Our People
Our Staff
Kim Edwards
Centre Manager
Kim is a passionate educator and an award-winning business woman. She began her career working in community development and aid programs in the Middle East and Asia. Today, she continues to champion the cause for positive social change through education and training.
With more than 40 years experience working internationally and throughout Australia, Kim has received multiple awards including the Queensland Premier’s Award for Education, the Medal of Excellence from the Australian Institute of Management, Sunshine Coast Business Woman of the Year and the Regional Business Person of the Year.
Kim's previous roles include Skills Advisor for the Australian Pacific Training Coalition in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, and the pioneering Dean for one of the first women’s vocational training colleges, Colleges of Excellence, in Saudi Arabia.
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Sam Paine
Student Services Coordinator
Sam brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role of Student Services Coordinator. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University and is an independent art and theatre teacher, running art workshops and Youth theatre groups. Sam also serves as the current Deputy Mayor for the Mid-Western Regional Council.
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Our Board
Brad Cam
Chair
Brad has worked in Local Government for 15 years, firstly as a Director of Operations and the last seven and half years as General Manager of Mid-Western Regional Council. Brad has a building and project management background running his own business prior to a career in Local Government.
Brad is currently the Chair of Regional Development Australia Orana which is a Federal Government appointment until June 2025, and Chair of Housing Plus and has been for five years. Housing Plus is a community provider of Social and affordable housing throughout the Central West and Orana regions.
Ian Flood
Non-Executive Director
Ian has worked in the Mining Industry for 13 years, in a number of combined environment and community roles, more recently as the Manager, Project Development & Approvals at the local Wilpinjong Mine. His roles in the mining industry have provided extensive exposure to government and community engagement and project management. Ian also spent a period of time running a family business. Ian currently holds a board position for a local Native Title Claimant trust.
Rebecca Ehlen
Non-Executive Director
Rebecca grew up in Coolah NSW, and during her secondary years attended boarding school in Sydney. She longed for the country again so chose to attend the University of New England Armidale where she obtained her accounting degree. She has been working in the accounting industry for over 25 years having started out as a graduate in a Sydney firm before relocating to Mudgee which is where her family is originally from.
She is a senior chartered accountant and works in a local accounting firm where she is the self-managed superannuation fund specialist. Her role is varied and includes assisting clients with their tax, business, superannuation funds and bookkeeping needs as well as assisting in the management of their businesses. She has a first-hand knowledge of how difficult distance education can be, having had to study her professional year remotely.
Caren Harrison
Non-Executive Director
Caren Harrison is a General Manager for WNSW Local Health District, leading Multi-Disciplinary Health Teams to meet key strategic health goals. Caren empowers teams to set their own goals and enables them to create local, actionable plans in line with individual community need. Caren remains an AHPRA Registered Nurse and Midwife and has an eager interest in addressing the inequalities of rural and remote health care provision, having worked for almost 10 years with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in both Queensland and New South Wales.
Caren is passionate about the education and recruitment of skilled health personnel and their essential role in regional NSW. Caren proudly led the commissioning of the new Mudgee Hospital in 2020, a 70 million dollar redevelopment which will serve the Mid-Western Region into the future.
Angela Myles
Non-Executive Director
Angela has been the Executive Principal of St Matthews Catholic School since 2020 and for over 20 years has been in a variety of leadership roles within the education sector. She is also the Vice-President of Business Mudgee and a committee member of the Diocesan Principals Association.
Angela was raised and educated in Mudgee and has great passion for our region and providing opportunities for the young people who live here. She has extensive experience in the education sector, positive connections in the local community and a desire to help the Mudgee Region continue to thrive.
Alina Azar
Non-Executive Director
Alina Azar is a strategic thinker, marketer, mentor, entrepreneur and highly motivated leader. She has a career which has spanned over 20 years in business management, leadership, marketing and teaching roles.
Alina joined Mid-Western Regional Council in November 2016 and is the Director of Development. Alina has also undertaken a variety of other roles in her spare time to continue to grow her skill sets including undertaking the position of Sessional Tutor (University of Ballarat), writing and marking assignments and exams for students across subjects such as Entrepreneurship, Managerial Skills and others. In addition, she created a start-up company to develop mobile phone apps for those with big ideas requiring support to bring them to life.