Meet our Board

Nova is managed by a Voluntary Board of Women, with members drawn from professional fields and various community organisations.

These women bring a vast range of qualifications, knowledge, expertise, and professionalism, and are committed to supporting the work Nova does and walk alongside our staff, benefactors, collaborators, and supporters to achieve our vision of a world free from domestic and family violence and homelessness. Our Board sets the strategic direction that enables our dedicated and committed team to achieve its vision and purpose. We are proud to introduce you to our current board.

Name: Kellen Evans Position on Board: Chairperson Current Professional Role: Post-graduate student with an extensive background in business operations What are you passionate about? Having spent more than two decades working with people from diverse multicultural backgrounds, I am passionate about initiatives that change people’s lives through education and enabling women and children through the development and building of new skills, and access to connected and supportive networks. I am also passionate about increasing awareness in the greater community about the impacts of family and domestic violence and homelessness.
Name: Sue Hellier Position on Board: Vice Chairperson Current Professional Role: Human Services Consultant, Former CEO - Newcastle Family Support What are you passionate about? I am passionate about the safety and well-being of children so they can have every opportunity to grow, develop, and build a life they are satisfied with. Similarly, the safety and wellbeing of women, so that they understand and are freed from oppression, in all its forms. I’m passionate about supporting the staff of Nova who work towards these aims on a daily basis.
Name: Brodie O'Sullivan Position on Board: Treasurer Current Professional Role: Chief Financial Officer, Coast to Valley Garage Doors What are you passionate about? I believe in empowering women and their fundamental right to feel safe. I am passionate about being part of the change by ensuring the creation of a safe community for women and children, in this generation and the many more to come.
Name: : Natalie Oliver   Position on Board: Secretary   Current Professional Role: Senior Corporate Counsel, NIB   What are you passionate about? Ensuring that the women and children of our community are safe and that their lives are not limited by violence or fear. We live in a beautiful community, but we can continue to do better to make it a place where our vulnerable can live their lives with choice and dignity.
Name: Marette Gale Position on Board: Board Member Current Professional Role: Associate Lecturer, University of Newcastle What are you passionate about? I am passionate about the development of a robust, bold, and inclusive service system that supports the well-being of all children, families, and communities. This would be a service system designed to lead, resource, and champion local place-based initiatives, with outcomes designed to break the cycles of violence, racism, ill health, and poverty.
Name: Rozyta Englert Position on Board: Board Member Current Professional Role: Change Management Consultant What are you passionate about? I believe deeply in the right of every human being to be treated with respect and dignity, and to live a life free from fear, intimidation, and violence. I am passionate about creating a community where we uphold these standards and ensure that vulnerable women and children feel safe and valued.
Name: Samantha Smith Position on Board: Board Member Current Professional Role: Manager, Family Violence/Transforming Aboriginal Outcomes, Department of Communities and Justice What are you passionate about? My passion is driven by the opportunities in both my professional and personal (community) life to create meaningful and continuous positive change for children, their families, and communities. I believe change should be driven by a person’s own self-identified and self-actualised needs, with support that is embedded to help people overcome the barriers and challenges they encounter, that is empowering and reinforces their own strengths. I'm also passionate about community development and creating a society that embeds safety and respect for all and creates equity and opportunity that is representative of both individual and collective needs and drives improvement for everybody.

Name: : Melissa Stark   Position on Board: Board Member   Current Professional Role: Senior Management Accountant, Maitland City Council   What are you passionate about? Advocating for the rights of women and children to live and participate safely in our community, free from violence and fear. I am committed to helping create a respectful, safe community where everyone can reach their full potential and ensure that women and children of our community are safe and that their lives are not limited by violence or fear. We live in a beautiful community, but we can continue to do better to make it a place where our vulnerable can live their lives with choice and dignity.