Julie Reilly, Chief Executive Officer

CEO Julie Reilly took up the role in January 2012. She joined the Australian Women Donors Network with a diverse history in Federal Government administration, major events management, television production and, most recently, media advocacy for Breast Cancer Network Australia. Julie has coordinated international OECD conferences for both Federal and State governments, won an Excellence Award for her work with the National Centre for Gender and Cultural Diversity at Swinburne University of Technology and advocated effectively in the media to ensure better outcomes for women personally affected by breast cancer. For nearly twenty years Julie has been a partner in the production of the Myer Spirit of Christmas CD, a highly successful initiative which has, to date, raised more than $6.4m for charities supporting disadvantaged children and youth. Julie has studied Philanthropy and Social Investment and is currently a Director of the Board of the Australian Childhood Foundation.

Eve Mahlab AO, Co-Founder and Chairwoman

Eve is the Co-Founder and Chairwoman of the Australian Women Donors Network. She is a former President of Philanthropy Australia, and her family is part of the Jewish Funders Network. Her past experiences include being a Solicitor (Family Law), a business owner (Mahlab Group), a public company director (Westpac) and a Non Profit board member (Walter and Eliza Hall). In 1988, she was awarded the Order of Australia (AO) for services to government, business and the community, especially women. In 1997 she accepted an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Monash University.

Jill Reichstein OAM, Co-founder

Jill has been Chair of the Reichstein Foundation since 1987, in which time she has been active in developing strategic partnerships and alliances towards growing progressive philanthropy as well as mentoring and resourcing new donors, seeking to clarify their own philanthropic direction. Jill is also on the board of the Pilotlight Australia, Trust for Young Australians, Melbourne HealthEthics Committee, Changemakers Australia and the Australian Environment Grantmakers Network.

Kristi Mansfield, Co-Deputy Chairwoman

Kristi is a philanthropy advisor and social investment advisor, and director of the Greenstone Group, which she established in 2005 with a vision to affect social change by growing giving in Australia. In 2008, she launched Australia’s first Social Investment Guide, and in 2010 has worked with Rio Tinto to produce Australia’s first Guide to Indigenous Philanthropy. In 2008, Kristi directed the Asia Pacific Breakthrough. She has a Graduate Diploma in Philanthropy & Social Investment, and she also sits on the board of the International Network of Grantmakers and and Footprints Steering Committee.

Janine Garner

Janine is the founder & director of the Little Black Dress Group and Founder & co-Director of brand strategy agency “Script Marketing”. A passionate advocate for women and female leaders in the workplace, Janine believes that significant cultural and corporate change is still needed to see the advancement of women in leadership positions. Her business, the Little Black Dress Group, is building a high quality and connected global community of like-minded, results focused women who are working collaboratively, sharing knowledge and business insight to help each other, themselves and the greater community. Janine’s expertise includes strategic brand and new business development, PR, events, media planning and buying, campaign development and implementation. Janine is an active speaker, presenter and mentor. Born in the UK, she holds a Bachelor of Science with an honours degree from Aston University, Birmingham, UK. She now lives in Sydney with her husband and three young children.

Steven Rothfield

Steven Rothfield is committed to social justice and, in addition to being a donor, has worked as a hands-on volunteer on philanthropic projects since his retirement as MD of Bryant and May (brands as Redheads & Wilkinson Sword). Working with Indigenous leaders in over 30 projects, he has recognised the significant role of women in community development, and several of these projects were to improve their economic and educational opportunities. He is currently on the Board of Jawun and the First Nations Foundation. With a Commerce degree, an MBA (Melbourne) and a CPA, his career includes general management, management consultancy, IT and finance.

Jan Cochrane-Harry

Jan has been involved in managing and promoting philanthropy, and as a donor for a number of years. This followed her early community development work as the leader of a beneficiary organisation in which she gained personal insights into the value and impact that well directed donor funds can have on a local community ~ particularly through the work of women. Jan was a Trustee of Philanthropy Australia for seven years and is currently Chair of the Margaret Lawrence Bequest and a Trustee of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. She is also a director of two commercial companies.

Carol Schwartz AM

Carol Schwartz is one of Australia’s leading business identities. She has held a formidable series of leadership roles in fields as varied as property, the arts, finance, government and health. Carol is a strong advocate for diversity in business and established the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia in 2010, a for purpose organization focused on promoting women’s leadership in Australia. Carol is also passionate about social change having founded the Trawalla Foundation with her husband Alan in 2006 - a Prescribed Private Fund that “invests” in the arts, ideas and innovation. Carol is the former Deputy Chair Australian Women Donors Network and was instrumental in helping establish the Network. As a BoardLinks champion, Carol knows the value of having the contribution of both women and men in senior leadership positions.

Mary Crooks AO

Mary has been Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust since November 1996. She has a background in tertiary teaching, public policy and the design and management of public processes that enable people to give voice and act on issues of concern within their communities. In her time at the Victorian Women’s Trust, she has designed and led several major policy and philanthropic initiatives including the development of the Trust’s anti-violence program Be the Hero! More recently, she researched and wrote A Gender Lens for Inclusive Philanthropy. In 2001, she was included in the first intake of women on to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. She has also received the Centenary Federation Medal for outstanding service to women.

Mary Hawkins

Mary is the current president of the International Women's Development Agency (IWDA). She has an extensive career in IT and Board experience in the not-for-profit sector, academia and government agencies. She has chaired a number of Boards and Finance and Audit committees and brings the dimension of IT Governance to these roles. She is passionate about creating opportunities for women and girls particularly in developing countries.

Carolyn Munckton

Carolyn Munckton is Philanthropy Development Manager with Equity Trustees, where she promotes the charitable trusts managed by the company and the fantastic work of grantee organisations. She is a director of the Inner North Community Foundation and is a passionate advocate for community philanthropy. Since 2000, Carolyn has also run a successful communications consultancy and more recently enjoyed working with several philanthropic organisations to tell their story. As a Board Member of the Women Donors Network for its first three years, Carolyn worked very hard behind the scenes to support the CEO and was proud to be part of the steering committee which got the inaugural research project to map the level of
Australian philanthropic investment in woman and girls off the ground.

Georgina Byron

The Australian Women Donors Network wishes to thank Georgina Byron for her contribution as Director of the Australian Women Donors Network Board. Georgina retired from the Board in November 2011 having provided invaluable input and support during the Board’s inaugural two year term.

Sam Meers

The Australian Women Donors Network wishes to thank Sam Meers for her contribution as Director of the Australian Women Donors Network Board. Sam retired from the Board in November 2011 having provided invaluable input and support during the Board’s inaugural two year term.

We thank Fleur Spitzer, Toni Joel, Kathryn Fagg, Candace Ohanessian and Joanna Crawford for their contribution to the early development of the Network.

We have also benefited from the support in Melbourne of Rene Nathan and in Sydney of Dr Gene Sherman, Imelda Roche AO and Wendy McCarthy AO.

We have a growing database of women in Sydney and Melbourne who are supportive of our objectives and goals. We welcome more interested women (and men) to join us and to get involved.

The Australian Women Donors Network is a company limited by guarantee (ABN 28 141 197 471).