Our People

Stefanie Loader

Stef is a former mining industry executive and aspiring small-scale farmer. She has lived and worked in remote communities in Laos, Peru, Canada, London and New Dehli and now calls regional NSW home.

Stef’s focus is on building diverse, regional economies and strong, supportive regional communities.

This includes the work of CCWF in encouraging strong social networks and well-being, supporting vulnerable and potentially vulnerable people as well as growing economic activity.

“I want to see my region, the central west and western NSW communities, grow and thrive for many years to come. That’s why I am on the board of CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes.”

Dr Mark Buhagiar

Before taking on his current role as the Head of Clergy Health and Wellbeing for the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, Mark worked for over 15 years within the healthcare sector in a variety of clinical, research and management roles.

He has experience in both the public and not for profit sectors, with a particular focus on rehabilitation, palliative care and residential aged care.

“I am on the board of CCWF because its drivers align with my own - empowering individuals, families and communities, in a practical and tangible manner that is inspired by our Creator and imbued with a spirit of justice.”

Allen Duggan

Allen has been a solicitor for more than 50 years. He has worked as a consultant, sole practitioner and as a partner in firms in Sydney.

“My love of the law comes down to a feeling of being able to help people, really in its most simple form.”

Practising since 1969, Allen has vast experience in land and property law, commercial law, estate planning, succession and family law.

He credits his career with giving him the skills to serve the community with more than 10 years on the CentaCare Advisory Board and now as a director of CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes along with other service organisations.

Bernard Boerma

Bernard is a teacher at the University of Sydney and a non-executive director of a number of not-for-profit human services and research non-government organisations.

He has held senior leadership and policy development roles in the human services sector, including 13 years as CEO of CatholicCare Sydney. Bernard has research interest in social justice and the impact on human service NGO values when operating in a market-based service context.

His passion is to build a just society and a better world in which all people are treated with dignity and have an opportunity to contribute.

Lynda Edwards

Lynda is a descendent of the Wangkumara/Barkandji people of far west NSW and is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion, fairness, justice and financial resilience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

Lynda joined the consumer advocacy movement in her role as Coordinator Financial Capability with Financial Counselling Australia. Lynda is also a past team member of CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes.

Michael Digges

Michael worked in senior management roles in private industry before his current role as the Executive Director, Administrator and Finance of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. The Chancery provides administrative and accounting support to the parishes.

Michael is also the Financial Administrator for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes.

“I see my role on the board of CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes as both a support to management and also exercising oversight on behalf of the Diocese.”

“Outreach to those less fortunate, in particularl, our Indigenous brothers and sisters, is something that I regard as an essential duty of the Catholic Church that I strongly support.”

Michael Moore

Michael is presently the Director of Finance for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and Alternate Diocesan Financial Administrator for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes.

Michael is a Chartered Accountant who has worked for several dioceses of the Catholic Church for over 25 years.

Karen Larkman

Karen has significant international experience in senior executive positions relating to Safeguarding, Child Protection and Adults at Risk of Harm.

She was appointed to the position of inaugural Director of the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office for the Archdiocese of Sydney in 2015 and since November 2020 she has been the Acting Director for the Professional Standards Office NSW/ACT.

Karen has relevant industry knowledge including corporate governance, an understanding of federal and government funding in relation to welfare agencies and financial and non-financial performance management indicators. 

Karen holds an MBA (Exec), a BA (Hons) in Social Work and is an accredited mediator. Karen is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a board member for Australian Catholic Redress Ltd.

Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green

Columba Macbeth-Green has been the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes since April 12, 2014, the dioceses’ seventh bishop. At the time of his episcopal ordination Bishop Macbeth-Green was the youngest Catholic bishop in Australia.

Having grown up in Forbes, Bishop Macbeth-Green understands the unique challenges the Wilcannia-Forbes community faces. He is a former member of the Australian Army Reserves and a Police Chaplain.

Bishop Macbeth-Green is an avid bagpipe player, having played twice in the world bagpipe championships in Scotland and now spends his days travelling around our diocese visiting schools, communities and those in need with his pipes and his dog in tow.

Anne-Marie Mioche

Anne-Marie Mioche commenced as CEO of CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes in January 2017 and brings a strong commitment to the values embodied in principles of Catholic social justice.

Anne-Marie is passionate about doing all she can to support work environments that nurture care, compassion and service to those in need.

Previously she has led several national not for profit companies and associations including Families Australia and Carers Australia, which she established. During her career Anne-Marie has been employed in the political sphere as an adviser to a Commonwealth Government Minister and has worked at senior levels in the Commonwealth Public Service.

In the Commonwealth Department of Health, Anne-Marie headed a taskforce that was responsible for developing Australia’s first national strategy for the prevention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide. She has had responsibility for and managed $45 million worth of projects including programs for the Stolen Generations and programs around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.

Anne-Marie has extensive knowledge and understanding of Government policy as well as issues relating to rural and remote issues and challenges in the lives of First Australians.

Kate Gibson

Kate Gibson has worked with CatholicCare for more than 10 years as the Director of Programs and Service Delivery and now the Deputy CEO. She had previously worked at the Catholic Education Office as a Senior Education Officer and Coordinator of Schools Curriculum and was awarded the Brother John Taylor Award for Excellence in Catholic Education for her significant commitment to education within the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes for over 20 years.

Kate has lived and worked in Broken Hill, Trundle and Forbes and has held management positions at several schools in our diocese.

Kate is very aware of the social issues impacting our diocese and has a strong commitment to the CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes mission, vision and values. Her central focus is ensuring that we are providing the highest quality of service for our participants and communities with an emphasis on continual growth and improvement.

She has specifically trained in Planning, Techniques and Communication in Public Participation, Mercer Job Evaluation, Staff Supervision and participated in the Harvard Business School for Social Enterprise.

Margie Johnson

Margie Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in accounting, including management accounting, business management, taxation and superannuation. Margie is a Certified Practicing Accountant and has worked for CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes since 2007.

Margie has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of Sydney and a Masters of Accountancy from Charles Sturt University.

Using her knowledge and experience, Margie has guided CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes through the recent transition to a company and with the Executive Team will continue the journey of growth and expansion of services to achieve the strategic objectives by 2023.