RDAT Board Members

Professor Sue Kilpatrick

Chair

Professor Sue Kilpatrick is Professor of Education at the University of Tasmania Launceston Campus.  She is also a Member of the Tasmanian Traineeship and Apprenticeship Committee. Up until the end of 2015 Sue was the Pro Vice Chancellor "Students", University of Tasmania, where her responsibilities included pre-degree programs and pathways to UTAS from schools and TasTAFE, the Aboriginal support Riawunna Centre and the English Language Centre.

Sue was formerly Pro Vice Chancellor (Rural and Regional) at Deakin University, Australia and a member of the Regional Development Australia Barwon South West Victoria Committee.

Sue has had a diverse career in higher education, including in, economics, education and rural health. She holds a PhD in the Economics of Education and a Master of Economics in Labour Economics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

A born and bred Tasmanian, Sue is committed to working with and for the communities in which she lives. She has been a member of a diverse range of Boards in Victoria and Tasmania including, in Victoria: South West TAFE, South West Local Learning and Employment Network, G21 Education Pillar and Marcus Oldham College, and in Tasmania:  Northern Tasmania Development Corporation Board (Deputy Chair), TL3 (Tasmanian Lifelong Learning), the Early Years Foundation, FarmBis State Planning Group Family-based Care North, Australian Rural Health Education Network and headspace Northern Tasmania.

James Riggall

Acting Deputy Chair

James Riggall is a Tasmanian entrepreneur and academic who is based in Launceston. 

James is the founder and managing director of Bitlink, a local technology education company and a senior industry fellow with the University of Tasmania where he teaches entrepreneurship.  In addition to his role with the University of Tasmania, James also travels to the United States each year to teach extended reality (virtual and augmented reality) technology at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington State. 

Alongside his role with the RDA Tasmania committee, James is also chair of the Queen Victoria Museum Governance Advisory Board, chair of the Pearcy Foundation in Tasmania and a director of Enterprize Tasmania.  James is a Fulbright Scholar, a winner of the Benson Award for Entrepreneurship and was one of the first Ambassadors for Public Education in Tasmania.

Shannon Wells

Treasurer

Shannon is the managing director of Airlines of Tasmania (“Par Avion”), a family-owned aviation business, focusing on Flying Training and Tourism based at Cambridge Aerodrome in Hobart. He has been working here mowing lawns or washing planes since childhood. Wanting a career as an airline pilot, Shannon flew a Cessna 172 solo at age 16, gained his private licence at age 17, however, stepped away from aviation to focus on studies at the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Information Systems, and got a graduate role at a Big 4 bank and worked here for several years, working across all parts of Tasmania and including a period in Sydney.

With “head office” applying pressure to move to the “mainland” permanently, Shannon took up a 6 month career break to return to aviation, and 11 years later hasn’t returned.

Shannon is an advocate for tourism and aviation, being actively involved in the promotion of the state through various trade missions both domestically and internationally, he feels extremely lucky to not only be able to personally fly over this beautiful state, but also promote the state as an ideal flying training location and tourism destination and share his love of this place with others.

Shannon is a Fellow in the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, a Fellow in the Institute of Managers and Leaders and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has a Diploma of Business, a Masters in Applied Finance, and was awarded the Tourism Ministers Young Achiever Award in 2015.

Kaitlin Roach

Board Member

Kaitlin has extensive experience across the public and private sector having held a number of roles contributing to regional, economic and social development in Tasmania. Most recently, Kaitlin has been deeply embedded in the Tasmanian Startup Ecosystem where she delivered Tasmania's only industry agnostic incubator program through her role with Enterprize Tasmania Ltd.

This experience led to her appointment as Senior Associate at Eloquium Group, a public affairs firm providing strategy development, public policy, government and stakeholder engagement services, focussed on organisations in the digital technology space.

Professional interests aside, Kaitlin is an outdoor enthusiast and a keen mountain bike rider, is the Immediate Past President of the Alliance Française de Launceston, and has participated in Tasmania's small but vibrant Irish dancing community for the past 25 years.

Kaitlin holds a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Public Policy from the University of Tasmania. 

Sheree Vertigan

Board Member

Sheree is a passionate advocate for all things Tasmanian – she was born in Tasmania, educated at the University of Tasmania and worked for the Tasmanian Department of Education and when she moved into other Executive positions chose to fly in and out of Tasmania rather than relocate to the mainland to fulfil work commitments.

Sheree is a highly experienced Executive having successfully led, managed, and advocated for, many complex organisations in the public sector, not- for profit, professional associations, private sector and community development.

Sheree is currently a director for the Cradle Coast Authority, Chair of the Regional Economic Development Steering Group, a recently appointed member of the University Council, Executive Secretary for the International Confederation of Principals as well as working as a private consultant and providing pro bono support for a number of community organisations.

In 2017 received an Australia Medal (AM) in recognition of her significant service to secondary education, professional leadership and educational administration association and youth.

Dr Mary Duniam

Board Member

Dr Duniam was elected to the Waratah-Wynyard Council in 2005 and elected Deputy Mayor in 2014. In 2022, Dr Mary Duniam was the first female ever elected to the position of Mayor of the Waratah-Wynyard Council. As a very mature-aged student Dr Duniam was awarded a University of Tasmania PhD scholarship and in 2017 was honoured as the 2017 Valedictorian at the University’s Cradle Coast Campus.  Her PhD research has contributed to the understanding of the nature and extent of existing relationships between local government and local social enterprises and the possible influence of these relationships on community capacity building. Dr Duniam has co-published two book chapters on interactive community governance.

As a Councillor, Dr Duniam has been Chair and member of various Waratah-Wynyard Council’s committees and is Waratah-Wynyard Council representative for LGAT, the North West Councils’ representative on the General Management Committee (LGAT), and Premiers Local Government Council. She is currently Deputy Chief Representative on the Cradle Coast Authority and a member of the Tasmanian Selection Committee of Tas Water.

Dr Duniam is passionate about Local Government and this resulted in her undertaking research into female civic leadership in Tasmanian local government which incorporated views of female elected representatives on leadership, decision-making and challenges for local government in Tasmania – and how this can influence change.  Dr Duniam is a past Director of Women Tasmania, the Tasmanian Heritage Council and Volunteering Tasmania.  She is Chair of Australian Local Government Women’s Association Tasmania, and Tasmanian delegate on the ALGWA National Board. She is currently the local government representative on the Tasmanian Library Advisory Board and a member of Local Government Division Governance Group – Councillor Learning and Development. She is also Deputy Patron of Surf Life Saving Tasmania, and a current member of the Rural Clinical School Community Advisory Board and Big hART Community Advisory Board.   

Dr Duniam has lived in the North West region all her life and was a partner in her husband’s small business for 28 years. She is dedicated to working with her community to build capacity and resilience through the establishment of local social enterprises.  She is a past teacher/trainer with TAFE Tasmania, and past researcher, tutor and lecturer with UTAS.   

Dr Duniam is actively involved in her community and has held several roles within Rotary District 9830 (Tasmania) as District Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant District Governor as well as President and Secretary of Rotary Club of Somerset Inc. In 2023, Dr Duniam was inducted onto the Tasmanian Women’s Honour Roll for service to Community; Advocacy and/or inclusion; Government and Public Service. 

Maureen Stellmaker

Board Member

Maureen grew up in Northern New South Wales in a farming community before completing a Bachelor of International Business and a Bachelor of Commerce in QLD and later her Masters of Business Administration. Having worked in various areas of Australia in Mining and Government Maureen moved to Tasmania and then started her career in Real Estate, including started and running her own agency for 19 years. 

Maureen has been on the REIT Northern Branch Board and has also been heavily involved with the George Town Chamber of Commerce, being a past President and on the Executive committee for a number of years, as well as Chair of the DAP for George Town. Maureen in a strong advocate for rural Tasmania and supporting communities to achieve their potential by working collaboratively across small businesses, industry and Local and State government.

Brad Watchorn

Board Member