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Board of governance
Robyn Smith
Chairperson
Robyn has extensive experience working in the commonwealth and state public services, is a registered nurse and is a licenced real estate agent. Before moving into the private sector Robyn worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Veterans Affairs Network Manager and previously held the position of Community Health Advisor with the same organisation. With her team, Robyn established the VAN office in Lismore in the late 1990s. Prior to this Robyn held several positions as a registered nurse with NSW Health, NSW Department of Education and ACT Department of Education.
Neil Davies
Vice Chairperson
Neil is a public servant with over 25 years experience working in employment and economic development areas, particularly for Aboriginal people. He brings to our board an in depth knowledge of how governments work and the supports available for community organisations such as us. Neil holds a Cert IV and Diploma in Management and Leadership as well as a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.
Deniel Taylor
Treasurer
After a career in the Australian Airforce, Deniel began a career in financial management working within the private sector. Deniel has a strong commitment to civil society and has spent many years volunteering in community organisations.
Chris Hartley
Board member
Chris is a Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales Centre for Social Impact. Chris has nearly a decade of experience in the homelessness sector, working as a senior policy officer with Homelessness NSW and as a policy officer/solicitor with the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service. In these roles, Chris has successfully led campaigns to achieve major federal, state and local government reform in the area of housing and homelessness policy. Chris is an expert in developing creative and empowering systems that enable people experiencing homelessness to participate in research and advocacy. This includes the establishment of Street Care, NSW’s first advisory group consisting entirely of people with a lived experience of homelessness. Chris is currently on the operations group of the Everybody’s Home campaign and on the executive team of the Constellation Project.
Debra Pugh
Debra has a strong commitment to community justice and equity and has worked in the community care sector for over 25 years. Debra has qualifications in nursing and teaching, experience in aged care, disability service provision and has completed several university qualifications culminating in a Masters Degree in Adult Education and Training. Debra is the executive officer of a small NGO operating across the New England region of NSW.
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