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: Business Manager - Training What are you passionate about? I am passionate about strengthening community awareness of the profound impacts of homelessness and family and domestic violence on individuals and communities.
Having worked alongside people from diverse backgrounds, I am committed to efforts that create meaningful change and foster environments where inclusiveness is lived, and women and children can reach their full potential.
We can empower and transform lives through access to education, building new skills, and being part of connected and supportive networks; through Nova, we can enable pathways that foster safety, dignity, independence, and wellbeing. |  |
| Name: Sue Hellier
Position on Board: Vice Chairperson
Current Professional Role: Human Services Consultant, Former CEO - Newcastle Family Support
What are you passionate about? The safety and well-being of women and children is a high priority for me. For 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: Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis, Maitland City Council What are you passionate about? I am passionate about supporting the women and children in our community because I believe everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive. I am committed to helping create environments where women and children are protected from harm, have access to the support they need, and are given opportunities to build positive and independent futures.
|  |
