Meet the Team
The Board
EDWARD PARKER
BBus, MBA, ACA
CHAIR
Edward's experience includes 30 years in finance and accounting roles across the spectrum of national and multinational organisations including KPMG and DXC (formally CSC). Edward is currently CFO for Industrie & Co and is responsible for financial strategy & governance, IT services, legal and company secretarial functions.
IAN ROSS
BBus, MCom, FAICD
NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ian has over 30 years’ experience in commercial operations management with a background in retail, fuel distribution, sports marketing and FMCG industries including petroleum, media, telco, and alcohol. He has widely diversified skills across industries and functions.
With 20 years’ of directorship experience in non-executive, executive and managing director roles serving on a number of Australian boards across a range of industries, including transport and distribution, convenience retailing and emergency response services
TARA lE FRIEDMAN
BSc, BEng (Chemical), MBA (Exec), MAICD
NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tara has over 23 years of experience in the oil, energy, and financial services sectors. She has held numerous senior executive roles across strategy, transformation, and business operations. Her skills include strategy development and organisation design, productivity / cost optimisation, operational risk management, strategic investments, organisational change management, and vendor/partner management. Tara’s expertise is in leading strategic development and delivery of large-scale business and technology transformation. Tara is currently the Transformation Director for QBE and is responsible for leading their digital transformation for AUSPAC. Tara is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and supporting new migrants build a better future.
NATHAN ALEXANDER
BEcon, MPP, GAICD
NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Nathan is a senior public affairs professional with extensive experience leading teams in media, policy development, stakeholder management, and government relations. He currently leads the media and government function of Landcom, the NSW Government property development agency.
He is enthusiastic and passionate about improving outcomes for the community he grew up in - Fairfield, and an advocate for the transformative effect education can have on people's lives.
MARTIN LIANG
BCom/BEc, CA, AAICD
NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Martin is a Chartered Accountant and experienced finance professional across Consulting, Banking and Manufacturing. Currently Martin is the Chief Financial Officer of Essence Group, an Australian owned full service contract manufacturer.
Having migrated to Australia two decades ago with his family, and utilised services similar to CFS, Martin is driven to contribute to the community, focusing on fostering diversity and promoting social inclusion.
JULIE LANGSWORTH
NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Julie has had many years at the executive level, currently at NSW Parliament as the Executive Director, Parliamentary Services, providing a range of services including Education, Engagement, Communications, Library, Research, Hansard and Catering.
Julie has had a diversity of roles at the Parliament, including managing various Legislative Council parliamentary committees and procedure office, as well as the human resources department. She has worked with the parliaments of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville as part of the NSW Parliament’s Twinning arrangements. Julie has previously worked in both the non-government sector and academia.
Senior Management
PROFESSOR PANDORA PATTERSON
BSocSci, Hons (Class 1), PhD (Psychology), MAPS, MAICD
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Pandora is a senior executive driven by social justice values with over 30 years of experience across the not-for-profit, government, and academic sectors. She has a Ph.D. in psychology and is a registered psychologist. Pandora holds an adjunct Associate Professor position with the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, was a Visiting Professor with the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University in the UK, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Pandora worked in youth and disability before spending 7 years with the Infant, Child, Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS) at South Western Sydney Local Health District. More recently Pandora was Executive General Manager, Research, Policy, and Patient Programs at Canteen where she provided national and international leadership in the area of young people impacted by cancer.
Pandora has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles largely focussed on the health and well-being of young people and has over 300 national and international conference presentations. She is a recipient of the Australian Scholarship Foundation and McKinsey and Company Executive Leadership Program Scholarship (2021) and the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Program Scholarship (2022) funded by the Federal Government.
USHA RAO
CertIVFrontlnMgt, BCom, MHRM
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Usha is very passionate about creating a safe environment for children and is a strong advocate of enhancing opportunities for newly arrived migrants and refugees through education and employment opportunities. Having experienced first-hand the empowering support of Community First Step when she arrived with her family as a new migrant from India, Usha commenced working in the not-for-profit sector following a background in people and culture, including holding a master's in Human Resource Management.
Now with over 20 years experience in this sector, many of those in senior management including the Acting CEO role, Usha values creating opportunities for others to be empowered and takes great pride in working with culturally diverse communities.
LILY ROBERTS
BA (Journalism & Law), MSA
EXECUTIVE MANAGER, PEOPLE & CULTURE
Lily brings over 30 years in the not-for-profit and education sectors and 10 years of consulting in corporate and community sectors on community engagement, policies and employment lifecycles to her role as Executive Manager of People & Culture at Community First Step (CFS).
Her professional experiences are underpinned by a BA in Communications (majoring in journalism and law) and a Masters in Social Administration / Policy. She credits her undergraduate for influencing her decision to uphold equity, social justice, inclusion, diversity in all its forms, empowerment, and procedural fairness as a professional; and for crystalising the principles she has actively pursued as a woman who is from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. Her commitment to these values and to the principles of ‘best practice’ were enhanced by her post-graduate in Social Administration / Policy and through studying for a Diploma in Counselling.
Lily cites her leadership at the longest operating Childrens Contact Centre in NSW (in Harris Park) and the establishment of four Children’s Contact Centres in Lismore, Coffs Harbor, Dubbo and Orange as highlights in her career. These services provided the foundation of the client-focused, person-centred, best-practice values and principles that Lily now brings to CFS.
Her role at CFS brings Lily full circle, back to the community sector where she started out. She is both humbled and thrilled to be working alongside colleagues, students and volunteers who all seek to help create opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse children, young people, individuals and families in Southwest Sydney.
LISA MASTORAS
CertPM, DipEMM, BFA
EXECUTIVE MANAGER, FUNDRAISING AND PARTNERSHIPS
Lisa is passionate about creating impact, utilising innovation to drive fundraising and likes to think outside the box.
Lisa has over 25 years’ experience in the NFP sector representing Australian charities such as WWF, Amnesty International and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Creating strategies to deliver revenue through fundraising programs that spark the interest of the community and businesses to take action.
With roots in South West Sydney, Lisa is driven to contribute to the future growth of Community First Step.
MARILENE FERNANDES
BBA, MSc
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Born in Australia to Portuguese parents, Marilene moved to France at a very young age, where she was raised and received her education, before returning to Australia in 2017. Marilene holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, specialising in Marketing and Management, and pursued her studies with an MSc in Management, Production, and Promotion of Audiovisual Medias.
Marilene has a rich background in film industry marketing, including roles at the Dendy/Icon Group. A pivotal shift then led her to the childcare sector. Fuelled by a passion to support parents in their journey and create nurturing environments for children, she continued her professional journey at Montessori Academy. With her own experiences of migration and a linguistically and culturally diverse background, Marilene is driven by Community First Step's mission to empower diverse communities in South Western Sydney.
Bringing expertise in managing successful marketing campaigns and creating impactful content, Marilene is dedicated to increasing awareness of the invaluable work CFS does in creating opportunities for the vibrant community it serves.
ANN MUNAR
DipEd (Early Childhood), Access to Nursing Certificate
MANAGER, CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Ann is the Children's Services Manager and brings a skillset of over 20 years experience to the early childhood services at Community First Step. Prior to entering the sector, Ann completed her Access to Nursing certificate and worked with The Multiple Sclerosis Society for almost 3 years.
In 2001 Ann completed her Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Within the next 6 years, Ann progressed in her roles to the Centre coordinator and nominated supervisor, creating safe environments for children aged 0-5 years.
Ann joined Community First Step in 2007, where she entered the school-aged sector as a Centre coordinator. Her commitment and passion for professional growth then led her to become the Area OSHC Coordinator before finally taking on the role of Children's Services manager. Ann's passion continued to drive her in leading and being a role model for educators in Children's Services, building trusting relationships. She encourages each educator in their professional growth and ensures they feel valued and appreciated.
Ann has a strong commitment to the children, their families, and the community to establish an environment that allows children to learn, grow, be safe, and gather the skills and acquire the abilities that they need for future success. Ann aims to provide continual improvement to services to ensure families get the best outcome from the services we provide.
MONIKA TRACEY
BA Psych
HEAD OF DISABILITY SERVICES
Monika brings 20 years of invaluable experience in the Disability Sector to Community First Step. She has worked across not-for-profits, small businesses, and government agencies such as the National Disability Insurance Agency. Her dedication to advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities is fuelled by an unwavering commitment to ensuring equitable opportunities for them to lead fulfilling lives.
With a proven track record of mentoring staff into leadership positions, Monika is deeply committed to nurturing growth and development within CFS.
Originally from Poland, Monika migrated to Australia three decades ago with her family and settled in Western Sydney. This background affords her a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by culturally and linguistically diverse communities.