Bill Mithen

Co-CEO, Neighbourhood Economics

Bill has spent the past 15 years trying to shape and improving communities, with a particular focus on place-based initiatives. Living and working in Geelong, Bill has held several influential civic leadership and advocacy roles, contributing to the Geelong region’s growth and development.

Bill served as Chair of G21 Geelong Region Alliance, he was an inaugural member of the Barwon Regional Partnership and is currently Chair of both Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine and force employment + recruitment. 

In his most recent role as CEO of the Give Where You Live Foundation, Bill focused on advocating for justice and equity in the Geelong Region centering around building a more inclusive economy.

Bill started Neighbourhood Economics with Annie Smits in February 2025, an initiative aimed at re-imagining and revitalising neighbourhood economies in disadvantaged suburbs in order to share value, build wealth broadly and enable greater community participation. Neighbourhood Economics has been built on several economic frameworks including, Community Wealth Building, Doughnut Economics and a Wellbeing Economy.