Charitable Foundation board
Our Foundation Board
Catherine Robson (Chair)
BA, LLB (Hons), Grad Dip (Applied Finance), LLM (Tax), GAICD
Catherine has more than 20 years’ experience in finance and investment, including at Macquarie Bank and NAB, and also more than a decade of experience in the philanthropy sector serving on numerous boards and committees including the Cancer Council, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and WIRE.
Donna-Maree Vinci
GAICD, FGIA, GCB.D, MACS (SNR)
Donna currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of NGM Group, Hunter Water Corporation, Capricorn Society and Western Sydney Airport. Additionally, Donna currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board and on governance committees of several charitable organisations, such as MS Plus, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Parramatta Catholic Diocese, Tony McCollough Foundation and Oakhill College.
Emma Brokate
Emma is Greater Bank’s Chief Distribution Officer, joining the organisation in 2017 in the role of Chief Operations Officer. With over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry, Emma commenced her career with Newcastle Permanent before relocating to London with the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Upon returning to Australia, Emma held a number of senior leadership and transformational roles across Institutional and Corporate Banking at NAB with a strong focus on business optimisation.
Paul Juergens
MBA
Paul is Newcastle Permanent’s Chief Distribution Officer, joining in 2019 and has spent over 30 years in the finance industry. Paul has held senior leadership positions at major banks and smaller finance institutions, including NAB, ANZ and St George. Paul is also an ambassador for Northern New South Wales Football (NNSWF) and has had the privilege of coaching in the local Premier League Soccer Competition over the last 12 years.
Natasha Beyersdorf
BA Communications
Natasha is a prominent media professional with nearly 30 years’ experience as a television news presenter, producer and journalist. She is currently the NBN News weeknight news presenter, a patron of Firstchance Early Intervention Service, a Committee member of Hunter Children’s Research Foundation and a member of the Fundraising Committee for Autism Spectrum Australia. Natasha has also been involved in fundraising for ASPECT Hunter School and other local charities.
Jane Gray
BA Communications, MBA, GAICD
Jane is a non-executive director on Boards including University of Newcastle Students Association, Rural and Remote Medical Services Ltd and Rigpa Fellowship. She worked for 25 years in the NSW public health system as a senior executive. Jane is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts (Communication).
Community Advisors
Chad Watson
BA Communication
Chad is a former editor of the Newcastle Herald and is now head of publishing for Australian Community Media’s network of newspapers. He also holds various community leadership roles including as a board member of the Got Your Back Sista, Newcastle Football and the Joy Cummings Centre Reserve and has served on Mindframe’s national group advising on the media portrayal of suicide and mental illness.
Ashley Gordon
BA Education, Dip Counselling
Ashley is the Managing Director of NSW Aboriginal Safe Gambling Services and a Board Member of Yarnteen. He runs his own Driver Licensing Access Services entity, which provides programs to people experiencing disadvantage and has previously run a personal consultancy service involving indigenous community consultation, leadership, education, research and advice. He has also been involved in organisations including Life Without Barriers, Life Activities, LeapFrog Ability and Yamuloong Association Inc.