Our board

Shane is a Wakka Wakka, Bundjalung man from Northern NSW/South East Queensland and first joined the Board as a non-executive Director in 2018. He has over 15 years of experience at a senior executive level in the government, not-for-profit, and private sectors. Most recently, Shane joined the NSW Premier’s Department as Deputy Secretary of Aboriginal Affairs and has been Director at PwC’s Indigenous Consulting (PIC) and CEO of Evolve FM.

As the Chief Executive Officer, Shane successfully led the transformation of the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office change and reform program for three years. In that time, he established a skills-based independent board, established a senior management team, stabilised the operations, implemented a change and reform program, introduced a client-focused approach, introduced a project and program management discipline to the organisation, and finalised and closed out old projects to regain community confidence and organisational reputation.

Before this, Shane worked for 15 years in the prison service across three States, commencing as a prison officer at Borallon Correctional Centre in Qld and finishing as Assistant General Manager at Acacia Prison. Shane also serves as a Director of First Australians Capital Ltd.

Abhilash Mudaliar is Chief Impact Officer at the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF). The foundation’s mission is to help break cycles of disadvantage in Australia, and its work includes a focus on preventing and minimising contact with the criminal justice system for high-risk communities. At PRF, Abhilash oversees teams that drive evaluation, learning, measurement, innovation and impact investing.

Prior to PRF, Abhilash had over 15 years of experience in impact investing, research, evaluation, impact measurement and social enterprise globally, including in India, the US and Kenya. Today, in addition to his role at PRF, Abhilash serves on a couple of different nonprofit Boards, including First Australians Capital and Calcutta Rescue Australia.

Abhilash holds Honours degrees in Commerce and Arts from the University of Melbourne and an MPA in International Development from Harvard University.

Cassandra is a very proud Cabrogal Dharug woman from NSW and a mother to 5 amazing young people. She leads the Community success team at Australia’s first Aboriginal Edu-tech connection company – Indigital.

Her passion for helping others has been evident from a very young age when she spent her time rehabilitating wildlife. This led to a long career in conservation of exotic species namely Non-human primates such as Great Apes. Global travel into many other First Nations communities and cultures enabled her to gain a deep understanding of people, and what we all need in order to feel safe, connected, and valued so we can succeed in any environment.

Her background in large RTOs means she comes with a drive to see others succeed. She has qualifications and experience in Indigenous leadership, community development, vocational education as well as Mentorship.

In her spare time, she enjoys being out on Country with her family. Cassandra is fulfilled by knowing she is making a difference in the lives and educational pathways of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people around Australia.

Kelly is currently the Executive Director, Impact & Engagement for The Benevolent Society, leading the organisation in Social Impact, Innovation and Engagement. In this role, her portfolio includes business development, partnerships, philanthropy, brand, marketing, communications, RAP and advocacy teams.

With a background in finance, Kelly is also an experienced senior executive, research and project manager. She has worked with several organisations in the NFP sector and government and with academic and research institutions. Her background includes working with the NFP sector as a management consultant, particularly in the areas of homelessness, community services and health care.

Kelly’s leadership experience, multidisciplinary background and consultative approach have led to trusted relationships with Boards, funders, CEOs and their organisations, providing the opportunity to work together to achieve strategic goals and organisational change with people at the centre. She has also held roles on Boards in the community and arts sectors.

Leisl has worked across a number of different portfolios as a senior government executive in NSW and Commonwealth agencies. Leisl has also held senior positions within NSW Treasury, the NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet, and the Department of Environment & Climate Change. Leisl has also been a senior adviser and chief of staff to several ministers in the NSW Government, providing policy advice on portfolios including energy, fair trading, consumer and competition issues, health, mental health, justice, western Sydney, natural resources, regional issues.

Throughout her career Leisl has enjoyed focusing on the provision of essential services to low income households, remote and rural communities, and Aboriginal communities. Leisl has a strong commitment to providing essential services such as clean water, sewerage services and energy to all communities in a sustainable and reasonably priced manner.

Leisl has also been the Group General Manager, Corporate Affairs at Macquarie Generation, then the largest electricity generator in Australia. In this role, Leisl had a particular focus on working with local communities and climate change.

Leisl has a Bachelor of Arts (Communications), a Bachelor of Economics, a Masters in International Studies and is currently completing a Juris Doctor.

Mark is a researcher and strategic consultant focussed on supporting a strong and diverse civil society. He is currently teaching policy-making, politics advocacy and social change at The University of Sydney and UTS, and since 2018 has been a non-executive director of Just Reinvest NSW.

Most recently, Mark has worked as the Collaborative Research & Policy Manager at the Sydney Policy Lab, where he led research around civil society capability, the commissioning of human services in NSW, and the Maranguka Cross Sector Leadership Group. Prior to this, Mark led advocacy and communication in the community law sector, and worked as a media and policy advisor in NSW Parliament.

Mark has a BA Humanities from Macquarie University, MA Creative Writing from the University of Technology Sydney, Grad.Dip. Public Policy from the University of Sydney and is currently working on a PhD at the University on the importance of community connection for civil society activities such as advocacy.

Martin has over 18 years’ experience as a legal practitioner with leading Australian and international law firm. Currently Corporate M&A Partner of Norton Rose Fulbright, he advises corporates, institutional and strategic investors, and domestic and international financial institutions.

Martin has over 18 years’ experience as a legal practitioner with leading Australian and international law firm. Currently Corporate M&A Partner of Norton Rose Fulbright, he advises corporates, institutional and strategic investors, and domestic and international financial institutions.

Sean has more than 30 years of experience in senior management, including CFO roles for two publicly listed companies. He has worked in the profit-for-purpose sector for the last seven years with a focus on creating a positive stakeholder impact. He has strong finance and risk management skills, and recent experience includes strategic and business development.

Sean is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Hume Community Housing and through that was elected to the Tharawal Housing Aboriginal Corporation Board in September 2019. Until recently was also Chairman of the Board of Gowrie NSW, a leading provider in early learning.

Simon is a consultant in the Sydney Office of Norton Rose Fulbright and is the Australian Head of its Financial Institutions Group.

Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright, Simon was a partner at Henry Davis York for over 20 years and was Chairman of Partners immediately before that firm combined with Norton Rose Fulbright on 1 December 2017.

Simon also has a keen interest in not for profit initiatives and has served in a voluntary capacity on several boards and held other executive committee positions with a number of charitable and sporting organisations.

Susan is a social worker with 30 years experience in direct practice, policy work in ACT and Commonwealth governments and Executive leadership with a primary focus on social service policy and provision.

Between 2008-2012 Susan was Director of Services Development in the UnitingCare National Office, leading policy and service provision advocacy to the Federal Parliament and government agencies. From 2013-2019 Susan was Director/CEO of The ACT Council of Social Service leading advocacy on social and economic policy and NGO sector development with members and the community in the ACT. Between 2019-2022 Susan was the Director of Residential Experience at the Australian National University leading strategic development and operational delivery of on campus accommodation services to 5,500 students.

In 2022 Susan established a consultancy firm to work with community-based organisations on strengthening their social licence. Susan’s consultancy offers interim CEO services, strategic planning, service development, leadership development and executive mentoring. Susan has been a Non-Executive Director on four Not-For-Profit Boards and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.