Board of Management

The Cottage Board of Management is entirely voluntary. It has overall responsibility for the administration, fundraising and service aspects of the organisation. The Board liaises closely with the General Manager- Tony Featherston.

Board members have a range of expertise relevant to the Cottage's operations. Current Board members are Michael Randall, David Wells, Natalie Hickey, Michael Tsostos, Bob Bellhouse, Chris Coakes, Narelle Sketcher, Dennis Smart.

Michael Randall - President SIA(Aff), DipAFPA Michael has been in the securities industry for over 25 years. He is an Associate Director of Macquarie Private Wealth Ltd which is a member of the Macquarie Bank Group. Previously, he worked at Potter Warburg Securities. Michael is also a founding Director of the Financial Services Foundation which has been instrumental in raising substantial funds for several children's charities, the Cottage being a main beneficiary of that fundraising. He is married to Nikki Coghill and they have two daughters, Elly & Hayley. Since 1995 he has served as a Board Member. top	David Wells - Vice President David has extensive senior management experience in the food, wine and service industries both in Australia and overseas over the past 20 years, as Vice President of the Campbell Soup Co and Managing Director of a public company. He is currently Director of Terrain Capital and is also Chairman of Hyde Park Great Western Vineyard Limited. He has been on the Cottage Board since 1998. David has completed his third year as President. top
Natalie Hickey - Junior Vice President BA.LLB (Hons), LLM Natalie is a Partner at the law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques where she practices in dispute resolution, primarily relating to intellectual property, trade practices and defamation issues. Natalie holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in law and is an ‘alumni’ of Point Lonsdale Primary School (due to her father’s posting to the Queenscliff Army Fort in 1979). Natalie maintains her ties to the area through frequent visits to the family’s Point Lonsdale holiday house. Natalie has been on the Cottage Board since 2002. top	Michael Tsotsos - Treasurer LLB.BA.Grad Dip(Leg Stud).DFS.FAICD. Michael has been involved in the Trustee Industry for the last twelve years, the past eight as General Manager of National Australia Trustees, the Trustee arm of the National Australia Bank, holding the role of Responsible Officer and Letter of Authority. He is part of the National’s Senior Leadership Team and has executive responsibility for all of National Australia Trustee Limited’s clients from a Personal and Corporate level right through to Philanthropic levels with control of $9 billion. top
Bob Bellhouse - Member Over his career, he has held various positions in the education and community sectors. Bob has authored a number of educational books that have been published in Australia and overseas. He is currently a Director of a publishing and consultancy company specialising in education. Bob is married to Lisa and has two children Clare and Kate. Bob lives in Queenscliff. top	Chris Coakes - Member Chris has been professionally involved in marketing management for over 35 years covering education and training markets along with commercial industrial products. He is an Associate Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and is currently the Managing Director of his own audiovisual service and equipment company in Melbourne, Action Presentations P/L. Chris is married to Jennifer and has four children who have grown up with strong extended family ties to Point Lonsdale and the Queenscliff area. He was elected to the Board in 2000. top
Narelle Sketcher - Member Narelle has recently joined the Board. She is a secondary school teacher with 15 years experience and has a Masters of Education. She is a mother of two children and has retained strong links with the Cottage for many years. Her family enjoyed holidays in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale for over 50 years and has been active in the community. Her grandparents retired to Queenscliff in the early 1980s, where they established links with the Cottage. They were responsible for beginning the very successful Annual Fete and Narelle remembers many years of helping with this event. Her grandmother served for many years as the President of the Queenscliff Branch. top	Dennis Smart - Member Dennis has an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering Science and throughout his career gained technical, engineering, production and marketing experience, including overseas assignments, with the last 25 years as Managing Director of Woods Accident Repair Centres. Dennis and wife Sue have had a holiday house in Point Lonsdale for over 25 years and in semi-retirement have recently moved to Queenscliff and joined the Board in 2007. top