Speakers
Event Speakers
Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson
Governor of South Australia
Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC was born and grew up in South Australia.
In June 2021, Her Excellency was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration through the advancement of Australia’s diplomatic, trade and cultural interests, particularly with the People’s Republic of China and the Indo-Pacific region, to innovative foreign policy development and high level program delivery, and as the 36th Governor appointed in South Australia.
She is also a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John and patron of some 120 organisations in her own right and more than 50 jointly with her husband Rod.
Dr Catherine Earl
CEO
SACOSS
Dr Catherine Earl joined SACOSS in July 2025 and is a seasoned policy and advocacy leader with over 15 years’ experience in government relations, campaign strategy, and social policy reform. Prior to this role, she held Policy Director roles at major national and state organisations, and served as chief-of-staff to a SA Senator.
She holds a PhD in Social Science from the University of South Australia, a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) from Flinders University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Labour Studies from the University of Adelaide.
With a foundation in social work, research, and executive leadership, Dr Earl brings a deep commitment to equity, evidence-based policy, and collaborative change.
Dr Greg Ogle
Senior Policy and Research Analyst
SACOSS
Greg Ogle has worked as Senior Policy Analyst at SACOSS for 15 years, focusing mainly on issues of economics, housing and digital inclusion, as well as sector funding issues.
On behalf of the sector, he co-led negotiations with the state government which resulted in sector-wide indexation and the adoption of standardised contracts in 2019, and he is currently doing further work on indexation issues and researching the costs and benefits of the Portable Long Service Scheme.
He has a PhD in political economy, but does a reasonable line in bush-lawyering as well.
Kay Burton
Founder
Kay Burton founded the SA Philanthropy Network with a simple yet powerful goal: to unlock South Australia’s potential for community giving. With over 15 years of experience across the US and Australia, her work spans government, education, health, and philanthropy.
Originally from the US, Kay held senior roles with the University of Maine System and US Senator Susan Collins before moving to Adelaide. She helped shape SAHMRI’s inaugural fundraising strategy and led state operations for Philanthropy Australia.
In 2018, she co-founded the Burton Foundation with her husband, Julian, gaining firsthand insights into the
challenges donors face and the opportunities for making generosity more impactful. That experience sparked the creation of the SA Philanthropy Network — a movement to make giving easier, more accessible, and more effective across South Australia.
Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP
Minister for Domestic, Family and sexual Abuse
Growing up in a single parent family in the south western suburbs of Adelaide, Katrine understands the value of being part of a community that is connected and inclusive, one where everyone is supported, empowered and feels a sense of belonging to community.
Katrine is driven by a visceral sense of fairness, deeply believes in equality of opportunity and strives to amplify the voices of community members, especially those who too often go unheard.
For most of her working life, Katrine has fought to improve the lives of South Australians. As Secretary of the Australian Services Union SA/NT branch, Katrine collectively led a campaign to help secure equal pay for 200,000 community workers. These efforts saw her awarded an Australia Day ‘Women Hold Up Half the Sky’/Inspiring South Australian Women Award in 2012. She is also listed on the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll.
Hon. Vincent Tarzia MP
Shadow Minister for Workforce and Population Growth
Vincent is a proud member of the Liberal Party and was elected as the Member for Hartley at the 2014 State Election.
In August 2024, he was elected as the Leader of the Liberal Party and is also currently Shadow Minister for Business and Shadow Minister for Workforce and Population Growth.
Before politics, he worked as a solicitor in the financial, legal and commercial sectors.
Vincent is passionate about making South Australia more lively and prosperous. He wants real action to relieve cost of living pressures, to create more local jobs, to deliver better frontline services and to provide opportunities to get ahead.
David Panter
CEO
Originally a psychologist David has worked in health and social care for over 45 years, over half of which has been as a Chief Executive. In the UK he initially worked in the NHS across hospital, community and primary care services and more latterly in local government. In 2004
David was recruited to the South Australian public health system where for over 10 years he led reforms including the development of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. From 2015-2022 David was the Chief Executive of not-for-profit aged care provider ECH.
In January 2022 David became the Chief Executive at Minda, SA’s largest provider of services to people living with an intellectual disability. David was Chair of SACOSS and Board Director of ACOSS for eight years until the end of 2024.
Stacey Thomas
CEO
Stacey is the CEO of The Wyatt Trust, Australia’s oldest philanthropic foundation with a vision of a South Australia free from poverty.
Stacey was also the Founding Chief Executive Officer of Foundation SA – South Australia’s newest community foundation and previously, the Fay Fuller Foundation. She has worked with families and foundations to achieve philanthropic and investment goals for twenty years.
Stacey holds a Master of Business majoring in Philanthropy and Social Investment. In addition to her role as a Director of Philanthropy Australia, Stacey is also a Director of Community Foundations Australia and serves on a number of other boards and advisory committees.
Pankaj Chhalotre
Head of connecting up
InfoXChange
Pankaj Chhalotre is Head of Connecting Up and Regional Manager for Infoxchange.
Pankaj has over 18 years of experience working in various positions in the not-for-profit sector. As part of the executive team at Connecting Up, he has been involved in setting up strategies, organisational structure, major projects and change management initiatives. Pankaj is passionate about working in partnership with cooperate, government and not-for-profit sector to leverage the digital work to positively impact their communities.
Juanita Pope
CEO
VCOSS
Juanita Pope is CEO of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), the peak body for social and community services in Victoria. A lawyer specialising in the not-for-profit sector, Juanita is a strong voice on social justice and has 20 years’ experience in not-for-profit governance and leadership.
Juanita previously worked for a decade at Justice Connect as Head of Not-for-profit Law and, before joining VCOSS, held the role of General Counsel and Company Secretary at climate advocacy charity, The Sunrise Project. Juanita has also practiced in corporate law and at the Federal Court of Australia. She holds degrees in law (with honours) and arts from the University of Melbourne.
Sean Hill
Camapigns and Organising Coordinator
Cara Varian
CEO
Cara is the Chief Executive Officer of NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) and a strong advocate for equity, opportunity and dignity for all. NCOSS is the peak body for the social services sector and the leading advocate for people and communities who are experiencing poverty and disadvantage in NSW.
Prior to joining NCOSS, Cara worked across the not-for-profit, public service, political and corporate sectors. She has experience in the military and at all three levels of government in Australia.
Sue Woodward AM
Commissioner
Sue Woodward AM commenced as Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC) on December 12, 2022. Her career has spanned private legal practice, academia, government, philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector.
Sue played an instrumental role in the formation of the ACNC and has decades of experience working and volunteering in the sector, including as a board member on a range of peak, advocacy and service delivery charities and a community foundation. Her work establishing and then leading Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law service is a lasting contribution the sector.
Sue has a significant portfolio of law reform and policy work, with a notable focus on the harmonisation of charitable fundraising laws.
Sue was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 for “significant service to the not-for-profit sector, fundraising and the law.
Rob Sturrock
Program Director - Community Services
Rob leads the community services policy work for ACOSS, having joined the organisation in 2021.
He is passionate about improving the lives of disadvantaged and marginalised people, ensuring they can fairly and equitably access life opportunities. Rob wants to bring about systemic change to make Australia more equitable, compassionate and caring.
Rob has been involved in public policy development, advocacy and research at various levels of government, as well as within the community and private sectors, including at the Centre for Policy Development as a Policy Director and at The Smith Family as Senior Manager Public Policy and Advocacy. .
Sandy Pitcher
Chief Executive
Sandy is an accomplished public-sector leader, with experience leading agencies to make significant contributions to public policy and deliver outcomes that improve people’s lives.
As Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of Human Services, Sandy is dedicated to promoting inclusion, independence, community support and modern services.
Prior to this role Sandy was Deputy Under Treasurer with the South Australian Department of Treasury and Finance.
She was the inaugural Secretary of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in Victoria, an agency which includes child protection and women’s policy.
Sandy has also held roles with the SA Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, the UK’s Commission for Racial Equality and the South Australian Office for Women.
Danielle Elston
Presiding Officer
SAPLSL – Community Services Board
Danielle Elston chairs South Australia’s Community Services Portable Long Service Leave Board and is the Managing Director of national consulting firm Good Government Advisory. A strategist and facilitator, she partners with community organisations, unions and service providers to improve how vital social supports are funded and delivered. Drawing on two decades of leadership and governance experience, her consulting work focuses on practical solutions that help for-purpose organisations thrive.
Danielle also serves on the boards of the Pelvic Pain Foundation and the Australian Coalition for Endometriosis. Danielle also co-hosts The Westminster Tradition podcast, sharing insights on public trust and leadership.
Peter Lewis
Executive Director
Essential Media
Peter is an owner and director of Essential, and the founder of Civility, a collaborative engagement platform for advocacy campaigns. For more than two decades he has worked with progressive organisations including unions, not-for-profits and responsible businesses to deliver social change.
Peter is a regular columnist with the Guardian Australia, host of the Burning Platforms podcast, and the author of five books including Webtopia and The Public Square Project.
Professor David Gilchrist
Director
UWA Centre for Public Value
Professor David Gilchrist has worked in and around the human services sector for 30 years. He has held executive roles in, consulted to and been part of the governance team of various charitable human services organisations including in disability services, aged care and child protection. In all of these areas, David has contributed to policy and practice. Prior to joining the Academe, he was assistant auditor general for Western Australia and has taught at London School of Economics and Portsmouth University in the UK, and Curtin University and Edith Cowan University here in Australia. He was national associate dean of the business school at Notre Dame where he was also adjunct professor of Not-for-profit leadership.
Molly Springhall
Program Manager, Lived Experience Workforce Program
Mental Health Coalition of South Australia
Molly Springhall is the Program Manager of the Lived Experience Workforce Program at the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia, where she combines her lived experience with her professional experience to lead with authenticity and purpose. Her prior management role within NGO service delivery has equipped her with a unique blend of practical expertise and a compassionate approach to leadership.
Molly is dedicated to fostering a culture that prioritises wellbeing, authenticity, and self-determination, both within LEWP and in the sector. She believes in celebrating individual strengths and perspectives, ensuring that each person’s voice contributes to a collaborative and empowering environment.
Lyndsey Jackson
Co-founder
WeCollaborate
Lyndsey Jackson is the founder of NotMyDebt, the website that became the cornerstone of the Robodebt campaign—exposing illegal data matching and automation within Australia’s welfare system. A digital rights advocate, she cuts through the hype around “AI” by focusing on practical governance, technical literacy, and informed public conversation.
Based in regional South Australia, Lyndsey champions digital equity and tech skill-building for everyone, applying those values through her work in agtech, innovation, and technology for good.
Jody King
Director of procurement solutions
Department of Treasury and Finance
Jody King is the Director of Procurement Solutions at the Department of Treasury and Finance. With extensive experience in commercial and procurement strategy, Jody leads transformative initiatives that enhance value, transparency, and efficiency across government procurement. She is passionate about building collaborative partnerships and delivering sustainable procurement outcomes that support strategic government priorities and the community we live in. As Co-Chair of the South Australian Government’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Group, Jody champions inclusive procurement practices and works closely with sector representatives to strengthen engagement between government and not-for-profit organisations
Elizabeth Chmielewski
Chief Procurement Officer
Department of Human Services
Elizabeth Chmielewski is the Chief Procurement Officer at the Department of Human Services, South Australia. With a career spanning strategic procurement, grants management, and policy reform across human-centered agencies, Elizabeth brings deep expertise in designing procurement frameworks that deliver value, transparency, and impact across the public sector. Her work reflects a strong commitment to building collaborative partnerships between government and community organisations, and to ensuring procurement processes are outcomes-focused
Leonie Miller
Senior Grants Officer, multicultural Affairs
Department for the Premier and Cabinet
Leonie Miller is a Senior Grants Officer at Multicultural Affairs DPC. With almost two decades of experience in grants administration, Leonie brings deep expertise in designing and delivering funding programs that support community-led initiatives. Her work champions transparency and equity and supports multicultural organisations to confidently navigate the government grants application process. Leonie has played a key role in strengthening partnerships with small not-for-profit organisations, ensuring that funding processes are accessible and inclusive.
Rachel Bell
Principal Adviser, Strategic Procurement Projects
DepartmDepartment for Correctional Services
Rachel Bell is Principal Advisor for Strategic Procurement Projects at the Department for Correctional Services. Her work focuses on embedding inclusive and outcomes-driven procurement practices that deliver social value and support community reintegration. Rachel brings a practical lens to policy implementation, drawing on her leadership in strategic sourcing and stakeholder engagement across complex service environments.
Helen Sheppard
CEO
UnitingCare Wesley Bowden
My parents made my childhood home a haven for people who were pushed to the fringes of our community. Those who were homeless, people experiencing extreme distress and friends from the Pitjantjatjara community all found welcome in our home. Some of my earliest memories are of the injustice, racism and disrespect people I cared about faced every day.
I became passionate about social justice – a better world.
Now Chief Executive of UnitingCare Wesley Bowden, I’ve worked across many sectors – from aged care to childcare, employment and justice to homelessness; and I serve on the Boards of the Impact Measurement Network of Australia, Foodbank SANT and the Impact Investment Network of South Australia.
Jane Mussared
Board member
SACOSS
Jane has worked in for purpose and government health and human service settings throughout her career. In June 2024 she returned to SA and joined the Maggie Beer Foundation as CEO following 20 months based in Canberra as an Advisor to the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care. Previously she was Chief Executive of COTA SA and before that an executive of ACH Group. Jane served on a range of boards and committees prior to moving to Canberra, including the SACOSS Policy Council until 2022, as chair of the South Australian Circus Centre and as a non-Executive Director with the Maggie Beer Foundation.