Mentoring Relationship Manager Appointments
Kilfinan Australia is thrilled to announce the appointment of our two new Mentoring Relationship Managers, who will take up the mantle commencing in May 2021.
Lesley Podesta
Lesley Podesta is a former senior public servant, having held key roles leading Victorian government and Commonwealth government teams. She was the First Assistant Secretary with responsibility for leading the response to the Bali bombings, the development of the National Immunisation Strategy, the development of a National Health Incident Room to prevent SARS and Avian influenza transmission, the head of the Office of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Heath, and the head of Ageing & Aged Care.
She moved to the Fred Hollows Foundation ten years ago and led the Global Partnerships team working closely with WHO and global health development agencies to reduce avoidable blindness. She was appointed as CEO of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation in 2016, significantly growing the charity’s impact, finances, profile and support.
Lesley is the Chair of the University of Western Sydney Young & Resilient Centre, a Board member of the Phoenix Centre at Melbourne University, a board member of the Queen Elizabeth Centre, and a member of the board of the Council of The Ageing.
Lesley is a proud Kilfinan Mentee Alumni.
Maree Davidson AM
For the past three decades Maree Davidson has provided consultancy services in strategic communications and planning, change management, business development, advocacy and marketing. She works across the for purpose, government and business sectors with a particular focus on health and social change. Maree is a Director of the Consumer Policy Research Centre. Her commitment to social equity and a fair and inclusive society is demonstrated through her voluntary pursuits. She co-founded and chaired the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership and co-founded The Long Walk Foundation. Maree has been a director of National YMCA, Fitted for Work, Centre for Multicultural Youth, Melbourne Writers Festival, VicFit and Women’s Health Victoria as well as being a founding member of the National Centre Against Bullying.
Maree has been an active Kilfinan Mentor since 2014.
We could not have wished for two more capable, experienced, and well-networked people to join our growing team. They join our community of over 200 volunteer mentors and over 300 mentees and mentee alumni in stewarding Kilfinan Australia into its next stage in development.
Our founders, Marion Webster and Rosemary Grieve, will step away from operational matters, representing a significant milestone in Kilfinan’s ongoing growth and maturity. We have all been the beneficiaries of their vision, commitment, and determination to build and grow Kilfinan over the last seven years, and are grateful for their ongoing support and guidance as Board Directors.