Governance

We are a not-profit, non-government organisation and operate under a board of directors.

Our Board

The members of our Board work with great passion and dedication to support The Zahra Foundation in achieving its mission.

  • Marie-Louise has held executive roles in Australia and overseas. Has headed up Government Policy, Healthcare, Industrial Relations, Not-for-Profit charities and listed companies.

    Her current role is Group CEO that operates: retirement, social housing & nursing homes, Residential and Commercial Property Management, a Benevolent Foundation and membership organisation.

    Marie-Louise has a lifelong commitment to learning; and holds qualifications in nursing, applied science, policy analysis, research, business and law. This commitment is the basis of her belief that education is a ‘game changer’ and was attracted to The Zahra Foundation to focus on what can empower those affected by domestic abuse to re-gain their sense of self and independence.

  • Hannah is a proud Kamilaroi woman with over a decade of experience working in domestic and family violence. Hannah is a Ph.D. candidate exploring the intersectionality’s of Coercive Control for First Nation woman. Passionate about transformative change, she engages in international and national arenas, believing in the profound impact on lives and policies.

    A skilled workshop facilitator, she fosters co-design and culturally safe consultations. Managing WISE Australia, Hannah traverses the nation and her work as the National Cultural Coordinator for 1800RESPECT reconnects her with her community. A beacon of strength, she tirelessly advocates for a safer, more equitable future.

  • Patrick joined the board in 2021. He was attracted to the Zahra foundation after having his eyes opened to scale of domestic violence and the severity of the impact on victims. He is driven by a desire to build a better world for his daughters.

    Patrick has had a diverse executive career across public, private and government institutions in a diverse range of sectors from manufacturing to consumer goods to education. He currently consults to a broad client base offering strategy and analytical services as well as filling short term executive roles.

  • Hugh joined Zahra’s board in late 2021 and was elected by his fellow directors as Deputy Chair in July 2022. Having supported a relative experiencing family violence following the end of her marriage and helping her deal with many forms of emotional and financial abuse over several years, he is passionate about Zahra’s goal of empowering women’s financial independence.

    Hugh has worked in the legal and finance sectors for over 25 years in Sydney, Hong Kong and New York. Following a career in law and investment banking, he now works in the impact investment sector, advising clients on opportunities that generate both financial returns and measurable benefits for society and the environment.

  • Genevieve has a background as a lawyer but has spent the majority of her career in the public sector working in legal, governance, risk, advisory and policy formulation. She currently works as a consultant for government clients in a policy, economics and public impact team. She also has an MBA and a GAICD.

    She sits on the Zahra Foundation Board as the family delegate and is deeply committed to ensuring the legacy of her mother in law Zahra through the Foundation's programs.

  • Sofi has built her career in service delivery across both public and private sectors, with a strong focus on improving customer experiences in complex multi-stakeholder environments. Sofi is an experienced leader in the social finance sector, having led contact centre teams across several different states.

    Sofi’s career experience includes executive roles at Suncorp, Wesfarmers and WorkCover SA, and she is currently a member of the WorkCover Tasmania Board. Previous board roles include the Self-insurers Association of South Australia and the not-for-profit arts organisation Cirkidz.

    In her board and committee roles for both the not for profit and government sectors she developed skills in governance, risk management, policy development, building strategic relationships and stakeholder management.

  • Lauren is a seasoned marketing executive, a business owner, and the Global Marketing Activation Manager at evo. Her experience in marketing and communications spans the corporate, nonprofit, and Government sectors, including three years at Facebook/ Meta, where she led a scaled marketing team. Prior to her time at Meta, Lauren ran her own brand marketing and copywriting agency, KIS Communications, crafting compelling brand stories, campaigns and content for global and national brands including JBL, Harman Kardon and Chandon Australia. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently sits on several not-for-profit Boards. Lauren enjoys giving back to the community and causes she is passionate about as a Non Executive Director. She also loves travelling both locally and abroad.

Our Team

The Zahra Foundation Financial Counsellors & Program Facilitators are accredited domestic abuse specialists, who are ‘trauma and violence-informed’ and work within a specialist domestic abuse and violence framework. The Zahra Foundation Specialist Financial Counsellors are qualified and are registered, accredited and audited by Financial Counselling Australia (FCA).

The volunteers at Zahra are an integral part of our team. With a myriad of expertise, our volunteers can be seen analysing our data, providing administrative support, facilitating groups, actively engaging in fundraising activities and being the face of The Zahra Foundation through reception and community activities. The wealth of diversity in our volunteers reflects the diversity of women accessing our programs. Volunteers working alongside our staff add a richness to our services that benefits our participants.

  • With a passion for social justice, women’s safety, and gendered equity, coupled with a history of shaking up systems and transforming services, Kelly-Ann has over 15 years of industry experience in Australia across practice, leadership, policy, advocacy, and systems reform. She brings a wealth of energy and vision to her role as CEO at Zahra Foundation Australia, where she collaborates with her board and team to support women and non-binary folks impacted by domestic abuse, aiming to break the cycle of violence through economic empowerment programs and services.

    Originally from the UK, Kelly-Ann has worked across government, private and not-for-profit sectors. She initially trained in Psychology in the UK and is currently studying her MBA in Social Impact at UNSW. A strong advocate for systems change and inclusive domestic abuse practice, Kelly-Ann has held numerous leadership roles across government committees, networks, and boards. Notably, she was appointed to the Queensland Women’s and Girls Safety and Justice Taskforce in 2021 by the Queensland’s Attorney-General, contributing significantly to recommendations around systems and law reform, including the criminalisation of coercive control.

    Kelly-Ann understands first-hand the complexities of responding to and preventing domestic abuse. She sees her role now as promoting, supporting, and advocating for the economic empowerment of women and young girls, as one of the solutions to end gendered violence and creating a more fair, equal and safe society for everyone.

Kelly-ann Tansley - Chief Executive Officer

Buffy Kerekes - National Head of Financial Counselling Services

Amanda Martin - National Head of Business Services

Shelly Jones - National Head of Programs

Rabia Aftab - Head of Specialist Practice

Steph - New South Wales Team Leader

Naomi - South Australia Wyatt Linker

Kayla - South Australia Team Leader for Programs

Pathways to Empowerment Team SA - Operates across South Australia metropolitan South, North, West Central and regional and remote SA

Pathways to Empowerment Team NSW - Operates across Newcastle and Hunter Region in New South Wales

Financial wellbeing team - Operates across South Australia and New South Wales

Grants Administration Team - Operates across South Australia & New South Wales

Thank you to our volunteers who collectively provide

114 hours per week

5480 hours over the year

Of invaluable support to our services and head office in Adelaide

Registrations

Zahra Foundation Australia is code compliant with Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA).

Zahra Foundation Australia is a registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Memberships

Australian Institute of Company Directors Member

Embolden SA Domestic and Family Violence Peak Body Member

South Australian Council of Social Services Member

SA Leaders Alumni

Committee for SA Member

South Australian Financial Counsellors Association Member

Adult Learning Australia Member

Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia proudly serves as a patron of our Foundation.