About Us

From our CEO

Welcome from our CEO

Our Dream at Merriwa is to be part of a future where people of All Abilities reach their potential and feel respected, happy and confident.

Merriwa is an organisation operating as a social enterprise since the mid 1990’s. One of Merriwa’s core values is Diversity something we live and breathe on a daily basis through our people and business operations. Employing an all abilities team of over 300, Merriwa operates commercial businesses in the Packaging, Timber and Garden Nursery sectors, along with delivering support services in Child Youth and Family.

Our workplace is based on philosophy of continuous improvement, creating a safe place where people are encouraged to have a go, where getting it wrong is not seen as failure but as an opportunity to learn, improve and grow.

Merriwa is extremely proud of what we have achieved since our foundation back in 1975. We operate successfully in a dynamic and challenging commercial world, delivering strong and sustaining social outcomes for today and the future.

We invite you to join us,

Bart Crawley

Chief Executive Officer

Dream, Purpose & Values

At Merriwa, our Dream, Purpose and Values guide the way we work together with our clients, customers and each other. By caring about our business and each other we can help more people in our community.

Our Dream:
We are part of a future where people of all abilities reach their potential and they feel respected, happy and confident

Our Purpose:
We provide an environment which encourages people to reach their potential while delivering quality products and services to our customers and clients.

Our Values:
The Merriwa team has shared values which result in taking PRIDE in our work and our role in supporting our community;

PROSPERITY

We are prosperous and successful in the provision of our products and services, and having a positive working environment

RESPONSIBILITY

We treat the Merriwa business like it is our own

INTEGRITY

We are honest, ethical and work to high standards

DIVERSITY

We acknowledge that every person has different abilities and we welcome, accept and celebrate our differences

EXCELLENCE

We are committed to being the best we can be, everyday, as we serve our clients and our customers

PROSPERITY

We are prosperous and successful in the provision of our products and services, and having a positive working environment

RESPONSIBILITY

We treat the Merriwa business like it is our own

INTEGRITY

We are honest, ethical and work to high standards

DIVERSITY

We acknowledge that every person has different abilities and we welcome, accept and celebrate our differences

EXCELLENCE

We are committed to being the best we can be, everyday, as we serve our clients and our customers

Transcript

Park Lane Nursery is an award-winning, not-for-profit social enterprise, and is proud to be a division of Merriwa. The nursery employs an all-abilities workforce of 25 people across the business, specialising in the production of quality plants, a thriving retail garden centre, garden maintenance and tree planting crew. We value the contribution of our team and are there to encourage and help each other, striving to achieve quality production and service outcomes for our community.

Our Board

Merriwa is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. Board members bring their skills, expertise and vision to the board table for the benefit of the entire organisation.

Our Board of Directors understand that the heart of Merriwa lies in our ability to continue to successfully manage our commercial operations so that they fund our important social dividend projects.

Chris Cunningham

Chair

Distinguished governance background combined with strong leadership experience. Director since November 2019.

Jonathan Koop

Deputy Chair

Jonathan Koop is a local sheep farmer and father of four. With a previous career in corporate finance, Jonathan is a member of the AICD with more than 10 years experience as a Company Director.

Craig Thorp

Treasurer

Own and operate family pastoral company. International strategic commercial experience in the food industry sector with a focus on quality and business sustainability. Director since November 2019.

Libby Hosking

Director

Former Principal of Wangaratta District Specialist School. A champion of and for, people with disability. Director since October 2014.

Helen Tobin-King

Director

Regional Director for Victoria’s Dept of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and with extensive leadership experience in both private and public sectors. Helen is our newest Board Director, appointed in 2024.