Who We Are: Staff & Council

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Philanthropy Australia Staff
Chief Executive Officer Gina Anderson Gina Anderson joined Philanthropy Australia in November 2005. She has diverse experience in large and small, public and private organisations, having held general management, human resources, corporate community and communications roles. Prior to joining Philanthropy Australia Gina was General Manager Human Resources for St Hilliers, an integrated property development and construction company. She had seven years at Westpac Banking Corporation in a variety of management roles including Head of Community Involvement. This was a national role with responsibility for the Westpac Group's corporate community involvement strategy, sponsorships and relationships with community, not-for-profit organisations and charities, and for the oversight of staff matching gifts and volunteering programs. Gina published a booklet detailing the guidelines for a 'Mentoring in the Community' program she created, which has been used as a basis for mentoring programs across Australia. From 1992 to 1995 Gina lived and worked in Jordan, a moderate Islamic, developing country. She was the personal assistant to HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal, and gained valuable experience of the creation of political and policy responses to issues of refugees, human rights and interfaith dialogue. Gina is a former Director of both Father Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets and Landcare Australia Limited. Gina was a participant in the 2008 Australian Federal Government 2020 Summit, and is a member of the National Roundtable for Nonprofit Organisations. g.anderson@philanthropy.org.au
Manager, Membership Services (Melbourne) Bruce Argyle Based in Melbourne, Bruce is responsible for Membership recruitment and the development and delivery of Philanthropy Australia's Membership activities and services for Victoria, Tasmania, South Austraia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. b.argyle@philanthropy.org.au
Manager, Membership Services (Sydney) Louise Burton Based in Sydney, Louise is responsible for Membership recruitment and the development and delivery of Philanthropy Australia's Membership activities and services for New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. l.burton@philanthropy.org.au
Manager, Communications & Knowledge Louise Arkles Louise is responsible for communications, research and information services to Philanthropy Australia's Members, clients and the general public. She coordinates the production of Philanthropy Australia's publications and manages the organisation's knowledge management initiatives. l.arkles@philanthropy.org.au
Research and Training Manager Vanessa Meachen Vanessa provides information and research services, writes for our publications, and develops and conducts grantseeker and customised workshops. v.meachen@philanthropy.org.au
Community Foundations Development Officer Andrew Lawson Andrew Lawson is responsible for providing advice and support to new and established community foundations and to those communities interested in establishing a foundation. ajlawson@bigpond.com
Web & Communications Joanna Fulton Joanna manages our websites, listservs and online Membership services, contributes to the Blog and the PhilanthropyWiki, responds to our various public email addresses and provides technical and administrative support to the office. She also assists in the management of Philanthropy Australia's seminars, workshops, Affinity Groups and Networks. j.fulton@philanthropy.org.au
Book Keeper Cheryl O'Kelly Cheryl is responsible for accounts payable and receivable and publications orders. c.okelly@philanthropy.org.au
Knowledge Centre Administrator Mary Borsellino Mary is responsible for the collation and distribution of the Members' media alert service, PRESSing Matters, and is a sub-editor of the Australian Philanthropy Journal. She also provides general support for the Knowledge Centre team. m.borsellino@philanthropy.org.au
Communications & Administration, Sydney Office Annie Scoufis Annie provides administrative assistance for the Sydney office of Philanthropy Australia. She facilitates the organisation of Sydney Events and assists with Membership services for NSW and QLD. a.scoufis@philanthropy.org.au

Philanthropy Australia Council
President Mr Bruce Bonyhady AM Mr Bruce Bonyhady is Chairman of Acadian Asset Management Australia Limited, a Director of Dexus Wholesale Property Limited and a Member of the UniSuper Investment Committee. Mr Bonyhady is also a Member of the Independent Panel advising the Productivity Commission in its Inquiry into a National Disability Long-term Care and Support Scheme. Community positions held by Mr Bonyhady are: Chairman of Yooralla and Chairman of the Advisory Panel to Solve! at the Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne. Mr Bonyhady was formerly Chairman of ANZ Trustees Limited, a Member of the Felton Bequests' Committee and a Member of the Disability Investment Group. In June 2010 Mr Bonyhady was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to people with disabilities, their families and carers, particularly as Chairman of Yooralla, and to the community as a contributor to a range of charitable organisations.
Melbourne Vice President Ms Dur-e Dara OAM Dur-e Dara is a restauranteur, business woman and musician. She describes herself as Indian by race, Malaysian by birth and an Australian citizen by choice. She is the Convenor of the Victorian Women's Trust, on the board of management of La Mama Theatre, and Patron of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.
Sydney Vice President Ms Sam Meers Sam Meers (BA, LLB, M Litt) is the Executive Director of the Nelson Meers Foundation, which she and her father, Nelson, established to support projects that foster innovative cultural expression, and that utilise the arts to create positive social change. The Nelson Meers Foundation was Australia's first Prescribed Private Fund and, in 2005, was the winner of the AbaF/Goldman Sachs JBWere Philanthropy Leadership Award. Prior to establishing the Nelson Meers Foundation in 2001, Sam practised as a specialist media lawyer for over ten years. Sam is also a board member of the Documentary Australia Foundation; a council member of the Power Institute Foundation; a council member of the Centre for Social Impact Advisory Council; a council member of The Climate Institute Strategic Council; a member of the Australian Women Donors Network Steering Committee; and an Ambassador for Al Gore's Climate Change Leadership Program.
Treasurer David Ward David was a Director of ANZ Trustees and ShareGift Australia and was Trustee Representative on several charitable trusts including the Hugh DT Williamson Foundation, the Alexander Miller Estate and the Alexander Wright Wales Trust. David is the author of Philanthropy Australia’s 2008 publication Trustee Handbook: Role and Duties of Trustees of Charitable Trusts and Foundations in Australia. David had 19 years' service with ANZ, including positions of Chief Economist (NZ); General Manager Investor Relations; General Manager Office of the Chief Executive; and four years as General Manager then Managing Director of ANZ Trustees. Previously he had 7 years' service as a diplomat with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dealing with Economic, Trade, Defence and Aid issues and serving in Wellington, Canberra and Fiji.
Chief Executive Officer Ms Gina Anderson Gina Anderson joined Philanthropy Australia in November 2005. She has diverse experience in large and small, public and private organisations, having held general management, human resources, corporate community and communications roles. Prior to joining Philanthropy Australia Gina was General Manager Human Resources for St Hilliers, an integrated property development and construction company. She had seven years at Westpac Banking Corporation in a variety of management roles including Head of Community Involvement. This was a national role with responsibility for the Westpac Group's corporate community involvement strategy, sponsorships and relationships with community, not-for-profit organisations and charities, and for the oversight of staff matching gifts and volunteering programs. Gina published a booklet detailing the guidelines for a 'Mentoring in the Community' program she created, which has been used as a basis for mentoring programs across Australia. From 1992 to 1995 Gina lived and worked in Jordan, a moderate Islamic, developing country. She was the personal assistant to HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal, and gained valuable experience of the creation of political and policy responses to issues of refugees, human rights and interfaith dialogue. Gina is a former Director of both Father Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets and Landcare Australia Limited. Gina was a participant in the 2008 Australian Federal Government 2020 Summit, and is a member of the National Roundtable for Nonprofit Organisations.
Mr Paul Clitheroe AM Paul Clitheroe is a director of ipac securities, a company he founded in 1983 with four partners. ipac manages more than $16 billion dollars for clients. Paul is a leading media commentator on financial issues and is renowned for his ability to explain complex money issues in plain English. His books have sold over 600,000 copies. Paul is also a regular radio commentator and writes weekly newspaper columns. He was host of the Channel 9 TV program money from 1994 to 2004 and has been Chairman and Chief Commentator of money magazine since 1999. In February 2004, the Federal Government appointed Paul as Chairman of the Consumer and Financial Literacy Foundation. This Foundation has established a national strategy to improve the financial skills of all Australians and is now implementing this strategy in schools and the workplace. Most Australians would have seen the “Understanding Money” campaign run on TV, magazines and newspapers. In 2002, Paul and his wife Vicki set up a PPF, The Clitheroe Foundation. The Foundation provides support for medical research and the arts. In recent years it has funded annual scholarships, fellowships or grants for Sydney Symphony, National Art School, Sculpture by the Sea, NSW Art Gallery, Ensemble Theatre and Taronga Zoo.
Mr Tim Fairfax AM Mr Timothy Fairfax AM is a businessman, pastoralist and philanthropist. He is Chairman of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, Salvation Army Brisbane Advisory Board, Chair of the National Portrait Gallery Board, Trustee of Queensland Art Gallery, President Queensland Art Gallery Foundation, and Director of the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal. Tim is also Patron of AMA Queensland Foundation, Member of Philanthropy Australia Council and Councillor Royal National Association Queensland. Tim's business interests include being a director of Cambooya Pty Ltd, Building Solutions Pty Ltd and Principal of T.V. Fairfax Pastoral, Strathbogie Pastoral Company and JH Fairfax & Son; which operate ten rural properties in Queensland and New South Wales involving beef cattle, fine wool and grain.
Mr Terry Macdonald Terry Macdonald (FIEAust., CPEng.) is the Principal of Macdonald Technical Services, consulting in Engineering and Business Management. His initiation to the Community sector was as a Councillor in the City of Nunawading . He was President of Reach Out for Kids Foundation 1996-2003 and currently holds office in several Community organisations in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne . He joined the Board of the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation in 1999 and became Chairman of the Grants Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the Fund in 2003. He was elected to the Board of United Way Australia in 2005 and was a member of the Hosting Committee of UWA preparing for the United Way World Congress in Melbourne in 2006. Terry's career as a senior Engineering and Management executive was in the Federal Departments of Civil Aviation, Transport and Defence as well at three of Melbourne's Universities. He is Immediate Past President of a Defence/Industry Association, a Member of the Victorian Chapter Committee o f the Australian Society of Defence Engineering and a member of the Alumni of the Australian Graduate School of Management and the Swinburne Philanthropy Alumni.
Dr Noel Purcell Noel is Principal of Simply Good Business which specialises in strategic advice to corporations, government and not-for-profit organisations in the areas of corporate governance, responsibility and sustainability. Noel retired from Westpac Banking Corporation in September 2008, having spent 23 years in senior executive roles. Prior to joining Westpac, Noel had served at senior executive level within the Federal Public Service within Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Office of National Assessments, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Noel currently sits on several boards including as Vice Chair of the Global Governing Board of the Caux Round Table, a member of the Tasmanian Government's Climate Action Council, a Council member of Philanthropy Australia, and is a Trustee of the Westpac Foundation.
Mr Christopher Thorn Christopher Thorn (BComm, FFin, MSDIA) is the Executive Director of JBWere's Philanthropic Services team, where his primary responsibilities include raising awareness of philanthropic issues; providing advice on investment and capital management to individuals and organisations wishing to implement a philanthropic strategy; and fostering relationships between interested parties in order to facilitate the giving process. Christopher is a partner of JBWere. He joined the firm in 1984 and worked in Melbourne as a Retail and Institutional Adviser. In 1993 Christopher moved to New York as Vice President Institutional Sales. Upon returning to Australia in 1996 he was appointed Manager of JBWere's Queensland business, until returning to Melbourne in 2001. Christopher has held a variety of senior management roles within JBWere's Private Wealth Management business, including business integration and strategy. In 2002, Christopher established the firm's Philanthropic Services division. Christopher is a member of the Philanthropy Australia Council; Chairman of StreetSmart Australia - a campaign established to provide financial support to the homeless sector, Chairman of ShareGift Australia and also Vice-President of the Camberwell Grammar School Foundation.
Dr Jackie Huggins AM Jackie is a member of the board of Telstra Foundation, and is also a respected author and academic. She is Deputy Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit at the University of Queensland, and is also a past Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia and a former Commissioner for Queensland for the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families. She was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2001 for services to the Indigenous community, particularly in the areas of reconciliation, social justice, literacy and women's issues.