Shrine trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the care, management, maintenance and preservation of the Shrine monument and the Shrine Reserve. Meet the team.

Captain Stephen Bowater OAM RAN
Chair

Stephen Bowater was appointed Chair of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees in February 2021. A proud Victorian inspired by the military service of three generations of his family, Stephen entered the Royal Australian Navy as a 15-year-old Junior Recruit in 1976.

Participating in operations and peace enforcement deployments around the world, highlights of Stephen’s Navy career include commanding the frigate HMAS Arunta and Victorian naval base HMAS Cerberus.

Most recently, Stephen served as Commander Shore Force holding responsibility for 14 Naval Bases and 3,200 people. He led Navy’s efforts in support of Operation Bushfire Assist 19 and the deployment of over 1,500 personnel nationally to support Australia’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

With a sound knowledge of military history and commemorations in Victoria, Stephen leads the Shrine’s board of directors in fulfilling their responsibilities for the care, management, maintenance and preservation of the Shrine monument and the Shrine Reserve.

Colonel Catherine (Bunny) Carrigan
Deputy Chair

Bunny Carrigan is a business consultant, board director and Army Reserve officer with more than 35 years' service in the Australian Army: 20 years as a logistics officer in the Australian Regular Army and continuing service in the Army Reserve since 2005. Bunny saw operational service in Somalia in 1994, and more recently as Officer in Charge of Forces Entertainment tours to the Middle East Region (2018–20). She has also recently served on Operation COVID-19 Assist in Victoria.

Bunny is active on several committees and boards, including the Veteran’s Review Board, and has been an Honorary ADC to the Governor of Victoria. Bunny was appointed a trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance in March 2020 and Shrine Deputy Chairperson in May 2021.

Nikki Deighton

Nikki Deighton is the daughter and granddaughter of Army veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Borneo and the First World War. She has worked in education for over 30 years and is Director and Principal Consultant at dk2 where she develops programs that support the design of learning experiences that effectively engage students and the wider community.

Nikki prides herself in her ability to explore ways of engaging diverse audiences and targeting practical strategies to support social wellbeing.

Sandi Laaksonen-Sherrin

Sandi Laaksonen-Sherrin has held significant positions in the Defence support sector, including as the inaugural Defence Family Advocate of Australia (DFA) representing more than 84,000 serving military families and acting as the official adviser to the Commonwealth Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel and the Chief of the Defence Force. In her tenure at DFA, Ms Laaksonen-Sherrin arranged and launched an international campaign in partnership with Legacy Australia and supported by RSL Australia, to engage with contemporary veterans, families and the public.

Colonel Michelle McCormack GAICD FIEAUST

Michelle McCormack is a seasoned Australian Army veteran with over 30 years of service. She blends her military and civilian careers with a passion for aiding others, having engaged in humanitarian engineering both locally and abroad. Her diverse experience spans education, youth development, veteran support, HR, and community safety. Currently serving as Director of Force Modernisation in the Australian Defence Force, Michelle also sits on various boards, including the Royal Australian Engineers Foundation. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of Engineers Australia, she is dedicated to preserving the Shrine monument and honouring veterans.

Bruce Mildenhall

Bruce Mildenhall has broad experience and deep involvement in the veteran sector stemming from his father's service as a Rat of Tobruk. He is an affiliate member of Woodend RSL, Military History and Heritage Victoria, and Public Officer and Secretary of the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross Committee of Management. Bruce has been a member of the Victorian Veterans Council for six years and a former member of the Victorian Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary for Veterans’ Affairs during which time he played a leading role in the development of the Victorian Veterans Act 2005.

Graeme Plumridge OAM

Graeme Plumridge is the nominated Melbourne Legacy representative to the board of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees. He is a Past President of Melbourne Legacy and currently chairs their Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee. Graeme has previously served as a director and treasurer of Legacy’s National Body, Legacy Australia Incorporated.

In his business life, Graeme was Director and Chief Financial Officer of a private company with two other proprietors. The company operated successfully in the construction industry and employed 250 staff. Graeme served two years in the Australian Army as a National Serviceman and is a Vietnam veteran.

Dr Robert (Rob) Webster OAM FCPA

Rob Webster was a National Serviceman in the Australian Army and served in Vietnam 1970–71. He is the State President of the Returned & Services League of Australia (Victorian Branch) Inc, being awarded Life Membership with Gold Badge in 2002.

During his working career, Rob was an accountant, land valuer and university lecturer in property and finance. He was appointed as a trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees in 2017 — the same year received a Medal in the Order of Australia.

Rob is Chairman of the Victorian Veterans’ Children’s Education Board (DVA) and a Director of the Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree.

Committees

The following committees assist the Trustees in the performance of their duties:

Audit and Risk Management Committee

The Audit and Risk Management Committee considers matters including:

• corporate governance and compliance
• risk management
• operating and capital budgets
• oversight of financial management practices
• statutory compliance.

Ceremonial Committee

The Ceremonial Committee considers matters including:

• ceremonial protocols and policy
• the conduct of commemorative service
• applications to conduct services and place memorial plaques.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee considers remuneration related matters.