Our people are the heart and soul of the Foundation.
The Foundation’s governance and operational roles comprise the following:
The Foundation Board consists of 10 volunteer directors who bring experience, skills, networks and a commitment to the region. Terms are fixed and public applications are invited when vacancies arise.
Board Associates are appointed to observe board meetings and contribute to, and build engagement with, their diverse networks. Recruitment generally occurs each November, with Associates commencing the following January.
Board
Carolyn Phiddian
Chair
Carolyn is a broadband industry strategist focused on the development of a vibrant digital economy and reducing the digital divide. Particularly she feels there is a need for broad community access to and understanding of technology and for people to have control of their data privacy and security. She is a long-term resident of the Inner North of Melbourne.
Carolyn is a global expert in the creation and operation of nationwide telecommunications networks. Carolyn has over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry in Australia and internationally.
Carolyn has a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Electrical and Electronic engineering from the University of Melbourne and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Michael Howard
Director
Michael is a commercial lawyer with particular experience in governance, education and construction. He is a volunteer lawyer with Fitzroy Legal Service’s Night Service, a past Director of the Allan T Marriott Foundation and a past Secretary of Filmoteca, Melbourne’s Spanish and Latin American film association.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.
Eamonn Fennessy
Director
Eamonn has over 27 years’ experience leading diverse portfolios in the local and state government sectors.
He is currently Director Community at Moreland City Council, responsible for providing high quality community focused programs and services for early years, youth, family, and older people and wellbeing outcomes for recreation, health, education, cultural vibrancy, safety, social cohesion, community engagement, communications, and customer experience.
Eamonn has a background in landscape architecture and significant expertise in community engagement and strategy. He has previously held executive leadership roles with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, working with communities from the inner north through the pandemic, and prior to that with the City of Melbourne. Eamonn is passionate about community, place and social justice and the provision of high quality and inclusive community services and programs that build creative, healthy, caring and inclusive places for people of all cultures, religions, ages and abilities to thrive.
Eamonn and his family have lived in Darebin for 20 years.
Philippa Day
Director
Philippa’s professional experience spans the corporate, government, not-for-profit and education sectors, in Australia and overseas. Her skills include community & government engagement, partnership brokering, communications & marketing, project management and people leadership. She managed a large volunteer workforce for Red Cross Victoria and worked as a fundraiser for UNICEF NZ. She is currently Manager Stakeholder Engagement for Sustainability Victoria.
Between 2016-2021 Philippa served on Merri-bek Council’s Reconciliation and Human Rights Advisory Committees. She also co-founded the grassroots Moreland Reconciliation Initiative (now Merri-bek Allyship Network). Philippa has been Chair of Reynard Street Neighbourhood House since 2019. She has volunteered with a wide range of not-for-profits over the years, and been a respite foster carer since 2020.
Philippa holds a Master of Arts (Hons) in English Literature and Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing. She won a Victorian Government Women’s Board Leadership Program Scholarship in 2021, and has completed the AICD’s Foundations of Directorship and Governance Foundations for Not-For-Profit Directors courses.
Nic Vogelpoel
Director
Nic Vogelpoel is a consultant specialising in the design, implementation, and evaluation of complex programs and partnerships. Over the past 15 years, he has held strategic appointments focused on engagement with leading government agencies and philanthropic foundations; senior management and operational positions focused on scaling and implementing programs in complex settings; and developing impact measurement and management systems for assessing success.
He is a past Director of Amnesty International UK, and Engage in the Visual Arts (UK). He is the Chair of Arts Access Victoria, the peak body for arts and disability in Victoria. Nic holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Public Health).
Rachel English
Deputy Chair
Rachel English has worked on many sides of the social sector, in fundraising, service delivery and granting. She is currently a philanthropic advisor at Mutual Trust, assisting families with their giving and strategies. Rachel is also a Director of the English Family Foundation which focuses on driving transformational change through partnerships with early stage social enterprises.
Making philanthropy more accessible and appealing is a key interest of Rachel’s. To this end, she is co-chair of NEXUS Australia, a global network uniting young investors, social entrepreneurs and philanthropists to accelerate change; and is a committee member for the Australian International Development Network (AIDN) to encourage more and better International development. She is a Moreland local and joined the Inner North Community Foundation board in 2020.
Craig Kenny
Director
Craig works as an independent consultant offering a broad range of professional services to government and the not for profit sector. He has previously held senior executive roles for more than twenty years in complex and demanding local government environments, including the Inner North.
Craig has significant experience in community engagement, policy, planning, program management, corporate services and implementation of major social infrastructure projects. He has very strong networks within the inner north community and a keen understanding of community dynamics. Craig and his family established the Terry B Kenny Named Fund with the Inner North Community Foundation in honour of his brother who passed away in 2006.
Jo Barraket AM
Director
Jo is the Professor of Policy Studies and Director of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the University of Melbourne. Jo is Australia’s leading researcher of social enterprise and a regular advisor to governments, for purpose organisations and bodies such as the OECD on policy and practice issues related to social innovation, social impact and the social economy.
She is passionate about community-led approaches to social change. Jo has substantial governance experience in for purpose organisations, including being a current director of the Westpac Foundation.
Hiruni Peiris
Director
Hiruni is the owner of Northcote Bakeshop, with a passion for sustainable business. She is known for her work on the Wangim project (reducing coffee cups going to landfill), participating in many sustainability events, mentoring students in sustainability projects and establishing the Darebin Zero Waste Business Facebook Group.
Hiruni has also mentored and partnered with businesses and established an online Darebin Traders Association with 100+ members. As a representative of this Association, Hiruni has advocated to politicians, Council, made meaningful connections and been a conduit of information.
Hiruni’s initiative for progressing positive change and responding to global crises through positive local actions that support and grow local community and business. Her own business donates their end of day bread and baked products regularly to local social enterprises.
Hiruni and her family live in Darebin, and she joined as a Director of the Foundation in 2021
Kevin Breen
Director
Kevin is a well credentialled company director with nearly 30 years experience across a range of sectors. He has acted as a director on various IntoWork Australia boards since 2000 including chairing several subsidiaries within the IntoWork Group.
Kevin was instrumental in establishing the Inner North Community Foundation and was a founding director and later chair of the Foundation. In his substantive career, Kevin was a senior executive in local government whose responsibilities encompassed corporate governance, corporate planning, regional economic development, community services, land use planning, major projects and intergovernmental relations.
Kevin also acted as a sessional panel member on Planning Panels Victoria, a State Government body providing independent advice on major local and State-wide land use planning matters. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Staff
The Foundation employs staff with experience in philanthropy and place-based community development, and deep Northside connections .
Ben Rodgers
Executive Officer
Ben has worked for the Foundation since 2015, and has worked for not-for-profit groups in Melbourne and overseas for over 15 years. He is also Chair of Community Foundations Australia, the peak body of community foundations in Australia.
Having lived in the Inner North for most of his life, Ben is motivated by the area’s tradition of local people responding to local challenges in meaningful ways. He is passionate about equality, social justice and ensuring everyone has access to opportunity and choice in their lives.
Ben loves living in Coburg, where he can be found on his bike or at a local park with his young family.
Contact Ben via email: [email protected]
Bianca Maciel Pizzorno
Grants Manager
Bianca came to the foundation with commercial and not‑for‑profit experience from the legal, political, and philanthropy sectors. She has particular experience with political campaigning and advisory.Bianca is passionate about empowering community in the inner north to respond to both local and global challenges, through sustainable community driven projects. Her ultimate goal is to collaborate with you to build a better inner north, and hopefully a better world.
Bianca lives with her family in Preston, where her children attend school. When she’s not working, you are likely to find Bianca gardening with her children or supporting her children with their various sporting activities.
Contact Bianca via email: [email protected]