Our People

Individuals who bring a wealth of expertise and diverse experiences, united by a passion for making a positive change in young peoples lives.

Chain Reaction Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors and funded by grant-making trusts and foundations, fee-for-service contracts, government grants, and corporate and individual contributions.

With a full-time director, small staff and fine groups of trained volunteers, the Foundation delivers its programme of work through a network of 40 highly skilled Honorary Specialist Consultants and affiliated Partner Organisations.

Board of Directors

Margaret Bell, AM
President - Chain Reaction Foundation
Benjamin Chow, AO
Council of the National Museum of Australia
The Hon. Nick Greiner AC
Premier and Treasurer of New South Wales (1988-92), Federal President of the Liberal Party of Australia (2017-20),
Dr John Hewson, AM
Professor ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and former Liberal Opposition Leader
Pamela Gilbert
Development Advisor
Peter Rowe
Retired Solicitor
The Hon. John Hood
Business Advisor
Tim Lloyd
Principal, Plumpton High School
Vanessa Chan
Associate Professor, UTS

Margaret Bell, AM

President - Chain Reaction Foundation

Margaret has been working with community, business and government leaders during 50 years of wide involvement with civil society at state, national and international levels. Margaret was founding President/CEO of Volunteering Australia, the peak national body for volunteering, founding member of the Australian Prime Minister's round table on business and community partnerships, a founding Director of CIVICUS, the World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and World President of the International Association for Volunteer Effort.

She is the founder of Chain Reaction Foundation, dedicated to working with community, business and government leaders to find clearer, more sustainable ways to build social cohesion and inclusion nationally and locally.

Benjamin Chow, AO

Council of the National Museum of Australia

Benjamin spent over forty years in the land development industry both in Australia and South East Asia. He sits on the boards of Global Fortune Investment Limited and Mindax Limited. He is a Council Member of Sydney Medical School Foundation, University of Sydney and Chairman of Australia and China Beverages Food and Health Supplement Products Association (ACPA).

Benjamin has served on many Boards of Universities and NGO's. He was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2007.

The Hon. Nick Greiner AC

Premier and Treasurer of New South Wales (1988-92), Federal President of the Liberal Party of Australia (2017-20),

Nick Greiner was Premier and Treasurer of New South Wales, 1988-1992, and Federal President of the Liberal Party of Australia 2017-2020. Aside from his political leadership roles, he has held many senior positions in all walks of life. In business over the last 30 years, he has been Chairman or Deputy Chairman of Harper & Row (Australasia), British American Tobacco (Australia), Bradken, Citigroup (Australia), Coles Myer Ltd, Rothschild (Australia), Stockland Trust, QBE Insurance and Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine to name just a few. He has also been Chairman of Infrastructure NSW and the European Australian Business Council. Nick holds an Honours Degree in Economics from Sydney University and an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School. Nick held the role of Australia’s US Consul General in New York from 2020-2023.

Dr John Hewson, AM

Professor ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and former Liberal Opposition Leader

Dr John Hewson is an economic and financial expert with experience in academia, business, government, media and the financial system. He has worked as an economist for the Australian Treasury, the Reserve Bank, the International Monetary Fund and as an advisor to two successive Federal Treasurers and the Prime Minister. In February 2014, Dr Hewson joined the Australian National University as Professor and Chair of the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute.

He is involved in many major charities including: Launched and Led, The National Breast Cancer Campaign; President, Arthritis Australia; Chairman and Founder, Osteoporosis Australia; Chairman, KidsXpress; Chairman, Advisory Board, Cambodian Children’s Fund and Patron of a host of other charities.

Pamela Gilbert

Development Advisor

Pamela has over 25 years experience gained as director of a management consultancy and corporate advisor developing business plans, marketing plans and funding reports.

She is a member of the Founding 50, Leading Women’s Fund, Australia for UNHCR and previously, as a Women's Projects Advisory Committee Member, was involved in fundraising projects including the UNHCR Vocational Training Centre in Uganda and responsible for initiating an online marketing campaign focused on promoting SafeMother and Baby Delivery Kits in refugee camps.

Peter Rowe

Retired Solicitor

Peter is a company director and a retired solicitor. His involvement in the financial services and in particular funds management spans 48 years in Australia and Singapore. As a partner of one of the Country’s leading law firms he, amongst other things, led the Financial Services Group and was a founding member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee of which he was a member for 21 years. Peter has been a director in the for-profit sector in Australia for both listed and unlisted entities for over 26 years, as well as in Singapore of a listed entity, and in the not-for-profit sector for 23 years.

The Hon. John Hood

Business Advisor

John is a company Director with a considerable business background with George Wimpey Ltd, Chemical Bank, Chase Manhattan and JP Morgan - all in London. He is a Director of The Parent Practice UK and Bellanga Pastoral Co Australia. He comes to Chain Reaction Foundation as a business advisor.

Tim Lloyd

Principal, Plumpton High School

Over the past 11 years as principal of Plumpton High School, Tim and his team have successfully transformed Plumpton into a school that is recognised for its focus on building intellectual capacity, developing student leadership, agency and voice, wellbeing and commitment to fostering strong relationships with corporate business partners. Tim’s leadership as a principal was recognised at the 2019 Australian Education Awards, when he received the Australian Government School Principal of the Year Award, and, for three years in 2019, 2020 and 2024 Plumpton High School was acknowledged as one of Australia’s most innovative schools. Impressively, in 2021, Plumpton High School was 1 of 100 schools from across the world to present at T4 World Education Week - an initiative designed to provide a platform for schools to share their stories of success whilst coming together to advocate for quality education. In 2022 Plumpton High school was awarded Australian Computer Science School of the Year. In 2025 Tim was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Distinguished Service Medal and was named as one of Australia’s Most Influential Educators in 2025 and 2023. Plumpton High School was also the recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Scheme Whole Year Model Australian Champions for 2023. In his previous role as Director of Strategic Resourcing, with the NSW Department of Education, Tim helped to lead, develop and implement school funding reform through the Local Schools, Local Decisions program. The program empowered schools to decide how they could best distribute funding to meet students’ needs. In 2018, he was awarded a Commendation Prime Minister’s Award for “Promoting Excellence and Professionalism in Public Administration” for this work. Tim also regularly presents on change processes in schools and was a member of the NSW Secondary Principals Council Executive for 3 years. As a National Coach for Gymnastics Australia Tim coached an Australian World Champion and World Cup Gold Medallist in 1997.

Vanessa Chan

Associate Professor, UTS

Vanessa Chan is an Associate Professor with the UTS Institute of Public Policy and Governance. A leading expert in local government, strategy and public administration, she has a decade in executive management, including as General Manager of Ashfield and Inner West Councils. Vanessa is the President of the Chinese Australian Forum and sits on Boards in both social enterprise and government sectors. She is a dynamic and values-centred leader, passionate about social justice, local democracy and community engagement.

Staff

Dr Rumbi Mabambe
Executive Director Chain Reaction Foundation and Mt. Druitt Learning Ground
Margaret Bell, AM
President, Chain Reaction Foundation, Mt. Druitt Learning Ground Program Development - Adult and Teenage Programs
Melissa Hood
Program Developer and Family Skills Program Facilitator
Bec Micallef
Fundraising and Marketing Manager
Charmaine Milsom
Family and School Liaison Manager and Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant
Stephen Lawler
Mt. Druitt Learning Ground Coordinator and Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant
Zeeshan Ajmal
Marketing Coordinator
Jemima Chaghouri
Program Facilitator, Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant, Wellbeing Officer
Alice Bateman
Office Manager
Robyn Hardge-Scott
Adolescent Program Facilitator and Mentor
Jessie Browne
Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant and Family Skills Program Facilitator
Isabel Lucic
Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant
Berin Pheeney
Adolescent Program Facilitator and Mentor
Paige Duclos
Program Facilitator and LGiS Consultant
Samantha Sharp
Bus Driver

Dr Rumbi Mabambe

Executive Director Chain Reaction Foundation and Mt. Druitt Learning Ground

Margaret Bell, AM

President, Chain Reaction Foundation, Mt. Druitt Learning Ground Program Development - Adult and Teenage Programs

Expertise: Innovative leadership in civil society in the fields of community development, volunteering, citizen engagement, behavioural change management and participatory research. Strong networks across business, voluntary and government sectors. A renowned public speaker and writer acclaimed both nationally and internationally.

Melissa Hood

Program Developer and Family Skills Program Facilitator

Bec Micallef

Fundraising and Marketing Manager

Charmaine Milsom

Family and School Liaison Manager and Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant

Stephen Lawler

Mt. Druitt Learning Ground Coordinator and Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant

Zeeshan Ajmal

Marketing Coordinator

Jemima Chaghouri

Program Facilitator, Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant, Wellbeing Officer

Alice Bateman

Office Manager

Robyn Hardge-Scott

Adolescent Program Facilitator and Mentor

Jessie Browne

Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant and Family Skills Program Facilitator

Isabel Lucic

Learning Ground in School (LGiS) Consultant

Berin Pheeney

Adolescent Program Facilitator and Mentor

Paige Duclos

Program Facilitator and LGiS Consultant

Samantha Sharp

Bus Driver

Volunteers

Benjamin Chow
Peggy Cameron
Gregg Freeman
John Hood
Melissa Hood
Cassandra Jackson
Scott Buhagiar
Rumbi Mabambe
Winsome Matthews
Geoffrey Milsom
Abbey Milsom

Charmaine Milsom

Paris Neilson
Jemima Chaghouri
Isabel Lucic
Alice Bateman
Jared Damodaran
Stephen Lawler
Karen Lawler
Paul Reid
Samantha Sharp
Robyn Hardge-Scott
Kyle Moss
Jessie Jeffery
Breana Lockyer
Mikayla Schell

Honorary Specialist Consultants

A/Prof John Basson
Sydney West Area Health Service and University of NSW
Expertise: John specialises 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.
Prof Bruce Bonyhady, AM
Executive Chair & Director - Melbourne Disability Institute
Expertise: Bruce was the inaugural Chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) 2013-16, former President of Philanthropy Australia (2006-13) and former Chairman of Yooralla (2001-13). He is an economist with a life-long interest in the disability sector.

Jody Broun
Chief Executive Officer - National Indigenous Australians Agency
Expertise: Jody is a Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara in Western Australia who has dedicated herself to the service of Australia's first people over a 30 year career. Appointments have included Co-Chair National Congress of Australia's First People's, Executive Director of Policy and Coordination of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority (WA), Director General NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Executive Director NSW Australia Red Cross and CEO Aboriginal House NSW Government. Jody is also a well-known and highly respected artist.
Julian Burnside, AO QC
Expertise: Is an Australian barrister who specialises in commercial litigation and is also deeply involved in human rights work, particularly in relation to refugees. He is the former President of Liberty Victoria, and is Chair of Melbourne arts venue Fortyfivedownstairs, and Chair of the Mietta Foundation. Julian won the Sydney Peace Prize in 2014, and was designated a Living National Treasure in 2004. In 2009 he made an Officer in the Order of Australia.
Benjamin Chow, AO
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.
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.
Prof Julian Disney, AO
Director Social Justice Project, UNSW, National Chair, Anti-Poverty Week
Expertise: Housing and urban development, Tax and social justice, Social security and unemployment, Global governance and poverty.

Robert Fitzgerald, AM
Commissioner - NSW Ageing and Disability
Expertise: Social policy, systemic reform, NGO governance, management structure, conciliation, complaint and dispute resolution, community, government and business interface.
John Hewson, AM
Expertise: John is an Australian economist, company director and a former politician and leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. He is Chairman, Global DC Pty Ltd and has been involved in a range of not-for-profit organisations including the Arthritis Foundation and Kids Xpress.
Melissa Hood
Former Co-founder & Director - The Parent Practice UK
Expertise: Parent education and relationship support, Co-Founder of the Parent Practice UK. Highly skilled in working with parents and children, author "Real Parenting for Real Kids".

Rachel Kerry
Executive Officer - Cages Foundation
Expertise: Many years experience in philanthropy and corporate community relations including Perpetual and Westpac Foundation. At Cages Foundation Rachel is responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic giving direction.
She is also Chair of the Management Committee for Curious Works.
Karen Loblay, AM
Founder and Chair of Matana Foundation for Young People
Expertise: Sapphire Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, professional and businesswoman, boardmember New Israel Fund Australia Foundation, with special interest in human rights, social justice, refugee advocacy and, through the foundation, disadvantaged youth.
Hugh Mackay, AO
Psychologist, Social Researcher and writer
Expertise: Hugh has been at the forefront of social analysis in Australia for many years. He gives generously of his time in a variety of ways in community service and has been a supporter of Chain Reaction Foundation since its inception in 2002.
Karen Mahlab, AM
Founder and CEO Pro Bono Australia
Expertise: Board member of Reichstein Foundation and the Australian Arts Orchestra. Cheerleader for cross sectoral, cross cultural understandings and big picture thinking.
Prof Abd-Elmasih Malak, AM
Chair Multicultural Mental Health Australia Association, Vice-President World Federation of Mental Health, Convenor Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations.
Expertise: Abd has worked in the field of health and social welfare for the past 30 years in service provision, policy development, planning and management. He has published a wide range of papers on cross cultural issues. Board Director Chain Reaction Foundation.
Winsome Matthews
Manager, Aboriginal Outcomes Child & Family - NSW Family & Community Services
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.
Paul Reid
Retired Partner (Oct 2014) - KPMG
Expertise: Paul was the partner in charge of KPMG’s Investment Management, Funds and Superannuation group and was a member of KPMG’s Global Investment Management and Funds Steering Committee. Paul commits much of his time to pro bono work, including services to NAPCAN, Chain Reaction Foundation and Holy Family Church Mt Druitt.
Felicity Reynolds
CEO - Mercy Foundation
Expertise: Chair Australian Common Ground Alliance and the B. Miles Womens' Foundation. Expertise in effective solving of chronic homelessness; permanent supportive housing; mental health; poverty; social research and social policy.
Chris Sidoti
International Human Rights Consultant, Senior Consultant Asia Pacific Forum
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 and Chair NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Prof Michele Simons
Dean of Education - Western Sydney University
Expertise: Michele has a background in adult and vocational education. Prior to her university appointments, she worked in community services, leading a range of programs for couples, parents and families. She has served on committees for a number of national organisations and government committees focused on the provision of family services in Australia. Michele is currently a Director for Engagement Australia and sits on a number of national education and research related committees.
Patricia Turner, AM
Expertise: Pat is a proud Arrernte woman, now living and working in her family town of Alice Springs, NT. She plays an active role in pursuing Ulura Statement From The Heart. Pat was the inaugural CEO, National Indigenous Television (NITV) from 2007-2010. Prior to that she had a long and distinguished career as a senior public servant in Canberra for some 26 years.