n. an informal representative; “an ambassador of good will”
We acknowledge and thank the following wonderful people, who give their valuable time and support to help Windana in so many ways:
Andrea Coote (Inaugural Ambassador), Matthew Gould, John Guest, Rob Larkins, Laini Liberman, Moya Mills, John McLeod (Eco Therapy), Paul Pattison, Darren Ray, Barbara Rozenes, Elizabeth Stoney (Arts) and Megan Stuart.
Ambassador Wrap up 2008-2009
Ambassadors play an integral part in Windana’s achievements; we provide support by lending our voices to promote Windana’s work and to assist in building relationships with potential supporters. On a practical level, we also assist Windana with developing progects.
This year Windana’s ambassadors were: Laini Liberman, Matthew Gould, Darren Ray, Elizabeth Stoney, John McLeod, Andrea Coote (Inaugural Ambassador), Moya Mills, John McLeod (Eco Therapy) Elizabeth Stoney (Arts) and Barbara Rozenes.
We have been meeting regularly over the past year and have enthusiastically participated in a range of special projects for Windana. We were pleased to be able to support the Windana Family services program during Easter this year by arranging donations of Easter Gifts to the children of Windana’s clients. As a group we have been busily working with Windana staff to organise some upcoming projects, including gifts for children over the Festive season. Individually, our Ambassadors have been lending their skills to areas across Windana’s programs that are of specific interest to them.
If you are interested in assisting Windana by becoming an Ambassador please contact Windana’s Marketing and Fundraising Officer on 03 9529 7955.
Matthew Gould - Ambassador
Find out more about being an ambassador. Click here.
Ambassador Biographies
Andrea Coote MP
Andrea is a Member of the Victorian Parliament and represents the Southern Metropolitan Region. Prior to entering Parliament, Andrea worked in both the private sector and in politics. She was an Electorate Officer and Research Officer to State and Federal MPs and worked as a ministerial staffer to a State Government Minister. Andrea has also worked as the Director of Development at Geelong Grammar and as the Business Development Manager for Buchan Communications.
Andrea was elected to Parliament as the Member for Monash Province in 1999 and became a Member for Southern Metropolitan Region following the 2006 State election.
Within the Liberal Party, Andrea has been an Executive Committee Member of the inaugural Higgins 200 Club and Chairperson of the Higgins Electorate Council. Andrea is currently a member of the Women’s Section and the Menzies Lecture Trust Executive.
Matthew Gould
Matthew is the Regional Business Development Manager for VECCI and has a long economic development and social welfare background. Matthew’s role at VECCI includes development of regional business in Victoria, as well as focusing on policy and advocacy issues, i.e. CPR’s. He has taken on a leadership role with the Ambassadors and is a passionate supporter of Windana. Matthew has been responsible for assisting the Ambassadors to streamline their activities and create specific goals.
John Guest
John Guest is a passionate supporter of Windana. Having played AFL football at the highest level he has witnessed friends and colleagues suffering negative effects from drugs and or alcohol use. John has worked at legal and general insurance and for many years he owned a joint broking business with AFL legend Jim Stynes. John has a long history of supporting a variety of not for profit organisations. Now retired, he is dedicated to his wife, Jan and their families.
Robert Larkins
Robert is a barrister. He was a board member during the earliest days of Windana when the Alma Road building was purchased and when planning permission was obtained for the farmland to be used as a therapeutic community. In his spare time, Robert is an author. His first book, ‘Funeral Rights’, about the Australian way of death, was published by Penguin and he is currently under contract to write a second book.
Laini Liberman
Laini has been an Ambassador for Windana since November 2004. She is a Barrister and not only practices in the Children’s Court, but also in Criminal Law, focusing on intervention and compensation. She began practicing Law in 1998.
John McLeod
John recently retired from GoldmanSachsJBWere. John has been a driving force behind a number of eco-therapy projects at our Therapeutic Community in Maryknoll, including the construction of a new labyrinth in 2009. Whilst with GoldmanSachsJBWere, John led a staff volunteer team, to assist with planting commercial garlic crops, as well as the construction of garden beds and fencing. John and his wife Paula are champions of eco-therapy at Windana.
Moya Mills
Moya Mills is the former CEO of The Cranlana Foundation and was instrumental in establishing the Foundation and in particular the Colloquium, which is designed to cultivate ‘wisdom in leadership’. The Colloquium challenges assumptions, expands thinking and refines leadership capability. Moya joined our team as an Ambassador in 2005.
Paul Pattison
Paul Pattison is the sole director of Pattisons (Business Advisors - Insolvency Specialists.) Paul is responsible for the administration of business enterprises in financial difficulty on behalf of proprietors or lenders with a view to restructuring their activities as well as providing assistance through investigations and general advisory assignments. Paul is active in formal appointments as a Liquidator, Receiver & Manager, Agent for Mortgagees, Administrator and Trustee in Bankruptcy.
Paul has been involved in investigating offences under Corporations Law and Bankruptcy Law and preparing appropriate reports on fraud, debt recovery matters, valuations of assets and businesses and matters relating to trading whilst insolvent. Paul has significant experience in acting as an Expert Witness in a variety of insolvency litigation related matters. In 2005, Paul achieved his accreditation as a Mediator. Paul is a long-term supporter of Windana, and offers his offices for Windana to host meetings. He was also the first individual, on behalf of his company to participate in the Middle Park Fine Art Gallery ‘Leasing Art Program’ that supports Windana financially.
Darren Ray
Darren was a long term Councillor in City of Port Phillip and held the Mayoral position in 2002-2003 and 2005-2006. He was Chairman of Port Phillip’s Statutory Planning Committee for many years and is currently undertaking a Masters Degree in Planning & Environment at RMIT. Since leaving Council in 2008, Darren has been acting CEO for the Victorian Local Governance Association. Prior to this, he worked as an adviser to State and Federal MPs and Ministers, was a National Project Officer for the Australian Physiotherapy Association, inaugural Executive Director of the ALSO Foundation, and Manager of North West Youth and Family Services Inc in the inner west.
Darren has been a supporter and spokesperson for Windana for many years, and featured on Windana’s corporate DVD. He is responsible for assisting Windana to build stronger relationships with local Council and also introduced Windana to Elizabeth Stoney, a talented local artist.
Barbara Rozenes
Barbara is a member of the Victorian Association of Restorative Justice Committee, a Patron of Epilepsy Australia and a former Board member of FareShare. Barbara has been a Company Director with philanthropic and charitable organisations including the Neuroscience Foundation at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Jewish Crisis Centre, as well as a Court Network volunteer since 1991and a Board Member since 2000. Barbara is a qualified Mediator with AIAMA and a member of the Court Network Public Speaking group.
Barbara actively supports Windana and has fulfilled a wish to obtain Olive trees for our Therapeutic Community, from Montalto on the Mornington Peninsula. She also introduced us to sculptor Robert Owen, who donated a beautiful gift for our Patron Elisabeth Murdoch’s 100th birthday.
Elizabeth Stoney
Elizabeth first discovered Windana through long term Ambassador, Darren Ray. She felt an affinity to the organisation and immediately offered to assist. Drawing on her expertise as an artist, she launched the concept of ‘Humanity In Motion’ and created an Art Exhibition held at Federation Square, which assisted in raising funds and the profile of Windana.
Elizabeth became an Ambassador in 2008 and she has continued her enthusiasm for the organisation, lending specific skills, in innovative ways. Elizabeth designed, produced and now sells Christmas Cards, with a percentage of the profit being donated to Windana.
In March 2009 Elizabeth launched two new projects. The first was the creation of a painting at the Windana Garden Party, with Dame Elisabeth placing the first stroke on the canvas. Elizabeth intends to finalise the painting and donate it back to Windana for our Board Room.
The second project launched by Elizabeth was a ‘Leasing Art Program’. Corporate organisations or individuals are able to lease paintings from Middle Park Gallery, with the option to change the paintings every three months. 50% of the profits will be donated to Windana.