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Tiếng ViệtOur Team
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Chairperson
Michelle Donelly
Michelle is one of the founding members of Citizen Advocacy Ryde Hunter’s Hill (before the organisation became Side By Side Advocacy) and has been actively involved in the organisation for over thirty years. Michelle is committed to people with disability being included as valued members of the community as demonstrated by her roles as a foundation board member of Family Advocacy, her former role as a Board member NSW CID and her role as a Citizen Advocate. She has an academic, professional and personal commitment to educating people about disability. Michelle is Adjunct Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Southern Cross University. She has also been Chief Investigator for multiple successful research grants.
Vice Chairperson
Ben Pilipowski
Ben has been passionate about addressing societal inequality and injustice since he was in his early teens. He has a degree in social work and has experience as a youth worker and in the aged care and mental health sectors. Ben became a member of Side By Side Advocacy before he joined the organisation’s Board. As a member, Ben co-designed and co-presented at workshops on behalf of Side By Side Advocacy. Ben enjoys being able to share and use his own stories as a person with an intellectual disability to help others to be more confident and to grow as self-advocates. Ben’s interests include bush walks, playing summer sports, creative writing, and speaking up about topics such as disability and mental health. Ben joined the Side By Side Advocacy Board in July 2023.
Secretary
Faz Hares
Faz is a proven stakeholder engagement expert, who builds and maintains seamless collaborations. In her professional life, Faz has enjoyed a dynamic seven-year background in talent acquisition. Faz navigates the entire recruitment lifecycle across agency and internal recruitment settings. Her strategic recruitment prowess is highlighted by successful strategies attracting top-tier talent, showcasing a nuanced understanding of diverse industry needs. In a parallel narrative, Faz’s journey took a profound turn during a pivotal placement for her human services degree, sparking a deeper connection to the field. Drawn by inspiration, she joined Side By Side Advocacy’s Board after a transformative five-week placement, committing to making a difference for people with disabilities facing daily barriers.
Treasurer
Toni Ng
With over 15 years of experience across the not-for-profit sector, property and real estate, financial services, and the energy sector, Toni is a member of the Chartered Accountant ANZ with an extensive range of corporate and commercial skills. These include reporting, budgeting and forecasting, business partnering, commercial insight and people management. Toni grew up in Epping and Eastwood and is passionate about volunteering her time to the local communities and assisting the community in the capacity of a Justice of the Peace. Toni was elected to the Board in 2022.
Board Member
Coralie Jensen
Secretary
Ruth Perram
Ruth has a background in psychology and education. She retired in 2013 after a twenty-two year career as a high school teacher. Ruth has a strong sense of community and speaks up and out on various issues when she feels that justice is not being served. She is the mother of three adult daughters, and the proud grandmother to three granddaughters. Ruth loves travel and lives in Eastwood with her husband. Ruth was elected to the Board in 2013 and became secretary in 2014.
Member
James Joseph
Joining the board in 2024, James has a clinical background in the realm of mental health with a dedication for advocacy. James has provided group facilitation, case management and psychotherapy in health, clinics and justice settings. James brings to the board, intrinsic understandings of the various barriers that individuals with disabilities can experience such as access to services, social isolation and stigma. James has professional experience working in the disability sector, as well as family who live with a disability. James’ interest comes from passion and wanting to make steps toward diversity and inclusivity.
Member
Belinda Henry
Belinda has a professional background in law, practising as a lawyer primarily in employment, anti-discrimination and work health and safety law. Belinda brings to the Board a particular interest and experience addressing the challenges faced by people with a disability in accessing advocacy, the justice system, transport and other government services and equal opportunity in employment. Belinda’s particular interest is in ensuring people with a disability are heard in the justice system and working for systemic improvements to legal and policy frameworks, service delivery for people living with disability and, crucially, reliable funding for disability issues and services.
Belinda is committed to promoting equal treatment, eliminating discrimination and working in a team to take tangible steps to address the marginalisation faced by people living with a disability.
Member
Stephen MacDonald
Steve is originally from the UK and has lived and worked in Australia since 2004. He has twenty years’ experience in various IT roles, including technical support, training and project management. Steve’s association with Side By Side Advocacy began in February 2008, when he answered a request for pro bono IT support. Steve first joined the Board in 2014. From 2014 -2017, Steve served as vice chairperson. Steve left Sydney in 2017 so did not renominate. Now settled back in Sydney, Steve re-joined the Board in May 2020. Steve is the devoted father of a daughter who attends primary school.
