Wesley Mission Melbourne: About: Corporate Governance

Wesley Mission Melbourne is an independent legal entity under the umbrella of the Uniting Church in Australia.

CEO Judy Leitch »
Board of Directors »
Minister to the Mission »
Organisational Structure »

Judy Leitch
BSc (Hons) MPsych, MBA, MAICD, AFAIM

Judy has been CEO of Wesley Mission Melbourne for five years. She has a unique ability to lead others by empowering and valuing them. Her inspirational leadership style is based upon a striking clarity of thought and vision.

Judy has extensive experience in the delivery and management of human services. Before moving into management she worked as a clinical psychologist and family therapist, mostly with children, adolescents and their families, in both hospital and community settings.

Her previous management roles include Regional Manger of Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry Services for the then Department of Health; Director of Services for Relationships Australia (Vic); and Director of Human Services for the Glen Eira City Council.

Judy is the backbone of Wesley Mission Melbourne. Leading by example she demonstrates fairness, equity and understanding.

During the most challenging times, she has provided stability, wisdom and strength. The approach Judy has to her role is unassuming and understated as she steadily guides the organisation into the future.

Mr Pfeiffer is a Consultant with Freehills, specialising in company and commercial law having been a Partner with that firm for more than 25 years. He has served on a number of boards and charities including the Board of Peter McCallum Cancer Centre and the Council of Haileybury College. Formerly a member of the Synod Standing Committee, he has been an Elder of the Uniting Church for 25 years, Chairman of the Committee for Discipline of the Synod of Victoria for 10 years, and is currently a member of the Synod Governance Committee. Mr Pfeiffer brings to the Board extensive corporate governance and legal skills, and a broad knowledge of corporate affairs and finance.

Mr Kent is Director of Finance and Administration at the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. He has broad experience in the health and community services sector at both management and Board level. He was a Commissioner of Wesley Mission Melbourne during 2000-2001. Mr Kent brings to the Board extensive experience in financial management, human resources and governance, and a personal commitment to social justice.

Sherene Devanesen
MB BS, Dip Obst RACOG, FRACMA, FCHSE, FAIM, FHKCCM

Dr Sherene Devanesen has 25 years experience in health administration and is the Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Health which is one of the public health services in Melbourne. She is a member of the Board of Health Information Systems and also a member of the Victorian Quality Council - both bodies that are set up under the auspices of the Department of Human Services in Victoria. Dr Devanesen is the immediate past President of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and she is also a surveyor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Dr Devanesen brings to the Board her experience in health service administration in the public sector. She also has a commitment to enhancing service quality and to providing good education and training for service deliverers.

Ms Priscilla Jamieson
BA, Dip Ed, LLB

Ms Jamieson is a solicitor with the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Inc. Formerly a full-time Member of the Immigration Review Tribunal, she has also been employed as a case manager for the Australian Banking Industry Ombudsman. Ms Jamieson has broad experience in development, establishment and oversight of community-based human service delivery programs, particularly in ethnic communities, and brings strong legal skills to the Board.

Mr David Lyon
BA, Grad Dip Fin, Grad Dip Org Behav

Mr Lyon has 20 years experience in Banking & Finance and is a Regional Executive within Corporate Financial Services at the Commonwealth Bank. Previous positions included Senior Executive in the Major Client Group at National Australia Bank in Melbourne and Regional Executive roles overseeing business banking centres. He has been a co-optee of Wesley Mission’s Property & Finance Committee for the past 3 years. David has represented CBA in the launch of a literacy and mentoring program for disadvantaged children and schools facilitated by the Australian Business & Community Network.

Rev Alistair Macrae
BA, BTheol, M.Phil (Ecum)

Rev Alistair Macrae is the immediate past Moderator of the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. Prior to that he served as a Minister in rural and inner urban placements. In 2004 he became inaugural Principal of the Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry. He chairs the Victorian Council of Churches Social Questions Committee.

Ms Fiona Macdonald
B. Beh. Sci, G. Dip Couns Psych, MA (Social Policy)

Fiona Macdonald is currently working with the Centre for Applied Social Research at the RMIT University. Prior to this she was the Director of the Equity Research Centre, an advisory body to the Victorian Government on equity issues in employment, education and training. Fiona has extensive experience as a social researcher and policy analyst working mainly in the community sector. She has written broadly on social issues including work, welfare and disadvantage and she brings to the Board significant knowledge of social policy and program planning, development and evaluation.

Rev John Rickard
PhC AUA, Theol M.

Rev John Rickard currently works as the Resource Worker with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress in Victoria. His previous ministry was the Executive Director of the Commission for Mission with the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania with the Uniting Church where he developed a deep understanding of the mission of the church. His experience in congregations has been primarily in inner city parishes in what has been called the Parish Mission network. He is deeply committed to the integration of the proclamation of the Gospel with the working out of the Gospel in service and social action.

Mr David Stannard
FCA , FCPA

Mr David Stannard is Partner – Taxation & Business Advisory Division with Stannards Accountants & Advisors. He has nearly 40 years experience, working with private and public sectors, through a combination of tax advice, investment management, mergers and acquisitions advice, forensic accounting and valuation engagements. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Australian Society of Certified Accountants.

A Uniting Church Minister to the Mission provides a continuing link between the Uniting Church, the Wesley Congregation in Lonsdale Street and Wesley Mission Melbourne.

Rev. Barbara Gayler
BA, BSW, BTheol

Prior to studying theology and subsequent ordination, Rev. Gayler's background was in socialwork. Her long career with various community service organisations in Melbourne included management experience in local government. Rev. Gayler's previous experience of ministry was in rural Victoria where she was involved in health and aged care chaplaincy as well as leadership of a small Uniting Church congregation.

The Mission's programs and services are managed through three service delivery directorates, which are supported by a group of specialist teams delivering corporate services, as outlined in this chart »
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