At its June meeting, the Tweddle Board of Directors held its annual election of office-bearers. Ms Annette Vickery has stepped down from her role as Chair, though she will continue to serve on the Board. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Annette for her leadership and dedication.
Ms Annette Mercuri was elected as Chair, unopposed, and we are pleased to congratulate her on this well-deserved appointment. Having previously served as Deputy Chair, Annette has made significant contributions to our organisation over the past five years, and we look forward to her continued leadership in this new capacity.
Joining her in leadership as Deputy Chair is Ms Kylie Scoullar who has been on the Tweddle Board since July 2022. Ms Jennifer Lang continues in her role as Treasurer. Sadly, we have farewelled Ms Jane Price, whose term concluded on 30th June. We thank Jane for her commitment and valuable contribution during her tenure. We are also very pleased to welcome Ms Cleona Feuerring as a new Tweddle Director.
Congratulations Ms Annette Mercuri – New Chair of the Tweddle Board of Directors
Ms Annette Mercuri is a highly experienced leader in the health and community services sector, with expertise in governance, strategic planning, clinical services planning and advocacy grounded in lived experience.
Her career spans senior leadership roles in Health Services, including The Royal Children’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Health, focusing on leading the planning for major transformation and capital infrastructure projects.
Annette has also worked as a strategic advisor in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors through her role as a Principal at Nous Group and managing her own advisory firm.
Her passion has always been to align healthcare and community facilities and services with future service need, by ensuring a collaborative process of stakeholder engagement. She has served on the Tweddle Board since 2020 and been Deputy Chair since July 2021.
Annette has significantly contributed to the Tweddle Board over a time of great change and challenge, facilitating the organisation’s first governance review, leading the oversight of the organisations first Strategic Services Plan, and providing significant support and contribution to the recent redevelopment project at Footscray and the new facility development at Wyndham.
We warmly welcome Annette to this important leadership role at Tweddle and extend our sincere congratulations.
New Board Member: Cleona Feuerring
We are delighted to welcome Ms Cleona Feuerring to the Tweddle Board. Cleona is the Legal Director of the Family Violence and Family Law Program at WEstjustice, a prominent community legal centre in Melbourne.
A passionate advocate for social justice, Cleona has led pioneering initiatives that embed legal services within healthcare settings to support women experiencing family violence. Her work includes establishing partnerships with local hospitals to provide legal education and assistance in maternity wards, meeting women at a particularly vulnerable time.
Cleona’s expertise extends to systemic advocacy, with a focus on family law reform and early intervention. She has been a vocal advocate for the rights of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, highlighting the critical role of language and narrative in ensuring women’s voices are central in legal processes.
We are proud to have Cleona join our Board and look forward to the insights and experience she brings.
A Tribute to Annette Vickery
Annette Vickery has been a dedicated member of the Tweddle Board since 2018 and served as Board Chair from June 2023.
Annette’s leadership was critical for Tweddle over a period of unprecedented and rapid change and expansion. We are tremendously grateful for the privilege of Annette’s compassionate, collaborative and wise leadership of our Board over the last 2 years and the Board and entire Tweddle workforce extend our heartfelt thanks for what has been achieved over that time.
Annette has led with clear focus on Tweddle’s purpose – supporting, vulnerable babies, toddlers and families, to be always at front of mind.
A proud Gunditjmara woman, Annette brought strategic experience across public, private, and community sectors to her leadership at Tweddle. Her tenure was marked by an authentic and tangible commitment to cultural safety, inclusivity, and equity, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
Annette’s legacy is one of cultural leadership, social justice advocacy, and organisational excellence. Her influence will continue to guide Tweddle’s reconciliation journey and strategic vision, which is building safe and secure foundations for babies, toddlers and families.
