Board

Chair

Jeremy Halcrow

Jeremy has over two decades of management experience in the not-for-profit sector. He is currently the Executive Director, Strategy & Quality, The Benevolent Society, having worked as CEO of Anglicare ACT/NSW South from 2013 to 2022. He has a passion for advocacy and is a leader in the wider community sector, currently serving as Co-Chair of the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance (CGRA). He was also a director of national sector peak body, the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) from 2013 to 2018, including terms as Treasurer and Deputy President.

Jeremy has significant governance experience and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2022 he is scheduled to complete an MBA specialising in Social Impact from the Australian Graduate School of Management, UNSW.

Jeremy’s research interests are diverse. He has authored essays, papers and research reports on a range of social justice issues. In an earlier career, he worked in the media sector and was managing editor of a newspaper.

Vice Chair

Lisa Kelly

Lisa Kelly is CEO of Carers ACT. She has worked extensively in the community sector and holds Degrees in Psychology and Community Development.

Previously, Lisa has worked in the mental health and youth sectors for agencies such as Lifeline, Headspace, Richmond Fellowship and the Australian Childhood Foundation. She has spent a large part of her career implementing innovative and award winning services and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role on the Board of ACTCOSS.

Treasurer

Blessy Pascual

Blessy is the Chief Financial Officer of Woden Community Service. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Blessy has over 20 years experience in accounting, working across several for-profits and for-purpose organisations. Her experience ranges from business advisory and taxation, financial and management accounting, and financial planning and analysis in Australia and New Zealand. She has over six years of experience in the community service sector in Canberra. She is committed to the work of the community service sector and how services can remain sustainable and innovative.

Ordinary Director

Andrew Scotford

Andrew Scotford is the General Manager of the Canberra Institute of Technology Student Association Inc (CITSA). He is passionate about working in the ever-changing VET sector, improving student outcomes via student support and commercial services. Across his 13 years’ experience in sports management at all levels of Australian sport he has continued to develop a deep understanding of how good organisations or individuals become great. He thoroughly enjoys working in the not-for-profit sector to help get things done.

Ordinary Director

Amanda Tobler

Amanda is the Managing Director of ELM (ACT). Her key strengths are in her diverse experience and high level understanding of the not-for-profit, Government and corporate sectors. She has high level strategic thinking capabilities and vast experience in advocacy and considerable commercial experience. Amanda has an exceptional ability to achieve results in demanding and challenging environments and an ability to build excellent relationships at all levels.

Amanda has strong academic qualifications including a Degree in Community Education, an Advanced Diploma of Management and a Diploma of Government

Ordinary Director

Fiona Loaney

Fiona Loaney is the Director, Governance of Relationships Australia Canberra & Region, with over 20 years of experience in contract, program, and relationship management in not-for-profit, government and private sector organisations. A highly motivated, strategic, and outcomes-focused person, Fiona heads up Relationships Australia’s contract management and research and evaluation teams. Fiona has Master of Business and Technology (UNSW) and a Bachelor of Business – Marketing (CSU).

Ordinary Director

Melissa Bell

Melissa is a leader and a practitioner with a background in social policy, project management and strategy. As a qualified social worker, she brings more than 20 years experience in the child and family sector. Over the last decade, Melissa has led across various roles with Barnardos Australia, most recently since 2017 in the role of General Manager with ACT Together, the Barnardos led consortium responsible for out of home care service delivery in the ACT. Previously, she worked for 14 years within the NSW government, in both direct and indirect service roles.

Melissa has a comprehensive understanding of child and family programs and the ACT social services sector. She has extensive experience working with partner agencies and across organisations to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

Melissa is currently a participant in the inaugural ‘For Purpose Executive Leadership Program’ with the Melbourne Business School. She has diverse professional interests but has maintained at all times a strong commitment to achieving permanency and stability for vulnerable children involved with child protection systems.

Ordinary Director

Sue Webeck

Sue is a LGBTIQA+ community advocate as well as a passionate violence prevention and respectful relationships educator and advocate. She has been working in this space and aligned violence response and primary prevention spaces for almost 20 years. Sue is currently the CEO of the Domestic Violence Crisis Service having moved there in June 2021.

Sue is a deeply committed Canberran working and volunteering in a range of roles in the pursuit of making our community safer and more respectful for all. Sue is currently the Chair of the LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council and a member of the ACT Council of Social Service’s Board. Sue is a proud Canberran, happily raising her 12 year old twins alongside her wife while learning to live respectfully and in the spirit of reconciliation on Ngunnawal Country.

Ordinary Director

Tracey Hall

Tracey is the Executive Manager, Children and Families at Anglicare NSW West, NSW South and ACT. Tracey joined the ACTCOSS board in late 2022 and brings over 20 years in executive roles in the community sector across multiple jurisdictions, providing services for vulnerable children, young people and families.

Tracey’s expertise spans a diverse range of community services and government reforms including disability, early intervention, mental health, family preservation and statutory services (OOHC). Tracey has held Interim CEO and Deputy CEO roles in the past and is known for her capability and pragmatic approach to governance, risk and compliance, navigation of reform, and  building strong, effective relationships with key stakeholders. Tracey is deeply committed to improving the lives of those less fortunate and developing the service sector to better meet the needs of the community.

Ordinary Director

Lucy Hohnen

Lucy is the CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn.

She has over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles in the community sector, working in local government and community organisations in Australia and the UK. Lucy has a Master’s of Human Resource Management and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Before joining the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2021, she spent 10 years in the UK and held senior roles in the integrated health and social care sector and was a member of numerous strategic partnerships and boards.

Lucy is passionate about tackling poverty and disadvantage in our community and is an advocate for social justice, particularly for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Ordinary Director

Zakia Patel

Zakia Patel has a passion for using her skills to support marginalised communities, with a particular passion for young people. Zakia is the Regional Managing Director of the Multicultural Hub Canberra, with responsibilities for Multicultural Centres in Canberra, Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Bega and Cooma.

Zakia has over a decade of experience working in the community sector, and holds a Bachelor of Law/Economics.

In addition to her professional work in the community, Zakia has been a volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) for almost 14 years and is the Unit Commander for the Queanbeyan SES Unit with over 100 volunteers. Zakia is passionate about encouraging and empowering migrant women to volunteer in a predominately male dominated industry.