Rebecca (Bec) Mallett is the chief executive, and founder of the Geelong brain cancer support charity Peace of Mind Foundation, which celebrates 10 years in October. She speaks with Geelong Indy journalist Jena Carr about what she likes about working in Geelong and helping the community.
What is your connection to Geelong?
After moving around a lot throughout my adult life, I first moved to Geelong 10 years ago.
I believed it was a great place to raise my daughter and start my brain cancer charity, Peace of Mind Foundation. I was drawn to the friendliness of the people and the great sense of community.
What do you like about where you work?
I love that we are so close to the Geelong waterfront and plenty of great cafes and restaurants.
Driving past the bay each day is always calming, and the level of traffic is most certainly easier to contend with than living in Melbourne.
What, if anything, would you change about the Geelong or surrounding areas?
Geelong could do with a bigger shopping centre and more big brand stores like Ikea or Costco, which would be great.
Where is your favourite place around Geelong to spend time?
Geelong has many wonderful wineries and restaurants, and the selection is endless.
My favourite places include Basils Farm and Austin Wines, which have great food, wine and beautiful views.
What is something people may not know about you?
I can twist a pretty good balloon animal, and I would have been a criminal profiler in another life.
What do you like about your role with the Peace of Mind Foundation?
I started a grassroots not-for-profit in Geelong 10 years ago.
Along the way, I have been privileged to recruit many talented and passionate professionals who have supported my vision to turn the Peace of Mind Foundation into Australia’s leading brain cancer support charity.
I love that I get to lead such an inspiring and caring team that positively impacts hundreds of families.
