Our Board draws on the talents of people from various backgrounds, including law, industrial relations, education, academia, accounting, public service, corporate business and community services and leadership.
Bev is a social policy consultant with a Master of Social Science and long history of experience in housing, planning, social and community service development, and most recently, financial support services in response to disasters. Bev was a founding (1996) board member of Women's Property Initiatives (formerly VWHA) and served on the Board for 21 years. Among other roles, she has served as the Acting CEO of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), Adjunct Research Fellow at the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, and Establishment Chair of the Consumer Law Centre Victoria (now Consumer Action Law Centre).
Ruth is an experienced not-for-profit leader and social change strategist. She is currently the part-time Chief Executive Officer of Birth for Humankind and the Founder and Principal Consultant of Influence Global – a collaborative social change consultancy. With academic qualification in social anthropology, she is passionate about understanding how change happens. Ruth is also Chair of Be Slavery Free, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Melbourne Women’s Fund.
Niva is an experienced corporate lawyer and company secretary. She is currently senior legal counsel and joint company secretary at an ASX and Nasdaq listed company. She brings to the Board her experience in managing legal risks and facilitating good governance practices. Niva was included in The Legal 500’s Guide to Australia’s Rising Stars 2019.
Amarjit is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), with extensive experience working for not-for-profits, in particular the health industry. She has experience leading strategic planning, performance and financial management, together with management and lean qualifications. Intersectionality and breaking down gender stereotypes are very important to her.
Sharon started her career in the automotive industry at the tender age of 16, making coffee for the boys. Then, women weren’t in management or workshop positions, and the glass ceiling was reinforced with iron. Several decades on – and with grit determination, skills and ‘a sledgehammer’ – she was appointed CFO for a group of Victorian car dealerships. She has represented the Automotive Industry, sitting on various Advisory Committees, and was the first woman to be appointed to the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) Executive Board.
Emma has lectured undergraduate and postgraduate accounting and auditing at Melbourne universities and is doing her PhD on gender equality in the accounting profession. Emma also delivers bystander intervention workshops at RMIT University and was the 2015 chair of the Women’s Committee at CPA Australia.
Uthra has worked with community organisations to address family violence in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, particularly in dealing with “culturally specific” manifestations of family violence and legislative responses. She has also worked as a diversity advocate. In 2015, Uthra co-founded the Diverse Women’s Mentoring Association, an organisation that provides mentoring, workshops and career support for CALD law and engineering students.
Amanda Bresnan has over 15 years of experience working in and with the not-for-profit and non-government sector. Amanda is currently the Interim CEO for Permanent Care and Adoptive Families, and previous roles include CEO of the Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists, Manager of Strategy at Djirra and CEO of Community Mental Health Australia. From October 2008 to 2012, Amanda was an elected Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the ACT Greens. Amanda is the Director of the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), and previous Board experience includes Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS); President of the Asthma Foundation ACT; and the National Asthma Board.
In 2018, Emilie founded WeInclusive: an inclusion & innovation consultancy whose aim is to create an inclusive future where everyone thrives. She helps organisations and individuals embrace diversity to increase their performance. Passionate about gender equality and social change, Emilie is also a volunteer mentor with Fitted For Work, a Not-For-Profit organisation which supports women who experience disadvantage.
Sarah is a qualified and experienced Strategic Marketing and Engagement professional with a demonstrated history of working across health and community sectors. Past experiences include working in the UK and Australia for organisations where a deep understanding of marketing and philanthropic advances took place, including Berry Street, Scope Australia, Jewish Care and the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
Michaela has more than 15 years’ experience as a private practice lawyer advising a cross section of clients in the manufacturing, health, retail, energy and education sectors on all aspects of employment law.
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