Our People

Our Board

Stars Foundation is a public company limited by guarantee and is overseen by an Indigenous-led, seven-member Board of Directors. We are proud to say that the highest levels of Indigenous and business leadership are represented.

Indigenous-led governance results in many benefits to the work of Stars Foundation, including:

  • Support from the communities in which we operate
  • A reflection of First Nations priorities
  • Responsiveness to First Nations needs and feedback

Strong governance and transparency are the focus of the Stars Board and an active Audit and Risk Committee supports the Board. This ensures that our stakeholders can have highest levels of confidence in the ethics and principles of the organisation and the implementation of the Stars Mission.

DONISHA DUFF
GRANT O’BRIEN
OLGA HAVNEN
MARTIN FERGUSON
DR MARK WENITONG
GRAHAM GOLDSMITH AO
ANDREA GODDARD

Our Staff

Stars Foundation is a highly professional organisation that prides itself on attracting and retaining the highest quality staff.

We have a high-expectations culture and know that we exist for one reason – to provide the very best support to the girls and young women in our programs.

We select our program-facing staff very carefully, based on their integrity, values and commitment. They are role models in their communities and provide inspiration, expertise and leadership to our Stars.

We are proud to say that more than 70 per cent of our program-facing staff are Indigenous, and 88 per cent are women.

Andrea Goddard

Andrea Goddard

Chief Executive Officer
Michael McLean

Michael McLean

Development Manager/Regional Manager VIC
Mark McLean

Mark McLean

Regional Manager NT
Sue Douglas

Sue Douglas

Regional Manager QLD
Iggy Vallejo

Iggy Vallejo

Regional Manager NT
David Francis

David Francis

Regional Manager QLD
Simon Nimmo

Simon Nimmo

Regional Manager WA
Sharon Hunt

Sharon Hunt

Finance Manager

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Kylie-Duggan

Kylie Duggan – Program Manager
Casuarina Senior College, Darwin

Leith-Waterbury

Leith Waterbury – Program Manager
Dripstone Middle School, Darwin

Donna-Clemmens

Donna Clemmens – Program Manager
Haileybury Rendall School, Darwin

Petra-Wallis

Petra Wallis – Program Manager
Nightcliff Middle School

Lauren-Chapman

Lauren Chapman – Program Manager
Katherine High School

Amanda-Walker

Amanda Walker – Program Manager
Moulden Park Primary School

Alyssa-Campbell

Alyssa Campbell – Program Manager
Nhulunbuy High School

RICHARD-TAMBLING-Program-Manager-JABIRU

Richard Tambling – Program Manager
Jabiru Area School

Terri-Anstess

Terri Anstess – Program Manager
Sanderson Middle School, Darwin

Pamela-Bright

Pamela Bright – Program Manager
Driver Primary School

TAYLEE HEALEY Yirrkala - Copy

Taylee Healy  – Program Manager
Yirrkala School

RACHEL NDLOVU Program Manager Tennant Creek - Copy

Rachel Ndlovu – Program Manager
Tennant Creek High

JASON-GREENE-Transitions-Manager-NT

Jason Greene – Transitions Manager
Transitions

QUEENSLAND

KYLIE POWER for WEB

Kylie Power – Program Manager
Heatley Secondary College

PAMELA-APPLEBY-Headshot

Pam Santo-Appleby – Program Manager
Pimlico State High School

REBECCA-HEALEY-Program-Manager

Rebecca Healey – Program Manager
Thuringowa State High School

Emma-Ferguson

Emma Ferguson – Transitions Manager
Transitions

VICTORIA

MAELI-FELISE-Headshot

Maeli Felise – Program Manager
Chaffey Secondary College & Mildura Senior College

Donisha Duff

Chair

Donisha has over 20 years’ experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, particularly health. She was Advisor on Indigenous health to a former Federal Health Minister. Donisha has also worked for the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Associate, General Practice QLD, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, and both the QLD and Commonwealth governments. She is currently Chief Operations Officer at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. Donisha holds an MBA and BA (Hons).

Donisha Duff

Chair

Donisha has over 20 years’ experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, particularly health. She was Advisor on Indigenous health to a former Federal Health Minister. Donisha has also worked for the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Associate, General Practice QLD, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, and both the QLD and Commonwealth governments. She is currently Chief Operations Officer at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. Donisha holds an MBA and BA (Hons).

Grant O’Brien

Director

Grant spent more than 25 years with Woolworths and was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in 2011 before retiring in 2016. Grant was Chairman of Australian Leisure and Hospitality and Hydrox Holdings from 2011 to 2016 and Chairman of Hydrox Holdings. He was also a Director of The Consumer Goods Forum, the peak global body for food and grocery retailers and manufacturers, Chairman and Director of the Australian National Retailers Association Ltd and a member of the Business Council of Australia. A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2011, he has been a Director of the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund since 2008 and Chair of the Port Arthur Historic Sites Management Authority since January 2020.

Grant O’Brien

Director

Grant spent more than 25 years with Woolworths and was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in 2011 before retiring in 2016. Grant was Chairman of Australian Leisure and Hospitality and Hydrox Holdings from 2011 to 2016 and Chairman of Hydrox Holdings. He was also a Director of The Consumer Goods Forum, the peak global body for food and grocery retailers and manufacturers, Chairman and Director of the Australian National Retailers Association Ltd and a member of the Business Council of Australia. A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2011, he has been a Director of the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund since 2008 and Chair of the Port Arthur Historic Sites Management Authority since January 2020.

Olga Havnen

Director

Olga is of Western Arrernte descent. She grew up in Tennant Creek and has been CEO of Danila Dilba Health Service since 2013. She has held a range of senior public and non-government sector roles in her long career in Indigenous affairs. Olga has also sat on many Boards, including the Indigenous Land Corporation, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, NT Primary Health Care and the Deputy Chair of AMSANT. She is currently a Director on the AMSANT and NACCHO Boards.

Olga Havnen

Director

Olga is of Western Arrernte descent. She grew up in Tennant Creek and has been CEO of Danila Dilba Health Service since 2013. She has held a range of senior public and non-government sector roles in her long career in Indigenous affairs. Olga has also sat on many Boards, including the Indigenous Land Corporation, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, NT Primary Health Care and the Deputy Chair of AMSANT. She is currently a Director on the AMSANT and NACCHO Boards.

Martin Ferguson

Director

Martin was the Federal Member for Batman from 1996 until retiring at the 2014 election. He held several Shadow Portfolios before becoming a senior Minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments. Martin is Chairman of the advisory board to the Australian oil and gas industry, APPEA, Strategic Director of Seven Group Holdings Energy, and Chair of Tourism Accommodation Australia. He also chairs the CO2 Co-operative Research Centre and the Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons).

Martin Ferguson

Director

Martin was the Federal Member for Batman from 1996 until retiring at the 2014 election. He held several Shadow Portfolios before becoming a senior Minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments. Martin is Chairman of the advisory board to the Australian oil and gas industry, APPEA, Strategic Director of Seven Group Holdings Energy, and Chair of Tourism Accommodation Australia. He also chairs the CO2 Co-operative Research Centre and the Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons).

Dr Mark Wenitong

Director

Mark is from the Kabi Kabi tribal group of south Queensland. He is currently the Aboriginal Public Health Medical Officer at Apunipima Cape York Health Council. He is a past president and founder of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association and is currently Chair of Andrology Australia – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Advisory Committee and sits on a range of Boards and committees on Indigenous health. He received the 2011 AMA Presidents Award for Excellence in Healthcare, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council Hall of Fame award in 2010.

Dr Mark Wenitong

Director

Mark is from the Kabi Kabi tribal group of south Queensland. He is currently the Aboriginal Public Health Medical Officer at Apunipima Cape York Health Council. He is a past president and founder of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association and is currently Chair of Andrology Australia – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Advisory Committee and sits on a range of Boards and committees on Indigenous health. He received the 2011 AMA Presidents Award for Excellence in Healthcare, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council Hall of Fame award in 2010.

Graham Goldsmith AO

Director

Graham was Vice Chairman and a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Australia. He retired in 2012 after a 25-year career with the firm in Australia. Graham is Chairman of ASX-listed SEEK Ltd and a non-executive director of ASX-listed Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd. He is also a Board Member of Trawalla Group, chair of Armitage Associates Pty Ltd, and a Panel Member of Adara Partners and Trustee of Gandel Philanthropy. He retired as Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology in 2019. Graham is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and CPA Australia (FCPA)

Graham Goldsmith AO

Director

Graham was Vice Chairman and a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Australia. He retired in 2012 after a 25-year career with the firm in Australia. Graham is Chairman of ASX-listed SEEK Ltd and a non-executive director of ASX-listed Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd. He is also a Board Member of Trawalla Group, chair of Armitage Associates Pty Ltd, and a Panel Member of Adara Partners and Trustee of Gandel Philanthropy. He retired as Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology in 2019. Graham is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and CPA Australia (FCPA)

Andrea Goddard

Founder and CEO

Andrea has a background in Indigenous affairs, auditing, health and organisational management. She was General Manager Development for the Clontarf Foundation from 2005 to 2013 and had direct responsibility for the organisation’s growth and sustainability. She founded Stars to bring about gender equity in First Nations educational engagement programs. Andrea holds a Diploma of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Graduate Diploma of Adolescent Health and Welfare, Diploma Business (Governance), and a Master of Public Health.

Andrea Goddard

Founder and CEO

Andrea has a background in Indigenous affairs, auditing, health and organisational management. She was General Manager Development for the Clontarf Foundation from 2005 to 2013 and had direct responsibility for the organisation’s growth and sustainability. She founded Stars to bring about gender equity in First Nations educational engagement programs. Andrea holds a Diploma of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Graduate Diploma of Adolescent Health and Welfare, Diploma Business (Governance), and a Master of Public Health.