About Us

Linda is a lawyer by profession and has broad experience in developing and advising on public policy in Australia.  Linda served in the Queensland Parliament from 1997 to 2009 and was appointed the State Attorney-General in 2005.After retiring from the Queensland Parliament Linda joined the team at the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at QUT co-ordinating a Nonprofit Law project aimed at streamlining the laws that regulate charities and not for profits in Australia. She has remained connected to ACPNS and now serves as a member of the Centre’s Advisory Board.

Linda was appointed by the then Federal Government as Chair of the National Not-for-profit Sector Reform Council (2011-2013) and Chair of the Not-for-Profit Sector Tax Concession Working Group (2013).

From 2015 to 2021 held the position of Director of Member and Specialist Services with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU).

Linda has had extensive experience serving on Boards including Chair of the Board of Screen Queensland (2018-2022), Deputy Chair of the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF) (2008-2018), Director, Hockey Queensland (2007-2012), Chair of Coast 2 Bay Housing Group (2010-2013) and a Director of the Princess Alexandra Hospital Research Foundation (2007-2009). Linda is currently a Director of Volunteering Queensland and a non-executive Director of QNMU Law.

Jane has a strong background in change management, leadership and transformation. Her extensive experience spans across both government and the not-for-profit sector.

Jane has held senior executive positions in corporate services, media & communications, customer experience, information technology and organisational change across a number of Queensland Government departments. She is currently the CEO of The Australian College of Audiology. In addition, she co-owns and directs StormBirds, a crisis and communications strategy consultancy across Australia and New Zealand.

An experienced board director and current Board Chair of Challenge DV, Jane has a long history of community service and is committed to growing board diversity and effectiveness. Jane has undertaken studies in law, leadership and futurism, and has a strong interest in digital disruption, workforce agility and organisational future-proofing.

She believes that volunteering is about giving back to our community in a meaningful and useful manner that is respectful and empowering of individuals and organisations.

Chris is a recognised leader in the not-for-profit sector having been appointed as CEO for PACT in February 2023. Prior to his appointment at PACT from 2007, he was General Manager and CEO for Hear and Say, a children’s charity and world-leading early intervention support service for children who are deaf or have a hearing loss.

He has held governance appointments and advisory roles on a variety of national and statewide consumer advocacy, health, and disability organisations and on government advisory and working groups.

Chris is a graduate of the Royal Military College – Duntroon, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Benevolent Society’s Social Leadership Program and he holds a Masters of Management from the University of New South Wales. In his personal life, Chris is married and between him and his wife, they have a blended family of 5 children, 2 cats and a school of fish.

Brett is a Senior Information Technology executive with extensive strategic ICT experience, a vast array of technical and people leadership skills spanning more than 20 years. He is a C-Suite leader experienced in both public and private organisations leading transformational change, uplifting digital capabilities, and delivering large scale solutions.

An experienced board director with a long history of community service volunteering on an ICT advisory board with a tertiary educational institution and non-executive director with a large sporting organisation leading several sub committees as required.

Nunzia is an experienced senior executive with over 10 years’ experience on NFB Boards and Committees, combined with strong leadership skills, significant sales, marketing, human resources, and communications experience.

Nunzia has significant industry experience in both profit and not for profit sector across various service-based industries including government, employment, training, disability, and community services. Success has also been in building a broad senior level network and business relationships within the business community, federal, local, and state governments, and key industry associations.

Nunzia is passionate about achieving successful outcomes through contributing as a Board Member with proven expertise in sales and marketing, human resources, financial management and strategic planning and utilising her key attributes, by sharing my knowledge and network, and navigating across the complexity of large organisations and the dynamics between them.

Ainsley is an experienced Company Director with 20 years combined Board and Committee experience steering the successful strategy, growth, fiscal sustainability, and governance of for-purpose organisations. Presently, she is also a Non-Executive Director of both the Australian Disability Network and Health Consumers Queensland.

She was formerly a Director of non-profits including the Brisbane Women’s’ Club, Australian Association of Graduate Employers, and Enterprise Network for Young Australians. Amplifying the power of communities to improve socio-economic outcomes is an important purpose of hers. Ainsley is inspired by the work of Volunteering Queensland helping their partners leverage the spirit and efforts of everyday Queenslanders to make a difference to a cause they believe in. Day to day, Ainsley holds an executive role as a Chief People Officer in the corporate world, having worked in HR and general management for most of her career.

Her professional interests include people and culture strategy, talent management and the future of work, change management, workplace wellbeing and safety, marketing, digital transformation, and cyber security/AI. Ainsley holds a Bachelor of Communications, Master of Arts in International Relations, and a Master of Applied Science in Coaching Psychology.

Bill has more than 20 years in senior management experience and extensive local government business acumen to the role. During his time at Redland and Brisbane City Council, Bill was instrumental in the implementation of outcomes-focused strategic plans, which outlines values and behaviours to drive a positive culture.

Previous to Local Government roles Bill worked in the Infrastructure Sector driving safety, productivity and customer service improvements with large Capital and Maintenance Budgets. Bill has extensive Disaster Management experience working across QLD natural Disaster in the past 15 years and serving on the QLD Operational Disaster Management Committee.

As CEO at St John Ambulance QLD, Bill has embraced purpose-orientated organisations and in a very short time have delivered to very demanding Board targets to restructure the business, transform operations and engage staff and volunteers.  Significantly the newly developed budget has a $1.2M turnaround from a deficit to a profit.  Bill actively volunteers with Rosies, St John Ambulance QLD (as an Advanced First Aider) and previous with Nexus Care and his local football club for 10 years in various volunteer and leadership roles.

Bill has also held multiple Director Roles in Local Government Companies and set up Redland Investment Corporation (served as Deputy Chair) more recently he was the Chairman of TradeCoast Land Pty Ltd.  This experience, coupled with extensive Senior Leadership roles has allowed him to be an effective Director whilst mentoring and allowing the executive to thrive.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Business (International Business and Marketing), an Associate Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications) and a Certificate of Management. He is also a completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and the General Manager Program at the Australian Graduate School of Management.

John Livesey (CFO) is a seasoned finance executive with a rich professional history spanning nearly two decades. Since commencing at Wesley Mission Queensland (WMQ) he has played a pivotal role in shaping the organisations financial landscape, overseeing finance, fleet management, hospitality services and procurement activities.

John also holds an executive role on the UnitingCare Procurement Hub. As a distinguished finance professional, John is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants, holds an MBA with a specialisation in Entrepreneurial Management, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Motivated by continuous improvement John’s vision extends beyond financial metrics, encompassing a holistic approach that nurtures the organisation, its services, and its people. By combining his expertise with an acute awareness of evolving market dynamics, he ensures that WMQ is well positioned to continue its rich history of community service.

John is passionate about seeing for purpose organisations thrive, particularly in the tough times that the many people find themselves in today. To that end, John is keen to impart his wealth of experience with for purpose organisations that contribute to the betterment of the community. John is currently an external specialist on the Finance and Risk Committee for Tenants Queensland.

Craig is an experienced Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executive with over 25 years’ experience working in Senior Finance, Operational and Consulting roles across a number of industry sectors including ASX listed Engineering and Professional Services, Retail and Pharmacy, Property Development and Construction, Not for Profit and Government.

Craig is passionate about business and believes that business should be a force for good. He believes that volunteering plays an important and critical dual role in society by providing an essential workforce to assist social/enterprises deliver their mission as well as providing a sense of purpose, community and often growth for thousands of people across the State.

Craig holds an undergraduate degree in Applied Science, MBA, Master of Applied Finance and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and Leadership Excellence (LEAP) programs at INSEAD in France. He is a Graduate and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and FCPA.

Simon Irwin is Chief Executive Officer of Beef Australia Limited; presenters of the largest cattle show in the Southern Hemisphere. Prior to joining Beef Australia, he had a long career in the media holding senior positions in News Corporation Australia and APN News and Media.

Simon has been involved with many community and industry organisations and is a past president of the Queensland Pony Club Association (now Pony Club Queensland); past president of Country Press Australia and the Queensland Country Press Association; as well as numerous community and development boards across Queensland and Northern NSW.

He is currently a director of the Iwasaki Foundation which provides financial support for needy and disabled people. He is married with two adult daughters and lives in Gracemere near Rockhampton in Central Queensland.

Mara has worked in the volunteering and community sectors for more than 25 years. During this time she has led state-wide organisations and talented teams, developing and implementing successful innovations, programs and strategic alignments that have brought benefits to the volunteer sector and the broader community at the local, regional, state and national level.

As Chief Executive Officer of Volunteering WA for eight years, Mara lead the development and continual expansion of the new GoVolunteer and VIKTOR Online as the national digital platforms for volunteer referral and management; the expansion of corporate volunteer engagement and the introduction of Australia’s first Corporate Volunteer Council which led to the launch of the Give1 initiative – a celebration of corporate giving; the development of a system to recruit and manage spontaneous volunteers and manage material and in kind donations at times of emergency and disaster; introduction of the Western Australian Volunteer of the Year Awards; the annual award winning Homeless Connect Perth; an annual research agenda; establishment of dedicated volunteering hubs on university campuses and development of new programs, models of service delivery and resources to overcome barriers and promote inclusive and rewarding volunteering experiences.

As well as her extensive knowledge of and expertise in volunteerism, Mara has a wealth of experience and knowledge and strong links with the cultural, educational, youth and multicultural sectors.

Throughout her career Mara has been responsible for the implementation of many innovative educational, community, youth and cultural development projects and programs, including –

– a multi-arts approach to education; an award winning Circus Arts in Education accredited program; the Living in Harmony initiative, which was the subject of a UN Media Peace Award; Stage One Children’s Festival, the forerunner of the Awesome Children’s Festival; redefining the Australia Day Oz Concert and the Western Australian Citizen of the Year Awards to be premiere events celebrating the diverse community of Western Australia; coordinating the CHOGM 2011 Volunteer Program; and many other cultural and community development initiatives.

Mara was Australia’s Country Representative Body delegate to the United Nations Volunteers; Australia’s National Volunteer Centre representative at the International Association for Volunteer Effort; and Western Australia’s representative on the Policy and Strategy Committee of Volunteering Australia. She has been an active member of various multicultural and emergency service advisory and social policy committees.

With a long family tradition of volunteering, Mara appreciates and promotes the reciprocal benefits volunteering can bring. “My philosophy is simply to do all that I can to make our community the best it can be for all people. We all have something to contribute and share and we are all in need of a helping hand at some time”.

She believes volunteering provides opportunities to strengthen community connectedness and participation in civil society. “It fosters a sense of belonging and purpose and enables citizens to give of their best and appreciate their own and others’ potential”.

Mara is an active volunteer, currently serving as a member of the Order of St John and with multicultural and faith-based committees and organisations.  “To bring together through the vehicle of volunteering the energy, capabilities and positivity of people who want to create a better world by giving something back is both inspiring and a privilege”

Diane has worked as a manager, board director, educator, counsellor and volunteer herself. She has taken leadership roles in a variety of national and international volunteer associations. She has been a Director of the International Association for Volunteer Effort. This role included promoting volunteering in the Asia-Pacific region.

She was the inaugural President of the Australian Association for Volunteering from 1990 to 1992 and the Vice President of the National Association for Volunteer Referral Agencies (NAVRA) from 1989 to 1992.

These two bodies amalgamated to form Volunteering Australia, and Diane has been Queensland Director on the Volunteering Australia Board.

Diane was the CEO of Volunteering Queensland from 1987-2009, where she led the development of regional Volunteer Resource Centres throughout Queensland and has been involved in the development of standards and accredited training courses for volunteers and volunteer managers, as well as policy and procedures for the involvement of volunteers in non-profit organisations.

Diane has devoted her life to volunteering and is committed to volunteering as an integral part of community capacity building in today’s society. Diane has been a guest speaker at numerous international and national conferences as well as writing and facilitating training courses for all sectors of the community. She has a social welfare background and received a graduate diploma in Human Service Management from the Queensland University of Technology in 1992.

David is recognised for his service to education and to the community through his volunteering.

David was a Former director of Human Resources, QLD Department of Education, Training, and Employment more than 35 years.

He worked from the age of eighteen until his retirement as a staff teacher, principal, and inspector. He worked as a school inspector of QLD Department of Education from 1980 to 1990. For the final five years, he held the position of Director of Human Resources and managed the professional lives of some fifty thousand employees.

David worked as a volunteer support manager for Volunteering Queensland. He volunteered with Volunteering QLD more than 10 years. He developed and implemented Volunteering Queensland’s human resources platform. In 2012, he began to volunteering with BUSHkids, offering a range of free health service to children and their families in rural Queensland communities. He said “as a young teacher and principal in outback Queensland, I was very impressed by the care given to bush children by the Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme and felt that we as teaching professionals, owed a debt of gratitude to the ‘Bushies’ as they were affectionately known. “In 2014, he was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community.