Meet the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees of WA Charity Direct work within a range of professional industries and all donate their time and expertise.
For the Year 2024, the Trustees are:
Simon Birkhead
Chairperson
Simon has been a Trustee of WA Charity Direct since 2008 and is currently in the Chairperson role. Simon is passionate about helping people, whether it be the dream of home ownership, career progression or self-development.
Professionally, Simon is the General Manager of the Homebuyers Centre and has been with the ABN group for over 25 years. In 2014, Simon completed his coaching accreditation and currently coaches a number of ABN Group employees.
In his spare time Simon loves getting out of town and off grid camping with his wife, 3 daughters and fur baby Frankie the dachshund.
Brad Martyn
Giving Committee
Brad became a Trustee in 2018 after being a member for a number of years. Brad joined the Board as he had little more time on his hands and was keen to make a bigger contribution.
Brad believes in the philosophy of WA Charity Direct as it makes a real difference helping WA people in desperate need that would otherwise largely fall through the gaps of government and institutional assistance.
Brad initially became part of WACD as he believed in the 100% of what is donated by members being given directly to the recipients.
Andy Brown
Giving Committee
Andy is the Director of Real Estate Express, which is a one-on-one mobile service. He has been in real estate since 1986 and has been awarded top selling representative from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia many times.
Andy is one of the first members of WA Charity Direct and has been a Trustee since June 2008.
Andy loves the fact that WACD gives 100% to their recipients.
When he’s not busy selling houses you’ll find him busy with his other loves cars, kids and music.
Jeff Miller
Treasurer
Jeff is a finance professional with over 35 years’ experience, including over 30 years with the ABN Group (Property, Construction and Finance specialists turning over $1.2 billion per annum). His current role as CFO sees him responsible for all financial matters of the Group, supported by over 100 accounting and finance staff.
Jeff was also a founding Trustee of WA Charity Direct and has been Treasurer since the beginning. He joined WA Charity Direct because the support it provides is targeted directly to the specific requirements of those in need, and often unable to access funding from other sources.
Karron Johnson
Membership Committee
Karron has over 20 years’ experience in Accounting and Finance, the last 17 years with group roles at the ABN Group. She has maintained the financial records for WA Charity Direct throughout her time at ABN and has been a Trustee since 2017.
Karron became involved in WA Charity Direct because she could see the direct impact the assistance had on the lives of those less fortunate, in many cases where people were unable to access funding from any other source.Karron is not only on the Membership committee she also assists the treasurer in his role and is a very valued trustee.
Cheryl Key
Admin Co-Ordinator
Cheryl is a Contract Specialist with a strong commercial background providing value and cost saving initiatives for project and contract stakeholders. Cheryl is currently employed in the mining sector overseeing a portfolio of contracts worth $1.1B and has previously held roles in government, utilities, hospitality and small business both in WA and internationally.
Cheryl joined WA Charity Direct as an opportunity to give back to the WA community. In particular it was WA Charity Directs’ ongoing commitment to 100% giving that inspired her to join the Board in a voluntary capacity.
Sandra Ursino
Engagement Committee
Sandra is a HR professional with over 25 years working in Human Resources. Her strength is in establishing HR best practice processes and procedures in small to medium sized businesses.
Sandra was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2013 Australia Day Honours List for her volunteer work with Radio Lollipop. She is currently an active volunteer with Camp Quality WA and was appointed to the Board of Trustees for WA Charity Direct in July 2020.
Sandra enjoys spending her spare time with her 6 nieces and nephews.
Justin Manolikos
Vetting Committee
Justin is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and Governance Institute of Australia and has provided proactive small to medium business service advice for over 25 years. His expert advice comprises expert knowledge in strategic advice, taxation, accounting and superannuation. As well as being a trustee for WA Charity Direct he is also a Founding Director of Danny Green’s Coward Punch Foundation.
Justin joined WA Charity Direct to help other less fortunate than himself and loves that the charity is 100% giving, ie. No leakage to overheads.
Ron Dwyer
Vetting Committee
Ron joined WA Charity Direct 16 years ago as a Trustee and derives a great deal of satisfaction from the Charities great achievements in assisting people in desperate need.
Ron is a building industry professional, retired Managing Director of leading West Australian manufacturing company where he remains a Director and part owner.
Ron is a past National and State President of the Housing Industry Assoc and past chairperson of the Housing Industry Charitable Foundation.
Ron as two daughters and four grandchildren who absorb any free time he has.
Tina Williams
Giving Committee
Tina is the CEO at Volunteering WA. Tina holds numerous executive and leadership roles, including Convenor of the Minister for the Volunteering Community Reference Group, a member of the State Government’s Community Partnership Roundtable and Trustee of WA Charity Direct. Tina has proven experience in both the NFP and corporate sectors driving organisation and industry performance through people-focused leadership with a staunch commitment to continuous improvement, learning and development.
Tina holds degrees in finance, business and marketing from the University of Westminster, and is completing the Australian Institute of Management Western Australia MBA program. With a belief that there is a volunteer in all of us, Tina feels privileged to be in a position to help people realise their passions and purpose through volunteering and helping them and our communities to thrive.
John Goodall
Vetting Committee
John had a 30 year career in the rail industry with roles ranging through civil engineering, business development, train operations and culminated with a final four years as general manager of the above rail business in WA.
He ran is own consulting business for a further 12 years providing advice to government, port authorities and mining companies
John is a Member of Institution of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
He is also is a Life Member of the Railway Technical Society of Australasia.
Now retired, John has been a trustee for WA Charity Direct since 2018. He is a past Treasurer of the Kate Mullin Association.
In both organisations he is very committed to giving something back to the wider community.
Scott Stanley
Membership Committee
Scott is the Managing Director of Richmond Wealth Pty Ltd. He has been providing financial planning and investment advice to clients since 1993. Prior to forming Richmond Wealth, he was a Director and part owner of Alliance Investment & Retirement Services Pty Ltd (now Redwood).
He holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting & Finance and a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning (SIA). He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).
Scott Joined WA Charity Direct as a member over 10 years ago, being very attracted to the model of 100% Giving. His business is now a Corporate member of WA Charity Direct and Scott has served as a Trustee since 2012.
Scott is the driving force behind our new membership committee and welcomes the opportunity to speak to new potential members .
Simon Cherry
Vetting Committee
Simon is a Director of Termico Group.