OUR BOARD

Baringa is proud to be a not-for-profit, community organisation and registered charity.

Family, staff and community members make up our Incorporated Association. The organisation is governed by a skills-based, volunteer Board, with Board Members bringing a range of expertise to enhance early childhood education for the community.

Contact | Jillian Flinders | chair@baringa.org.au

+ JILLIAN FLINDERS | Chair

Jillian joined the Board in July 2020, and became the Chair in November 2021. She brings governance and legal experience.

Jillian has been a public servant for 16 years across a range of departments and is currently the Director of HR & Assurance, Ministerial Parliamentary Services.

She also has experience working with not-for-profit organisations including dealing with the National Quality Framework and broader regulations which apply to education. She has been the President of the Fraser Primary Before and After School Care Committee for six years and a General Member of the Fraser Primary P&C Committe.

She has three children, aged 15, 11 and 3, with her youngest son attending Baringa.

+ TINA CHAWNER | Deputy Chair

Tina joined the Board and became Deputy Chair in November 2021. She is the Managing Director of Yellow Hat Consulting.

For over 15 years, Tina has specialised in change management, strategic communication, and facilitating stakeholders to solve complex problems through codesign. This included working with many Boards and Executive teams, to design long-term strategies, their business plans, and the cultural values to support the communities they work within.

Tina has a Bachelor of Arts (Economics), Diploma in Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations. Her two children attended Baringa since they were babies, have since graduated and Tina continues to be actively involved in the strategic governance of the organisation.

+ SAUL ZHANG | Finance Director

Saul joined the Board as Finance Director in April 2022. He is a Senior Advisor at Proximity, a leading consulting firm for government and large organisations.

As a qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a master degree in Accounting, Saul has over 12 years experience in management consulting, audit, assurance and tax across public and private sectors.

Outside of office, Saul is supportive of contributing back to the community including in his volunteer roles with RSPCA and OzHarvest. Saul finds joy in his personal life, being a loving husband to Fei, a proud father to their newborn boy Zion who is currently attending Baringa.

+ JOHN MERCER | Secretary & Public Officer

John joined the Board in November 2018, became the Public Officer in February 2019 and Secretary from November 2022. He serves on the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee as well the People Development Committee in which he was part of the Board team that completed the new Enterprise Agreement with staff.

He brings a wealth of governance, business and commnunity experience, with over 30 years serving on local, national and international Boards, and a member of service clubs (Rotary, Apex and Round Table) for nearly 50 years.

John's career involved sales, marketing and general management positions in the United Kingdom and Middle East. He was a Management Consultant for a consulting company in Sydney, then established and managed a community-based Business Enterprise Centre for 15 years.

Prior to retirement, John was a resident consultant for a Saudi Arabian government agency in Riyadh for 9 years, where he advised and managed the development of a national business support infrastructure program.

John lives locally in Evatt with his wife, they have two adult sons and two grandchildren.

+ WENDY BROOKMAN | Board Member

Wendy Brookman, a proud Butchulla woman, from a long line of story storytellers. Her family is from the K'gari formally known as Fraser Island Qld. Her connection with Ngunnawal is being born and raised here and welcomed within community.

She is as a teacher at CIT Yurauna where she educates on Cultural awareness and has taught many of our Baringa educators studying their qualifications in early childhood education and community development.

Wendy absolutely loves and advocates for our Booris (babies). She joined the Board in November 2023, which she believes holds very strong family values she connects with.

+ BARB LIVESEY | Board Member

Barb joined the Board in November 2021. She is the Executive Director of GAPP Consulting Services.

Barb has been CEO of Reconciliation Australia where she introduced the Reconciliation Action Plan program that continues to grow. She is a former senior Commonwealth public servant with expertise in social policy, Indigenous Affairs and financial services, and has been Head of Government Relations, Australian Red Cross working across the Pacific and in Myanmar. Barb also worked in the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste mentoring local leaders and teams and gaining further insights into working cross-culturally.

Barb is an Associate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and held board positions with the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre and the Community Housing Forum of Australia.

In 2020, Barb supported the Board and Management to develop the new Baringa Strategic Plan. She was impresed with the commitment to delivering great outcomes for children and families. Barb was driven to nominate for the Board and was successfully elected.

+ CHRISTINE WHITE | Board Member

Christine joined the Board in November 2018. She has been the Director and Clinical Psychologist at Corinna Chambers Psychologists for 15 years.

With a background in nursing, midwifery and maternal and child health, Christine moved into mental health as a psychologist over 20 years ago. She has a strong interest in mental health starting with infants, young children and adults including family relationships.

Christine has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Psychology, Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology, Master of Applied Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. She is trained in evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness approach, Gottman Couple Therapy and attachment theory frameworks such as the Circle of Security.

Christine has four grandchildren living in the West Belconnen area and two grandchildren in Jannali, Sydney. She continues to provide a strong contribution to the social, emotional, and educational environment of the Baringa community.

+ ANNIE WILD | Board Member

Annie joined the Board in November 2021. She has been a passionate and committed Early Childhood Teacher for 21 years.

Annie has a Bachelor of Education (Primary) from Charles Sturt University and a Bachelor of Teaching (Earcly Childhood) from University of Wollongong.

She is currently working at an ACT Education Directorate School, and has been an Executive Teacher for many years, providing an in-depth understanding of the current early childhood education climate.

She believes in the importance of non-profit services and the close relationship of educators and families throughout children's early years.

Annie has been inolved in Baringa's Enterprise Agreement and her son has been attending the centre since he was a baby!