ADVISORY BOARD
Elizabeth Brown – Chair
- Completed Program: 2016
As a Director of a local Architect firm, SHAC, Elizabeth delivers on the firm’s mission to create transformative learning environments that inspire curiosity and community. With over 20 years of experience in education architecture, she specialises in designing flexible, sustainable spaces that adapt to modern pedagogical shifts. A champion for student-centric design, Elizabeth has overseen the delivery of award-winning primary and higher-education projects across NSW, ensuring every project supports both wellbeing and academic excellence, as well as pragmatic and reasoned architectural solutions
Mikhaila Halford – Vice Chair
- Completed Program: 2018
- Committee Member: 2019 – 2025
Strategic and values-driven people leader, proven success in designing and delivering future focussed programs that enable and empower organisational growth, talent pipelines and cultural transformation.
Mikhaila is renowned for building strong partnerships, guiding high-performing teams, and executing initiatives aligned with strategic goals and is passionate about diversity, inclusion, capability uplift, and regional growth.
Jason Mayo – Director – Finance
- Completed Program: 2018
- Committee Member: 2019 – 2025
Jason is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with over twenty years’ experience operating as an accounting and business professional. A leader who enjoys building strong working relationships to promote and enhance organisational performance. Operates with a strong commercial focus in the delivery of financial and time based outcomes. Passionate with respect to corporate governance and best practice methodology. He also contributes through volunteer and community involvement, applying his professional expertise to support effective oversight and sound decision‑making.
Merran Wiggins – FLP Program Lead
As the HunterNet Future Leaders Program Lead, Mez helps to drive the development of emerging leaders across the Hunter Region. With a passion for people, connection, and growth, Merran brings a dynamic and people-focused approach to leadership development.
Working closely with industry, presenters, and participants, we deliver a program that builds capability, fosters meaningful connections, and creates real impact for both individuals and businesses, helping shape the next generation of leaders and future-proof the region.
Ivan Waterfield – Advisor
Ivan has a proven track record of leading and delivering performance improvement in large organisations and projects and brings a wealth of understanding and relevant experience to business transformation, manufacturing operations and project integration.
Ivan is a focused leader who thrives on assisting organisations achieve transformational change. Working with the manufacturing, operational, engineering or project teams, Ivan assists organisations develop sound business strategies, put in place goal setting and measurement techniques, assists with organisational design and structure to maximise alignment and works with the organisation at all levels to improve the business environment via strong employee engagement.
Ivan has over 30 years leadership experience in Senior GM, Project Director/Manager and Operational roles in Businesses with up to $2.2bn revenue pa and with local control of Operations/Projects Revenue of over $300M and EBIT of $35M. A safety leader with a proven track record in the reduction of incidents through a focus on Systems, Process, Behaviours and Lead measures within the work environment.
His most recent and relevant executive role is the CEO of HunterNet. HunterNet is widely recognised within Australian Industry and Academia as the most successful industry cluster of its type nationally. The organisation represents over 175 companies from large primes to SME’s. These companies employ over 95,000 people and have a turnover of over $182B. During his tenure at HunterNet Ivan has assisted in the development of strong Governance and the alignment of the HunterNet & HNCC Boards. With this skill set he also assisted a number of HunterNet Members establish and operate advisory Boards. Ivan is the Chair and Director of two Boards
Ivan has a track record of delivering best practice strategic development, project and business productivity Improvements gained through focussed leadership, cultural change, LEAN techniques, and employee engagement.
Ivan has managed complex multi-disciplinary projects and operations through to realization and has a strong focus on the Project environment, especially with the focus on the PMLC requirements of Scope, Schedule, Cost, Safety and Quality
Michelle Crawley – HunterNet Advisory
Michelle Crawley is the Project and Events Coordinator at HunterNet Cooperative. She supports initiatives that connect industry, strengthen relationships, and build workforce capability across the Hunter region. With experience in event delivery, stakeholder engagement, and communications, she works with members, industry partners, and education providers to foster collaboration and support sector development.
Through her role on the Advisory Board for the HunterNet Future Leaders Program, Michelle is focused on strengthening connections between the program and HunterNet Cooperative members, while also supporting communications through news content and social media.
SUB COMMITTEE
Kat Wallace
- Completed Program: 2024
- Future Leader of the Year 2024
A born and bred Novocastrian and a Talent Acquisition specialist with experience across the Healthcare and Mining & Manufacturing Industries, I have been part of Ampcontrol Group since 2022, supporting the Service, Technology, Sales, Innovation and Group Engineering areas of the business.
With a solutions-focused mindset, I enjoy collaborating with stakeholders to achieve optimal results for all.
A passionate people leader, I am driven to support individuals and teams, particularly during periods of professional and personal growth.
Kim Jordan
- Completed Program: 2025
- Future Leader of the Year 2025
Kim has over 18 years’ experience across financial services, purchasing and strategic procurement, bringing a practical, detail‑driven approach shaped by progression from administration into leadership roles. She is highly engaged in building strong stakeholder relationships, improving processes, and mentoring emerging professionals, with a strong focus on delivering high‑quality outcomes and continuous improvement.
Kim is passionate about leadership development, collaboration, and the role HunterNet plays in building capability across the region.
Ryan Duncan
- Completed Program: 2025
Ryan transitioned from a Landscape Construction trade into Landscape Architecture and currently works at Moir Studio. His background across both construction and design enables a strong understanding of practical delivery, collaborative processes, and people‑centred outcomes. Ryan is passionate about engaging with clients and working within multi‑disciplinary teams to transform ideas into high‑quality landscape outcomes.
Completing the Future Leaders Program strengthened how he leads, collaborates, and engages with others. Ryan stated, “The program enhanced my understanding of people, communication, and team dynamics. Having experienced its value, I am keen to continue supporting and advocating for the Future Leaders Program and its positive impact across the Hunter region.”
Sheena Cherian
- Completed Program: 2025
- Kristen Keegan Scholarship Winner: 2025
Sheena came to Australia from India with a background in construction and a belief that the best projects are built on relationships as much as they are on plans. Now based in the Hunter, she works as a project manager in the construction and infrastructure sector, bringing her perspective to an industry that’s shaping the region’s future. She’s committed to making sure the Hunter is the kind of place where people from anywhere can build something meaningful.
Thomas Boyes
- Completed Program: 2025
Thomas Boyes is a commercial and corporate lawyer with a passion for commercial transactions and the Hunter Region. Thomas completed the Hunternet Future Leaders program in 2025, where he worked closely with his team on a cost-saving solution for his partner organisation.
