Conference President Victor Tee today announced the Fresh Hope Communities Board appointments.
Conference Executive has responsibility for the appointment of the board Churches of Christ Community Care Board, which is trading as Fresh Hope Communities.
“Conference Executive has been progressing through a process of recruitment and appointment of a capability-based faith and values aligned Board to oversee Fresh Hope Communities. Of particular importance in this process was ensuring that the requisite capabilities for the oversight of governance of aged care (in line with the Royal Commission recommendations and increasing oversight in the sector by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission),” he said.
“Candidates were sought with capability and experience in not-for-profit oversight and governance, people and culture, finance, legal, regulatory compliance and aged care oversight. We are pleased to be able to now announce those appointments.”
As of 1 September 2022, the Fresh Hope Communities Board is:
Fresh Hope Communities Board terms are a mix of two-year and three-year appointments to ensure appropriate continuity and succession planning.
Victor said he welcomed the wide variety of insight, leadership and expertise the newly appointed board will bring to our organisation. “We believe their guidance will help us in our decision-making and will contribute to not just building on the legacy of Churches of Christ Community Care and churches of Christ NSW & ACT but also positioning Fresh Hope Communities for the future. Please join me in welcoming our Fresh Hope Communities Board.”
Raewyn Williams [Chair]
Raewyn is a current Member of the Community Care Investment Committee (since 2016) and the immediate past President of churches of Christ in NSW (2019-2020) and served on Conference Executive (2015-2020).
Raewyn is passionate about both governance and culture of Fresh Hope Communities, and has been a key driving force behind the governance focus and changes within churches of Christ in NSW and Fresh Hope Communities in her time as President of churches of Christ in NSW.
Raewyn holds over 27 years’ experience as an executive in the legal and finance sectors. She feels drawn to continue the important work of bedding down the next season of Fresh Hope Communities and remains connected to and excited by churches of Christ overall mission.
Raewyn holds a Bachelor of Economics (B. Ec.), Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Alana Cooper
Alana is currently the Nursing Access and Demand Manager at St George Hospital, Kogarah.
Alana is a member of Glow Church in the Sutherland Shire, and has attended and led in church congregations (including Churches of Christ) for many years. She is passionate about the role that the faith-based organisations can have in providing aged care that is dignified, compassionate and that reflects the heart of God for His people.
Alana brings over 15 years leadership experience (on top of 25 years of nursing experience) in Senior Health and Aged Care leadership roles to the Fresh Hope Communities Board. Alana has held roles as Director of Aged and Extended Care at both Sutherland and St George Hospitals.
Earlier in her career, Alana worked in Acute Aged Care as a Registered Nurse, a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nursing Unit Manager in acute and sub-acute aged care environments. This has included roles at Prince of Wales Hospital, St George Hospital, and a range of residential aged care services run by NSW Health.
Alana has a Graduate Diploma in Dementia Care, Masters in Health Services Management, a Graduate Certificate in Aged Care Nursing, a Bachelor of Nursing and a Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology.
Daniel Dwyer (Chief Executive Officer)
Daniel (“Dan”) commenced his employment with churches of Christ in NSW in 2016. In 2020 Dan was appointed the inaugural Chief Executive Officer over the Public Benevolent charitable activities of churches of Christ in NSW (undertaken by Churches of Christ Community Care, now Fresh Hope Communities).
Dan has held roles in the sectors of law, property investment and development, state and federal government, technology, welfare, emergency and disaster management and experience in not for profit and charitable organisations. He has held roles as Chief Executive Officer, General Counsel, Company Secretary, Executive Director, Director and General Manager in a range of government organisations, professional service firms and private corporations.
Dan has held various Board positions over the past 21 years. These have included serving as both Chairman and a Director of Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopters, Director of Network Kokoda, Board Member of Thrive Community Church Inc, Board Member of the National Council of the Urban Land Institute (Australia), Director of Australian College of Ministries (ACOM) as well as being a Director of Nightingale Communities Ltd (Nightingale Housing) and a Director of WelcomeMat.
Dan has a Master of Laws (International Business and Economics), a Masters of Emergency Management, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Information Technology (Data Comms).
Dan is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Fellow of Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA)
Daz Farrell (Executive Ministry Director)
Daz is the Executive Ministry Director of churches of Christ in NSW and ACT, providing spiritual and cultural leadership for the churches of Christ in NSW and ACT network.
Daz first commenced with churches of Christ in NSW and ACT in 2015, and was appointed to the role of Executive Ministry Director in December 2020.
Growing up as a ‘preachers kid’, at 27 Daz was brought from dark to light through an encounter with Jesus in Egypt.
Daz has worked in multiple environments from leadership in investment banking, on-camera acting and serving alongside Sydney’s most vulnerable members of society as a welfare worker. Over the last decade, Daz has served as an itinerant preacher and leader in local church and para church ministries, and planted a start-up café as a “third space” in 2014.
In addition to his responsibilities as Executive Ministry Director of churches of Christ in NSW and ACT, Daz is a Member of Conference Executive, Director of Australian College of Ministries (ACOM), Director of CCNA Nominees and a Director of the Council of Churches of Christ in Australia (CCCA).
Elaine Griffin
Elaine is currently an Executive Director of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, leading the Housing, Homelessness, Health, Disability and Inclusion divisions of St Vincent de Paul. Elaine has a passion for both aged care and human services and the role that faith based organisations have in this sector, and this has been demonstrated across her extensive career.
Prior to her current Executive Director role, Elaine has held positions including Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director in the aged care and human services sectors, and has an additional 15 years of executive and c suite leadership experience in the sector.
Underpinning this experience is an additional 20 years of People, Culture and Human Resources leadership experience in a range of human services and aged care organisations. These roles included General Manager HR, HR Director, Director People Learning and Culture.
Elaine holds a Bachelor of Combined Arts (Hons), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (MAHRI).
Chris Grover
Chris is a Member of St Matthews Anglican Church, West Pennant Hills, and has worked in faith-based organisations for over 19 years. He is a current Board Member and Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee for Wesley Mission Queensland.
Chris is retired from full-time employment and wishes to devote his energy and professional expertise supporting faith-based organisations to achieve their mission.
In addition to his Board experience, Chris brings extensive c-suite, executive leadership and strategic planning and implementation experience to Fresh Hope Communities.
From 2003 to 2021, Chris has held senior executive roles in aged care and community services organisations (including the largest community services organisation in NSW and ACT). These roles have included Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director Finance and Strategic Development.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), is a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA), and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Tracy Harding
Tracy is currently employed as General Manager with a Residential Aged Care Facility and Retirement Village. She has been a member of a Churches of Christ Church previously and has over 20 years’ experience in operations, program and project management in the social justice, health, welfare and community sectors.
Tracy has previously held General Management and Operational Management roles in a range of aged care and social welfare organisations. Her range of experience covers project management, pastoral care, home care and respite care.
Tracy has also held an associate pastor role with Padstow Anglican Church and has been involved in youth refuge services.
Tracy has a Masters of Business, Non-Profit and Social Enterprise Management, a Graduate Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Diploma in Project Management, Certificate IV in Front Line Management, a Bachelor of Social Welfare Work, a Bachelor of Theology and a Diploma of Ministry.
Kirryn Zerna
Kirryn is a former Fresh Hope Care Ministry Team Member (for the past 10 years) and has served on the Churches of Christ Community Care Board for the past 18 months.
Kirryn is a current elder of Northside Community Church, an affiliated churches of Christ in NSW & ACT church. She is passionate about the ministry of Christ as outworked through the services and care of the organisation and considers it a privilege to facilitate growth and a sustainable future as part of the organisation and its Board.
Kirryn is a keynote speaker and corporate facilitator, with a gifting in creating engaging and constructive corporate and leadership events through MC and Facilitation. In addition, Kirryn is also the author of The Stand Out Effect. Kirryn has over 15 years experience in corporate, stakeholder and team communications across a range of diverse sectors and businesses.
Kirryn holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Masters of Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
