Steering committee

The Steering Committee provides advice, ensures delivery of project outputs and the achievement of project outcomes.

Rebecca Wells

MRIC Chief Executive


Rebecca Wells

Rebecca Wells was born in Mildura and raised on a vineyard in Merbein, returning to the region in late 2008 after several years in a media career internationally. Throughout the past decade, Rebecca has re-immersed herself in community and professional networks in the Mallee region.

Rebecca holds a range of leadership and advocacy roles in the region including Chair, Director and representative roles for organisations including Merbein and District Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank and formally Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s Community Bank National Council, Victorian State Government’s Mallee Regional Partnership and as communications manager for Australian Table Grape Association.

Peter Forbes

Manager, Planning and Regional Coordination

Regional Development Victoria

Peter Forbes
Peter Forbes

Having lived and worked in Bendigo and Mildura over the past 30 years, Peter's heart belongs to north west Victoria.

Peter currently works for Regional Development Victoria with responsibility for supporting the Mallee and Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership Committees.

Through this role Peter works to discover what is important for the Community and Economic Development of the region and helps to realise these ideas.

With a background in Agricultural Science and a Social Sciences Masters, Peter has had a varied career in Agricultural Science, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Management and now Regional Development.

Brett Millington


Brett Millington

Born and raised in Mildura, Brett has over 20 years’ experience at an executive level in the economic development and utilities industries. He was an inaugural Board member of Mildura Regional Development (MRD) following its formation in 2017 and was then appointed CEO in 2019. Prior to this, he spent several years as the Program Director for Intelligent Water Networks, the research and collaboration partnership supporting the Victorian Water corporations in their pursuit of innovation.  In 2023 Brett  was appointed at the CEO of the Sunraysia Institute of TAFE (SuniTAFE).

Educated with a Bachelor of Science with honours from the University of Melbourne initially, Brett also holds post Graduate qualifications in Business Administration from the University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ben Chatfield


Ben Chatfield

Profile coming soon.