With over 25 years’ experience of business ownership in Ballarat, Darren is passionate about the history and continued progression of our great City. Primarily focused on the development sector, Darren has experienced the continued growth of Ballarat and the subsequent impact that has had on the rapid expansion of business.
Darren, a professional engineer, is currently the Project Director at Integra and is focused on ensuring Ballarat continues to foster and progress as the leading Victorian regional City.
Nev comes to Commerce Ballarat with a varied background having been a GM for an International Corporation, a Director in Local Government, a small business owner/operator and now the Executive Manager at The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute. A passionate advocate for investment in to the region to support the growth of local industry and job creation. He brings to the group extensive knowledge in engagement strategies and understands the importance of relationships with members, the 3 tiers of Government and the broader business sector.
Sam joins the Commerce Ballarat Board with over 20 years of human resources and executive management experience across retail, not-for-profit, manufacturing, and health sectors in Ballarat, Melbourne, and Scotland.
Currently the CEO of Ballarat Group Practice, Sam’s professional passions lie in change management, mentoring, and coaching, bringing a proven track record of guiding teams through transitional periods and unlocking internal leadership potential.
Sam previously led an organisation to a win at the Commerce Ballarat Business Awards in 2009 and returned to lead Ballarat Group Practice to success in 2025. Sam deeply values Commerce Ballarat’s role in driving organisational development and fostering connections to build stronger and more resilient organisations and communities in the Ballarat region.
Bryley has worked in the media industry for almost 30 years in Melbourne, Sydney and regional Australia with experience across print, digital and radio. Over this time she has experienced enormous change within her industry and learnt to adapt quickly and respond to the market in order to survive, grow and prosper.
For the past 7 years she has headed up Sales at ARN (Power FM and 3BA) managing a passionate sales team and working closely with Ballarat businesses big and small.
She is passionate about promoting, advocating and improving the local community of Ballarat, because if the local community is thriving, so is local business.
Charlotte is a commercial lawyer and accredited commercial law specialist at Grampians Health. Charlotte and her partner also own and operate Dashie Dog Ramps, a micro business building custom-made pet products here in Ballarat.
Through her role as a commercial lawyer as well as a small business owner, Charlotte interacts with a wide variety of local businesses, which has given her a great insight into the challenges that a lot of business owners and businesses are facing in the current climate.
Although not from Ballarat originally, Charlotte loves the place she now calls home and is passionate about supporting and promoting local businesses.
Kate grew up on a family farm, giving her a strong understanding and appreciation of agriculture, fresh produce, and the importance of supporting local industries and communities.
She began her career in the health and fitness industry before transitioning into allied health, where she became Practice Manager of a private psychology practice. More than 10 years ago, she joined Wilsons Fruit & Vegetables in a marketing role, helping share the Wilsons story and strengthen its presence within an ever-evolving industry.
With strong family ties to the business, Kate is passionate about ensuring Wilsons continues to grow, remain relevant, and adapt to changing customer and community needs. She is a strong advocate for community connection, creating awareness around what happens behind the scenes in fresh produce retail, and highlighting the difference independent greengrocers bring compared to major supermarket chains.
Kate looks forward to bringing her experience and insight across retail, hospitality and customer engagement to the Commerce Ballarat Board.
