Our Board

Joined November 2020

Maree Walk is the Director of StoryRoad, a consultancy that works with non-government organisations and government agency executives on coaching, projects, writing, facilitating, strategic leadership and support.

Maree has more than 30 years’ leadership experience in child and family services and is passionate about innovation and collaboration achieving real change. She has experience at an executive level as Chief Executive of Community Services NSW, Deputy Secretary of Family and Community Services NSW, and General Manager, Operations at The Benevolent Society.

Maree is also a Board Director for City West Housing, and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Joined August 2021

Heather Finlayson is the Chief Operating Officer of Home@Scope with Scope Australia, a subsidiary providing supported independent living options to people living with a disability across Victoria.

Heather is passionate about supporting children, families and young people to be successful and achieve their aspirations and has spent over 20 years re-inventing business operating models, driving change and creating positive shifts in performance across the health, community and education sectors as a key enabler.

She has broad Executive experience including with as Director Impact Measurement and Australian Services with Save the Children Australia, General Manager Strategy Group with Goodstart Early Learning and Director Government Relations and Organisation Transition with The Smith Family.

Heather has a Masters of Education and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Joined June 2019

Jason Whakaari is currently the General Manager – Contracts and Performance, within the Justice Health Business Unit of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (Victoria). Justice Health is responsible for leading responsive and contemporary prisoner and youth offending health policy, services, and advice across the justice system.

Jason’s background includes a range of senior management and leadership roles in Australia, and jurisdictions across an extensive range of portfolio accountabilities in New Zealand.

Experience gained in these roles along with tertiary studies majoring in economics/finance, strategy, and management systems combine to provide Jason with a unique blend of commercial acumen, policy reform, operational change management, project management and project governance oversight.

Joined November 2022

Cameron Smith has more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry, with a career that has spanned executive roles such as CEO of global software company CoTe Software and Solutions, to Chief Information Officer of Vision Australia.

Currently the Director of Strategy and Services at global software company LiveTiles, Cameron has diverse commercial experience in financial services, regulated markets, insurance and not-for-profit sector. Along with his executive and senior management background, Cameron has an MBA and a number of undergraduate degrees in business administration and organisational strategy.

Joined January 2023

Michael Maher is a Partner at Cube Group, leading the firm’s evaluation and review practice. Cube works with purpose-driven organisations, including government and public entities, community service organisations, not-for-profits, peak bodies and other member-based organisations.

With more than 30 years of experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, Michael’s work spans all areas of social policy with a particular focus on early childhood, education, justice, health (including mental health) and human services.

Michael brings extensive experience at executive levels in the Victorian Government, including leading early childhood programs, policy and regulation, and is skilled in program management, resource allocation and budget processes.

Michael is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Joined March 2020

David Meagher is the Director and founder of DPM Consulting, and more than 35 years’ commercial experience working in both human resources and accounting.

David has held senior Human Resources roles in professional service firms such as Ernst & Young, BDO Australia and ShineWing Australia as well as Aegis, a business solutions provider (CRM).

As a Human Resources consultant providing expertise to a range of clients, David specialises in making sure the employee relations framework is established, implementing reward and recognition programs, facilitating leadership programs and introducing policy and procedural change into organisations.

David is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Joined  January 2023

Heather Smith’s career in management spans public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Heather has focussed on finding pragmatic and implementable solutions for organisational strategy challenges in industries including health, disability, services, insurance, community services and child development.

Originally trained as an Occupational Therapist, Heather expanded her skills with Graduate qualifications in safety and an MBA.

With experience spanning industries where there can be complex and multiple stakeholders and actioning a substantial reform program, Heather brings perspectives on technology, change management, project management, governance and risk management.

Joined January 2023

Helen Ali-Haapala is a Senior Manager, Restructuring and Insolvency at William Buck, a top 10 accounting firm in Australia and New Zealand.

Helen has a wealth of cross-industry experience from various senior-level positions in professional services and commerce. She uses her knowledge and expertise to understand the issues, provide invaluable perspectives, and ensure the best outcomes are met.

Experience gained in these roles supports Helen’s belief that the best results are achieved when communication is clear and collaboration is high, as it creates relationships built on trust.