Our people

Trustees

• Geoff Nicholson

  Chair

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  Geoff Nicholson

  Chair

  Geoff has been a Trustee of the Ross Trust since July 2016.

  Geoff has extensive experience in finance, business and strategy across the telecommunications industry, combined with non-executive director roles in the social sector in Victoria.

  Geoff is deputy chair the of Launch Housing Board and has non-executive director roles with United Energy Distribution Group (a Victorian electricity distributor), the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, Marchment Hill Consulting and Athletics Australia. He has a focus on audit and risk.

  Geoff is also former Chairman of Hanover Welfare Services and a board member of Sensis and the KAZ Computing Group, as well as numerous subsidiaries in both Telstra and AusNet Services. Concurrently with his non-executive director roles, Geoff has also provided consulting services to Transpower New Zealand, TransGrid, Jemena, FreeStyle Technology and more recently as an interim CFO to V/Line.

• Prue Digby

  Trustee

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  Prue Digby

  Trustee

  Prue has been a Trustee of the Ross Trust since July 2018.

  Prue has extensive government and community experience having held several senior executive and non-executive Director positions, across a range of state, local government and non-government sectors.

  Originally a social worker, Prue recently retired as Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Building Authority. Prior to this role, Prue was Deputy Secretary – Planning, Building, Heritage and Local Government and the first Chief Executive Officer for the City of Yarra.

  Prue previously held Director positions on the board of many community organisations. Currently Prue is the State Government appointed Municipal Monitor for Frankston City Council and Member Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) WorkCare Board.

• Jeremy Kirkwood

  Trustee

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  Jeremy Kirkwood

  Trustee

  Jeremy has been a Trustee of the Ross Trust since August 2017.

  Jeremy is a highly respected corporate advisor. He has been a principal with Pilot Advisory Group and was previously a Managing Director at Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Austock. He has primarily worked in public markets, undertaking merger and acquisitions and capital raisings for companies principally in the metals and mining, energy and infrastructure sectors. Jeremy has been a Director of companies in the not-for-profit sector and is currently Chair of Geelong Grammar School and Independent Schools Victoria.

• Jenny Stephens

  Trustee

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  Jenny Stephens

  Trustee

  Jenny has been a Trustee of the Ross Trust since November 2013.

  Jenny has worked for over 30 years in the higher education and not-for-profit sectors in the UK and Australia and has been an academic and a social researcher with publications in the areas of labour market, gender and income security. For 10 years she worked in executive management roles at the University of Melbourne with a particular focus on starting up new initiatives and renewing existing areas. She then became a consultant in her own company with expertise in change management and engagement.

  Jenny is a Board member of Philanthropy Australia, was a former long serving member of the Board of Governance of Prahran Mission, a Ministerial appointee to the Board of NMIT and a Board member of a Community Bank. She holds bachelor and master’s degrees in Sociology, has undertaken Executive level leadership programs in Australia and in the US at Harvard University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

• Jon Webster AM

  Trustee

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  Jon Webster AM

  Trustee

  Jon has been a Trustee of the Ross Trust since July 2018.

  With a long and distinguished career in the Law, Jon is currently a partner at the law firm, Allens. Jon was a board member of Allens from 2004-2016.

  Having held several academic appointments, Jon recently retired as a Senior Fellow of the Law School at the University of Melbourne.

  Jon currently holds several Director positions including Director of the Human Rights Law Centre and listed investment company AMCIL Limited. He is also Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Northern Land Council.

Staff

• Sarah Hardy

  Chief Executive Officer

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  Sarah Hardy

  Chief Executive Officer

  Sarah has been the CEO of the Ross Trust since January 2018.

  Sarah has held leadership and management positions in the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors for nearly 30 years across Victoria and Australia. Previously Sarah was the CEO at the Menzies Foundation and prior, held senior positions at The Myer Foundation, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Foundation for Young Australians, Jean Hailes Foundation and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Originally qualified as a Registered Nurse and Midwife, Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in Advanced Applied Science and postgraduate qualifications in Adult Education and Training (University of Melbourne), Community Health (La Trobe University), Mental Health Sciences (University of Melbourne) and Business (Philanthropy and Not-for-Profit studies, QUT).

  Sarah completed the Executive Program for Philanthropic Leaders at Stanford University in 2008 and the Exponential Course in Fundraising and Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University in 2017. She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and non-executive director of the not-for-profit organisation, Youth Live4Life.

• Margarita Sagris

  Operations Manager

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  Margarita Sagris

  Operations Manager

  Margarita has been a staff member of the Ross Trust since February 2001.

  Margarita holds a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Affairs from RMIT University and has extensive experience in youth work, the charitable trusts sector and administration.

  Margarita came to the Trust after working at ANZ Trustees Philanthropy Partners. Prior to this she held a number of office management positions within the Department of Education and Training, Victoria.

• Meghan Weekes

  Senior Program Manager

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  Meghan Weekes

  Senior Program Manager

  Meghan has been Senior Program Manager of the Ross Trust since October 2018.

  Meghan has over 14 years’ experience in the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently Meghan held the position of Philanthropy and Non-Profit Services Manager at Perpetual, working closely with philanthropists to support not-for-profit organisations achieve social impact and build strong, healthy communities. Prior to this, Meghan worked at The Trust Company as Program Area Manager where she was responsible for funding approaches with a focus on positive ageing.

  Meghan has a deep understanding of the unique issues of the not-for-profit sector and has extensive experience in grant making practice and strategy.

• Rebecca Chew

  Program Manager

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  Rebecca Chew

  Program Manager

  Rebecca has been a Program Manager of the Ross Trust since February 2017.

  Rebecca has worked for over 16 years in the not-for-profit arts sector as a senior manager. Most recently she was the Development Manager at Polyglot Theatre where she increased support for the company through private giving, philanthropy and sponsorship. Prior to that, she was the General Manager at Centre for Contemporary Photography, where she was responsible for the overall management of the organisation including finance, compliance, funding and project management.

  Rebecca has a well-developed understanding of the not-for-profit sector including governance and funding challenges and brings a diverse management experience to her role as Program Manager at the Trust.

  Rebecca holds a Master of Visual Culture from Monash University and has undertaken a variety of professional development programs including an Executive Program at the Melbourne Business School.

• Pam Mitchell

  Senior Finance Manager

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  Pam Mitchell

  Senior Finance Manager

  Pam Mitchell has been the Finance Manager of the Ross Trust since October 2015.

  Pam is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in the establishment, documentation, financial management and reporting of property and investment funds management businesses and superannuation funds.

  Pam currently holds non-executive directorships with various State Government Boards and is a member of several State Government and Federal Government audit committees.

• Dina Vlanes

  Administration Officer

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  Dina Vlanes

  Administration Officer

  Dina has been a staff member of the Ross Trust since January 2005.

  Dina has extensive experience in administration, accounts, customer service, stakeholder management and database administration.

  Dina has extensive experience in the public and private sectors and held several administrative positions within the Department of Education and Training, Victoria.