VAC/GMHC Board

VAC/GMHC is two legally incorporated associations, the Victorian AIDS Council and the Gay Men’s Health Centre. Over the years, we have had overlapping membership and worked together under a single board of directors elected by the membership of each organisation. 

The board sets the strategic direction and policy for the organisation, and approves plans for business activities. It is responsible for:

• Legal issues
• Financial management
• Employment of the Executive Director
• Planning—strategic and operational
• Policies
• Promotion of the organisation
• Reporting and accountability

All VAC/GMHC Members are entitled to inspect records relating to the process and outcome of VAC/GMHC Board elections. If you would like to inspect the records please contact us at enquiries@vicaids.asn.au or call (03) 9865 6700.
 

Board members

Kirsten Machon (President)

Kirsty has previously worked as a journalist, editor and policy researcher in the HIV/AIDS sector for nine years, including positions as editor of Positive Living and Health Policy Analyst for NAPWA, where her areas of interest included clinical trials, treatments advocacy, and reproductive issues for men and women living with HIV. Her work has been published in a number of publications and presented at several conferences. She is currently a policy advisor for a professional services organisation in the health care area, and is studying for a Research Masters degree in the History and Philosophy of Biology.

David Menadue (Vice-president)

David has been involved with HIV community organisations since the late eighties. He is a past Vice President of VAC/GMHC and has been a board member on numerous occasions. He has also played a prominent role with PLWHA Victoria and NAPWA.

He is a Life Member of VAC/GMHC.

Greg Carter (Treasurer)

Greg has been working in education since he commenced his career as a primary school teacher in 1979. Over that time Greg taught in many schools and served as Principal in two schools. In 1998 he moved into the tertiary education sector, where he continues to manage facilities and risk for the University of Melbourne’s commercialisation company.

Greg joined the east support team in 1998, and has been a volunteer with VAC/GMHC since that time, working in a care team, as part of the orientation working group and as a peer education facilitator in the Momentum and Relationships program.

Greg lives in Ivanhoe with his partner, Angel.

Matt Dixon (Executive Director)

Matt joined VAC/GMHC in July 2011 as Executive Director.

He has worked as an HIV nurse at Fairfield Hospital and the Alfred and as a sexual health nurse at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. After a period working as a nurse with homeless youth at the Centre for Adolescent Health he moved to London for three years and had responsibilities for funding of HIV services for South West London. On his return to Australia he worked as a policy officer with the Victorian Department of Health prior to joining VAC/GMHC.

Mitchell Chipman

Mitchell Chipman has been involved with public health issues for many years. Not only from a personal perspective but also from the view of a medical specialist who treats many people living with HIV and other common health problems. Those problems include the ever evolving psycho-social issues in gay men and the wider community. He has taken a major interest in the regulation of health practitioners and sits on the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria. In that role he is involved with health impaired practitioners and chairs the health committee of the board – the problems are mainly psychiatric and substance abuse. Additionally he sits on others boards and committees which manage and regulate health. He will endeavour to use his skills, as an experienced board member, to assist the VAC and GMHC as it further evolves to best meet the needs of the entire community from which it receives its funding.

.

Chrissie Feagins

Chrissie Feagins is a senior creative manager with experience in major advertising agencies in Australia and the UK. She has specific skills in strategic focus, team management and creative campaign applications.

She was Group Creative Director of Y&R London and Regional Creative Director at JWT Melbourne. She has been associated with the VAC/GMHC for 6 years.

Alec West (Staff Representative)

Alec has been involved with LGBTIQ activism for over twenty years including as a volunteer with HIV community agencies in Aotearoa New Zealand and Oregon during the 1990’s. He joined VAC/GMHC three years ago and works in the Community Support Team within HIV Services. His previous career was as Principal/ GM of University Colleges in Melbourne and Aotearoa New Zealand and he is passionate about the issues surrounding youth health, especially within the tertiary education sector.

Alec has recently submitted his PhD in Bioethics on end-of-life decision-making through The University of Melbourne.

Paul Kidd

Paul Kidd is a journalist and media consultant who has been living with HIV for more than 25 years. He has been an educator and advocate for positive people over many years and President of People Living with HIV/AIDS Victoria since 2009. Paul is the designated PLWHA Victoria representative on the Board.

Kieran O’Loughlin

Kieran has more than thirty years of active involvement in the GLBTI community including membership of a wide range of cultural, political, social and sporting groups. He has also had a long and practical involvement with the HIV+ community. He was an inaugural volunteer telephone counsellor at the VAC/GMHC in the 1990’s and is now a volunteer counsellor in the organisation working on a face-to-face, ongoing basis with clients from the GLBTI and HIV+ communities. He has been employed in various education sectors for many years, mainly in the area of multicultural education

He has consistently advocated for equal opportunity reform and has recent experience as a workplace anti-discrimination advisor.