Our Board of Governance

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Dr CAMERON JAMIE HOGAN 

PhD, LLD, KT-UKI, FAIA, FIML, FVCLP, FYWA, CA(AIA), AGIA,MANZMHA, MICD, 

Board Chairperson

Commonly known as Jamie been involved in the community services and education sectors for forty-years. He is a Youth Worker by profession training at Phillips Institute of Technology [now RMIT] graduating in 1985. 

He is a r, political consultant and commentator, a registered lobbyists and holds a Philosophy Doctorate in Criminal Justice and a Law Doctorate.

He has been Chief Executive and Academic Director of several highly regarded educational institutions including serving on a number of Vocational and Higher Education boards. He has been Chief Executive Officer of a large Community Services organization and has worked with street gangs and homeless young people including teenage prostitutes.and other youth services programs.

After leaving the academic world he established a CF Jamie Hogan Academic Consulting which eventually merged with RTO Consultancy Group to form the Verikios, Casey & Hogan consultancy and Chaired the Board. He founded the Jamie Hogan Advocacy and Lobbyist business . In 2025 he established the Phoenix Consultancy Group where  he Chairs the Board and works part-time as Government Affairs Director. 

Jamie has been a Political Advisor and Chief of staff to a Senior Member of Parliament, a Campaign Director, 

Het maintains his registration as a lobbyist and assists in political spheres where he has represented various political candidates, community organizations and businesses in various successful campaigns. He is also currently undertaking some Federal Government research projects.

Jamie is a Fellow and Professional Member of a number of institutions and currently serves on the Advocacy Institute of Australia as Chair, Derek Amos Institute for Public and Political Affairs Board as Secretary [Think Tank]. and Youth Workers Australia Board as National Treasurer and Chair ans Auditor of the Course accreditation sub-committee.

He is the recipient of the Australian Volunteers Medal 2024, Life Membership Sale Neighbourhood House 2019, Community Services Medal 2009, Australian Security Medal 2008,  Life Fellowshipship of the Association of Honorary Independent Persons 2005 and Citizen of the Year – Frankston 1989.

IRENE VERIKIOS

FVCLP, AFAIA, DipBusAdmin, DipBus, CertIVTAE, CertIIIBusAdmin

 Board Deputy Chairperson

Irini has been in the Education industry her whole working life.. She is a noted expert in Vocational Education compliace.

She has worked for both Registered Training Organizations such as Alpha to Omega College, Texskills and Enterprise Registered Training Organizations such as Excellior, part of the Skilled Enginering Group.

Irene is a Fellow of the Victorian Community Leadership Program graduating in 2012 and an Associate Fellow of tbe Advocacy Institute of Australian and serves on the AIA Board.

Irene's career has spanned over almost forty years. She is currently CEO of RTO Consulting Group and CEO of BG College.

She has served on the Boards in addion to the AIA. Verikios. Casey Hoga, RTO Consulting Group, BG College, Alpha to Omega Academy, Plowman Retreat residential Training.

She commenced her career as an administrator in traing with the Royal Auto Club of Queensland (RACQ) and became the Co-ordinator of short courses and Box Hill Training and Further Education (TAFE). She holds a number of qualifications including TAE and Diplomas in both Business and Business Administration

Irene is married with two adult daughters and lives in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne

TODD WILLIAM PRICE

AThA, AAIA, MANZMHA, MICD, DipVisArt, DipMod, CertVisArt,

Board Member

Todd Price is a member of the Art Therapists Association and Advocacy Institute of Australia. He is a Partner in the Phoenix Consultancy Group

Todd is a self employed visual artist holding a higher education Diploma in Visual Art and a Diploma of Modeling and Deportmant. Todd also practices Art Therapy with disabled people.

He is and Associate of the Australian Institute of Advocacy and an Associate of the Asian New Zealand Creative Art Therapies Association.

In some of his spare time he undertakes modeling projects and photographic shoots around Victoria for various major companies and events. He has been the face of the Golgother Festival

Todd Studied at Swinburn University and Melbourne Politechnics obtaining qualifications in Visual Art and has gone on to practice Art Therapy. He has worked with disbled people under the NDIS program.

He lives in Country Victoria in East Gippsland and is a full Partner in the Phoenix Consultancy Group merging his art studio Blue Wren Art into the group

DEREK AMOS

FAIA, OAM, BEM, MAIM, MANZMHA,  CA(AIA), JP

 Board Member

The grewat Derek Amos was  the Labor State Member for Morwell for four terms and later served two terms as a Latrobe City Councillor

Derek started his working life as a Painter and Decorator and quickly moved up the ranks of his union, serving on the state executive

 He has been a stalwart of the Gippsland community and regional Victoria for almost sixty years.   Before an initial election defeat in the seat of South Gippsland he narrowly won for Labor the seat of Morewell and hence became a Member of the Victorian State Parliament in complete contrast to a hostile anti-Labor. feeling of the public accross Victoria and a dominance of Premier  Sir Henry Boltie Liberal Government. He consolidated the seat further for Labor in three election victories. and eventually retired from parliament.

Following his first win. He  was quickly elevated to Shadow Ministry holding many portfolios notably minerals, water and energy to name just a few. Hence he has been viewed within and outside of politics as a Labor legend in his own right. He spend many years on the Executive of the Labor Unity Group, the right wing faction of the Labor Party. and is one of a few that hold a continuing sixty year membership of the ALP

After retiring from parliament he was elected as a local government Councillor in the Latrobe Valley for two terms before retiring and turning his hand to helping people with Mental Healh illnesses.

He has his spent most of his life (after politics) life assisting to people with mental illness which is his passion and has advocated for them through working for thirty years as a voluntary mental health advocate in Gippsland and advocating in major court trials and at Royal Commission hearings. in addition to running a very successful Business and Marketing consultancy.

He is a local  a Justice of the Peace in Bairnsdale where he has practiced in that role for almost forty years. For these and his many other achievements he has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) and in 2019  He was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) .

Derek has changed the lives of many people through his life time of commitment to helping others and never holding back on what he believes to be the right thing to do. 

As the Name Sake and Patron of the Institute he automatically serves on the Board of Directors.

GAYLE VINAl 

FAIA, BBus, BSoc

Board Member

Gayle6 is a retired Mental health Practioner who studied business and sociology in her early years at university.

She worked in business and administration for a number of years changing career paths and entering the world of Mental Health. She thus worked as a Mental health worker rising through the ranks and joining management.

She was born and has lived in Gippsland her whole life and lives in the Latobe Valley.

Gayle was Chief Executive Officer of GARHS (Gippsland and Regional Health Services) for over a decade and later Chief Executive Officer of Barrier Breakers a mental health specific agency until her retirement.

In retirement gail is an active member of her church and serves on the Board of Management of the Gippsland based Derek Amos Institute for Public and Political Affairs.