Board of directors

Jeremy Johnson, Chair

Jeremy is the Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Hill, Ballarat. He has worked with Sovereign Hill since 1995 in a number of senior management positions including Finance Controller and Director-Commercial. He is a member and Honorary Treasurer of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors, immediate past President of the Board and Executive Council of the Victorian Employer's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) and Chairman of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council.

A Justice of the Peace, Jeremy also holds a Municipal Clerk's Certificate of Competency and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Company Secretaries.

Qualifications: Dip (BusSt)

Appointed: 1 July 2010

Richard Nicholson, Deputy Chair

A director and owner of a 100 year old family business in commercial construction, Richard is a qualified civil engineer with practiced skills in business and financial risk management. A Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he is a Director and past President of the Sovereign Hill Museums Association (2006-2008) and is currently the Chair of the Gold Museum Committee. Richard also serves on the Board of the Committee for Ballarat.

Qualifications: BE (Hons), GAICD

Appointed: 1 October 2011

Ian Coles, Director

Ian is a consultant and company director with extensive public and private sector experience in management, environmental and sustainability programs and projects. He is a Director of several private sector and not-for-profit sector organisations as well as an independent member of EPA Victoria's Risk and Audit Committee.

Qualifications: BE (Hons), Grad Dip (BusAdmin), FAICD

Appointed: 1 October 2007

Vicki Coltman, Director

Vicki is the Executive Officer of community development organisation Lead On Ballarat. A business analyst and project manager, she has experience designing and implementing IT systems and processes at a variety of small to large organisations.

A current Director of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, she is also Regional Committee Chair (Ballarat) for the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Vicki is proactive in the community sector, frequently volunteering her time to support a number of local not-for-profit agencies

Qualifications: MBA, BBus, Cert IV in TAA, MAICD

Appointed: 1 October 2011

Stewart Howe, Director

Stewart has 30 years’ experience in the global oil, gas and mining sectors in executive management, operations, mergers and acquisitions and restructuring roles.  His career with BP and Zinifex included direction of major investment programs to develop long life natural resource assets, plus directorship of a range of subsidiary and joint venture companies. 

For the past three years Stewart has run his own corporate advisory firm, directing restructuring initiatives and investment selection for private equity funds. He holds non-executive advisory roles and ownership interests in two privately owned mining and engineering service companies. Stewart has a Chemical Engineering degree and Masters in Applied Finance.  He is a Fellow of AICD and Finsia.

Qualifications: BE (Chem), M (AppFin), FAICD, F Fin, M AusIMM

Appointed: 1 October 2011

Jo Plummer, Director

Jo is owner and Director of Out of the Box Business Services. This boutique management and consultancy business specialises in assisting organisations, teams and individuals to think strategically and operate efficiently.

She has a strong commercial background having held product development and procurement, business planning, and strategic design roles with well-known retail brands for over twenty years. She also has previous experience as a non-executive Director and Committee Chair in the not-for-profit sector.

Qualifications: GAICD, MBA, Grad Cert (Mgt), Dip (Retail Mgt), Cert IV in TAA

Appointed: 1 October 2011

Gaye Mason, Director

Gaye is a board member of the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and a member of the audit committees at the City of Port Phillip and the Department of Health.

She is Deputy Chair of the Certified Practising Accountants Australia Disciplinary Panel and was previously Victorian President and Divisional Councillor. Gaye has held positions with Telstra, including Director Business Development Telstra Wholesale. 

Qualifications: BBus (Acc), GradDip (AppInfSys), Grad Dip (AppCorpGov), MBA, FAICD, FCPAA

Appointed: 1 October 2012

Paul O’Donohue, Managing Director

Paul is the Managing Director of Central Highlands Water. Since joining the organisation in 2003, he has overseen many key business areas including strategy, long-term planning, communications and account management.

Prior to joining Central Highlands Water, Paul held senior management positions in the recreation and hospitality sectors.

Qualifications: BA (Mgt), Dip (Ldrshp), Grad Dip (BusMgt)

Appointed: July 2012