Each week, we will feature a member of the HBNC team, giving you a chance to Meet the Neighbours. The goal is to highlight and celebrate the people at the heart of our organisation, who work tirelessly to make the Wide Bay Burnett community a stronger and more resilient one.

This week, we'd like you to meet Mitzi Kok, our Finance Manager. 

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I recently immigrated from South Africa with my husband.

My hobbies include baking, especially French macarons, being creative or reading and spending time with friends exploring the beautiful Fraser Coast.

What is a quick summary of your professional background?

I have a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Accounting Science from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and completed a three-year training contract at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) to become a registered Charted Accountant. Following my time at PwC as an auditor, I was appointed as a Financial Manager at one on South Africa’s leading agricultural services companies, where I worked within the Financial Services division, the Commodity Procurement division, as well as the Corporate Head Office. In 2018 I was promoted to Financial Controller of Group Consolidation, looking after the consolidation of more than 140 companies, reporting to management and preparing the consolidated annual financial statements.

What drew you to work with the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre?

I was inspired to learn of the multitude of ways HBNC supports the community and its most disadvantages members.

How do you see your role making a difference in the lives of the community’s most vulnerable?

As I transition into my first role within the NFP sector, I hope that I will be able to play a leading role in the expansion and success of HBNC’s ability to serve the community.

What’s one thing you hope to see happen or change for our community?

I hope to see our community supporting each other more and being more understanding of others’ circumstances in order to become a socially cohesive community.