Ms Burgess is replacing Rosey Panelli who she networked with before Ms Panelli passed away earlier this year.
Having worked extensively across aged care, disability, and case management, Ms Burgess saw there was a great need for skills in the industry and opened her own registered training organisation in 1999.
Having her own business further improved her leadership and management skills, which became essential to her appointment as chief executive at Menzies Support Service in Alexandra in 2017.
Ms Burgess said she was excited to be starting at Goulburn Options and was keen to build on Ms Panelli’s legacy.
“I’m very grateful to have known Rosie and saw the passion she had for Goulburn Options,” she said.
“It’s a well-established organisation with valuable community support and my goal is to build on that and prepare it for the future.
“COVID-19 is obviously a challenge and the ever-changing restrictions means being nimble and adaptive is very important.
“Looking at how ‘GO’ can grow and establishing support for our participants in the community is my main focus.
“We are part of the community and we want people to feel we are a community asset.”
Goulburn Options board chair Ewan McDonald said the organisation had some big goals for the future and Ms Burgess had the experience to help achieve them.
“We want to achieve a lot and we’re grateful to have Melinda to help us navigate the challenges of where we want to go,” he said.
“Melinda has experience of improving service delivery in challenging times. That’s never been more important.”
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