Windana’s work is overseen by a committed Board whose members provide strong governance and strategic guidance to Windana. All Board positions are honorary and we value the contribution made by past and present Board members. Board meetings are held monthly with an annual general meeting scheduled in November of each year.
Peter Hay - Chair
Board Commencement Date 2004
Peter is a Director within the Audit services practice at KPMG in Melbourne, specialising in advisory services. Peter joined KPMG over 11 years ago from ANZ, where he was a senior manager with the investment bank and a Trustee of the ANZ Australia Staff Superannuation Fund. Peter’s career spans over 30 years in the financial markets sector, including over 10 years with both ANZ and Merchant Bank, Capel Court. Risk Management, fraud reviews, project reviews, corporate governance review, board self-assessments, strategic planning and compliance reviews are all part of Peter’s extensive skill set.
Rebecca Smith - Deputy Chair
Board Commencement Date 1999
With qualifications in health, welfare and management, Rebecca has worked in government and community managed service organisations in Australia and overseas. She has a solid skill-base in community consultation, planning and program development. She is currently working as a project consultant. Rebecca is the Chair of the Windana Client Services Committee.
Amy Jewell - Treasurer
Board commencement date 2008
Amy is a manager within the Audit services practice at KPMG in Melbourne. She has been with KPMG for eight years and specialises in internal and external audit and accounting services to superannuation and financial services clients. Amy is also a member of the Victorian Management Committee for Women in Super, a not-for-profit organisation which provides a forum for enhancing the opportunities of women employed in the superannuation and financial services industry. Amy is the Chair of the Finance & Governane Committee.
Jenny Gillam - Secretary
Board Commencement Date 2002
Jenny is the General Manager of Wallage Executive and has been with the company for over 10 years. In that time she has consulted to many medium and large private companies and not-for-profit organisations on the appointment of middle, senior and executive managers. Prior to this, Jenny enjoyed an extensive and varied career with the Commonwealth Government in the areas of employment, training and education. As a senior manager, she worked closely with the community and specific companies on a range of initiatives to create employment opportunities for the unemployed and other disadvantaged groups. Jenny has strong experience in the public, private and community sectors and consulting skills in human resources management and executive recruitment. Youth, family issues, drug and alcohol service provision and education are all areas of particular interest for Jenny. Jenny is the Chair of the Human Resources Committee.
John Gall
Board commencement Date 2006
In 2008 John retired after 12 years as Managing Director of Franklin Templeton Investments Australia Limited, a subsidiary of Franklin Templeton, a large US based global investment manager. Prior to that, John worked for National Australia Bank for 39 years where he held several senior executive positions in international banking and investment services. John has always been active in industry and community affairs, with an interest in fundraising and marketing and is now making an important contribution as Chair of the Windana Marketing and Fundraising Committee. John is also the Chair of the Melbourne Financial Services Syposium (MFSS) Sponsors & Supporters Group and the Chair of the MFSS Investment Stewardship Award as well as Chair of the Victorian Innovation Funds Management Award.
Patricia Healy
Board Commencement Date 2006
Pat has worked for many decades in the areas of community and public health and occupational health and safety (OH&S). She has worked mainly in research positions, but also in service provision and management with government bodies, community organisations and academic institutes. Pat also has a long record of voluntary work in the areas of alcohol and other drugs service provision, women’s health and community development.
Noel Sturgeon
Board Commencement Date 2008
With a background in banking, business advice and executive selection, Noel brings to Windana a breadth of experience based on what is practical. His current activities include business strategic advice and evaluating the performance of boards and senior executive teams in the not-for-profit sector.
Sally Webster
Board Commencement Date 1999
In addition to experience in research and television journalism, Sally has built a career in various areas of law such as workers compensation, litigation, and migration. Her current work is in migration which has led her into the area of human rights. Sally was a founding member of The Justice Project in 2004 together with Julian Burnside QC and others and continues to contribute her professional experience in the areas of refugee law and governance of not-for-profit organisations.
Des O’Connell
Board Commencement Date 1987
Des has a particular interest in the Windana Therapeutic Community where he was active in the planning, fundraising and building of Peter’s Place - a mud brick building for the purpose of reflection and quiet meditation by our clients. His background of employment was as a Navy Officer and he holds qualifications in finance management, aircraft inspection and architecture. On a personal level, Des holds a strong commitment to alcohol and other drugs rehabilitation services.
Carol Nikakis
Windana CEO
Carol Nikakis commenced her role as CEO with Windana, with the aim of bringing ‘fresh eyes’ to the organisation after a period of immense change. Strong leadership and support for the staff has assisted Windana to move into a new phase of development. Previously Carol established a food rescue charity (Fare Share) with a group of friends. As the founding CEO over a 7 year period, Carol was instrumental in creating a volunteer organisation that now provides 1,000,000 meals to soup vans and shelters each year. A landmark piece of legislation was created with the Hon John Thwaites MP and the Victorian Law Institute to allow food to be donated to charity without common law liability. This legislation is now being implemented across Australia and has opened up over $40M of useable food that can be passed to charity, rather than dumped in landfill.
Carol has three adult daughters and in another life, ran a landscape design business, creating colourful city gardens with a small, committed team.
Committees of the Board
Members from June 08.
Finance and Governance Committee: Amy Jewell (Chair), Rebecca Smith, Peter Hay, Amanda Kelly and Carol Nikakis.
Client Services Committee: Rebecca Smith (Chair), Pat Healy (on leave), Keith Edwards and Carol Nikakis.
Marketing and Fundraising Committee: John Gall (Chair), Carol Nikakis, Fiona Jordan, Noel Sturgeon, Maryann Mannix-White and Sally Webster.
Human Resources Committee: Jenny Gillam (Chair), Carol Nikakis and Brad Armstrong
Data Management Steering Committee (Sub Committee of the Client Services Committee): Michael Pontifex (Chair), Rebecca Smith, Pat Healy (on leave) , Amanda Kelly, Sarah Fair and Louisa Turner.
Policy Review Committee: Brad Armstrong (Chair), Louisa Turner, Ben Williams, Alison Norman and Anthony Grimm.