Our Board
Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors.
"Today we are a stronger Good Shepherd community, meeting new challenges and fulfilling our purpose to disrupt cycles of disadvantage for women and girls." Chair
Alison McClelland AM, Chair
In June 2017, Alison was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through contributions to the development, monitoring and analysis of social policy, and to education.
Alison's working life has included senior positions in governments (both state and Commonwealth), academia and the community sector. She has also participated in numerous government advisory committees. She says: My commitment to the mission and work of Good Shepherd stems from a life time of work and commitment to acting against poverty and inequality. I also value the way that Good Shepherd combines practical help with research and policy to develop ideas about how to change society for the better. Good Shepherd’s mission and combination of research and action make it a very special organisation. Alison is also Vice President of the Australian Social Policy Association, a member of the Australian Gambling Research Centre’s Expert Advisory Group, Life Member of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and is on the Program Committee of Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA Victoria). She has a Centenary Medal for her contribution to social policy and social research in Australia and is a Victorian Fellow of IPAA Victoria. She was invited as the Australian representative to the United Nation's Meeting of Experts on Social Services for Underserved Populations, Bangkok in 1998 and was awarded the Centenary Medal for her contribution to social policy and social research in Australia.
Frank O'Connor
Frank has long been committed to community and social justice issues, personally and professionally. He says: My wife and I have been involved in out-of-home care for children over the past 35 years and it has been such an enriching experience. Over the years Frank has contributed his skills to a range of community services organisations. He joined the Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand Board in 2011 to continue this commitment and contribute to Good Shepherd's work. He brings extensive experience from his career as the General Manager of Corporate Services in a financial services and insurance company. Trained as a mathematician, Frank is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He served two terms as Mayor of the City of Port Phillip and was previously Mayor of the former City of South Melbourne. He is currently Chair of Port Phillip Housing Association Ltd, Chair of Napier Street Aged Care Services and a Director of Inner South Community Health Ltd.
Justin Lachal
Justin has over 20 years' experience in accounting and finance, including working for KPMG and the ANZ Banking Group. He says: Working in the private sector and volunteering in the not-for-profit sector brings benefits. Collectively, these experiences enable me to navigate the continually changing environment that not-for-profit organisations experience. Justin has achieved levels of mastery in different areas of accounting, finance and governance. He is a fellow of the Chartered Accountants and has completed an MBA at Melbourne Business School. Justin is, or has been, a finance committee member on a number of not-for-profit groups including the School of Optometry and LaTrobe Accounting School. He also served as treasurer in a voluntary capacity for a number of not-for-profits. Justin is currently a finance business partner for relationship banking at the ANZ Banking Group. When he's not at work, Justin spends time at home with his three sons and dabbles at the piano.
John Hutchings
John has been a board member of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand for the past six years and was Chair from 2009-14. He says: One aspect of the parable of the Good Samaritan is life affirming: helping others enriches the helper! That is the work we do as mission partners with Good Shepherd. John was also a board member of Good Shepherd Aged Services for over 10 years. He is chairman of partners at Cornwall Stodart and is sought after for his business acumen, strategic insights and lateral thinking. His particular expertise lies in mergers and acquisitions, corporate advice, general commercial documentation and laterally inspired resolutions to disputes. John has played a significant role in shaping Cornwall Stodart’s culture and encouraging its growth, having been with the firm for 40 years. John is a director of ALFA International, a global legal network of which Cornwall Stodart is the Melbourne representative.
Caroline Buchanan
Caroline is an outspoken advocate and fights for the rights of vulnerable children, women and girls. She says: I've had a life-long commitment to social justice and began my connection with Good Shepherd in 2011 when I first became a foster carer. Caroline joined the Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand Board in February 2013 and in 2014 joined Cara Inc., which provides accommodation, care and support for young people involved with the child protection system. She has a corporate background and is an engineer by profession. Caroline has worked on business cases for many large commercial ventures in Australia and abroad in a strategic and logistics capacity.
Michael Raper
Michael is passionate about reducing poverty and inequality and achieving better outcomes for people and communities experiencing disadvantage. He is also passionate about working with organisations that work directly with the community. Michael has always worked to deliver practical programs and evidenced-based advocacy to achieve these ends. He says: It is this combination in the work of Good Shepherd that attracts me to serve on the Board. My aunt joined the Good Shepherd Sisters in Abbotsford when I was six months old and I have been a witness to the Good Shepherd mission all over the world ever since. Michael currently works for ACOSS, chairs the board of the Welfare Rights Centre in Sydney, sits on the board of Community 21 and joined the Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand Board in December 2016. Prior to that Michael was Director of Australian Services and International Operations at Australian Red Cross with responsibility for the design, implementation and evaluation of all services and programs in Australia and internationally. He has had extensive board experience as President/Chair of ACOSS, the International Council on Social Welfare, the Mandela Foundation of Australia, The National Welfare Rights Network and the Independent Teachers Federation of Australia. He has qualifications in arts, education and law and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Marilyn Webster
Marilyn has 40 years of experience in social work, research and policy across a number of organisations including the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, and the Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service. She says: Being part of Good Shepherd is an opportunity to support the expression of a unique mission of practical and responsive services with highly regarded research and advocacy on issues of justice impacting the lives of women and girls. Marilyn joined the Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand Board in December 2016. Marilyn has governance experience in a number of organisations including International Social Service and the National Council for Single Mothers and Their Children. She was a Panel Member on the Review of Inter-Country Adoption conducted by Mr Justice Fogarty of the Family and Children’s Services Council and she has participated in numerous International Council and Regional Meetings for International Social Service (ISS) in Geneva and other ISS locations. She is a retired Member of the Australian Association of Social Workers and the Institute of Public Administration.
Chris Gallaher
Chris Gallaher , B Comm, CA, MAID, is currently a director of the GSNZ Trust and GSNZ Limited and joined the Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand Board in February 2017. He is the recently retired Group Chief Financial Officer of Fulton Hogan Ltd, a large Australasian civil contracting and construction materials company; a position that he held for the last eight years. Prior to joining Fulton Hogan, Chris has held CEO and CFO roles in both listed and private companies both Australia and New Zealand. A Chartered Accountant and graduate of Otago University; Chris commenced his career in public practice with ArthurYoung achieving partner status before taking up a career in the corporate sector. 
Kathy Chapman
Kathy joined the Board in October 2018. Kathy was recently the Interim CEO of the NSW Council of Social Services, the peak body for social and community services in NSW, focused on making positive change for communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage. She says: Being on the Board of Good Shepherd is part of my personal commitment to work on social justice issues, and make meaningful change for those experiencing disadvantage and poverty in the community. My work experience has been primarily in “for purpose” organisations and focused on addressing health issues. I’m excited to be part of Good Shepherd that plays both a role in providing practical support services for women and families, as well as focusing on where systems need to change to transform the lives of women experiencing disadvantage. Kathy is a public health expert with experience across policy, government relations, research, and delivering community based programs. She previously was a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Cancer Council NSW and led their prevention campaigns, support services for people affected by cancer, and advocacy campaigns. She has honorary appointments with the University of Sydney and University of Newcastle, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Anne Cherry
Anne began her involvement with Good Shepherd in 2015 serving on the Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand Board (NSW) and the Program Delivery Committee. Anne has over 20 years’ experience in senior communications and corporate affairs roles across banking and financial services, IT and mining and resources where she has specialised in the delivery of corporate social responsibility programs, sponsorship, grant making and foundations. Anne has a passion to connect commercial entities to the not-for-profit sector to deliver improved social outcomes, especially for young women. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW and an MBA from RMIT and has previously served on the Western Sydney Business Connection (WSBC) Board. Anne has also been a member of the fundraising committee for St Francis Social Services.
