Lynn Smart
Director
Lynn is an experienced company director with appointments over more than ten years across privately owned, government and non-profit organisations. Her substantive profession is in accounting where she also gained experience in the areas of strategy, risk, and governance across a range of industries.
She is currently a director on North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, a Queensland Government Owned Corporation, Chair of Zarraffa’s Coffee Group, a privately owned national retail franchising network and a director of Neumann Contractors, part of the Neumann Group of Companies. Prior appointments include five years as a director of Open Minds Australia Ltd (a subsidiary of Multicap), a member organisation of CoAct at that time. Lynn is an experienced Chair and has participated and chaired several board sub-committees including audit, risk and governance. Lynn’s prior appointments in the non-profit sector in mental health and community services are sectors aligned with CoAct’s members where the importance of supporting disadvantaged job-seekers into sustained and meaningful employment is a shared agenda.
Lynn holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), an MBA from the University of Queensland, is a Certified Practising Accountant and has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2002.
Lynn is Chair of the CoAct Board.
Wendy Field
Director
Wendy is a consultant with the Department of Defence in the Capability and Sustainability Group.
Previous roles include Chief Strategy Officer for Feros Care, a not-for-profit organisation delivering aged services; Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand for Ecolab Inc. the global leader in water hygiene and energy technologies and services and before that served as Chief Executive Officer at an Employment Services organisation for three years. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked for the Spotless Group for 15 years, holding various positions including Group General Manager of the Managed Services Division and MD of the New Zealand operations. Wendy brings detailed understanding of the large employer perspective and a strong capability to develop staffing solutions for employers for permanent and temporary workforce requirements across a broad range of industry sectors.
Wendy has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Business Management. She also is a graduate of the INSEAD Business School for the World and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Wendy is a member of the Governance Committee and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
Jennifer Leslie
Director
Jennifer is an experienced Chair, non-executive and executive director in the financial services and not for profit sectors. As a Chartered Accountant with a long career in top and mid-tier accounting firms, Jennifer is experienced in all aspects of financial management, audit, corporate governance and business management.
She has a well-established career forged in the Hunter Region of NSW, including 14 years as the inaugural Managing Director of Pitcher Partners Newcastle and Hunter Wealth Management. Jennifer is a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Newcastle Permanent Building Society Ltd and a member of the Remuneration and People and Corporate Governance Committees. She is Chair of Newcastle Permanent Community Foundation Company Ltd, which is the Trustee of Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation. Jennifer is a member of the University of Newcastle Alumni Advisory Committee and a member of the Hunter New England Local Health District Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and Diploma of Financial Planning. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Trustee Fellow of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.
Jennifer is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Andrew Thomas
Director
Andrew is the Executive Director of Mater Foundation, which is a community based fundraising organisation that supports the work of Mater Health, Education and Research.
Recognised as a specialist in non-profit leadership and philanthropic giving, Andrew brings extensive experience in leadership, finance, charitable giving and marketing operations. Andrew has a strong career record in the not for profit sector delivering enduring transformation through developing and growing sustainable income streams.
He brings extensive governance and leadership experience from a variety of past and current appointments to non-profit Boards and Advisory Committees. Andrew currently serves as a Board Member and the Chair of Finance and Risk Committee of Loreto College.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business, a Master of Business Administration, and is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Andrew is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Guy Freeland
Director
Guy has held senior executive positions in the construction, information technology, industrial products and non-profit sectors for more than two decades. Working predominantly for large global companies, including a period under private equity ownership, he has extensive experience in finance and business systems, financial control and risk management, and development of strategic and business operational plans. Prior to this, Mr Freeland spent ten years with PwC in its audit and corporate services groups.
Guy is a non-executive director and Audit & Risk Committee Chair for UTS College and Chair of the Advisory Board for a privately owned security services company.
Guy holds a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of New South Wales, has been a Chartered Accountant for almost 40 years and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Guy is Chair of the Governance Committee