Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services

Shadow Minister for Preventing Family Violence

Member for Barton

Linda was elected federal member for Barton in 2016, following a 14 year career in the NSW Parliament as Member for Canterbury. During her state political career she served as minister in a number of senior portfolios including as minister for Community Services and later as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Following her election to the Federal House of Representatives she was immediately appointed as Shadow Minister for Human Services. She has since been appointed Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services and Shadow Minister for Preventing Family Violence.

As a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, Linda was the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW Parliament and the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the Australian House of Representatives.  Linda’s commitment to Indigenous issues spans more than 30 years.

She began her career as a teacher in western Sydney and then as an education bureaucrat before being appointed Director General of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in 2000.  Charles Sturt University awarded her, its first Aboriginal graduate, an Honorary Doctorate in Education in 2002.

Linda has a long held commitment the prevention of domestic violence and family violence and has detailed publically her personal experience with it. 

Linda has held senior positions in the non-government sector serving on a number of Boards including the SBS, the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, and the NSW Board of Studies.

Born in South Australia, a proud Andyamathanha/Narungga man, Adam moved to Victoria as young boy and developed a passion for Australian Rules Football. After he was drafted by the Sydney Swans from the North Ballarat U18s, Adam had an AFL career spanning over seventeen seasons, retiring in September 2015. Adam had a highly decorated AFL career including being awarded the prestigious Rising Star medal and twice receiving the Brownlow Medal.

Adam has been a member of the National Indigenous Council (an advisory body to the Federal Government on Indigenous affairs), and Supply Nation (a government-funded body aimed at growing the Indigenous business sector through the promotion of supplier diversity in Australia). In 2014, Adam was named Australian of the Year in recognition of his community work aimed at empowering the next generation of Indigenous role models as well as his advocacy in the fight against racism. 

Adam is a Director of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation and STAND (Support Through Natural Disasters), a co-venture between Woolworths and the Salvation Army.  He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC), an organisation that aims to increase the participation of Indigenous companies in long term nation building projects.

Adam is also an Ambassador for the Racism It Stops With Me campaign, and for a brands including Toyota, David Jones, Qantas and Woolworths.

Adam has been a Non-Executive Director of the GO Foundation since September 2009.

Michael was born in South Australia and is a proud Kaurna / Ngarrindjeri / Narungga man.  Since retiring from his highly decorated career at the Sydney Swans, which included being a dual All-Australian team member and a member of the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century, Michael has been Head Coach of the AIS-AFL Academy, coached the Indigenous All-Stars team which toured Ireland in 2013, and was Head Coach of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

Michael brings to his roles at the GO Foundation many years’ experience as a Director on the Board of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy.  Michael has worked in numerous community-based programs over the past 15 years, including the Sydney Swans on their Healthy Choices Schools Program, and Books in Homes.  Michael has been an Ambassador for both the Indigenous Literacy and Numeracy Programme, and the AFL Indigenous Academy. In 2009 the AFL Players’ Association awarded Michael the prestigious Madden Medal, which recognises on- and off-field excellence and community spirit.

Michael is the Managing Director and Owner of ARA Indigenous Services. He is also a Director of Enable Consulting Services, a company that aims to drive economic empowerment and participation for Indigenous Australians that he started with GO Co-Founder, James Gallichan.

Michael has been a Non-Executive Director of the GO Foundation since September 2009.

James has spent more than two decades working in the information technology sector in Australia and overseas in Europe and the Asia Pacific region, including with IBM. He has worked with Indigenous organisations, both in the philanthropic and private sector, for more than a decade including MessageStick and ARA Indigenous Services.      

James is currently the Asia Pacific Vice President of the Business Services Group at Capgemini.  He is also the Director of Enable Consulting Services, a company that he started with Michael O’Loughlin, which aims to drive economic empowerment and participation for Indigenous Australians

James has been a Non-Executive Director of the GO Foundation since September 2009.

Brooke is a proud Gamilaroi woman from central north-west NSW. She grew up in Wonnaruah country in the New South Wales Hunter Valley with her five younger siblings and mother. After studying journalism at UTS, Brooke worked as a TV, radio and online journalist for SBS, NITV and the ABC and is currently Triple J's breakfast news presenter.

Brooke has also worked with AIME, GO's Ecosystem partner, which seeks to improve education and employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Brooke has been a long time supporter of the GO Foundation and we are thrilled to have her on board in an official capacity.

Anita is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales, but was born in Gadigal country and has spent much of her life on Dharawal land near La Perouse. She is one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors publishing across genres including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction, and children’s novels.

To show her love of our Co-Founders, and to prove that you can marry literature and sport, Anita co-wrote Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic. She also wrote two kids’ novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and her deadly dog Demonand Demon Guards the School Yard.

Anita’s other published works include the historical novel Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937,non-fiction text Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature,and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literaturewhich she co-authored with Peter Minter.

Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right,Manhattan Dreamingand Paris Dreaming.Her most recent books include Harry’s Secret Matty’s Comeback, and Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms which was shortlisted for the QLD Literary Awards and longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize.

In 2004 Anita was listed in The Bulletinmagazine’s “Smart 100”. Her memoir Am I Black Enough for You?  was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and she was a finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero).

As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. On an international level she has performed her own work and lectured on Aboriginal literature across the globe at universities and conferences, consulates and embassies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Tahiti, Fiji, New Caledonia, Spain, Japan, Austria, Germany and New Zealand.

Anita is a Lifetime Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and a proud Ambassador of Worawa Aboriginal College and the Sydney Swans.

She is on the Board of the State Library of Queensland, is a Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland and lives in Brisbane.

Anita’s website: www.anitaheiss.com.au

Photo by Helen Kassila

Phil has more than ten years’ experience leading financial service organisations, headlined by his previous position as Chief Executive Officer at Centric Wealth, as well as senior positions across divisions at Investec, the South African-based investment bank.

Whilst at Investec, Phil was instrumental in building the corporate and private bank client base and introducing investors to innovative opportunities, including property, aircraft leasing and other alternative investments. At Centric Wealth, he helped transform the Wealth Management company into a multimillion dollar business on behalf of Champ Private Equity.

Prior to his business career, Phil played 67 tests for the Wallabies from 1989 to 1999. He captained the team ten times, demonstrating inspiring leadership qualities. During this period, he also led the push to professionalism in rugby. Phil is also widely regarded for his philanthropic activities, creating The Balmoral Burn in 2000 in support of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation raising $33 million for Children’s Hospitals around the country.

Phil has recently been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his support to charitable institutions, rugby and the business community.

Born and raised in Western Sydney, Kyah Simon began her football career at Quakers Hill Junior Soccer Club under-8s where she immediately fell in love with the game. Kyah went on to represent NSW at National level for several years before receiving a scholarship to the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) under the guidance of current Matildas National Team Coach, Alen Stajcic. Stajcic, who was NSWIS coach at the time, was instrumental in Kyah’s development into the world class footballer that she is today with 75 international caps for the Matildas and her country, making her debut for Australia in 2007 at just 16 years of age.

Kyah has since represented Australia at major international tournaments including the 2008 Peace Queen Cup in South Korea, 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in China (where she converted the winning penalty for Australia to claim their first international title), and the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she became the first Indigenous player, male or female, to score a goal at a World Cup. In 2016, Kyah fulfilled a lifelong dream in representing Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Women’s Football.

Domestically, Kyah is one of the stars of the Westfield W-League having played for the Central Coast Mariners,Sydney FCand Melbourne City.  Kyah is a three-time Westfield W-League Championship winner, as a member of Sydney FCs 2009 Championship and as Captain (and Player of the Grand Final) of their 2012/13 Championshipand with Melbourne City in 2017/18, shewas also awarded the 2010/11 Westfield W-League Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Players Player and Golden Boot award.  Kyah has also played professional football in America as a leading player with the Boston Breakers in the WPSL Elite (2012) and also the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League (2013 - 2018).

Kyah recently become an Ambassador for the GO Foundation, hoping to help inspire and positively influence the Indigenous youth of our country. Through her work on and off the park, Kyah endeavours to set an example and give back to her community in any way she possibly can. Kyah is a proud Indigenous woman who goes over and above to give back to her community and those in need, valuing and appreciating the opportunities she has received through football and the unique position she is in.

Kyah also founded her very own ‘Kyah Simon Football Clinics’ for girls ages 8-18 years of age, generally run during School holidays in locations all over Australia. Kyah’s main goal for these clinics is to create a fun-filled environment where girls feel comfortable in their surroundings with other girls that share the same passions and interests. Kyah encourages girls of all abilities, ages, backgrounds and interests to come and be a part of the two day clinic, where Kyah shares insights into her footballing career, life experiences and how she got to where she is today to empower each and every participant with the emphasis on self-belief and setting goals to achieve goals.

Kyah believes in leaving the game better than when she found it, using football as a tool to empower, inspire, motivate and display to women and young girls all around the world that their self worth and value is the most important step to achieving any goals in life.

Born 1983 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, to an Irish father and Aboriginal mother, Dan Sultan was raised in Melbourne. His mother, Roslyn Sultan, got her name from the Afghan camel drivers of Australia's central desert a century ago, and her Aboriginal heritage has its genesis in the eastern Aranda and Gurindji clans of central Australia.

Growing up in Fitzroy with a few years in Cairns as a teenager, Dan was often one of a few indigenous students at his schools. Despite getting a hard time from kids all his life, he was always "proud to be a blackfella...it makes you strong, it makes you smart."

Dan was exposed to music while living in remote Yundemu, 300 kilometers north-west of Alice Springs in the Tanami desert - Warlpiri country, where his Irish father was working for the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Long drawn to song and dance, one of his earliest memories is as a three year old, sitting around a fire in Yundemu with 60 to 70 Warlpiri elders and watching everyone dancing and singing. "I remember sitting next to one elder and he handed me some clap sticks and everyone encouraged me to get up and dance. When I came back to Melbourne I used to put on little shows at my school, pretending to play the didgeridoo. I really enjoy performing and I have ever since that dancing circle in the Tanami Desert", says Dan.

Back in Melbourne, he recalls being taken by his mum to her friends' rockabilly band that used to play at Fitzroy's infamous Black Cat café. "They'd be playing afternoon sessions and I remember watching the lead singer and thinking he was one of the coolest people in the world. I thought, "That's what I'd like to do." Infused with indigenous sounds of central Australia and surrounded by Melbourne's soul and rock and roll, Dan began writing songs at ten years of age.

DAN SULTAN: KILLER

To watch Dan Sultan hold an audience in the palm of his hand is to see a storyteller unafraid to lay it all out there: his troubles, desires and all those tales dragged from his life onto the stage. Ever since Sultan delivered his debut album, Homemade Biscuits, in 2006 at the age of 22, music lovers from all walks of life have found a home in his ability to bare his longings and his wounds, his rich and soulful voice spilling all sorts of guts and glory over memorable rock, roots and blues hooks.

Yet, there has also long been the sense that Sultan is the baton-holder of Australia's greatest musical potential. Though swarms of festival crowds and a collection of NIMA (Album of the Year, Song of the Year) and ARIA (Best Rock Album) awards might suggest otherwise, there's a lingering feeling that Sultan's boundless talent and gift for storytelling have been building, striving to be truly realised by the man who contains them. Even as 2014's Blackbird album cracked the top five of the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold, many were talking about what might come next.

On Killer, Sultan steps out as the songwriter he has always promised to become. From the erupting gospel chorus of first single 'Hold It Together' to the jazz-inflected lilt of 'Should've Known' and the classic FM pop nous of 'Reaction', Sultan's fourth studio album makes itself known as the record on which Dan Sultan becomes that rarest of things: his own musician. By the time Killer reaches its closing track, 'Easier Man', Sultan delivering a painfully honest reflection on how his inner demons have played out, nothing short of a national treasure is unveiled.

Recorded with producer and long-time collaborator Jan Skubiszewski at his Way Of The Eagle studio in Melbourne, the album is also a sophisticated leap forward in production and instrumentation for Sultan. Where Blackbird, recorded in Nashville with rock producer Jacquire King, took an old-school-big-studio approach to soulful tunes, Killer pushes forward. The album introduces synthesisers and drum machines to lift powerful rhythms, and heightens emotions with gospel backing vocals that sound bigger than cathedral choirs.

"It's been a long process to make this album, looking back on it all," Sultan says. "I've spent a long time working on this record. With the writing, it was all about evolving. I wasn't even necessarily thinking about the album as such, I was just writing for the sake of writing, and the album made itself known over time."

Over the course of 2016, when he wasn't touring and making appearances on tracks like A.B. Original's 'January 26' (which was voted in at number 16 on triple j's Hottest 100), Sultan was writing. When the year was out, he'd penned around 60 songs for Killer, many alone and a handful with his regular writing partners: Alex Burnett (of pop-rock group Sparkadia), Pip Norman and Ben Abraham. Even then the record wasn't complete. As Sultan and Skubiszewski got to recording, Sultan continued to write - 'Reaction' and political missive 'Kingdom' were latecomers to the album's track list.

Lyrically, Sultan is more reflective than on previous records, which have seemed to catch Sultan in the throes of growing up. There's a broader weighing of life's ups and downs present on Killer, an acknowledgement that troubles will find you, but that you are also never alone with them. It might be described as maturity. Certainly, along with a musical assuredness, the album is a portrait of a songwriter who knows himself better. "I'm not an easy man / I guess I'll never be / But I was always yours," Sultan sings on 'Easier Man'.

"I think it comes from being a bit more grown up, personally," Sultan says. "And that's the idea, isn't it"? You get older and you get a bit wiser, and as a songwriter you're always trying to get better and trying to push yourself."

Songs like 'Hold It Together' and 'Kingdom' add a wider scope to Sultan's lyrical oeuvre. While 'Hold It Together' takes a tale of a close friend and turns it into an affirming call for solidarity, 'Kingdom' is more politically cutting: "Tie my hands and break my bones / Take my children from my home," the song starts before Sultan posits a sharp question: "Who's coming with me to the kingdom?"

One of the record's surprises is 'Drover', a song written from the perspective of an indigenous drover during the Wave Hill walk-off in 1966, a protest by pastoral workers in the Northern Territory over poor working conditions. The protest was immortalised in Paul Kelly's classic 'From Little Things Big Things Grow', and Sultan describes 'Drover' as a "prequel" to that song.

"It's about the lead-up to the walk-off, about what it was like on the ground before the protest really kicked off," he says. "The drover in the song has heard murmurs of a walk-off, murmurs of, 'We're going to protest and stand up for our land and stand up for our people'. I found it really interesting to write in that way. You know, as a writer, I think empathy is essential." 

To say that Killer is not only a portrait of a songwriter at a crucial moment in his craft and in his life, but also a portrait of a country at this moment in time, is not a bridge too far. Sultan's fourth album is personal and far-reaching, a reflection on his life and a call for all our lives to pull closer together. It's also an exciting and hook-filled journey of a record, one that urges us to look at who Dan Sultan is, right here, right now.

View Dan's Website here.

Sam Mostyn is a widely sought after non-executive director and sustainability adviser. Alongside her business career, Sam has served on numerous civil society boards.  She was President of the Australian Council for International Development, served on the Boards of Reconciliation Australia and the National Mental Health Commission, and was Deputy Chair of the Diversity Council of Australia.  She was the first woman appointed to the AFL Commission in 2005 where she served for over a decade.  In that capacity, she was involved in the Respect and Responsibility Policy, served on the Indigenous Advisory Committee and helped introduce AFLW.

Sam is Chairperson of Citibank Australia, the Foundation for Young Australians, ANROWS, the Australian Women Donors Network, AUSFILM and Alberts.  She serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Transurban Group and Mirvac Group as well as the Sydney Swans, the Climate Council, the Centre for Policy Development and ClimateWorks.  Sam also spent several years on the boards of Virgin Australia, the NSW Public Education Foundation, and Carriageworks, the Global Business & Sustainable Development Commission, the Australian Museum and Sydney Theatre Company.  Trained as a lawyer, Sam worked as a solicitor before becoming a senior policy advisor in the Federal Government including as Communications Policy Advisor to then Prime Minister Paul Keating.  In her corporate life, Sam served as a senior executive with Insurance Australia Group, Optus Communications and Cable & Wireless PLC.  Her previous corporate board roles include Virgin Australia and Cover-More.

Sam is also a member of the Australian Faculty of the Cambridge University Program for Sustainability Leadership, Chief Executive Women and the Business & Sustainable Development Commission.   She has previously held senior executive roles at Insurance Australia Group, Optus Communications and Cable & Wireless plc.

Sam has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University.

Sam joined the GO Foundation Board in February 2013.

Michael was born in South Australia and is a proud Kaurna / Ngarrindjeri / Narungga man.  Since retiring from his highly decorated career at the Sydney Swans, which included being a dual All-Australian team member and a member of the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century, Michael has been Head Coach of the AIS-AFL Academy, coached the Indigenous All-Stars team which toured Ireland in 2013, and was Head Coach of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

Michael brings to his roles at the GO Foundation many years’ experience as a Director on the Board of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy.  Michael has worked in numerous community-based programs over the past 15 years, including the Sydney Swans on their Healthy Choices Schools Program, and Books in Homes.  Michael has been an Ambassador for both the Indigenous Literacy and Numeracy Programme, and the AFL Indigenous Academy. In 2009 the AFL Players’ Association awarded Michael the prestigious Madden Medal, which recognises on- and off-field excellence and community spirit.

Michael is the Managing Director and Owner of ARA Indigenous Services. He is also a Director of Enable Consulting Services, a company that aims to drive economic empowerment and participation for Indigenous Australians that he started with GO Co-Founder, James Gallichan.

Michael has been a Non-Executive Director of the GO Foundation since September 2009.

Ken is an independent board director, chairman and board advisor.  Ken has previously been Chairperson of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, RedBalloon and Regnan, and has contributed to over 20 boards across 11 industry sectors.  Ken is also a tier one coach and mentor, and participant in various causes promoting aspects of fairness and sustainability. 

In his executive career, Ken was Managing Director of Tourism Australia and Goodman Fielder Asia (based in Singapore).  He also held Divisional Head roles for listed Australian companies in the wine, food and building materials industries.   Ken has master's degrees in Agricultural Science and Business Administration and has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 1996.

Ken is Chairperson of Appellon, and a Non-Executive Director of Timberlink Australia and Australian Bauxite Limited.  He also sits on the Advisory Board of the Westmead Institute for Medical Research Foundation.

Ken joined the GO Foundation Board as Non-Executive Director in February 2013.

James has spent more than two decades working in the information technology sector in Australia and overseas in Europe and the Asia Pacific region, including with IBM. He has worked with Indigenous organisations, both in the philanthropic and private sector, for more than a decade including MessageStick and ARA Indigenous Services.      

James is currently the Asia Pacific Vice President of the Business Services Group at Capgemini.  He is also the Director of Enable Consulting Services, a company that he started with Michael O’Loughlin, which aims to drive economic empowerment and participation for Indigenous Australians

James has been a Non-Executive Director of the GO Foundation since September 2009.

Born in South Australia, a proud Andyamathanha/Narungga man, Adam moved to Victoria as young boy and developed a passion for Australian Rules Football. After he was drafted by the Sydney Swans from the North Ballarat U18s, Adam had an AFL career spanning over seventeen seasons, retiring in September 2015. Adam had a highly decorated AFL career including being awarded the prestigious Rising Star medal and twice receiving the Brownlow Medal.

Adam has been a member of the National Indigenous Council (an advisory body to the Federal Government on Indigenous affairs), and Supply Nation (a government-funded body aimed at growing the Indigenous business sector through the promotion of supplier diversity in Australia). In 2014, Adam was named Australian of the Year in recognition of his community work aimed at empowering the next generation of Indigenous role models as well as his advocacy in the fight against racism. 

Adam is a Director of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation and STAND (Support Through Natural Disasters), a co-venture between Woolworths and the Salvation Army.  He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC), an organisation that aims to increase the participation of Indigenous companies in long term nation building projects.

Adam is also an Ambassador for the Racism It Stops With Me campaign, and for a brands including Toyota, David Jones, Qantas and Woolworths.

Adam has been a Non-Executive Director of the GO Foundation since September 2009.

Holly is the Deputy Chairperson of Australia Post and a non-executive director on the Boards of Woolworths, Abacus Property Group and regional community-owned telco, Southern Phone.  She also sits on the Board of Trustees for Western Sydney University and the ASIC External Advisory Board.

In her executive career, Holly was the CEO of apparel retailer Best & Less, where she was responsible for transforming the business and returning it to growth and profitability.  In that role, she was responsible for approximately 200 stores and 4300 employees across Australia. Prior to Best & Less, she was an executive at Pacific Brands, running the Workwear and Homewares Divisions, and Telstra, where she held the roles of Group Managing Director- Product Management and Chief of Marketing.

Holly is a member of Chief Executive Women. 

Holly has a BA with Honours in Economics and Political Science from Yale University and an MBA from Georgetown University. Holly lives in the Southern Highlands of NSW with her husband and teenage daughter.

Holly joined the GO Foundation Board as a Non-Executive Director in February 2017.

Sonja is a proud Yuin woman, who has spent most of her life on the land of the Gadigal.  She brings to the GO Foundation Board her wealth of experience having has been involved in government, academic and not-for-profit boards for over 20 years. 

Sonja has extensive senior experience across State and Commonwealth governments.  She was most recently a Deputy Secretary within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.  Before joining the Department, Sonja was a Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Public Service Commission, focussed on improving workforce performance across the NSW Public Sector.

Sonja has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and the University of Alberta, Canada.  She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sonja joined the GO Foundation Board as a Non-Executive Director in October 2018.

Shirley started her career as a lawyer at the New York law firm, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.  Upon completing the New York Bar exam, Shirley worked across Asia both for Cleary and as Regional Counsel for JP Morgan Investment Management.

After almost 8 years in Japan, Shirley’s career took a different turn when she moved back to Australia and worked for a number of community initiatives including the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Queenwood School and the Law Society of NSW. 

After writing a biography for a World War 2 prisoner-of-war, Shirley returned to banking and finance joining the legal team at BT Financial Group and Westpac Banking Corporation and volunteering for the Westpac Foundation.  Prior to joining the GO Foundation, Shirley was Counsel in the Treasury team at Westpac.

Shirley believes fiercely in the power of diversity and inclusion and is an advocate for increasing diversity amongst corporate and not-for-profit boards and senior management both in Australia and more broadly.

She is also the deputy chair of YMCA NSW.

Shirley lives in Sydney with her husband of 22 years, Ian, and their three children, Sabrina, Max and Kian.

Alex grew up on a farm near Yass, and began her career as a reporter in the local TV station, Capital 7, in Canberra.  From there she went to Channel 9, and 60 Minutes where she worked her way up from a Junior Producer to Chief of Staff over the next 17 years.   

Alex’s job took her everywhere, and the people she met shaped her passion for social justice and education. She went on to develop and executive produce observational documentary series including Young Doctors,  Beyond the Darklands, Pride of Australia with Sarah Murdoch, and the ABC documentary series, Ice Wars.

She went back on the road for four years with the Sunday Night program before leaving to start Belladonna Media. Mother of Charlotte and Aunty to many, Alex brings to the GO family her drive to better Australian Indigenous children’s access to education.

Evelyn has over 20 years experience working in finance roles for organisations ranging from boutique fund managers to ASX listed companies such as Westfield and Macquarie Bank.  She has been involved across a wide variety of functions including corporate strategy and planning, finance, tax, human resources, company secretariat, and legal and compliance.

Evelyn comes to GO with a passion for helping ensure everyone has access to high quality education.  She's also trying to do her bit to leave the planet in the best condition possible for future generations.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and two daughters, and André her beloved rescue dog.

Celine grew up in France before coming to Australia in 2011 on a working holiday - and never left.  She is a qualified teacher, and taught English as a Second Language in various schools around Sydney before joining the Student Services team at Navitas English.

Celine then chose to pursue a career in administration and studied Business Administration at TAFE.  For the next few years she worked as an executive assistant for media and waste management companies. In 2019, Celine joined the team at GO having decided to go back to what’s close to her heart: Education and helping students reach their goals.

Scott has been a part of the Sydney Swans Human Resources team since 2011.  His portfolio includes responsibility for their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and Diversity Action Plan (DAP) which serve as the major strategic documents underpinning the Sydney Swans’ community initiatives. Passionate about the importance of education in achieving reconciliation, Scott has been a strong advocate of the partnership between the GO Foundation and the Sydney Swans.

Nicole joined the Sydney Swans in 2016 and works in the Human Resource team as the Payroll Accountant. Prior to joining the Swans, Nicole was based in Melbourne at the Australian Football League and has 6+ years’ experience within the industry and 12+ years’ within finance.

Nicole thoroughly enjoys her involvement with and the opportunity to contribute to the GO Foundation.

Peter Meurer is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected bankers bringing over 35 years of experience to GO. He was the Inaugural Chairperson of the GO Foundation Board of Directors from 2013 to 2018 and was instrumental in the GO Foundation’s growth in revenue and scholarships. Under Peter’s tenure as Chair, the GO Foundation launched its scholarship program and expanded from independent schools into public schools. Peter made an enduring and vital contribution to the GO Foundation during his time as Chair and is at the forefront of those responsible for GO’s sustainability and growth. Peter remains an important member of the GO team as Chair of the Investment Committee and a member of the Capital Campaign Committee.

Peter has previously been the Executive Chairman at Nomura Investment Bank in Australia, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Corporate Broking at Merrill Lynch, Vice Chairman of Citi Group and prior to that Vice Chairman of McIntosh/Baring Securities. He was also a senior partner at Potter Partners and Potter Warburg.

Peter also currently sits on the investment committee for the Foundation for Young Australians and is the Chairman of Ignition Wealth Pty Limited. He is a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Daniel Middleton-Clifford joined the GO Foundation in its early days in 2010 and was a key member of the initial team.

Daniel  held a number of positions including that of General Manager before stepping down from his position as Adviser to the Board in 2016. During his time at GO Daniel was integral in restructuring the organisation’s operations, including driving its focus on education and setting up its scholarships program.

Daniel has over 10 years' experience in investment banking, private equity, strategic projects and not-for-profit, having worked at firms such as Transocean Group and Macquarie Group.

He is currently employed at the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne as Head of Special Projects.

Kylie Brown is a partner at the international law firm of Allens Linklaters and recently stepped down from the GO Board of Directors. Kylie tirelessly worked for the GO Foundation, not only as a board member but also as counsel to the board and as a friend to Adam and Michael. She has been a close confidant and has been integral in getting the GO Foundation to where it is today.

Kylie is a corporate lawyer with over 20 years of experience in Australia and the United Kingdom. Kylie specialises in mergers and acquisitions and corporate law and has advised in relation to numerous high profile corporate matters. Kylie has been involved in pro bono work for various Indigenous and community organisations.