Our Board

David Thompson is CEO of Jobs Australia Limited, the national peak organisation for more than 270 non-profit providers of employment and related services for unemployed people. David has a keen interest in social justice and equity issues.

David is also Director of the National Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations Limited, Director of the Australian Council of Social Service, Chair, Jobs Australia Foundation, Chair, COMMACT International and Director of its Australian Chapter, Chair of Community 21 Limited, Director of Community Sector Enterprises Pty Ltd and Director of Beyond Empathy Limited. David is also a member of the Board of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy and a member of a number of federal government advisory bodies.
 

Peter has worked in the Community Sector for over 25 years. Peter was also instrumental in the foundation of both Community Sector Banking and Australia’s first Regional Superannuation Fund.

Peter is currently a Director of Jobs Australia Ltd, and a Director of the Jobs Australia Foundation. Peter also serves on a number of other boards at both a national and international level. These include: Community 21 Ltd; Illawarra Disability Trust; Access Community Group Ltd; 4th Sector Enterprises Pty Ltd; INAISE (International Association of Investors in the Social Economy) and RIPESS (International Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy). Peter is President of COMMACT Australia and was a founding director of Community Sector Enterprises Pty Ltd and Community Sector Banking Pty Ltd (2002 - 2009).

Peter is an innovative thinker who is passionate about ensuring Australia continues to have a strong and responsive not for profit sector.

Peter’s other passion is spending time tending his garden, which gives him the time to re-energise and think up new ways to solve the world’s problems.

 

Lauren is the Deputy CEO and Company Secretary for St Luke’s Anglicare, a regional community service organisation based in Bendigo, and serving the Loddon Campaspe & Southern Mallee areas of Victoria and into Southern NSW.  

Lauren has an extensive background in the marketing and communications field, through senior management positions in the financial services industry and broadcast media.

 

Alan Kirkland is self-employed.
Alan was Chief Executive Officer of Legal Aid NSW from 2008 to 2011.

Alan was previously Executive Director of the Australian Law Reform Commission; Director, Community Access, with the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care; and Director of the NSW Council of Social Service.

Alan has been a member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and the Administrative Decisions Tribunal, and is currently a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness.

 

Eleri has been with Mission Australia for 5 years and held a number of positions including Executive Leader of Community Services and CEO of Mission Australia Housing Ltd.

She recently took up a new position heading up advocacy and public affairs.  She has over 30 years’ experience in community services in the youth, housing and homelessness. She has held a number of national advocacy and policy roles and worked in federal politics as Chief of Staff to the leader of the Australian Democrats.

Eleri has degrees in environmental sciences, economics and an MBA.  She is a director of two Mission Australia Housing companies in the Mission Australia group and is a founding and continuing director of Community Sector Enterprises and Community 21 Ltd.

 

Andrew has been employed by O group since 1998, fulfilling a number of leadership roles prior to his appointment as CEO in 2004.

Andrew’s collaborative style and organisational cultural development skills have contributed to O group’s recognition as a Tasmanian Employer of Choice and national awards for work/life balance initiatives.  Under Andrew’s leadership O group has become the most prolific and diverse human resource and business advisory organisation in Tasmania, and the recipient of many state and national awards.

Ethical, energetic and passionate, Andrew brings a balance of corporate style to a NFP organisation. An Australian Institute of Management and Australian Institute of Company Directors Fellow, Andrew has demonstrated senior Management and Board experience and skills in the areas of business diversification, strategic planning, financial management and corporate governance.

 

Jackie has extensive managerial experience gained through senior roles and has been involved with the for-benefit sector for over 25 years.  She has a background of developing initiatives for organisational growth and community and regional development. Her skills encompass: strategic planning; corporate governance; project management; team leadership; stakeholder engagement and financial and administrative management.

Jackie is currently National Manager Corporate Strategy with Enterprise & Training Company (ETC). Her previous roles include senior level management with an economic development agency, Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited, and the facilitation of community-driven regional development initiatives with the Barossa Riverland Mid-North Area Consultative Committee. Jackie has also worked with local government and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development. She has been a member of committees involved in school-to-work transitions, children’s services and charitable activities.

Jackie has a strong personal commitment to furthering the role of social enterprise as a driver of community and regional sustainability, with a particular interest in the opportunities and issues facing communities at the local level.