Governance

We are a not-profit, non-government organisation and operate under a board of directors.

Our Board

The members of our Board work with great passion and dedication to support The Zahra Foundation in achieving its mission.

Marie-Louise has held executive roles in Australia and overseas. Has headed up Government Policy, Healthcare, Industrial Relations, Not-for-Profit charities and listed companies.
Her current role is Group CEO that operates: retirement, social housing & nursing homes, Residential and Commercial Property Management, a Benevolent Foundation and membership organisation.
Marie-Louise has a lifelong commitment to learning; and holds qualifications in nursing, applied science, policy analysis, research, business and law. This commitment is the basis of her belief that education is a ‘game changer’ and was attracted to The Zahra Foundation to focus on what can empower those affected by domestic abuse to re-gain their sense of self and independence.

Patrick joined the board in 2021. He was attracted to the Zahra foundation after having his eyes opened to scale of domestic violence and the severity of the impact on victims. He is driven by a desire to build a better world for his daughters.
Patrick has had a diverse executive career across public, private and government institutions in a diverse range of sectors from manufacturing to consumer goods to education. He currently consults to a broad client base offering strategy and analytical services as well as filling short term executive roles.

Hugh joined Zahra’s board in late 2021 and was elected by his fellow directors as Deputy Chair in July 2022. Having supported a relative experiencing family violence following the end of her marriage and helping her deal with many forms of emotional and financial abuse over several years, he is passionate about Zahra’s goal of empowering women’s financial independence.
Hugh has worked in the legal and finance sectors for over 25 years in Sydney, Hong Kong and New York. Following a career in law and investment banking, he now works in the impact investment sector, advising clients on opportunities that generate both financial returns and measurable benefits for society and the environment.

Sofi has built her career in service delivery across both public and private sectors, with a strong focus on improving customer experiences in complex multi-stakeholder environments. Sofi is an experienced leader in the social finance sector, having led contact centre teams across several different states.
Sofi’s career experience includes executive roles at Suncorp, Wesfarmers and WorkCover SA, and she is currently a member of the WorkCover Tasmania Board. Previous board roles include the Self-insurers Association of South Australia and the not-for-profit arts organisation Cirkidz.
In her board and committee roles for both the not for profit and government sectors she developed skills in governance, risk management, policy development, building strategic relationships and stakeholder management.

Lauren is a seasoned marketing executive, a business owner, and the Global Marketing Activation Manager at evo. Her experience in marketing and communications spans the corporate, nonprofit, and Government sectors, including three years at Facebook/ Meta, where she led a scaled marketing team. Prior to her time at Meta, Lauren ran her own brand marketing and copywriting agency, KIS Communications, crafting compelling brand stories, campaigns and content for global and national brands including JBL, Harman Kardon and Chandon Australia. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently sits on several not-for-profit Boards. Lauren enjoys giving back to the community and causes she is passionate about as a Non Executive Director. She also loves travelling both locally and abroad.

Our Team

The Zahra Foundation Financial Counsellors & Program Facilitators are accredited domestic abuse specialists, who are ‘trauma and violence-informed’ and work within a specialist domestic abuse and violence framework. The Zahra Foundation Specialist Financial Counsellors are qualified and are registered, accredited and audited by Financial Counselling Australia (FCA).

The volunteers at Zahra are an integral part of our team. With a myriad of expertise, our volunteers can be seen analysing our data, providing administrative support, facilitating groups, actively engaging in fundraising activities and being the face of The Zahra Foundation through reception and community activities. The wealth of diversity in our volunteers reflects the diversity of women accessing our programs. Volunteers working alongside our staff add a richness to our services that benefits our participants.