Our Founders
For more than 30 years, Rosemary Grieve OAM has been working as a
consultant with the boards of major corporations and statutory bodies and
with senior executives in complex global organisations. The focus of her
business in Australia has been board and executive team reviews and the
development and coaching of senior executives and non-executive directors.
Rosemary is active in the for-purpose sector consulting with Boards and
mentoring CEOs. Rosemary’s academic qualifications include an MBA from
Yale University School of Management, a MSW from Washington University
and a BA (Psychology) from the University of Melbourne.
Rosemary Grieve OAM
Co-Founder
Marion Webster AM has had a long involvement in the for-purpose and
philanthropic sectors, both in Australia and internationally. Founding director
of Philanthropy Australia, a founding Trustee and Chair of Australian
Communities Foundation and now its patron, CEO of the Community
Foundation Network in the UK, a founding Trustee of Auckland Communities
Foundation, a founder and Chair of Fitted for Work, Marion currently is the
inaugural Chair of WomenCAN. She has worked in the areas of child, family,
and migrant welfare and advocacy. In 2004, she was awarded an OAM for her
services to philanthropy and the community.
Marion Webster AM
Co-Founder
For more than 30 years, Rosemary Grieve OAM has been working as a
consultant with the boards of major corporations and statutory bodies and
with senior executives in complex global organisations. The focus of her
business in Australia has been board and executive team reviews and the
development and coaching of senior executives and non-executive directors.
Rosemary is active in the for-purpose sector consulting with Boards and
mentoring CEOs. Rosemary’s academic qualifications include an MBA from
Yale University School of Management, a MSW from Washington University
and a BA (Psychology) from the University of Melbourne.
Rosemary Grieve OAM
Co-Founder
Marion Webster AM has had a long involvement in the for-purpose and
philanthropic sectors, both in Australia and internationally. Founding director
of Philanthropy Australia, a founding Trustee and Chair of Australian
Communities Foundation and now its patron, CEO of the Community
Foundation Network in the UK, a founding Trustee of Auckland Communities
Foundation, a founder and Chair of Fitted for Work, Marion currently is the
inaugural Chair of WomenCAN. She has worked in the areas of child, family,
and migrant welfare and advocacy. In 2004, she was awarded an OAM for her
services to philanthropy and the community.
Marion Webster AM
Co-Founder
Our Board
Michael Gill has a strong track record of leadership across corporate and not-for-profit sectors. He previously served as Executive Counsellor and Director Asia with Dragoman, an international business advisory firm, and as Chairman of Sustainable Skills Ltd, promoting innovative solutions and global collaboration. From 1998 to 2011, Michael was CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Business Media at Fairfax Media, leading significant transformation in the Australian media industry. During this time, he was also Chairman of AAP Ltd from 1996 to 2011, supporting the growth of independent news. A former president of UNICEF Australia, Michael has spent decades advancing social causes, backed by extensive executive and board experience.
Michael Gill
Chair
Georgie has significant and broad-ranging leadership, policy and service delivery experience in the community, public and private sectors. As the CEO of beyondblue she has led a significant expansion of effort and results in service innovation, suicide prevention and digital solutions. Georgie had national responsibility for mental health, suicide prevention, substance misuse, cancer and chronic disease policy and programs as a senior executive at the Commonwealth Department of Health. She led the development of a significant whole of government mental health Budget package and the strategy and development of legislation to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products in Australia – a world first.
Georgie Harman
Director
David is a Partner with Egon Zehnder, one of the world’s most respected leadership advisory firms, where he leads the Board Practice Group for Australia and New Zealand. Before joining Egon Zehnder David led retail and consumer businesses. He regularly mentors and supports senior executives and board directors. David supports a wide range of for-purpose organisations and he is on the board of the Carlton Football Club where he chairs the Remuneration, People and Culture Committee.
David Campbell
Director
Mike brings to the Board financial expertise and experience as an international executive from a range of industries, including previous roles as CEO and CFO of Brambles Limited and CFO of Coca-Cola Amatil Limited. Mike is currently a director of Scentre Group, CSR Limited, Inghams Group Limited and Ampol Limited. Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting) from the University of Technology, Sydney. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, CPA Australia and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Mike Ihlein
Director
Carolyn was appointed CEO of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation in February 2016. Prior to that she worked with the United Nations for over twelve years in senior leadership roles including private sector relations at the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and Global Head of Private Sector Relations at UN Women in New York, Deputy Director of UNICEF’s Global Private Funding & Partnerships Division in Geneva and CEO of UNICEF Australia. Carolyn has also served as a Director on the Global Board of Amnesty International and Director of ChildFund Australia.
Carolyn Hardy
Director
Lauren is an Associate of Commercial Law at boutique law firm Velocity Legal. She has been volunteering as Kilfinan's Company Secretary since July 2022. Lauren is passionate about solving complex legal issues. She relentlessly pursues her client’s objectives and is determined to achieve results. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys satisfying her sweet tooth. Whether it is finding a new place to eat or dealing with novel commercial law issues, Lauren will guide you to the right solution.
Lauren Gross
Company Secretary
Michael Gill has a strong track record of leadership across corporate and not-for-profit sectors. He previously served as Executive Counsellor and Director Asia with Dragoman, an international business advisory firm, and as Chairman of Sustainable Skills Ltd, promoting innovative solutions and global collaboration. From 1998 to 2011, Michael was CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Business Media at Fairfax Media, leading significant transformation in the Australian media industry. During this time, he was also Chairman of AAP Ltd from 1996 to 2011, supporting the growth of independent news. A former president of UNICEF Australia, Michael has spent decades advancing social causes, backed by extensive executive and board experience.
Michael Gill
Chair
Georgie has significant and broad-ranging leadership, policy and service delivery experience in the community, public and private sectors. As the CEO of beyondblue she has led a significant expansion of effort and results in service innovation, suicide prevention and digital solutions. Georgie had national responsibility for mental health, suicide prevention, substance misuse, cancer and chronic disease policy and programs as a senior executive at the Commonwealth Department of Health. She led the development of a significant whole of government mental health Budget package and the strategy and development of legislation to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products in Australia – a world first.
Georgie Harman
Director
Mike brings to the Board financial expertise and experience as an international executive from a range of industries, including previous roles as CEO and CFO of Brambles Limited and CFO of Coca-Cola Amatil Limited. Mike is currently a director of Scentre Group, CSR Limited, Inghams Group Limited and Ampol Limited. Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting) from the University of Technology, Sydney. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, CPA Australia and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Mike IhLein
Director
David is a Partner with Egon Zehnder, one of the world’s most respected leadership advisory firms, where he leads the Board Practice Group for Australia and New Zealand. Before joining Egon Zehnder David led retail and consumer businesses. He regularly mentors and supports senior executives and board directors. David supports a wide range of for-purpose organisations and he is on the board of the Carlton Football Club where he chairs the Remuneration, People and Culture Committee.
David Campbell
Director
Carolyn was appointed CEO of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation in February 2016. Prior to that she worked with the United Nations for over twelve years in senior leadership roles including private sector relations at the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and Global Head of Private Sector Relations at UN Women in New York, Deputy Director of UNICEF’s Global Private Funding & Partnerships Division in Geneva and CEO of UNICEF Australia. Carolyn has also served as a Director on the Global Board of Amnesty International and Director of ChildFund Australia.
Carolyn Hardy
Director
Lauren loves working with communities to support and empower them. Having honed her people skills from her overseas travels and time spent working in the hospitality, corporate and education sectors, Lauren believes that connections and a shared purpose are key to making impactful change. With a passion for helping others Lauren is a regular volunteer at her local community mealhouse and sits on several of her children's sporting and school committees.
Lauren Gross
Company Secretary
Our Team
Lesley is a former senior public servant, having held key roles leading VIC and Federal government teams. She was the First Assistant Secretary leading the response to the Bali bombings, the development of the 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. She was the CEO of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation from 2016-2021. Lesley is the Chair of the Uni of West Syd Resilient Centre, and is a Board member for the World Congress on Children's Rights, and the Queen Elizabeth Centre.
Lesley Podesta
CEO
For the past three decades Maree Davidson has provided consultancy services in strategic communications and planning, change management, business development, advocacy and marketing. Maree is a GAICD – graduate of AICD and Chair of 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 Davidson AM
Senior Mentorship Manager
Lauren loves working with communities to support and empower them. Having honed her people skills from her overseas travels and time spent working in the hospitality, corporate and education sectors, Lauren believes that connections and a shared purpose are key to making impactful change. With a passion for helping others Lauren is a regular volunteer at her local community mealhouse and sits on several of her children's sporting and school committees.
Lauren De Ross
Mentorship Manager,
Partnerships and Programs
With a background in science and experience across a range of sectors,
most recently philanthropy, Kylie’s focus is on finding connected, people
centred, efficient solutions to complex problems through strong supported
networks, operational efficiency, personal development, and
organisational capacity building.
Kylie is a Director and Advisory Group Member of the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership, and an
active community member in the inner north of Melbourne where she
lives with her family.
Kylie Price
Chief Operating Officer
Kanchana is a skilled professional with a PhD in Medical Biochemistry who transitioned from research to technology after a career break. With over three years of experience in Salesforce, she holds certifications in Service Cloud, Administration, and App Building. Kanchana specializes in CRM management, process automation, and integrating third-party tools. She enjoys working with nonprofits to improve their operations and fundraising efforts through technology. Motivated and detail-oriented, she is always eager to learn and contribute to meaningful projects
Kanchana Karvannan
Salesforce Administrator
Lesley is a former senior public servant, having held key roles leading VIC and Federal government teams. She was the First Assistant Secretary leading the response to the Bali bombings, the development of the 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. She was the CEO of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation from 2016-2021. Lesley is the Chair of the Uni of West Syd Resilient Centre, and is a Board member for the World Congress on Children's Rights, and the Queen Elizabeth Centre.
Lesley Podesta
CEO
For the past three decades Maree Davidson has provided consultancy services in strategic communications and planning, change management, business development, advocacy and marketing. Maree is a GAICD – graduate of AICD and Chair of 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 Davidson AM
Senior Mentorship Manager
Lauren is an experienced Personal Assistant and Events Professional. She started her career in Hospitality and Managed a Boutique Corporate Hotel before transitioning into the Corporate Sector in various Administration and PA roles. For the 6 years prior to joining Kilfinan Australia, Lauren operated her own small business within the Education Sector whilst raising a young family.
Lauren De Ross
Mentorship Manager, Partnerships and Programs
With a background in science and experience across a range of sectors,
most recently philanthropy, Kylie’s focus is on finding connected, people
centred, efficient solutions to complex problems through strong supported
networks, operational efficiency, personal development, and
organisational capacity building.
Kylie is a director of the Fellowship for Indigenous leadership, and an
active community member in the inner north of Melbourne where she
lives with her family.
Kylie Price
Chief Operating Officer
Kanchana is a skilled professional with a PhD in Medical Biochemistry who transitioned from research to technology after a career break. With over three years of experience in Salesforce, she holds certifications in Service Cloud, Administration, and App Building. Kanchana specializes in CRM management, process automation, and integrating third-party tools. She enjoys working with nonprofits to improve their operations and fundraising efforts through technology. Motivated and detail-oriented, she is always eager to learn and contribute to meaningful projects
Kanchana Karvannan
Salesforce Administrator
Tribute to Kilfinan co-founder
Marion Webster AM (1950 - 2024)
It is with great sadness that we report that the much loved and admired co-founder of Kilfinan Australia, Marion Webster AM died on August 30th.
Marion’s humanity together with her unrelenting energy, commitment and ‘can do’ approach provided much of the inspiration and the know-how that has established and nurtured Kilfinan Australia. We wouldn’t exist without her.
Marion, with friend and co-founder Rosemary Grieve, brought the Kilfinan concept to Australia a decade ago following a walking trip in the Scottish Highlands. A friend of Marion’s with whom they were staying mentioned that she was working with Kilfinan UK matching business leaders with CEOs of Not For Profit organisations for mentoring at no cost to the mentee.
Marion immediately leapt on the idea as something that they could do in Australia – Marion had the Not For Profit networks and Rosemary the corporate and business world ones.
They set up Kilfinan Australia in Marion’s apartment in Melbourne (supported with humour and patience by husband Michael) and worked their extensive networks to generate a cluster of potential supporters, mentors and mentees. Their vision was to provide much needed leadership support to NFP CEOs and, at the same time, build understanding amongst senior business and public sector leaders of the talent and challenges in the sector.
Together they were very much hands on as they personally met and screened potential mentors and mentees, matched mentees with appropriate mentors, monitored how the relationships were going over time and held networking and learning forums for the growing Kilfinan community.
After six very busy and productive years they stepped back from their operational role. Marion remained a board member until last year and continued as an active, in demand mentor up to her final weeks. Her support for her mentees and for Kilfinan Australia and its vision never diminished despite her health challenges.
Marion was the crucial factor in Kilfinan Australia’s success. It would not have happened without her determination and initiative. As Rosemary said recently ‘She loves a new idea and is so skilled at figuring out what’s necessary to make it sing”
Here at Kilfinan and across the Philanthropic and Not For Profit communities we will miss Marion’s creativity, her love for family and friends, her passion, her sharp wit, her love of a good laugh, her common sense and her sense of style.
We are proud and humble to continue her important work.