Former G21 employee Nada Malinac facing 14 counts of theft from organisation

Following a more than two-year investigation, detectives have charged a 56-year-old woman over the alleged theft of more than $40,000 from a local advocacy group.

Former G21 chief executive Elaine Carbines and her executive assistant Nada Malinac in 2018. Picture: Riccardo Studio.

A former employee of local advocacy group G21 has been charged by police over the alleged theft of more than $40,000 from the organisation following a lengthy investigation.

Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives this week charged Armstrong Creek woman Nada Malinac on summons with 14 counts of theft.

The 56-year-old is scheduled to appear before the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on July 2.

Ms Malinac spent a decade at G21 as an executive assistant, departing in late 2021 for a job within the Geelong office of the state government’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.

She remains at the department as a regional development co-ordinator, according to her LinkedIn profile which does not include any reference to G21.

Soon after replacing the long-serving Elaine Carbines as chief executive in 2021, Giulia Baggio launched an audit of the organisation’s finances that identified multiple irregularities.

Current G21 boss Giulia Baggio. Picture: Mark Wilson.

The matter was reported to police in 2022 and the alleged theft is believed to have occurred over several years.

Ms Malinac reflected on her G21 tenure in an October 2021 media report.

“I feel so lucky and fortunate to work with such amazing people and to see what working together collaboratively can achieve,” she was reported as saying.

“We grew to be a very close-knit team; Elaine was a very strong leader, intelligent and very passionate about the organisation.”

G21, also known as the Geelong Regional Alliance, is funded largely by its five member councils.

Founded in the early 2000s, uncertainty surrounds its future as the councils – Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Queenscliffe, Colac Otway, and Golden Plains – look to cut costs in an effort to balance their budgets.

Geelong has allocated $338,750 to G21 in its 2025-26 draft budget, but this remains subject to change during the current consultation phase.

During last year’s council elections, Stretch Kontelj, later elected Geelong mayor, said revelations of the police investigation were “of great concern to all ratepayers”.

The G21 board, chaired by Barwon Water’s Melissa Stephens, will meet next month to map out the future of an organisation that at its core seeks to increase investment in the region.

“G21’s strategic planning work and development of priority projects to attract investment to the region is well known and highly regarded in Canberra and Spring Street,” Ms Stephens said.

“Our regional mayors will continue to lead the advocacy effort as we manage financial headwinds affecting local government budgets.”

Originally published as Former G21 employee Nada Malinac facing 14 counts of theft from organisation