To take the organisation to the next stage in growing the leadership capacity of people and communities in the region AVCL has recruited a new Executive Officer, Jacqui Bramwell.

Jacqui arrives at an exciting time for AVCL. Next year’s annual leadership program will have a stronger focus on community initiatives and leadership in a crisis; and the course will be run in line with the calendar year. As well, AVCL is working on several other projects including a disaster recovery and resilience program for people in bushfire-affected areas in the region.

Jacqui brings a range of valuable skills to the EO role, as a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation who also holds a Graduate Certificate of Australian Rural Leadership. In her most recent role, Jacqui was a Senior Manager of Stakeholder Partnerships with Deakin University, where she focused on working with communities in the Riverina and Bendigo / Loddon regions. Jacqui was the former Executive Officer of Gippsland East LLEN (Local Learning and Employment Network), and former Regional Partnerships Manager for DELWP Gippsland.

Jacqui was also an inaugural committee member of the Bruthen Community Enterprise following her participation in the Bruthen Community Capacity Building initiative. Jacqui enjoys cross country skiing and bushwalking, and early in her career was a teacher with Bogong School Camp.

Jacqui says “I am looking forward to meeting AVCL alumni and partners and working with the AVCL Board and staff and current and future community leaders across the North East. There has never been a more important time for leadership development to build capacity to address local, regional and global challenges.”

The Board thanks Roberta Baker for stepping into the role as Interim Executive Officer, and the extensive amount of work that she has undertaken this year.