Our People
CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes has set demanding goals to continually stretch and improve the organisation for the coming years and coming challenges. We are dedicated to working with, and alongside, our communities, people and governments to build stronger communities and contribute to community wellbeing. A key component of our forward planning is to collaborate with Catholic Parishes and other agencies to support those most in need.
Our Board
Stefanie Loader
Chairperson and Company Director
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.
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
Deputy Chairperson and Company Director
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 residential aged care, rehabilitation, and palliative care..
“I am on the board of CCWF because its drivers align with my own - to 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
Company Secretary, Public Officer and Company Director
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
Company Director
Bernard is a PHD student and teaches at the University of Sydney. He is a non-executive director of several not-for-profit human services agencies and a research institute.
Lynda Edwards
Company Director
Lynda is a descendant of the Wangkumara/Barkindji 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. In 2023 Lynda was awarded NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year and NSW Premier Woman of the Year
Michael Digges
Company Director
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.
“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.”
Karen Larkman
Company Director
Karen has significant international experience in senior executive positions relating to Safeguarding, Child Protection and Adults at Risk of Harm.
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.
Our Bishop
Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green
Bishop
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.
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.
Our Leadership Team
CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes has a passionate team who work hard every day to fulfill our vision and mission and who strive to live and work by CatholicCare Values.
Anne-Marie Mioche
Chief Executive Officer
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.
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
Deputy CEO
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
Chief Financial Officer
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.
