand management, supply chain management and partnerships.  In 2010 she launched her own cosmetics brand ‘Griffin+Row’.

Marcia’s commitment to the Care Connect board comes from a belief that now more than ever people want to live safe and independent lives.  She is interested in Care Connect’s ability to meet the changing economic and social demands government and community face with an ageing population.

Dr. Lindsay McMillan
Director

Bachelor of Health Administration 
Masters of Education    
Doctorate Health Sciences