National winners of AICD NFP scholarships

Scholarship recipient organisations (L to R, clockwise): Community Care and Transport Incorporated, Skyline, Solar Citizens.
In 2023 the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), in partnership with the Australian Scholarships Foundation awarded 200 full scholarships to enable directors, executives and emerging directors of NFP organisations with a turnover of less than $2m to attend the AICD’s Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors program.
The diverse list of 200 recipients includes directors, executives, and emerging directors of not-for-profit and charitable organisations with an annual income of less than $2 million and represents every state in Australia.
These scholarships will support these board members to build their skills and help provide quality governance to the charitable and not-for-profit organisations they serve. This program contributes greatly to our overall mission to elevate the capability of leaders in the sector.
We would like to congratulate recipients from across Australia.
Australian Institute of Company Directors – Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors Scholarships 2022/2023 award recipients
Australian Capital Territory
- Anke Van der Sterren, Director, The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.
- Ewelina Przybyszewski, Director, Research for Development Impact Network.
- Gabriela Budilova, Senior Finance Officer/Acting CEO, Beryl Women Inc.
- Holly Trueman, Executive Director, Canberra Environment Centre.
- Kirrin Sampson, Board Member, National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature Inc.
- Mainul Haque, Senior Vice President, Community Radio 2XX.
- Mark Papinczak, Chief Digital Officer, 180 Degrees Consulting.
- Vicki Schuhardt, Chairperson, HerSpace Limited.

Heidi Lee Douglas is the National Director of Solar Citizens, and an Independent local government Councillor for Bayside NSW. Heidi shared on receiving this scholarship, “Striving for better leadership unlocks potential in those around us, as well as within ourselves. This scholarship will enable me to become a better leader for Solar Citizens, but it will also help me in my other leadership roles, such as in my work as a film director and as local government councillor.“
New South Wales
- Alia Timmins, Chief Executive Officer, Co-operative Orchestra.
- Alice Fung, Non-executive Director, Australian Pain Management Association.
- Alison Scotland, Executive Director, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council.
- Amanda Cappello, Riverina Operations Manager, Regional Development Australia.
- Amy Croucher, Founder and Director, Inner West Tool Library Sydney.
- Andrew Da Silva, Director, Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club Inc.
- Ann Dadich, Director: ANZAM, Secretary: ACSPRI.
- Ben Fitzpatrick, Board Member, Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc.
- Bree Knapp, Head of HR Analytics & Insight, Qantas.
- Caroline Homer, Chair of Board and President, Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand.
- Catherine Goodwin, Founder, BFF 4 Change Ltd.
- Chella Goldwin, Chairperson, Yallambee Aboriginal Culture and Community Advancement Inc.
- Christine Freak, Policy Manager, NSW Irrigators’ Council.
- Christine Windeyer, Director, Pop In Southern Highlands Ltd.
- Danielle Hodgson, Chief Operating Officer, Miracle Babies Foundation Ltd.
- Deanna Kyriazopoulos, Director, Australian Taekwondo Limited.
- Deborah Perkins, Child Protection Paediatrician, Child Protection Paediatric Society of Australasia.
- Diana Zhang, Board Director, Science & Technology Australia.
- Gabrielle Morrissey Hansen, Chief Executive Officer, Women and Children First.
- Heidi Douglas, National Director, Solar Citizens.
- Jacinta Smith, Director and Company Secretary, Capital Punishment Justice Project Limited.
- Jake Rose, Board Member, Neuroblastoma Australia.
- Jennifer Teh, Board Member, Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Women’s Shelter.
- Jessica Walker, Non Executive Director: Fishburners Limited, Head of Programs and Community: AirTree.
- Jodie Wainwright, Chief Executive Officer, Milk Crate Theatre.
- Joe Langley, Executive Committee Member, Prosper Australia.
- Joel Pilgrim, Chief Executive Officer, Waves of Wellness Foundation.
- Julia Cooper, Executive Director/Company Secretary/Head of Legal Research, Consent Labs LTD.
- Karen Graham, Chief Executive Officer, Talent RISE Foundation.
- Kathryn Akre, Chief Executive Officer, Bathurst Community Transport Group Inc.
- Kerren Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation.
- Khouloud Kamalmaz, Voluntary Research Advisor, UNAA New South Wales.
- Kylie Richardson, Assistant Manager, Myrtle Cottage Group Inc.
- Lali Wiratunga MBA (Executive) LLB, Non-Executive Director and Chair, Plate It Forward.
- Livleen Kathpal, Chair, Full Circle Social Enterprises Pty Ltd.
- Louise Cooper, Deputy Chairperson, Sydney Marae Alliance.
- Madhuri Nandi, Board of Directors – Treasurer, Australian Women in Security Network.
- Malaz Majanni, Chief Executive Officer, OPN Media Ltd.
- Mariana Wheatley, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Altiorem Ltd.
- Mary-Lou O’Brien, Director of Digital Innovation, Scecgs Redlands Limited.
- Matt de Jongh, Non-executive Director – Sustainability Manager with Responsible Wood, Forestry Australia.
- Melinda Farrell, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Therapy Dogs.
- Mohamed Rizme, President, Austra Lanka Muslim Association.
- Nathan Lovett, Chief Executive Officer, National Indigenous Culinary Institute.
- Ni Gao, Board Member, Connect: Inner West Community Transport Group.
- Nicola Norris, Board Member, Success Works Partners Inc.
- Olivia Roney, Director, Pride by Side Ltd.
- Rebecca Hanifin, Non-executive Director, Centre for Financial Wellbeing.
- Sally Irwin, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, The Freedom Hub.
- Sherry Shang, Finance Director, Australian Cyber Security Growth Network Ltd.
- Simon Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer, Mentoring Men.
- Sonja Ceri, Director, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.
- Tania Skippen, Non-executive Director, SMART Recovery Australia.
- Tara Lee, Consumer Engagement Manager for Health Services, Health Consumers NSW.
- Thomasin Schmidt, Chair of Board Directors, Australian Association of Graduate Employers.
- Tiara De Silva, Youth Director, Reachout Australia.
Northern Territory
- Adam Wells, General Manager, RSPCA Darwin Regional Branch Inc.
- Emily Raso, Executive Officer, Landcare NT Incorporated.
- Melisa Coveney, Board Member, Dawn House.
- Nathan Djerrkura, Wangurri Djerrkura Aboriginal Corporation
- Wendy Garden, President, Art Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Queensland
- Alexandra Williamson, Non-executive director, Australian and New Zealand Third Sector Research Ltd.
- Amanda Goddard, Non-executive director, Rocket Seeder Limited
- Andrew Hayward, Non-Executive Director, Rural Health Management Services.
- Anthony Jones, Director, The Lady Musgrave Trust.
- Brent Cerutti, Independant director and Finance committee Chair, FNQ Rugby League.
- Daniel Randazzo, Director, Radio Lollipop (Australia) Limited.
- Danielle Ah Boo, Co-chair, Reconciliation Queensland Incorporated.
- Helen Allport, Manager – Through Care Program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services Ltd.
- Jake Araullo, Board Member, North West Youth Accommodation Service.
- Jane Lewin, Management Committee Member, SPELD QLD Inc.
- Jennifer Basham, President, West End Partisans Sporting & Cultural Association Inc.
- John Preston, Board President, QLD Radio for the print Handicapped Ltd.
- Kellie Blinco, Board Member, Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland.
- Kelly Gray, Manager, Sandgate Home Assist Secure.
- Kerryn McLean, Board Director, Refuge Victoria.
- Kim Skubris, Director, LiteHaus International Ltd.
- Kim Rollason-Nokes, CEO, Ethni.
- Kylie Bates, Board Director, UN Women.
- Majella Nolan, Non Executive Director, Future Farmers Network.
- Michael Noetel, Chair and Director, Effective Altruism Australia Environment Ltd.
- Morgana Jones, Operations and Policy Coordinator, Women’s Health and Equality Queensland Ltd.
- Nora Fraser, Founder & Managing Director, The Multicultural Professional Network.
- Peta Bilton, Director, Arrow Leadership.
- Petrina Gilmore, Director of Philanthropy, Somerville House Foundation.
- Shane Cunningham, Director, Generation Innovation Ltd.
- Shannon Calderoni, Executive Manager, Baby Give Back Limited.
- Taylah Griffin, Non-executive director, DeadlyScience Ltd.
- Thomas Dunsmore, General Manager, Australian Boarding Schools Association.
- Walter Lomax, Non executive director, Barayamal Ltd.
- Yasmin Johnson, CEO, National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Womens Alliance (NATSIWA).
South Australia
- Abbie Taylor, National President, Australian Institute of Training & Development.
- Alex Ingleton, Secretary & Deputy Chair, South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS).
- Alexander Dunbar, Board Member, Positive Solutions – Community Mediation Service Tasmania Inc.
- Carman Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Australian Alliance to End Homelessness.
- Catherine Ooi, Honorary Secretary, Pure Land Hospice.
- Dameeli Coates, Board Member, Guildhouse.
- David McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Community Care and Transport Incorporated.
- Geoffrey Payne, Chief Executive Officer, CareWorks Inc.
- Jane Edwards, Forensic Paediatrician, Child Protection Paediatric Society of Australasia.
- Joanna Kaye, General Manager, Zero Carbon Hydrogen Australia.
- Karla Della Pietra, Chief Executive Officer, Volleyball South Australia.
- Kirsty Stark, Producer, Mercury CX Incorporated.
- Lauren Novak, Non-Executive Director, Zahra Foundation Australia.
- Michelle Kalsan, Board Director, Newosis Mental Health Foundation.
- Nicole Chaplin, Director, Nunga Mi Minar.
- Robert Kavanagh, Chief Executive Officer, The Newosis Mental Health Foundation.
- Sally Woolford, Vice President and Alumni Director, Women in Innovation.
- Stephanie Malan, CEO, The Village Co. SA LTD.

David McDonald is CEO of Community Care and Transport Incorporated. “David shares on receiving this scholarship, “Whilst I have had extensive business experience and I have picked up so much knowledge on my life’s journey to date, I have never really had any formal training of this nature. This will be a wonderful opportunity and experience for me personally to benchmark against my current knowledge bank and to challenge any existing paradigms that I may have”.
Tasmania
- Claire Baker, Events, Media and Brand Manager, Marinus Link Pty Ltd National Trust of Australia – Tasmania.
- Fiona Vanderbeek, Board Director, Launceston Volunteers for Community.
- Georgie Crockett, Board Director and Volunteer, Reconciliation Tasmania.
- Kathleen Mackay, Board Member, TasICT.
- Lisa Wright, Director, Central Launceston Marketing Inc.
- Rose Stranan, Deputy Chair, WLHH Board Womens Liberation Halfway House Inc.
- Rosemary Harrup, Chair, COGNO Ltd.
- Samuel Bigwood, Project officer: Community Capacity Builder, Director: Man up Tasmania, Board Member: Men’s Resources Tasmania.
- Theresa Simpkin, Non Executive Director/Board Member, Hamlet.
Victoria
- Ali Yaghobi, Funding member and Secretary, Afghan Australian Initiative.
- Amanda Curlewis, Committee of Management member and Safety and Quality Sub-committee Chair, Buchan Bush Nursing Association.
- Andrea Mason, Chairperson, Global Landcare incorporated.
- Cameron Bloye, Independent Director – Legal, United Housing Co-Operative Ltd.
- Carissa Harris, Director/Deputy Chair, Regional Sport Victoria.
- Cheryl Downes, Board Director, Women Onside.
- Christian Bien, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Elucidate Education Ltd.
- Chun Hui Goh, Board Member, Australian Alliance For Energy Productivity.
- Dan Cowdell, Chief Executive Officer, Geelong Sustainability Group Inc.
- Daniel Dorevitch, Director, Academy of Child and Adolescent Health.
- Eleni Mcilroy President/Chairperson (Volunteer), Orbost Exhibition Centre.
- Emily Barr, Associate Director, Asialink Business-The University of Melbourne.
- Francine Marques, Director, Hypertension Australia.
- Georgina Fordham, Financial Accountant / Long Term strategist, Future Hope.
- Heather Little, Non-Executive Director, Take 3 for the Sea.
- Helena Lindorff, Board Member, Seeding Victoria.
- Janet Grima, Chief Executive Officer, Bully Zero Australian Foundation.
- Jennifer Fan Gaskin, Company Secretary, Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia.
- Jenny Davidson, CEO, Council of Single Mothers and their Children Inc.
- Joanne Zhou, Board Director, Balwyn Evergreen Centre.
- Katherine Tu, Board Chair, Fair Agenda.
- Katherine Emerson, Non-Executive Director, K.I.D.S Foundation.
- Katie Hunt, Non-Executive Board Director, The Portsea Camp.
- Katie Bayley, Non-Executive Director, The Queen’s Fund.
- Katrina Davey, Manager, Curriculum Resources and Publications, Geography Teachers’ Association of Victoria.
- Kelly McConville, Executive Officer, Drama Victoria.
- Kimberley Gee, President, Venus Bay SLSC.
- Kumaran Manivannan, Director, Conversation in Isolation Inc.
- Louise Weine, Chief Executive Officer, The National Association of Women in Operations.
- Lucie Tolhoek, Co-CEO, The Oaktree Foundation Australia.
- Miles Hamilton, President, Committee of Management, Airport West Early Learning Cooperative.
- Morley Muse, Board Director, Women in STEMM Australia.
- Nick Heng, Board Director, Moree Care.
- Noel Lim, Co-founder/Chief Executive Officer & Board Director, Anika Legal.
- Raveen Kuhadas, Treasurer, St Josephs Outreach Services Incorporated.
- Robyn Saunders, Business Manager, Tomorrow Today Education Foundation.
- Ryan Gunasena, Board Member and Governance, Risk, Finance and Compliance Committee Member, Skyline Education Foundation Australia.
- Sandra Robertson, Incoming Chair, Polyglot Theatre.
- Sebastian Browne, Foundation for Indigenous Sustainability Health Ltd.
- Shane Sanfilippo, Board Director, Health Information Management Association of Australia.
- Sheena Saigal, Board member/Portfolio Delivery Manager, Full Circle Social Enterprise.
- Tamara Pararajasingham, Chairperson, Palmera.
- Tara Blanchy, Chair, Prahran Community Learning Centre.
- Thea Stinear, CEO, Cool Australia.
- Vanessa Lamborn, Non-executive director, Co-Ground Ltd.
- Vivienne Chew, Chair of the Board, Nationality for All.
- Vu Long Tran, Board member, Western Chances.
Western Australia
- Ali Craze, Director, Australian Live Music Business Council Ltd.
- Alison Martin, Board Director, ADHD WA.
- Alison Taylor, Director, Australian Kind Sisters Ltd.
- Andrea Surman, Operations Manager, People With Disabilities WA.
- Apollonia Parker, Board Chair, Down Syndrome Association of Western Australia.
- Ashleigh Brand, General Manager Programs and Awards, Auspire – The Australia Day Council of Western Australia Inc.
- Brandon Reid, Community Paramedic Manager, Makers Community Development Incorporated.
- Catherine Korn, Board Secretary, Kids Hope Aus Ltd.
- Darren Preece, Laboratory Manager and Company Director, United Pathology.
- Dean Morris, CEO/Director/Founder, GOSAC – Give Our Strays A Chance.
- Deepak Sharma, Secretary, Indian Society of WA.
- Geraldine Goh, Consultant, Paediatrician Child Protection Society of Australasia.
- Jennifer Gaskill, Non-Executive board member, Midland Women’s Healthcare Place.
- Leah Moore, Vice President, Australian Institute of Geoscientists.
- Leanne Shepherd, Non-Executive Director, The Legacy Club of WA.
- Lesley Bell, Board Member (Non-executive Director) and Committee Member – Governance and Quality sub-committee, South Coastal Health and Community Services.
- Mairead Connolly, Manager Partnerships, Nudge Foundation.
- Malinda Nixon, CEO, Geographe French Australian Festivals Inc.
- Melissa Cashman, Brand and Marketing Consultant, Non-executive director, Motor Neurone Disease Association of Western Australia.
- Melissa Robinson, CLE Coordinator/Office Manager, Consumer Credit Legal Services WA.
- Mia Townsend, Chief Executive Officer, Dieback Working Group.
- Paul Atkins, Non-Executive Director, Nudge Foundation Ltd.
- Racheal Enkel, Non-Executive Director, Shine Inspire Achieve Belong Incorporated.
- Rebecca Rey, Non-Executive Board Director, Propel Youth Arts WA.
- Sidney Abiodun, Executive Vice President of Operations, Organisation of African Communities in Western Australia.
- Wendy Cream, Board Director, Mental Health Matters 2 Ltd.
- Will Rollo, Committee Director, Rottnest Channel Swim Association.

Congrats to all our scholarship recipients in 2023