Honorary Specialist Consultants
Phillip Adams AM
Radio Broadcaster and Journalist
Expertise: Broadcaster, communications, social commentator.
Ian Allen, OAM
Trustee of the Pratt Foundation, The Pratt Family Foundation, Visy Cares and the Pratt Group Scholarship Fund
Expertise: board governance, philanthropy and fundraising. Ian holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of Administration and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He is on the board of Peninsular Health, the Community Advisory Committee of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and many community organisations.
Dr John Basson, M.B., ChB, FRC Psych, FRANZC Psych
Chief Psychiatrist, Centre for Mental Health University of NSW
Expertise: John specializes in caring for mentally disordered offenders and the long-term management of people with serious mental disorders. He came to Australia in 2004 following an outstanding career as Medical Director at Broadmoor Hospital, Berkshire, England.
Jody Broun
Director-General NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs
Expertise: Jody is a Yindjibarndi woman born in Perth. Her family came from the Pilbara region. She has extensive experience as a senior public servant both in Western Australia and NSW, and is also a highly respected artist exhibiting nationally and internationally.
Sharan Burrow
President - Australian Council of Trade Unions
Expertise: Education and education unions, trade union organisation national and international, social planning and development, government and public administration, access and equity issues.
Benjamin Chow
Council of the National Museum of Australia
Expertise: Business management, urban development and community service. Key interests include planning for community spaces, multicultural inclusion especially in large Australian icons eg Scouts and Guides Australia, Surf Life Saving and the like. Board Director Chain Reaction Foundation.
B Hass Dellal, OAM
Executive Director - Australian Multicultural Foundation
Expertise: Multicultural organisations, police and community relations, philanthropy and the arts. Special Adviser, National Police Ethnic Advisory Bureau.
Julian Disney AO
Director Social Justice Project, UNSW
Expertise: Global governance, Regionalism, Public investment and taxation, Access to justice, Social security and unemployment, Urban and regional development.
Robert Fitzgerald, AM, BCom LLB
Commissioner - Productivity Commission
Expertise: Social policy, systemic reform, NGO governance, management structure, conciliation, complaint and dispute resolution; community, government and business interface.
Dr Rhonda Galbally, AO
Chair of Victorian Disability Advisory Council
Expertise: Starting, heading up and sustaining new organisations and businesses from scratch to practical success, grant making - philanthropic and government, fundraising, organisational development - change management, leadership and capacity building.
David Goldie
Director, 6moons Interactive & Goldie Dahdal New Media
Expertise: A fine and provocative filmmaker. His work particularly in the area of social issues has always called forth quality public debate before its time. Films to remember include "Nobody's Children", a 7 year study of the lives of homeless children and “Swapping Lives? an intercultural study involving a young Muslim woman from Indonesia and a young Christian woman from Australia.
Jane Halton
Secretary - Department of Health and Ageing
Expertise: All aspects of social policy including health, social security, employment, education, immigration and indigenous policy; key interests in the areas of status of women, ageing and aged
care reform and community care.
Dorothy Harding, BA, MA
Communications Consultant
Expertise: Public relations, marketing, event management and all levels of communications. Board Director Chain Reaction Foundation.
Elaine Henry, OAM, MAICD
CEO - The Smith Family
Expertise: Change management, marketing and public relations, widely experienced in the corporate and non-profit sectors, strategic directions in preventative education and organisational innovation.
Stepan Kerkyasharian, AM
Chair - Community Relations Commission For a multicultural NSW and President - Anti Discrimination Board of NSW
Expertise: Multicultural broadcasting and media relations, promotion of community harmony in a multicultural and multifaith community; immigration and migrants issues.
Dr Abd-Elmasih Malak, AM
Executive Director Workforce and Organisational Development - Sydney West Area Health Service
Expertise: Australian health, welfare and multicultural services especially in Western Sydney and through services to the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia as immediate past Chairman. Board Director Chain Reaction Foundation.
Winsome Matthews
Aboriginal Community Leader
Expertise: Winsome is a Yorta Yorta Goomaroi woman experienced in policy planning and protocol development in Aboriginal Services at national level. She is a specialist in holistic approach to sustaining and maintaining Australian Aboriginal culture. Working to improve program services and community development which facilitate self-determination and self-management underpinned by equitable social justice practises.
Myles McGregor-Lowndes, BA, LLB, M. Admin, PhD
Director - Centre of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies - Queensland University of Technology
Expertise: Nonprofit law and regulation.
Dr Sev Ozdowski, OAM
Past Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Expertise: Australian and international human rights, immigration and multiculturalism; sociology of law, immigration law and public administration; disability discrimination and refugee issues. Board Director Chain Reaction Foundation.
Dr Andrew Penman, MBBS, MPH, MACP, FAFPHM
CEO - The Cancer Council NSW
Expertise: Public health practice, health policy and programme development, senior management experience in the public and non-government sector.
Chris Sidoti
Director for International Service for Human Rights, Chair of Casino, Liquor and Gaming Authority
Expertise: Human Rights Lawyer, activist and teacher. Formerly Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Australian Law Reform Commissioner, Foundation Director of Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Richard Spencer, M Prof Ethics, LLB
CEO - The Benevolent Society
Expertise: Richard has extensive business management experience in both corporate and non-profit organizations in Australia, Brazil, London and New York. His current area of responsibility sees him engaged in issues surrounding childrens' welfare, changes in ageing, women's health and developing individual and corporate social responsibility.
Louise Sylvan, MA, MPA
Productivity Commissioner
Expertise: Consumer rights, citizen rights, campaigning and campaigning partnerships (national and international), executive management, board governance. Formerly Chief Executive of the Australian Consumers' Association (ACA) and President of Consumers International.
Lynette Thorstensen
International Buisness Services Consultant
Expertise: Social and environmental development, public administration, change management, communication and media management. Former Director of the Strengthening Communities Unit of the NSW Premiers Department. Former CEO Greenpeace Australia and Director Greenpeace International's Climate Change Campaign. Founding President Australians for Native Title.
Pat Turner
CEO - National Indigenous Television
Expertise: Executive Public Service Management, fostering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, leadership and program development. NGO and Public Sector Board Governance. Board Director Chain Reaction Foundation.
Associate Professor Steve Wilson, Dip Teach, BA, MEd(Hons), PhD, MACE
Head, School of Education - University of Western Sydney
Expertise: University engagement with the GWS region; research into non-formal education and community-based education, links between communities and their schools, lifelong learning, community capacity building, and the advancement of low socio-economic-status communities.
Dr Robert Woog, BscAg, MagSc, PhD
Coordinator Social Ecology - University of Western Sydney
Expertise: Specialises in post-positivist inquiry relating to society and environment and the role of ethics and aesthetics in guiding a technocentric society.
Honorary International Specialist Consultants
Dr Kenn Allen
President - Civil Society Consulting Group LLC, USA
Liz Burns
President - IAVE, Scotland
Dr Lee Kang Huan
President – IAVE
Foster Murphy
CEO - Foster Murphy Charitable Futures, UK
Tim Brodhead
President - J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Canada
Dr Rajesh Tandon
Director - Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India