Our people and board

Tina Williams

Chief Executive Officer

Joining Volunteering WA in April 2016, CEO Tina Williams brings her management and leadership experience in the not for profit sector, in both health and community organisations. Tina’s skills and experience include Marketing & PR, Community Relations, Stakeholder Engagement and Business Development. Tina led the state election ask to convene the Volunteer Community Reference Group in 2017 and ardently drives partnerships and collaborations to strengthen and grow support for volunteering and the sector. Stating the most rewarding part of her role is supporting the community sector by match-making and facilitate relationships that help organisations and people in need find essential resources of time and/or money.

Her favourite pastime is volunteering - on boards, through the Aged Care Visitors Scheme, Christmas events and through local environmental groups. When she’s not working or volunteering Tina loves family time and the outdoors, walking with her Jack Russell.

Traci Gamblin

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

As Volunteering WA’s Deputy CEO, Traci manages partnerships and sponsorships, marketing/communications, events and Volunteering WA’s leading corporate volunteering program. She is passionate about promoting the many benefits of volunteering, and partners with corporate and other stakeholders to facilitate their volunteering contribution to the community. Traci established Australia's first Corporate Volunteer Council with business leaders in Western Australia.

Outside of work, Traci enjoys spending time with her family (and dog), and playing her beloved soccer.

Jen Wyness

Executive Manager - Sector Services

As Executive Manager Sector Services, Jen oversees the services team, which includes the areas of membership, research, IT, training and development. She liaises with key stakeholders at a local, state and national level with a particular focus on Volunteering WA's core service delivery.

Jen's Scottish accent throws people so she now also answers to the names Jan, Jane and Janet!

Andrea Cole

Executive Manager - Finance & HR

Andrea is our Executive Manager for Finance and HR and joined Volunteering WA in 2018, bringing many years’ experience within the not for profit and commercial sectors. Andrea loves being part of an organisation that is making a difference to people’s lives. Outside of work she enjoys travel and spending time in the garden.

Tara Doyle

Executive Manager - Business Operations

Tara oversees and leads special projects that advance and support VWA’s internal and external business system requirements. Working with developers, the VWA IT team and key stakeholders to deliver innovative projects and business solutions.

In her free time Tara enjoys spending quality time with her young family and catching up with friends.

Dominique Hansen

Manager Policy & Research

Dominique works with government, our members, researchers and the community to produce evidence-based policy supporting the growth and development of the volunteering sector.

Dominique holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia New Zealand School of Government, bringing her extensive experience in strategic policy and advocacy in the Australian and New South Wales governments and the not-for-profit sector to this role.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and improvised comedy.

Melanie Baker

Manager Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) Program

Melanie’s role as Manager VMA Program involves liaising with the Volunteering WA Resource Centres to support the operations and growth of volunteering in both metropolitan and regional areas. Outside of work Melanie likes to get to as many exercise classes as possible and she also grows her own vegetables.

Catherine Kelly

Corporate Events Coordinator

Catherine overseas our dedicated Corporate Volunteering team offering support to corporate and community organisations and meeting their needs around team based and skills-based volunteering. The role also works closely with Volunteering WA's community member organisations to identify and scope suitable corporate volunteering activities. Catherine’s previous experience is in events and marketing within various member organisations, including the University Club of Western Australia and the Law Institute of Victoria.

In her spare time, you will find Catherine spending time with family and friends, or at the beach with her dog.

Cecily Clay

Corporate Volunteering Manager

Cecily overseas our dedicated Corporate Volunteering team offering support to corporate and community organisations and meeting their needs around team based and skills-based volunteering. This role includes working closely with  community member organisations to identify and scope suitable volunteering activities for teams of corporate volunteers such as environmental conservation, gardening, renovation projects, cooking meals, sorting donations, fixing bikes, working with wildlife centres and much more!  

Outside of work, Cecily enjoys swimming, running and playing netball. When she is not exercising you can find her watching TV and online shopping with a glass of wine.

Holly Hazel

Manager Marketing and Communications

Holly manages Volunteering WA’s largest calendar events and communications activities, including the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards, International Volunteer Day Garden Party and state-wide marketing campaigns. She is the contact for all marketing and media enquiries. Holly's previous experience is within the volunteer and not-for-profit sectors, specifically supporting WA's vibrant sport and social clubs community, and first aid volunteers. 

When she isn’t working, you can find Holly spending time with family and friends, or exploring the world.

Louise Giles

Education & Training Manager

Louise’s role as Manager Training and Development is to design, deliver and implement training and development programs and resources for volunteer managers. Louise also coordinates volunteer manager meetings, networks and committees to share ideas, increase the skills and knowledge and to create and develop a stronger volunteering sector.

Outside of work, Louise is busy raising a young family and enjoys relaxing at the beach, swimming, socialising with friends and camping.

Donnelle Curnow

Assistant Accountant

Donnelle recently joined VWA as the Assistant Accountant, supporting the Executive Manager – Finance & HR and other team members. Donnelle enjoys the work/life balance available at VWA and the chance to work for a NFP organisation that has a positive impact in the community, after many years working within finance in the hospitality sector.

Outside of work, Donnelle is busy with her family and enjoys walking, swimming and catching up with friends.

Jane Mason

Member Services Manager

Jane manages Volunteering WA's member services and member relations. She is a point-of-contact for members and will steer you through the services and support available through VWA membership. Jane has a wealth of knowledge of the volunteering sector, issues and trends; and will assist with your queries, drawing on our collective expertise, wide range of services and networks. Jane coordinates our consultancy services, research digests, and volunteer manager query helpdesk.

In her spare time, Jane enjoys the outdoors, keeping active, dancing and volunteering!

Robert Solomon

IT Manager

Robert works behind-the-scenes to ensure all electronic systems are operating smoothly and efficiently. He also provides support to community organisations and Volunteer Resource Centres that utilise the VIRA and VIKTOR databases.

Robert is our team office foodie!

Antonia Taylor

Social Impact Manager

Antonia is Volunteering WA's Social Impact Manager and leads Measuring Change, a project developing an innovative, sector-leading tool for organisations to measure the outcomes of their volunteer programs. Antonia applies her academic background in social impact, sociology, social research with deep volunteer sector knowledge to support organisations to uncover and communicate how their programs create impact in the lives of volunteers and the communities they serve.

In her spare time, Antonia is a passionate advocate for fair trade and sustainable fashion and loves yoga, baking sourdough and travelling to exotic places with her family.

Jan Lucas

Engagement Manager - Volunteer Management Activity

As Engagement Manager for the Volunteer Management Activity, Jan supports volunteer involving organisations in the development and delivery of projects aimed at building the capacity of volunteer managers to engage volunteers more effectively.  With an extensive background in volunteer management and project coordination, Jan brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for connections to the Volunteering WA team. 

When she is not working, Jan enjoys being creative with wood and metal, kayaking, playing with her fur (and non-fur) family and learning new things.

Felicity Smith

Engagement Coordinator – Volunteer Management 

After many years working at Volunteering WA, Felicity recently joined the Volunteer Management Activity team as Engagement Coordinator. Felicity has a friendly and customer focused approach to engaging with Volunteering WA members and other volunteer involving organisations state-wide and enjoys supporting and assisting volunteer involving organisations with volunteer management queries.

She also provides volunteer involving organisations with advice on how to implement the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement and incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion principles into your volunteer management programs.

Alana Cox

Executive Assistant

Alana provides executive support for the CEO, board and senior management team as well as ensuring the office runs smoothly.

Originally from the UK, she has settled in Perth with her family and spends most her time looking after her crazy dog and shuttling her kids around to various activities.

Amy Davenport

Corporate Events Coordinator

As Corporate Events Coordinator, Amy’s main role is to coordinate team-based volunteering days and events for corporate members, and provide hands-on volunteering support to community organisations. The corporate volunteering team works closely with Volunteering WA’s community member organisations to recognise and scope suitable corporate volunteers.

Amy enjoys travelling and exploring new places as well as spending time with friends, family and fur baby. 

Rhiana Robbins-Beattie

Corporate Events Coordinator

Rhiana’s role as a Corporate Events Coordinator helps to organise and facilitate team volunteering days for our corporate members with our not-for-profit members. Rhiana has been apart of the Volunteering WA family for nearly 6 years, she previously worked on our IT team before joining the Corporate Team full-time in 2025.

Outside of work, Rhiana enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs and two cats. She also enjoys getting out into nature when possible, and curling up with a good book when at home

Kelly Nunn

Regional Community Engagement Coordinator

Kelly is based in the Pilbara region and her position covers Karratha and surrounding towns. As Regional Community Engagement Coordinator her role works closely with community organisations and groups to promote Volunteering WA programs in the area, and to identify, plan and deliver projects that enable meaningful engagement with teams of corporate volunteers, resulting in underlying benefit to both parties.

Monika Takkel

Regional Community Events Officer

Monika’s main role is hosting corporate volunteering events for our BHP Corporate Volunteering program in Port Hedland and Newman. She liaises with volunteer organisations and enables new opportunities of engagement between community groups and corporate employees. Monika identifies, engages, and builds productive, sustainable relationships with members of not-for-profit organisations interested in engaging corporate volunteers.

In her spare time, Monika enjoys keeping active, time with family and catching up with friends.

Karla Hitchcock

Regional Community Events Officer

Karla is based in Tom Price and coordinates the volunteering opportunities for Rio Tinto in Tom Price and Paraburdoo. As a Regional Community Events Officer, Karla's role is to engage with community organisations and groups to promote Volunteering WA's Corporate Volunteering Program, and to scope, plan and manage the volunteering opportunity. These opportunities provide a huge amount of support to the Tom Price and Paraburdoo communities and gives the corporate volunteers an opportunity to get involved with worthwhile organisations.

In her spare time, Karla enjoys spending time with her family and friends, training CrossFit and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Savannah Spence

Events Program Coordinator

Savannah is responsible for coordinating Volunteering WA’s core events calendar, including the prestigious WA Volunteer of the Year Awards, the International Volunteer Day Garden Party, and the State Volunteering Conference. With a keen focus on engagement and impact, Savannah also works to identify new opportunities to connect and celebrate volunteering across Western Australia.

To keep social and active, Sav enjoys indoor rock climbing, bouldering and Pilates, and has a passion for travel and live music, making the most of opportunities to explore Australia, Europe and Asia whenever possible.

Dr Sumayyah Ahmad

Emergency Services Project Coordinator 

Sumayyah is passionate about disaster risk reduction and volunteer management, and will lead the Spontaneous Volunteer Management System project for Western Australia.

Her research investigates how spontaneous volunteers use social media to participate in recovery and response efforts during disasters. With a strong background in organisational behaviour, management and volunteer coordination, Sumayyah will be working closely with local government, emergency response organisations and other key stakeholders to develop policies, procedures, and training resources to support successful implementation of the Spontaneous Volunteer Management System. She will support Volunteering WA’s role in disaster risk reduction, with an aim to achieve the 2030 Disaster Risk Reduction Goals for Western Australia, focusing both on community and animal welfare response and recovery activities.

Outside of work Sumayyah loves travelling, spending time with family and friends, and volunteering with her local community to make each individual thrive.

Krista Mullally

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

As Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Krista plans, develops and distributes content across Volunteering WA's communication channels and platforms. The role allows her to explore her passions for content creation and positive change, working closely with the community to promote and celebrate volunteering. You'll often see her behind the camera at volunteering activities around Perth.

In her spare time, Krista enjoys getting outdoors, netball, watching new films, and game nights with family and friends.

Clare McHale

Member Service and Training

Clare is an Administration Officer providing support within the Membership and Training and Development teams. Her responsibilities include processing new Volunteering WA member applications and renewals, assisting with general member enquiries, taking care of the administration side of all training workshops, and updating the website with upcoming training sessions.

Outside of work, Clare loves spending time outdoors, pilates, relaxing with a good book and spending time with family and friends.

Craig Spencer

Head of Volunteer Engagement - St John WA
Chair

Craig is the Head of Volunteer Engagement for St John WA. In this role he is accountable for the volunteer engagement, recruitment and retention strategy for St John WA, supporting over 4500 volunteers.

Craig has volunteered since the age of 17, with many years of volunteering in emergency services in both NSW and WA. He also holds various board and representative roles including Chairing the State Government Volunteer Community Reference Group since 2018 and he joined the National Strategy for Volunteering Advisory Council earlier this year.

Craig is a passionate advocate for the significant economic, social and cultural value of volunteering, especially in Western Australia where volunteers provide so many essential community services.

Craig has completed the Australia Institute for Company Directors course as well as completing a Certificate in Governance for Non-Profits through the Governance Institute of Australia. Craig was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2023 for volunteer and community leadership across various organisations.

Pat Scally

IT and Business Executive
Deputy Chair

I am an experienced business and IT executive with more than twenty years’ experience across a range of different industries, including public sector, professional services and mining as well as oil and gas.

Over the last seven years I have led IT teams for government agencies ranging from 3 people at the Department of Transport, through to more than 300 staff and contractors at the Department of Communities. Prior to joining the public sector, I worked as a Director within Deloitte’s consulting practice for seven years specializing in IT strategy, IT architecture and business transformation. Before Deloitte I was a technical team leader and IT architect for nine years at Alphawest (now Optus Business Services). Prior to my IT career, I served in the Australian Army for two years full time and a further ten years in the Army Reserve.

During my team in government, I have become increasingly aware of the role of the not for profit sector has in delivering critical services to the people of Western Australia, in particular those that rely on volunteers. This was particularly reinforced when I travelled to the Kimberley region and was able to see the degree of disadvantage, especially in the more remote towns. As I am now transitioning out of the public sector, I feel a need to contribute to the community and believe that a board position such as this will be the best way that I can contribute based upon my skills and experience.

I understand each of the principles of volunteering and am committed to ensure that they are used to guide decisions by myself in this role.

My vision for volunteering is the growth of corporate volunteering programs (including schools and university programs) through improved systems and user experience for the volunteers, administrators of the programs, and those organisations that rely on volunteers to deliver important services to the community. I believe that the growth of these programs will help sustain Volunteering WA and in some way insulate it from fluctuations in government funding.

Vivian Molan

Senior Executive - WA Public Sector
Deputy Chair 

Vivian has worked across the WA public sector for over 15 years in a number of leadership positions, with a focus on embedding cultures of good governance and ongoing improvement using inclusive management and effective change strategies. With her strong background in public sector governance, administration and compliance she is keen to apply these skills in a NFP Board environment.

Throughout her time in the public sector she has seen the benefits that volunteering, particularly corporate volunteering, can make to the community and is keen to offer her skills to further grow this area.

Vivian brings experience in strategic planning; leadership; risk, project and change management; compliance; integrity and governance to the Board.

Libby Hewton

Vice President - Treasury & Insurance, Woodside
Treasurer

Libby holds a Bachelor of Laws from UWA and has worked in a variety of positions in the legal and financial services industry. In 2014 she joined Woodside Energy Ltd as the Group Insurance Manager and has served as Vice President, Treasury & Insurance since November 2020.

Libby’s skills and experience bring strong commercial and financial risk management to the Volunteering WA Board.

Having been brought up in the Wheatbelt where her parents were very active in all areas of community service, Libby strongly believes in the importance of volunteering to create a sense of belonging and purpose.

Karess Dias

Solicitor State Solicitor's Office
Board Member (Youth Director)

Karess was born and raised in the dry 40-degree heat of Paraburdoo, Western Australia. Growing up she was actively involved in her local community. Karess attended high school in Perth and went on to complete a double degree in Law and Behavioural Science at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle. During university, Karess was involved in the Notre Dame Volunteer Network, mentoring and the Notre Dame Student Law Society.

Karess graduated in 2018 and is currently a solicitor at the State Solicitor’s Office. Karess is also a member of Soroptimist International and is currently President of the Fremantle club. She is also a member of the Young Women's Advisory Group within the national Equality Rights Alliance. In 2019, Karess completed the Emerging Leaders in Governance Program.

Professor Gary Martin

CEO, Australian Institute of Management WA
Board Member

Emeritus Professor Gary Martin commenced in the role of chief executive and executive director of the Australian Institute of Management Western Australia in 2012. He has overall responsibility for leading all aspects of the Institute's business, which is focused on building leadership, management and workplace capability both in Australia and internationally, and across the corporate, government, not-for-profit and community sector.

Prior to joining AIM WA, Gary held numerous executive appointments at Murdoch University, including the position of Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor.

Gary is a workplace specialist who focuses on key issues and challenges trending in our workplaces. He is a regular columnist in a variety of publications across Australia and internationally, and is the Education writer for WA’s Business News.

He was board chair of Telethon Speech and Hearing in Perth from 2016 to 2020, and a chair of Study Perth from 2008-2011.

A Fellow of the Australian College of Educators, Gary is Emeritus Professor of Murdoch University’s Business School and Zhejiang University of Technology in China, and Honorary Professor at Guangdong University of Business Studies, China.

Craig Hollywood

Founder and Board Director, Short Back & Sidewalks
Board Member

As an Australian of the Year Award winner Craig Hollywood is a valued member of the Australian volunteering and social impact landscape.

Craig is the Founder of Short Back & Sidewalks. A social impact movement providing free haircuts and conversations with some of Australia’s most vulnerable people. Having started in Perth in 2015 Short Back & Sidewalks now operates across the continent and continues to positively impact people’s lives by providing a consistent, judgement free service which helps to break the stigma often attached to those in need. To this day Craig has proudly remained a volunteer of the organisation.

In a full time capacity Craig is WA Deputy Defence Lead for global infrastructure consultancy AECOM, and has over 23 years of experience in the engineering sector. Craig's skills are based in business development, strategy, client and stakeholder management.

Craig is a humble, community leader who thinks differently about how we can change society for the better, together as one.

Matthew Pham

Vice President, Rotary Club of Elizabeth Quay
Board Member 

Matthew is a distinguished business and community leader known for his dynamic approach to leadership and his deep commitment to community service. He serves as the Group Operations and Marketing Manager for Pham Group of Supermarkets, a family owned and operated small business here in WA.

An active volunteer since 2017, Matthew is inspired by his family’s journey as refugees from the Vietnam War and has cultivated a deep commitment to giving back. He is particularly noted for his significant contributions to Rotary and Bendigo Bank, where he actively fosters community development and engagement.

Matthew’s dedication to social causes is further exemplified by his involvement with the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, through which he has raised substantial funds to combat homelessness. His impact in both the business and community sectors has earned him numerous accolades, including a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International. In 2023, he was also honoured as a BusinessNews WA 40 Under 40 winner, recognising his contributions as a business leader and community advocate.

Rebecca Hamilton

Director, Western Australian Road Safety Commission
Board Member 

Rebecca is a Director at the Western Australian Road Safety Commission. She has led the development of new education and engagement campaigns that reach young people, CALD communities and First Nations groups in both regional and metropolitan areas. This includes working with Town Teams on community led discussions about local road safety issues, and exploring opportunities to co-design road safety education programs with young people.

Rebecca is currently responsible for ensuring that automation and technology contribute to the next wave of road safety improvement. She has a particular interest in the human dimension of technology change and how this will intersect with the community’s attitudes to road use and road safety.

Rebecca has worked across diverse policy and reform areas at the Commonwealth and State level including Defence, Treasury, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Health and Corrective Services. She believes that human energy and engagement are critical to creating and sustaining our community, and that volunteers are a critical part of the social fabric. Her own volunteering efforts have largely focused on her son’s soccer club.