Alex Milner

Board Chair, Ex Officio All Committees

Alex is a partner at Milner + Huang, a legal practice he established in 2021, which focusses on serving the charity, not-for-profit and philanthropy sectors.

Previously he has held senior legal roles at Lend Lease, World Vision Australia, Australian Red Cross Society and Ingeus (UK).

Alex is Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Charity and Not-for-profit Law Committee and is actively involved in the Anglican Church in Melbourne.

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Laws

Dr Ian Curtis AM

Director, Member of People and Governance Committee

Ian has over 35 years’ experience in executive leadership of global humanitarian programs across five continents. His last full-time position was as Vice President for Governance and Accountability with World Vision International. He is vastly experienced in issues pertaining to long term development as well as dynamic experiences which include the rescue of Vietnam war-refugees, building schools and clinics in wartime Iraq and directing World Vision International’s response to the devastating 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. In 2010, his experience and leadership were recognised in the Australia Day Honours List.

Doctor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Arts
Executive Program [Graduate School of Business, University of Melbourne]
Fellow Governance Institute of Australia
AM – Member of the Order of Australia
HOSM – Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal

Janelle Richards

Deputy Board Chair, Director, Chair of People and Governance Committee

Janelle is a People and Culture professional with over 30 years experience, in both international and Australian settings as well as humanitarian development and rapid response contexts. She recently retired from CBM Australia, where she served as People and Culture Director. Janelle is passionate about creating working environments and cultures that encourage employees to reach their potential and contribute to the achievement of the organisation’s overall goals and mission.

Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences)
Graduate Diploma in Innovation and Service Management

Shirley Reeder

Director, Chair of Fundraising Committee

Shirley is a high performing Management and Strategic Leadership consultant and coach working both in Australia and internationally. Shirley has considerable experience (over 20 years) in coaching and advising organisations in a variety of leadership and relationship management issues. She works primarily with CEOs, their Boards and Senior teams in the provision and facilitation of strategic advice and coaching through times of change.

Post Grad Certificate – Applied Science – Innovation and Service Management
Certificate IV – Professional Coaching
International Coach Federation – Accredited ACC
Member – Australian Human Resources Institute CAHRI

Tristan Heron

Director, Chair of Finance Risk and Audit Committee

Tristan is a highly experienced and credentialed chartered accountant (BA in Commerce, 2005) and a high performing finance, risk and auditing consultant. Tristan has worked extensively with not-for-profit organisations for 15 years. He has worked with International Needs for the last decade consulting to the board as a member of the Finance Risk and Audit committee (FRAC).

Bachelor of Commerce, Deakin University
Majoring Accounting, Finance, Bus Comm, Bus Info Systems
CA – Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia, 2010

Jonathan Yap

Director, Member of Finance Risk and Audit Committee

Jonathan has worked in the banking industry for over a decade (BA in Commerce, 2010), predominantly within Risk and Compliance, with an emphasis on generating insights based on data. This is his first foray into charities as a member of the Finance Risk and Audit committee (FRAC).

Louise Curry

Director, Chair of Development Committee

Louise is a project management and organisational effectiveness professional who has worked primarily within the international development sector for 20 years – both in Australia and overseas. She spent more than ten years living and working in Nepal with World Vision and also Habitat for Humanity International respectively, but has supported development programs in Asia, Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Louise is passionate about designing development initiatives that have a positive impact on the most marginalised people and also ensuring that organisations have the structure and systems thy require to support effective programs and perform at their best.

Bachelor of Arts
Graduate Diploma in International Social Work
Master in Strategic Organisational Development

Dr. Andrew Catford

Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer

Andrew has extensive experience in the international development sector, having lived and worked for over 20 years in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. He has a proven track record of leading organisations to grow and tangibly impact the lives of vulnerable children, youth, men, and women.

Andrew has worked for non-governmental organisations including Hagar International, World Vision and Build On, and for the consulting company, Hassall GHD, successfully securing and implementing large scale international development projects for a wide variety of donors. Andrew has 10 years’ experience as a Country Director in Senegal and the Solomon Islands, and he has been a Board Member of the Solomon Islands Development Services Exchange and Board Chair of the microfinance institution, Vision Fund. 

Andrew holds a PhD focused on effective community development approaches in Vietnam. He has also been a master’s degree lecturer at RMIT University in Melbourne on project design, monitoring, evaluation and gender, all subjects for which he has a strong passion. 

Associate Professor Max Kelly

Member of Development Committee

Dr. Max Kelly is an Associate Professor and Course Director of Masters of International and Community Development, Deakin University. She holds a PhD in International Development from Kingston University, London, a Masters in Rural and Regional Resource Planning, University of Aberdeen, and a Bachelors in Agricultural Science, University College Dublin. Her recent research has focused on Political Economy Analysis, Impact Assessment in development policy and practice, and research methods in an African context, as well as a focus on livestock development and animal welfare. She has consulted and volunteered with a wide range of organisations, including international NGOs, multilateral organisations and government departments.

Geoff Weinstein

Member of Fundraising Committee

Geoff is a communication coach and speaker who helps busy people influence others with integrity. Geoff is the author of BURIED ALIVE: Digging Your Way Out to Clear Communication, and the co-author of BLIND SPOTS: Solving Hidden Business Problems. For more than 25 years, Geoff has helped companies simplify their communications and boost productivity, including 10 years in Wealth Management at TD Waterhouse, 3 years as Director of Marketing and Communication at International Needs Canada, and 18 years operating his own consulting and coaching company. He’s trained and coached thousands of people and spoken at hundreds of workshops and events in North America, Europe, and Africa. Geoff has served as a director on the board of Kingdom Children Inc., International Needs Canada, and his local church.   

Heath McSolvin

Member of Fundraising Committee

Heath is an accomplished fundraising and donor engagement leader with over 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Currently serving as Head of Donor Engagement at Positive Media (89.9 TheLight), Heath has developed award-winning strategies to strengthen donor relationships, enhance engagement, and drive sustainable revenue growth. His strategic leadership has resulted in transformative growth across multiple fundraising channels, from major gifts to new donor acquisition programs. 

Previously, as Director of Fundraising at CBM Australia, Heath oversaw a team of 25+ and played a pivotal role in scaling CBM’s income from $1.5 million to over $30 million annually. His expertise in donor development extends internationally, having worked in the USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, UK and Italy. Heath is known for his ability to foster high-performing teams, build cross-functional partnerships, and deliver innovative, donor-centered fundraising solutions. 

Heath holds an MBA majoring in Leadership and Communication from Deakin University, and is dedicated to creating lasting impact through philanthropy, Heath brings a visionary approach to donor engagement, grounded in excellence, integrity, and a commitment to social change. 

Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Paramedics, Registered Paramedic (APHRA)

Leo Orland

FFIA (Emeritus), CFRE (Retired)

Member of Fundraising Committee

Leo has been a professional fundraiser for over 40 years and has helped raise millions of dollars for a multitude of causes in Australia and internationally. His work has involved strategic planning, implementation of direct marketing programs, major supporter development, bequest programs, development of monthly giving programs, fundraising audits, and training of fundraisers. Previously he was the Relationship Marketing Manager for World Vision Australia for 14 years; Marketing Director for World Vision Thailand for two years. Leo, has worked extensively in Asia including delivering fundraising training in India, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore.

Leo is a Fellow Emeritus of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA) member, a past Chair of FIA, past member of the CFRE Board, as well as past Chair of the CFRE Exam Committee. In 2013, Leo was named the Arthur Venn Fundraiser of the Year, a national award from the FIA which recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to fundraising in Australia.  

Nathan Flannery

Member of Fundraising Committee

Nathan is a seasoned leader with over 15 years of experience across church and non-profit sectors, known for his passion for mobilizing teams and fostering growth in mission-focused organizations. With a background that includes key leadership roles at Prison Fellowship Australia, World Vision, and Destiny Rescue, Nathan has consistently driven year-over-year growth and built high-performing teams that focus on church engagement, fundraising, and community impact. His approach to leadership is people-cantered yet strategic, committed to guiding teams through change with empathy and resilience. Nathan’s work demonstrates a deep dedication to serving marginalized communities and supporting transformative social impact. 

With a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Ministry and ongoing personal development in executive leadership, Nathan combines strong analytical skills with creativity and innovation. He excels in developing strategic fundraising programs, public speaking, and designing effective communication campaigns, aiming to connect audiences with meaningful missions. A dynamic speaker and communicator, he brings a thoughtful approach to each project, from program design to stakeholder engagement, making him a versatile leader motivated by purpose and grounded in Christian values.