Minister for Human Services

The Hon Nat Cook MP

Nat Cook is the South Australian Minister for Human Services and has been an elected Member of Parliament since 2014. Nat is a lifetime local of Adelaide’s southern suburbs, a fierce advocate for her local constituents and a dedicated mum. Nat’s passions lie in health and disability care, ending homelessness, and making our families and communities fairer and safer places in which to live. Having spent nearly 30 years as a Registered Nurse in specialty areas such as intensive care and brain injury rehabilitation, Nat is honoured to hold the title of Adjunct Associate Professor with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia. After losing their son Sam to a violent and unprovoked one-punch assault in 2008, Nat and husband Neil formed the Sammy D Foundation to educate youth about the consequences of violence. On becoming the Minister in 2022, Nat committed to a proactive and collaborative approach to delivering improved policy and services for marginalised South Australians.

Chief Executive Officer, Comunet

Alexei Fey

Alexei has over 20 years of experience in leading multi-disciplined technology teams and holds Board positions with Treasure Boxes and the Jodi Lee Foundation. In his role as CEO Comunet – he works with Executives and Boards in a number of NFPS helping translate and understand cyber risks in a more humanised, business context rather than purely technical. Alexei enjoys is role as an educator and is involved in many industry associations as an active presenter and contributor in technology and cybersecurity including:

• Member of the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre
• Network Partner with the Adelaide Joint Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)
• Industry Expert (Digital & Cyber) for South Australian Leaders Network
• Scholar and Presenter for the Industry Leaders Fund network.

Chief Executive Officer, Local Government Association of SA

Clinton Jury

As Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Association of SA, Clinton Jury is committed to fostering growth, providing strong advocacy and working collaboratively with stakeholders for the benefit of South Australia’s councils.

For over 30 years, he has led teams to achieve innovative member and community engagement, deliver policy change and implement commercial strategies across the healthcare, education, and humanitarian services sectors.

Clinton is driven to deliver positive outcomes for local government which support communities and enrich the state’s liveability.

Group Manager for Growth and Activation, Berri Barmera Council

Craig Grocke

Craig has a career background in regional development, recreation planning and tourism development, which has shaped his passion for research on place management and development in Australia and New Zealand.

Craig has recently completed his PhD at the University of Tasmania focusing on community agency and the influence of place attachment on resident-led community action. His current role as Group Manager for Growth and Activation at the Berri-Barmera Council in the Riverland draws his research knowledge into the practical application of place theories within community and economic development. Craig is a passionate advocate for strengthening the place economy through community agency to build the social, cultural, and economic legacy of places through local area partnerships

Director, Dana Shen Consultancy

Dana Shen

Dana is Aboriginal/Chinese and a descendant of the Ngarrindjeri people in South Australia and has a passion for working with Aboriginal people and communities. Dana has over 20 years’ experience working across the public and not for profit sectors in the areas of health, families and child protection. She commenced her career as a Youth Community Development Officer in both the Adelaide Hills and the Murray Lands. In this role she worked with young people, many of who were at risk, in order to create better environments for young people in their communities. Dana went on to work in a number of senior roles with the SA public sector in which she had responsibility for program management, service delivery, policy development and strategic planning and worked with The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) where she held the role of Principal, Social Services, Systems & Aboriginal Policy and Director of the Family by Family program.

David Spear

David specialises in NFP Governance, Board & CEO Performance Evaluation, Board Training, & Strategy facilitation. David has over 30 year’s experience in commercial business along with significant directorship experience the not for profit sector. David was previously the State Director of the Australian Institute of Company Directors SA/NT and is a alumni Member of the Harvard Business School Governance program.  A Fellow of the AICD he is currently.

Chairman Tyre Stewardship Australia, Chairman Office Brands, Chairman McLaren Vale Grape, Wine, Tourism Association.

Executive Officer, Northern Volunteering (SA) Inc

Donatella Amos

Donatella Amos is the current Executive Officer of Northern Volunteering. With over 20 years’ experience in the volunteer sector Donatella has a good understanding of volunteerism locally, nationally and internationally. She is held in high regard with the volunteer sector and her person achievements include:

• Co-Secretary of Suicide Prevention Network Salisbury – Every Life Matters
• Current working party member for SA State Strategy – Volunteering
• Nominee 2017 City of Salisbury Living Legends Award for contribution to Community
• Inclusion in 2009 -2015 National Who’s Who of Australian Women
• Co-winner 2013 – Trainer in Skills for All Adult Learning Program
• Inclusion in 2009 inaugural SA Women’s Honour Roll
• Certificate of Achievement from Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators (AAVA) for recognition of excellence in Volunteer Management
• Long time volunteer of several not for profits and charities

Donatella holds qualifications in Community Sector Management, Training and Assessment as well as volunteer program management including a Vocational Graduate Certificate of Management (Learning). Her passion is around effective community participation by empowering people to influence positive outcomes for themselves and to take ownership of their wellbeing and resilience as well as their chosen career or further education path through community participation programs such as volunteering or through professional development and training.

Senior Policy and Project Officer - Volunteers, Department of Education

Heidi Unferdorben

Heidi Unferdorben leads the development of evidence-based resources and training which helps embed student volunteering in the school curriculum and in everyday classroom activity. She has led the establishment of a network of student volunteering champions across South Australia. This network, now incorporated into the work of the Volunteering Strategy for SA, is committed to strong partnering with local and state government, the volunteering sector and Business SA. Heidi is the immediate past chair of the Public Sector Volunteer Policy Network, a panelist for the State Volunteer Awards, a member of the Governors Civics Awards for Schools Reference Group and past president Rotary Club of Adelaide.

Chief Executive, Festival City Adelaide

Justyna Jochym

Justyna Jochym is the Chief Executive of Festival City Adelaide (FCA) – the peak body for South Australia’s festivals and events – which works to ensure that Adelaide is nationally and internationally recognised for delivering the world’s best festival experience. For more about FCA, check out www.festivalcityadelaide.com.au.

Justyna serves as a board member of the Wyatt Trust, South Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism Industry Council SA (TICSA), and Kadaltilla Adelaide Parklands Authority. She is also a member of the national Strategic Workforce Advisory Group for the Arts formed by Services and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) and Industry Skills Council (South Australian Skills Commission).

Open Space and Property Permit Officer, Open Space, Recreation & Property

Kate Semiz

When the largest women’s sporting event in the world picked Adelaide as one of its venues, Kate knew she had to be involved.

As the FIFA Women’s World Cup Volunteer Manager – Adelaide, Kate lead the successful operational delivery of the volunteer program, ensuring the recruitment, training, allocating, rostering, and the wellbeing of the 450 volunteers for the five World Cup games played in Adelaide.

Kate has worked in the recruitment and upskilling of volunteers, specialising in Sport and Events, for 20 years through her roles at Netball SA, Athletics SA, Australian Masters Games and the City of Playford.

Funding Consultant - Sports Vouchers, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing

Mary Baker

In 2023, Mary served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, playing a crucial role in organising and coordinating volunteers for this prestigious global event. Her exceptional leadership and organisational skills ensured the smooth operation of volunteer activities, contributing to the success of the tournament.

Mary’s commitment to soccer extends beyond her professional role. She is an active board member at the Adelaide Olympic Football Club, where she leverages her expertise to support the club’s growth and development. Her connection to the club is deeply personal, volunteering her time there and supported various initiatives. Mary’s involvement in the club is also a family affair, with her two daughters actively playing soccer, continuing the family tradition.

With a background in soccer herself, Mary brings firsthand experience and a genuine love for the sport to all her endeavours. Her dedication to promoting and supporting soccer at both the community and professional levels is evident in her work and volunteer commitments.

Mary’s combination of professional expertise, volunteer experience, and personal passion for soccer makes her a valuable asset to the sports community. Her efforts continue to inspire and impact the lives of many, fostering a love for soccer and encouraging active participation in sports.

Mary currently works for the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing as a Funding Consultant specialising in Sports Vouchers. She has been working at the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing for almost 18 years, with a passion for sports and community engagement, Mary has made significant contributions to the field through her work and volunteer efforts.

State Manager - Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross

Mary Hajistassi

Driven by her strongly held belief that when people work together, pool their collective strengths and talents, foster an environment of inclusivity and work towards a common goal, change is not only possible – it also happens.

Mary has a long history of working alongside communities, empowering and supporting them to create meaningful change in their neighbourhoods, communities and workplaces. Her background in community mobilisation, campaigning, volunteer engagement and advocacy has spanned across her career in the not-for-profit and emergency services sectors as well as the trade union movement, both in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Mary is currently the State Manager – Emergency Services at the Australian Red Cross. An aspect of her role that she is extremely passionate about is supporting her team who work directly in communities, empowering them to design, develop and implement their own community-led disaster resilience plans. Prior to this Mary , worked at Together SA, leading the SHARE Collective Impact initiative, (Together in the South), again taking a whole of community approach to deliver positive outcomes for children in the Southern Suburbs of Adelaide. Her 20+-year career in the trade union movement developed and nurtured her skills in mobilising communities to work collectively to secure safe working environments, respect, and fair and reasonable working conditions. It is in this environment where she saw firsthand the change people can make not only in their own, but in the lives of those around them.

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Founder & Certified Project Director, Institute of Project Management

Paul Muller

Prior to co-founding the Institute of Project Management, Paul enjoyed 15 years of senior management experience across Australia, Asia and Europe in a wide range of project-driven businesses. He currently advises a diverse community of public, private and not-for-profit organisations on management issues relating to strategy, risk, projects, operations, marketing and people. In the early 2000’s, Paul was engaged at the Australian Innovation Research Centre as a PhD scholar, extending his postgraduate qualifications in International Sports Management and Law. A published author, he has pioneered new approaches to research in volunteering, sport and the creative industries, and has presented his unique perspective on value as a keynote speaker at a number of international conferences and events. Paul has a particular interest in challenging institutional assumptions and improving the quality of executive decision making, as is excited now to be mentoring and inspiring the next generation of creative and critical thinkers.

Telecross REDi Lead Officer, Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross

Phoebe Wilson

An emergency management and community development professional, Phoebe Wilson has worked across humanitarian, emergency management and mental health sectors. Phoebe leads the Telecross Redi extreme heat response programme with the Australian Red Cross, where her focus is on serving at-risk and isolated community members and running extreme heat activations.  Her role includes working with volunteers and creating a workplace where they can develop their skills and feel valued. She has gained international experience with a local NGO in Uganda, focusing on the rehabilitation and reintegration of former child soldiers. Phoebe is a senior firefighter and president of her local volunteer fire brigade.

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Joey Scout Leader & AGL – Flagstaff Hill Scout Group, Scouts SA

Rebecca Beer Smith

Rebecca has been involved in Scouts since the age of 14. Holding several Branch positions in the past few years but her main passion is being an ‘on the ground’ Leader with her Joeys each week and watching them grow and experience new adventure. In her professional life Rebecca is a Client Experience Ambassador focusing on office management and events.

Deputy Chief Executive, Department of Human Services

Ruth Ambler

Ruth Ambler is the Deputy Chief Executive in the Department of Human Services.  Her areas of responsibility include worker screenings, provision of State Government concessions and regulation of restrictive practices in disability services, inclusion, policy and reform and the Office for Women.  She also leads the commissioning and funding of a range of important community programs including Grants SA, the Community Connections Program, Community Centre and youth, food security and financial wellbeing services. Ruth also oversees DHS’s corporate services including infrastructure, people strategy and finance

Previously Ruth spent 6 years as the Executive Director of Cabinet Office in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, where she provided advice directly to the Premier, and has also worked in Health, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Courts system.

Ruth has a Masters in Public Administration, is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

CEO, Northern and Yorke Local Government Association

Simon Millcock

CEO Northern and Yorke LGA – a regional organisation of 15 Councils SA and leading advocate for strengthening volunteering in regional SA. Simon has 24 years’ experience in the field of Regional Development from remote islands to major cities and in a voluntary role was an active Economic Development Australia (EDA) National Director and State Chairperson. Simon has presented at local, regional, national and international conferences at several International Economic Development Conferences in the USA, Mexico and NZ. With a lifetime of experience as a volunteer this including with SA Ambulance, Festival Coordinator, International Culinary Collaborations and a Friendship Ambassador.