Our People
Board
Dr Pat O’Flaherty
Chair – Business Advisor – Lean implementation
Pat had a long successful career in the corporate world at Senior levels spending 20 years with Thales Australia involved in Learning, Employee Development and Organisational Transformation.
He is presently active in the start-up business community in the Hunter through University of Newcastle and is Industry Professional Fellow at UTS in Sydney.
His PhD in Education Research: “Second chance at learning in the workplace” has amplified his view that employment can empower financially disadvantaged adults in our community.
Anne McLaughlin
Deputy Chair – Mentoring Support
Anne has over 40 years’ experience working in public education and public galleries, most recently as Learning and Audience Development Curator at Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
As an artist, gallery director, educator, and former high school teacher, she has become adept at sensitively collaborating with cultural groups and working towards practical and authentic community-led outcomes.
Anne is deeply committed to advancing the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and has been a volunteer with local support and advocacy groups since the early 2000s. She is enthusiastic about empowering and supporting people in the Newcastle area to achieve their employment goals.
Cherylin Beever
Secretary
After an extensive career as a Primary School teacher, she always loved helping people. Since retiring this has continued. She is now involved in NFPs the Raise Foundation and Mentor Support Network mentoring disadvantaged Refugees and High School students.
She also works with the University of Newcastle on a causal basis reporting on student teachers and supporting them in their internships. She is enthusiastic to be involved with HAFC.
Doug Beever
Treasurer – Funding Coordinator
Doug’s career in finance spans 35 years working with financial institutions and later in the telecommunications industry. Since retirement he has worked in a voluntary role with a junior sporting club as treasurer.
He has organised the major fundraiser events for the last 10 years. He is interested in supporting disadvantaged adults as well as seeking financial sponsorship for HAFC.
Robyn White
Public Officer
Robyn has a background in leadership and management roles in mental health services, private business manager, and has education/teaching experience at University of Newcastle.
Mentoring has always been a passion and over the years Robyn has mentored many staff members in their career development, with the aim of achieving more senior professional roles.
Robyn retired in 2017 and was a mentor for a refugee mentoring program for three years and is active in the not-for-profit space with roles in Hunter Adults Financial Collaborative and Mentor Support Network.
Bridget McCall
Business Support – Lean implementation
Bridget has been part of business transformation projects for a wide range of companies. She has over 25 years of operational and business transformation experience. Currently the Commercial and Category Manager for Waste Services at City of Newcastle.
She gained international experience support the introduction of Lean for Rio Tinto Alcan in Europe and South America. Bridget has a Masters of Organisational Psychology from Sydney University.
Kumbirayi Nyabadza
Board Member
Originally from Harare Zimbabwe, Kumbirayi moved to Australia in 2016 to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce and did a double major in Accounting and Finance (2019) at the University of Newcastle. She is currently working for a Chartered Accounting firm.
Kumbirayi is passionate about helping others reach their full potential. She has mentored disadvantaged refugees with Mentor Support Network.
Nyasha Zinyuku
Project Manager
Nyasha was born in Zimbabwe and came to Australia in 2016 as an international student. Currently he is working as an Accountant for one of the biggest construction companies in Australia.
His goal in life is to help the disadvantaged as much as possible and make their lives better. This has motivated him to join as a director of the HAFC.
Support Staff
Stacey Dennis
Communications
Stacey is HAFC’s only paid staffer. Stacey works a few hours each week spreading the word about our programs and mentoring participants in social media and general marketing skills.
She has previously worked in Marketing in the UK, additionally volunteering as a Business Mentor for a number of years supporting various types of business ventures.
We are always interested in hearing from people with diverse backgrounds and industry experience to join our Board, or to become volunteer mentors. Please reach out to us at info@hunteradultsfc.org.au if you’d like to know more.