BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
(Chair)
Stay tuned: new Chair announcement expected in the near future.
Richard Pottie (Acting Co-Chair)
Managing Director, Ladex Construction Group
Richard was born in Wagga Wagga and grew up on a property east of Ladysmith and attended Ladysmith Public school followed by Kooringal High School.
Richard joined the Committee 4 Wagga Board of Management in December 2019.
Richard commenced a carpentry apprenticeship upon leaving school which saw him move to Singleton before returning to Wagga Wagga and starting his own business in January 1987. Richard formed his first company in the July of that same year. Richard added earthmoving to his construction business in 1993 which we now know as Ladex (short for Ladysmith Excavations) Ladex currently employ 55 full time staff at their Bomen Office.
The Ladex Construction Group Management Team pride themselves on building positive, long term relationships with their clients. Ladex has completed works in NSW, VIC and the ACT. Their civil sector specialises in road works, bulk earthworks, detailed excavation and hydraulic installations, whilst their construction services range from sourcing land and all necessary approvals for developments, full design and engineering, Project Management, Contract Construction, to ongoing and preventative maintenance.
Richard also has part ownership and is a director of Wollundry Investment, Joint owner and Managing Director of Rocky Point Quarries and owner/developer of Junee Lifestyle Village. Richard is a life member of Apex, former Apex State President and National Board member for 4 years, past president and current director of Kooringal Rotary and current President and Board Member of the Riverine Club.
In Richards spare time he is also a farmer!
Nick Abraham (Treasurer)
Executive Manager for the CBA Business Banking in Riverina
Nick Abraham is the Executive Manager for the CBA Business Banking in Riverina. Nick has been with CBA for over 11 years holding a number of positions within Business Banking across NSW and WA. Nick holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics (M. Finance USYD).
Nick joined the Committee 4 Wagga Board of Management in December 2020.
Raised in country NSW, this is Nick’s second time living in Wagga, recently relocating from WA with his wife and 3 young children.
Nick’s interests outside of work include spending as much time as possible with his 3 young children, cricket, rugby union and skiing.
Samantha Beresford (Acting Co-Chair)
Head of Government Relations and Regional Engagement, Charles Sturt University
Sam joined the Committee 4 Wagga Board in August 2021.
After growing up in the Southern Highland and attending the University of Wollongong, Sam has settled in the Riverina.
Her background is from the mining industry where she was involved in the development of major projects, with the responsibility of looking after potentially impacted regions and ensuring long-term sustainable relationships.
She joined Charles Sturt in 2019, as the Director of External Engagement looking after the Riverina and Murray regions. As the Director of External Engagement, she is responsible for developing, maintaining and growing strong partnerships between the University and various sectors in order to build strong, vibrant regional communities.
Sam also operates a successful Angus and Limousin beef cattle operation with her partner Scott.
Richard Allsopp
Born and bred in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, the “country-changer” made the trek to Wagga Wagga in the early 90s, with a view to bring industrial auctions - a traditionally metropolitan business - to the country; bringing with them stable and secure jobs for regional people.
Richard is the founder of Rundles Auctions and pioneered industrial auctions in country NSW. He opened his first business in Wagga Wagga in 1997, and then expanded into Dubbo and Tamworth. It has now become the largest regional industrial auctioneers in NSW, selling cars, trucks, earthmoving equipment and machinery for state and local government, banks, finance companies and corporate clients. As an auctioneer for 35 years and a resident of the Riverina for 21 years operating his business out of Wagga Wagga, Richard was motivated by keeping country profits in the country.
Richard believes the skills he developed and honed during his working life have allowed him to move on from Auctioneering and lend his hand to causes and organisations close to his heart.
Richard speaks of his retirement from Rundles Auctions as a happy transition. “It is a great transition for me out of the auctioneering world and the Rundles Auctions business in now being able to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” Richard said following the announcement.
Richard joined the Committee 4 Wagga Board of Management in December 2019.
Richard is on the Board of The Mulloon Institute and Allsopp Family Foundation and a Patron of Country Hope.
Outside of his professional life, Richard, and wife of 22 years Anna, have three teenage children, and enjoy travelling, skiing, golfing, fishing and working on their farm just outside of Wagga Wagga.
Rebecca Hardy
General Manager, Enirgi Power Storage Recycling, CA
Rebecca is the General Manager at Enirgi Power Storage and joined the Committee 4 Wagga Board of Management in December 2020.
Born and raised in Albury, Rebecca completed her degree at Charles Sturt University and moved to Wagga Wagga in 1999.
Rebecca was previously the Financial Controller at Enirgi Power Storage and has over 20 years’ experience in financial management. Rebecca began her career with Cargill Beef Australia where she held numerous financial roles over a 13-year period before spending 4 years with Wagga Wagga City Council in a risk management capacity.
Rebecca is a member of CPA Australia, and enjoys camping, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Glenn Cox
Regional Executive for ANZ in the Riverina
Glenn Cox is the Regional Executive for ANZ in the Riverina. Glenn joined the Committee 4 Wagga Board of Management in December 2020.
Glenn and his family moved to Wagga in September 2019 when Glenn commenced his current position. Glenn has over 25 years’ experience in the finance industry, specialising in the Corporate, SME and Agribusiness finance sectors with both NAB and ANZ. Glenn has also spent time in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods industry with global packaging company Opal (formerly known as Orora), leading their Agriculture division at a National level.
Prior to moving to Wagga, Glenn and his family spent 12 months in Brisbane and in 5 years in Melbourne.
Most importantly, Glenn is married to his beautiful wife Alex and they have 3 wonderful little men named Maxton (5), Greyson (4) and Jameson (2).
Peter Braneley
General Manager for Big Springs Water
Peter Braneley is the General Manager for Big Springs Water based in Wagga Wagga. Big Springs Water is a local family owned and operated business, with 30 team members delivering premium natural spring water to the Wagga, Griffith, Parkes and Canberra communities.
Peter joined the Committee 4 Wagga board in December 2022.
Peter has been an enthusiastic supporter of C4W since its inception and is committed to the Four Pillar principles that guide its strategic activities. He is a graduate of the inaugural C4W Emerging Leaders Program and is looking forward to using the skills and knowledge he gained as part of this program to contribute to the future success of C4W and Wagga Wagga’s amazing community.
In his spare time Peter is a passionate AFL supporter and enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends. Peter is the proud husband of Belinda and father to Marlee and Florence.
Ann Sutton
DiSC Coach, Business Mentor at Orlando Hudson Business Services
Whilst living on a cattle and cropping property at Cassilis, Central NSW, Ann Sutton managed the family IGA Supermarket for 18 years. She was elected to the IGA NSW/ACT State Board where she became the first female chairperson, chaired the Culture, Governance and Compliance Committee and represented the State on the IGA National Council. Ann also held numerous leadership roles locally and won awards for engagement in community activities.
Ann recently graduated from Macquarie University with her MBA and is a graduate of the AICD Company Director’s Course. She has held board positions for 15 years, primarily in Executive capacity.
Since returning to Wagga six years ago, she has been a Business Advisor, assisting SME’s, and providing business coaching as a certified DiSC Coach to local businesses and individuals, across the local region and within Wagga. She is Deputy Chair of Eastern Riverina Arts and spent three years on the board of the Riverine Club. Ann recently became a Consultant with The Stable Group.
Ann joined the Committee 4 Wagga board of management in December 2023.
Justeen Kirk
ISO Matters
Justeen is determined to see the Wagga community thrive. Moving to Wagga with her family in early 2017, she joined the Board of Management of the Committee for Wagga in December 2019 and was elected Chairperson in December 2020. Under Justeen's direction, the Committee reimagined its vision and values to better align with community objectives.
In early 2022, juggling multiple personal and professional balls, Justeen stepped aside to allow a new Chair to provide the focus she knew the Committee deserved. Today, Justeen is thrilled to be able to commit her attention, time and energy to the Wagga community once again.
Justeen is the Founder & CEO of ISO Matters (formally Justeen Kirk Consulting), providing comprehensive business solutions for businesses looking to develop and implement management systems. Justeen is highly skilled in the areas of governance, frameworks and procedures, and her project management career aligns with the challenges Wagga faces. With a large pipeline of regional projects, Justeen will help the Committee maximise potential benefits for the people of Wagga.
Justeen's vision for Wagga is a prosperous and upskilled community with quality infrastructure that responds to local needs and attracts and retains new talent and residents.
Justeen joined the Committee 4 Wagga board of management in December 2023.