SHINE for Kids relies on the volunteers of the Board to oversee operations, ensure sustainability, obtain additional funding, and help promote the service in the community.

OUR PATRON– Ann Symonds

Since 1999 the patron of SHINE for Kids has been Ann Symonds, former Federal Member of Parliament.

The commitment displayed in Ann's early teaching career was continued in her endeavours to educate those whose decisions so markedly affect the lives of the powerless. Ann devoted her parliamentary life to the women and children that are neglected by economic rationalism, forming policies and programs for women in prison, children in institutional care, abused children and women subjected to domestic violence.

At some personal cost, Ann supported gun control when it was an unpopular issue, well before the Port Arthur massacre in 1996. She was a founding member of both the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform and the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation.

As a founding member of the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues which she chaired from 1995 to 1998, Ann continued her fight for social justice. The recommendations of its reports Violence Amongst Youth, Sexual Violence, Children's Advocacy, Children of Prisoners, Clinical Trials & Guardianship and Nursing Homes were compassionate, practical and widely supported.

OUR BOARD

SHINE FOR KIDS is governed by the Board of Management, consisting of 9 to 12 members who meet monthly. Members of the Board of Management are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The 2006 Board of Management consists of:

Chairman: Helen Wiseman

Helen Wiseman was elected to the Board at the 2004 AGM and became Chairman shortly afterwards. Helen is a partner at KPMG and is passionate about private sector involvement in the community. Although a chartered accountant by profession, Helen has a keen interest in her studies in psychology.

With very personal reasons for her involvement with SHINE for Kids, Helen is very familiar the issues confronting the organisation and has encouraged many others from KPMG to become involved. Helen's contribution to SHINE for Kids was recently featured in an in-house video to be shown at KPMG events around the world – a testament to her enthusiasm and ability to communicate the SHINE message to a broader audience. Helen's strong belief is that a little counts for a lot and everyone can make a valuable contribution, no matter how small. She is deeply committed to SHINE for Kids and is looking forward to meeting the challenges ahead.

Norman Laing

Norman is a qualified barrister and is currently the Deputy CEO of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Norman served within the Australian Regular Army's parachute infantry battalion, 3 RAR form 1995 to 2002 and was part of the original INTERFET contingent into East Timor in 1999. This deployment saw Norman awarded the Infantry Combat Medal, the Australian Active Service Medal and the INTERFET Medal.

In 2002 he was one of the first indigenous graduates of the new Bachelor of Laws and Indigenous Australian Law degrees offered by the University of Technology, specialising in Indigenous and Native Title Law. He was then engaged as the Indigenous Research Associate for the Federal Court of Australia.

He currently tutors Indigenous Law students and is also a member of a number of representative bodies including an appointment to the NSW Attorney-General's Sentencing Council. He is also Secretary to the NSW Reconciliation Council.

Arthur Begetis

Arthur also joined the Board of Management earlier this year with the objective of utilising his skills to assist in the strategic financial management of the organisation. Arthur completed the SHINE for Kids mentor program earlier this year, and has since actively mentored a child. Arthur has found this to be a very rewarding experience, and trusts that the mentor role can have a positive influence on the child's life.

Katherine Shaw

Katherine Shaw joined the Board in April 2005. Katherine works as a Senior Manager within KPMG where she consults to organisations to improve their risk management systems. In that role she has worked with a number of not-for-profit organisations that deliver services to children, focusing on developing systems that protect the children while delivering to them the best services possible. Katherine's involvement with Shine has been focused on using her knowledge of the approaches within other companies to improve our financial and risk management systems and maximise the benefit of the programs delivered.

Katherine has been filling a casual vacancy on the SHINE for Kids Board this past year.

Paul Freeman

Paul Freeman is currently Funding Development Manager for CareFlight, with responsibility for revenue. Prior to CareFlight, he was held the same position with Royal Blind Society for almost four years. Paul has a highly lateral approach to business developed from 25 years mass and direct marketing experience with multi-national and major Australian companies over a range of industries (toiletries, hardware, automotive aftermarket, vitamin supplements, technology) and household brands (from Decoré to WD-40). Paul recently served on ADMA NSW Committee, and is currently on Fundraising Institute’s NSW Committee.

Paul has acted in an advisory position to the Board in the last 12 months.

Fiona Laverty

Fiona has a law degree and completed law school before joining KPMG as a tax advisor, and qualifying as a chartered accountant. She recently left her role in KPMG as a senior tax manager, after 12 years with the firm, working in both the UK and in Australia. She has now moved to the Southern Highlands in a role as financial accountant for Dux, a subsidiary of listed Australian group, GWA Ltd. Through her involvement and networks in this part of regional Australia, she hopes to build SHINE for Kids presence, in particular with respect to the local Goulbourn, Berrima and proposed Shoalhaven prison.

Fiona's main interests revolve around helping others develop their full potential in life. She seeks to achieve this by currently training and practising as a life coach and has recently been a mentor to a Sydney schoolgirl through an Australian Business Community mentoring program.

Kristy Chambers

Kristy joined the Board in June 2007. She has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance and Human Resources Management and is currently completing her Masters of Business Administration. Kristy is the Deputy Company Secretary of the Australian Securities Exchange and has held roles in various company secretary and corporate governance capacities. She is also a committee member on the Audit and Governance Committee of Scouts NSW.

Sub-committees

The Management Committee is supported by a number of sub-committees, who meet regularly and provide reports to the Management Committee.