Deborah Culhane, Director

Deborah Culhane joined the Border Trust Board in September 2024.

Deborah has worked with boards in the private and public sector for over 25 years and is a passionate supporter of the “not for profit” and “community” sectors that make such a valuable contribution to our regional communities.

She is an experienced director with strong governance skills and enjoys helping organisations partner, collaborate and build relationships with one another and with their stakeholders.

Governance has become more complex and sophisticated, and much is now expected of the volunteers that undertake the majority of roles in the NFP and community sectors. Deborah loves working with community groups to help them navigate the plethora of rules and obligations they now face, not just to minimise risk but to build strong and resilient organisations that can cope over the long term with the many complex situations facing communities, like fires and floods.

Deborah runs a commercial and property law firm in regional Victoria with a strong rural client base that includes many grassroots community organisations, farms, agri-businesses and startups.

Deborah was a director of Corryong Health for over 6 years and was also Chair. She is also the immediate past Chair of The Metavision Institute and currently sits on their Advisory Board. The Metavision Institute, is a private tertiary education organisation training holistic counsellors and psychotherapists.

A Community Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation working in a specific geographic area which, over time, builds up a collection of endowed funds from many donors in the community. It provides services to the community and its donors, makes grants and undertakes community leadership and partnership activities to address a wide variety of needs in its service area.”