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Our Board of Directors

Our Board oversees everything we do, including strategic planning for the whole organisation. Our Board also oversee our subsidiary bodies YWCA National Housing and YWCA Housing. Above all, our Board have a commitment to our overarching goal of achieving true gender equality.

YWCA’s board is skills-based, includes women from around Australia and is led by President Helen Conway.

We’re passionate about maintaining a Board that reflects our values and the work we do. Our Board is constitutionally required to have at least 30% of the Board be young women.

Board Committees

The Board has established a range of specialised sub-committees which support YWCA Australia and each subsidiary. These are: Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and Nominations Committee.

Finance, Audit, Risk Committee

The Committee assists the Board of YWCA Australia (and its subsidiary board/s) to discharge their duties in relation to:

  • monitoring the financial performance;
  • oversight and monitoring of the financial management system including financial audit (internal and external); and
  • monitoring financial and strategic risks for the group.

 

The purpose of this Committee does not extend to operational financial management of the Company (and its subsidiaries).

Members:

  • David Smith (Independent Chair)
  • Rebecca Thomas (YWCA Australia Director)
  • Marina Rofe (YWCA Australia Director)
  • Renee Wirth (YWCA Australia Director)

Download FAR Committee Charter (169 KB)

Nominations Committee

The Committee is charged with providing the Board with advice and guidance on relevant issues as outlined in the Constitution and summarised below.

  • Recommending nominees to fill vacancies in the Board in accordance with the Board selection principles as approved by the Members at an annual general meeting from time to time;
  • Recommending the process by which the Board shall select the number and identity of delegates to attend the World YWCA’s general meeting; and
  • Considering other issues delegated to it by the Board from time to time.

Members:

  • Khayshie Tilak Ramesh (Young Woman/YWCA Australia Director – Chair)
  • Caroline Lambert (YWCA Australia Director)
  • Elleni Tsaketas (member elected)
  • Hilary Callaghan (member elected)

Download Nominations Committee Charter (151 KB)

Helen Conway (President)

BA, LLB, FAICD, MICDA, Member of Chief Executive Women

Location: Sydney

Helen Conway is an experienced leader, director, senior executive and lawyer who has worked in a range of organisations in the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Helen spent 10 years in private legal practice, including 7 years as a partner in a major law firm in Sydney, and then moved into the corporate sector where she worked as a senior executive. She has extensive experience as a Board Chair and Director in various sectors including health, transport, energy, housing and homelessness, education and training, financial services and domestic and family violence.

Helen has undertaken a range of voluntary activities in the not-for-profit sector. She was previously the Judicial Head of the NSW Equal Opportunity Tribunal and set up the Australian Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency, a statutory authority with regulatory and other responsibilities.

Khayshie Tilak Ramesh (Vice President)

B Law (Hons), GDLP (in progress), Certificate of Mediation Accreditation

Location: Melbourne

Khayshie is a passionate lawyer, speaker and change maker with over 10 years of experience across government, legal, leadership, housing, health, mental health, youth, gender equality and multicultural sectors.

Khayshie proudly served two terms as the Multicultural Youth Commissioner of Victoria and has represented Australia at the United Nations multiple times. Khayshie is an Independent Consultant and serves on boards including The Iceberg Foundation, YWCA Australia and Gender Equity Victoria.

Khayshie has been recognised as Young Citizen of the Year, Premier’s Volunteer Leadership Award winner, Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence winner and has been named in the Top 100 Future Leaders of Australia.

Caroline Lambert

BA (Hons), MA, Postgraduate Diploma (International Law), PhD, GAICD

Location: Melbourne

Dr Caroline Lambert has been contributing to social change for over 35 years, particularly in the area of gender equality. She has held senior management roles in feminist organisations in Australia, with a focus on gender equality within Australia and in the Pacific and Asia. As a Board Director and Chair she has contributed to organisations focused on women’s housing, young women’s leadership, human rights activism, and the creative industries (with a particular focus on artists with disability).

She currently works as an independent consultant with feminist and human rights organisations, providing accompaniment on evidence-informed strategy, governance, impact evaluation, and organisational development – with a particular focus on intersectional feminist tools to support this work. She works with clients in Australia and internationally, and has significant experience working in cross cultural contexts.

Caroline has authored books and articles on feminist governance, and feminist and human rights activism. Her doctorate focused on feminist economics and political theory in the context of human rights and trade.

Claudia Riseborough

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Management (Finance)

Location: Melbourne

Claudia is a queer woman, feminist economist, and Associate Director in EY’s Strategy and Transactions division. She has over eight years’ experience in advising on economic and social policy and supporting funding bids.

Claudia is dedicated to upholding human rights, fighting for social justice, and improving outcomes for people and systems. She has experience working across family violence, gender equality, justice reform, housing, early learning, mental health, employment services, and disability services.

Claudia is committed to supporting the NFP sector in financial sustainability, data management and outcomes measurement. She is passionate about intersectionality and the recognition of lived experience as expertise, drawing upon her own experiences as a queer woman to inform her work.

Claudia Robinson

LLB (Hons) BIS (Distinction); GCLP; PGCert(Distinction)(Human Rights); LLM (in progress)

Location: Regional NSW

Claudia Robinson is a passionate solicitor and human rights advocate dedicated to advancing equity, justice, and social inclusion. Admitted to practice law in both Australia and New Zealand, Claudia’s work is focused on supporting marginalised communities and fostering systemic change. Beyond her legal expertise, Claudia is deeply engaged in community service, mentoring emerging professionals, and creating accessible resources to empower others. She brings a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach to her work, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.

Claudia undertakes a range of volunteer activities in the not for profit sector. Currently, Claudia serves as the Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Human Rights Subcommittee and the Deputy Chair for Australian Lawyers for Human Rights’ Human Rights Act(s) Committee, in addition to being part of the executive management team.

Claudia’s work has garnered international recognition, including receiving the Education Leadership Award from the Legacy Project.

Marina Rofe

B Bus, CA

Location: Sydney

Marina is a senior commercial finance leader with 18+ years of experience in finance, business transformation, process excellence, risk & governance, and strategy. She has led and developed group wide solutions for strategic projects by providing operational and financial expertise on business activities and drivers. She has held roles with oversight and critical accountability of large finance functions driving strong visions for business partnering, governance, process excellence and digitisation. Marina is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business from UTS, and was a finalist in AFR BOSS Young Executives 2021.  Currently, she is the General Manager, Strategy & Operations for Development at Mirvac, responsible for a number of functions across Business Solutions, HSE, Sustainability, Quality and Product Strategy.

Marina is passionate about change and driving gender equality by recognising that different backgrounds and life experiences colour one’s circumstances. She believes that education and empowering women are essential for gender equality. Marina strongly values diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the broader community. Creating a community of diverse people and ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute, influence and feel safe is key to achieving a healthy society. Marina’s experiences to date both professionally and personally provide strong appreciation and key foundational skills to support the core activities of YWCA Australia and YeS 2026.

Rebecca Thomas

B Sc (Hons), Investment Management Certificate

Location: Sydney

Rebecca is a banking and funds management professional with deep experience in debt and equity financing, having led large scale investments across both Europe and Australia over the last 15 years. She has a strong passion for driving change, especially in the Australian housing sector believing that everyone should have a safe place to call home. She works with the impact investment firm Sentient Impact Group.

She brings her enthusiasm and extensive expertise in investment in the social and affordable housing sector to her Board Director role.

Shaylem Wilson

B Sociology (in progress)

Location: Adelaide

Shaylem is a proud Ngarrindjeri woman and passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and intersectional feminism. Shaylem has several years’ experience working in the education and child advocacy sector. Shaylem currently works at the Office of the Guardian for Children & Young People as the Principal Aboriginal Advocate. Shaylem is a knowledgeable leader and wants to see an equitable future for marginalised women and children.

As a non-Executive Director, Shaylem hopes to empower young women to challenge the status quo and overcome barriers impacting female representation in leadership, especially for women from diverse backgrounds whose journeys to leadership are often challenged by experiences of discrimination. Shaylem is excited to lead through her lived experience, to further highlight the importance of Aboriginal perspectives in these spaces of intersectional feminism and gender equality.

Renée Wirth

B Planning, Masters of Development Studies

Location: Sydney

Renée is passionate about affordable housing as a feminist issue and has spent her career working on policies, programs and initiatives to increase the supply of social and affordable housing for the community.

Renée has over 19 years’ experience in managing the planning and delivery of social and affordable housing including roles in the NSW Government, UK Government, local councils and the not-for-profit community housing industry. Her recent experience includes time in the executive team of SGCH (St George Community Housing), the largest community housing provider operating in Sydney with 7,000 social and affordable homes under management.

Through a range of roles, Renée has gained experience developing government policies for social and affordable housing, delivering affordable housing through the planning system, funding and financing mechanisms for affordable housing, compliance and regulatory settings for community housing and developing and executing strategic growth initiatives.

Board Trainee Profiles

Zodie Bolic

Zodie is a passionate youth advocate with experiences across the public, private and the not-for-profit sectors. A recent Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, Zodie combines artistic expertise with an understanding of public policy as an early career public servant. She is currently pursuing a Diploma of Governance at the Institute of Community Directors Australia, supported by the Victorian Government’s Office for Women’s Board Leadership program, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration at the University of Canberra.

Zodie has a proven track record in leadership and governance, having served two terms on the board of the University of Melbourne Student Union. Currently, Zodie sits on the Youth Affairs Board Subcommittee of the Y Victoria and volunteers for several youth led not-for-profits. In 2023, Zodie chaired the Victorian Government’s flagship youth advisory body, the Victorian Youth Congress, whilst working as a young co-designer and peer facilitator at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria.

In addition to her professional endeavours, Zodie is an independent contemporary dance artist. She recently presented an original work, ‘COOKING WITH GAS,’ at Buxton Contemporary, supported by the University of Melbourne’s flagship program for global sustainability, the Wattle Fellowship. Her artistic practice complements her advocacy work, reflecting her multifaceted approach to driving positive change in the community.

Linda Le

Linda is a passionate feminist focused on advancing gender equality and creating a future where all women, young women and girls are safe and respected, with equal access to power, opportunity and resources.

She has a breadth of experience across law, startups, not-for-profits and marketing. She has previously worked with not-for-profit organisations to maximise their social impact including as the Chair of Youthlaw, the President of the Global Consulting Group, and Vice President of a social enterprise focused on empowering women.

Outside of this, she has also contributed to a number of youth advisory committees, including for Unilever’s Dove and the US Embassy. Most relevantly, she was also YWCA delegate to the sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2021!

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