Alexandra Ash
Chair; Chair, Business Development Committee
MBA, Master Policy/Politics/Public Mgt, BExSpSci, BComm/SpMgt, GAICD
Alexandra was appointed director in 2016 and Chair in November 2017.
She is the General Manager of Kingswim, a brand through which the YMCA teaches 25,000 kids every week to be competent and safe in and around the water.
Employing more than 800 staff, Kingswim operates 20 Learn to Swim Centres across metropolitan Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.
Shaun Whittaker
Secretary; Chair, Building Redevelopment Committee
LLB(Hons) / BCom, Law, Commerce, Honours
Shaun was appointed to our Board in 2017.
He is a lawyer with 10 years’ experience in financing, corporate and project delivery in the renewables, energy, resources, property and infrastructure sectors.
Shaun is currently a Director in Legal and Tax at PwC and has experience in general corporate advisory through two in-house roles at large multinational institutions.
He has previously been involved in the aquatic and leisure industry which involved teaching students with disability to swim.
Sheri Johnston
Treasurer; Chair, Finance Risk and Audit Committee
BArts (Economics), CA, FGIA
Sheri joined the Board in October 2018.
She is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ professional experience across the areas of governance, change management, leadership, financial management, accounting, risk management, process improvement, administration and compliance.
Sheri has worked in several sectors and organisation types including banking and professional services as well as managing the audits of small business, manufacturing and top 200 ASX listed corporates.
She now passionately works in the for-purpose sector and is currently the CFO and Company Secretary for the Foundation for Young Australians.
Rob Anderson
Director
B.Com (HR/Sports Management), Grad. Dip (Governance)
Rob was appointed to our board in 2015.
He has a long and distinguished career in leading not-for-profit organisations across a number of sectors and has led the establishment of community development projects both in Australia and overseas.
Rob is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Musculoskeletal Australia. He has previously held the roles of Chief Executive Officer People & Parks Foundation, Regional Manager Camp Quality and Chairperson Eating Disorders Victoria.
Between 2009-2015 he was Chief Executive Officer of Disability Sport & Recreation, where he oversaw significant reforms and growth to ensure the organisation became the industry benchmark.
Before his involvement in the charitable sector, Rob was Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Professional Footballers’ Association, AFL Umpires’ Association, as well as spending a decade working in a variety of roles for the Australian Football League.
Stuart Ewin
Director; Member, Building Redevelopment Committee
BLaw
Stewart was appointed director in 2012.
He is a solicitor/legal advisor, currently working at ANZ, and a former Australian wheelchair basketball player.
Gemma Hardie
Director
AICD, BA
Gemma joined the Board in 2017.
She is an experienced company director and executive leader in the for-purpose sector, having worked for over 20 years in fundraising, marketing and communications, strategy and leadership.
As a focused fundraiser, Gemma is highly driven and passionate about her work and loves to help donors and supporters contribute to meaningful change in our communities. She brings an emphasis on individual giving, legacies and major gifts with experience in all facets of fundraising and has demonstrated revenue growth for a range of organisations.
Gemma is a committed advocate for the for-purpose sector and passionate about community engagement and mobilisation. With a strong background in volunteer management, advocacy and public education activities, she is capable of working on mufti-faceted campaigns and activities.
Gemma has held previous roles with Wesley Mission, Guide Dogs Victoria, the Heart Foundation and World Vision. She is currently Director, Strategy & Engagement for the International Women’s Development Agency, the only Australian development agency entirely focused on gender equality and women’s rights in Asia and the Pacific.
Madeleine Hogan
Director
Madeleine joined the Board in 2018.
She is a three-time Paralympian, who competed mainly in category F42/F46 javelin throw events and won bronze at the 2008 Summer Paralympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics.
Maddy is currently Business Development Manager at Bluescope.
Natasha Sekulic
Director
BLaw LLB, Masters Tax, BA
Natasha was appointed director in 2017.
She is a lawyer with over ten years’ experience, specialising in taxation, privacy and charity law.
Natasha began her legal career with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in 2009, developing a specialisation in international tax. She then moved into in-house lawyer roles with the ATO and, later, the ACNC, where she developed a specialisation in privacy and secrecy law.
The last five years of her career have focused on taxation and registration of not-for-profit organisations and fringe benefits tax.
Natasha has a keen interest in sports and nutrition and is an endurance athlete competing in ultra-marathons. She is also studying a Bachelor of Health Science.
