Meet our leadership team
We are proud to be powered by a talented team spread across Australia, from the cities into the heart of rural, regional, and remote communities.
At our core, we believe in putting our money where our mouth is by creating meaningful opportunities for those living in less accessible areas. Our diverse and dedicated staff embody the spirit of our mission, driving impactful change and bringing valuable perspectives to every corner of our nation.
Meet our Executive team
Chief Executive | Staff
Matt Linnegar
ACT | Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
As the Chief Executive, I work with the board, our fantastic team, alumni…
Director | Leadership Innovation | Staff
Andrea Hogg
ACT | Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
The learning team is responsible for the design and delivery of leadership development…
Director | Impact | Staff
Jorunn Lorenzen
QLD | Darumbal Country
I hope that my work contributes to bringing opportunities to people in rural…
Capability and Services | Director | Staff
Nelum (Nel) De Silva
NSW
As the Director of Finance at ARLF, I produce budgets, financial reports and…
Director | Engagement | Staff
Philippa Woodhill
QLD | Meanjin Country
I drive the breadth and depth of the partnerships and collaborations the ARLF…
Community of Practice | Corporate Services | Director | Staff
Lockie McDonald
WA | Wadjuc, Noongar Country
The corporate function acts as the “master of ceremonies” for the end-to-end business…
Board Chairs
-
Rgt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC
1992-1993 -
Mr John Allwright AO
1993-1994 -
Mr Bruce Gowrie Smith
1994 -
Mr David Asimus AO
1994-1999 -
Mr Robert Ferguson
1999-2000 -
Mr David Crombie AM
2000-2008 -
Prof Peter Shergold AC
2008-2010 -
Dr Wendy Craik AM
2010-2016 -
Mike Caroll
2016 -2022 -
Rick Sawers
2022 - current
Chief Executives/ Executive Directors
-
Mr Mike Beckingham
1992-2001 -
Mr John Quantrill
2001-2004 -
Dr Steve Clark
2004-2006 -
Mr Steve Marshall
2006-2007 -
Ms Lisa Wilson
2006-2007 -
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick
2007-2014 -
Matt Linnegar
2014 -current
Meet our Leadership Innovation team
Director | Leadership Innovation | Staff
Andrea Hogg
ACT | Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
The learning team is responsible for the design and delivery of leadership development…
Leadership Innovation | Staff
Julia Strang
NSW | Wiradjuri Country
I love that my role supports an increased connection between our amazing 2000+…
Leadership Innovation | Staff
Vivienne Johnson
QLD | Meanjin Country
In my role, I have the pleasure of inviting people who share our…
Leadership Innovation | Staff
Tristan Richmond
ACT
In my role I draw upon my passion for education and collaboration to…
Leadership Innovation | Staff
Melissa Neal
VIC | Wurundjeri and Dja Dja Wurrung Country
As part of the Learning Team, we design and deliver leadership development programs…
Leadership Innovation | Staff
Andrew Bryant
QLD | Butchulla Country
My contribution to the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s vision is in developing and…
Leadership Innovation | Staff
Annette Simpson
QLD | Yuggera and Yugambeh Country
I am an Aboriginal woman born and raised in Magandjin (Brisbane) with cultural…
Leadership Innovation | Staff
Simone Carroll-Germech
NSW | Yuin Country
My role in the organisation is to help achieve its vision by designing…
Board Chairs
-
Rgt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC
1992-1993 -
Mr John Allwright AO
1993-1994 -
Mr Bruce Gowrie Smith
1994 -
Mr David Asimus AO
1994-1999 -
Mr Robert Ferguson
1999-2000 -
Mr David Crombie AM
2000-2008 -
Prof Peter Shergold AC
2008-2010 -
Dr Wendy Craik AM
2010-2016 -
Mike Caroll
2016 -2022 -
Rick Sawers
2022 - current
Chief Executives/ Executive Directors
-
Mr Mike Beckingham
1992-2001 -
Mr John Quantrill
2001-2004 -
Dr Steve Clark
2004-2006 -
Mr Steve Marshall
2006-2007 -
Ms Lisa Wilson
2006-2007 -
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick
2007-2014 -
Matt Linnegar
2014 -current
Meet our Impact team
Director | Impact | Staff
Jorunn Lorenzen
QLD | Darumbal Country
I hope that my work contributes to bringing opportunities to people in rural…
Impact | Staff
Emma Bennetts
NSW | Yuin Country
I create visual communications to engage with our online community and share what…
Impact | Staff
Zelda Chambers
NSW | Yitha Yitha Country
My role at the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation is like a mixed bags…
Impact | Staff
Gemma Rostron
NSW | Kombumerri Country
Through my work in community engagement and connection within the Australian Rural Leadership…
Impact | Staff
Dr Werner Vogels
VIC | Bangerang Country
The ARLF has a vision of thriving rural, regional and remote communities and…
Impact | Staff
Fiona Humphris
ACT | Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
I ensure we capture and then analyse the right data to assist in…
Board Chairs
-
Rgt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC
1992-1993 -
Mr John Allwright AO
1993-1994 -
Mr Bruce Gowrie Smith
1994 -
Mr David Asimus AO
1994-1999 -
Mr Robert Ferguson
1999-2000 -
Mr David Crombie AM
2000-2008 -
Prof Peter Shergold AC
2008-2010 -
Dr Wendy Craik AM
2010-2016 -
Mike Caroll
2016 -2022 -
Rick Sawers
2022 - current
Chief Executives/ Executive Directors
-
Mr Mike Beckingham
1992-2001 -
Mr John Quantrill
2001-2004 -
Dr Steve Clark
2004-2006 -
Mr Steve Marshall
2006-2007 -
Ms Lisa Wilson
2006-2007 -
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick
2007-2014 -
Matt Linnegar
2014 -current
Meet our Capability and Services team
Capability and Services | Director | Staff
Nelum (Nel) De Silva
NSW
As the Director of Finance at ARLF, I produce budgets, financial reports and…
Capability and Services | Staff
Priyansha Ram
NSW | Dharug Country
As the Finance & Business Specialist at the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF),…
Capability and Services | Staff
Gourav Mittal
Canberra | Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
As a Manager ICT, I am responsible for providing IT support to the…
Capability and Services | Staff
Gabrielle Price
NSW | Anaiwan Country
I have recently joined the ARLF Team in Manager Corporate Governance role. I…
Capability and Services | Staff
Kerren Britton
NSW | Dharawal Country
I support ARLF’s regional leads, facilitators, and participants by providing them with a…
Capability and Services | Staff
Erin Chesney
QLD | Gubbi Gubbi Country
In my role I work collaboratively as a support and point of contact…
Capability and Services | Staff
Katherine Davison
NSW
In my role as Project Lead, I oversee a number of different programs…
Capability and Services | Staff
Reigan Nugent
NSW | Gumbaynggirr Country
My role here is aligned with my passion for community work. Living in…
Capability and Services | Staff
Jaiden Kearns
ACT | Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
I offer the administrative support reliving some of the day to day stress…
Capability and Services | Staff
Stacey Pyke
QLD | Meanjin Country
I assist the finance team in the day-to-day running of business accounts and…
Capability and Services | Staff
Prajwol Shrestha
NSW
I will be working towards preparation of monthly financial reports, assisting in budgeting…
Board Chairs
-
Rgt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC
1992-1993 -
Mr John Allwright AO
1993-1994 -
Mr Bruce Gowrie Smith
1994 -
Mr David Asimus AO
1994-1999 -
Mr Robert Ferguson
1999-2000 -
Mr David Crombie AM
2000-2008 -
Prof Peter Shergold AC
2008-2010 -
Dr Wendy Craik AM
2010-2016 -
Mike Caroll
2016 -2022 -
Rick Sawers
2022 - current
Chief Executives/ Executive Directors
-
Mr Mike Beckingham
1992-2001 -
Mr John Quantrill
2001-2004 -
Dr Steve Clark
2004-2006 -
Mr Steve Marshall
2006-2007 -
Ms Lisa Wilson
2006-2007 -
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick
2007-2014 -
Matt Linnegar
2014 -current
Meet our Business Support team
Business Support | Staff
Gemma Gordon
ACT | Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
I work with our funding partners who invest in the leadership capacity of…
Board Chairs
-
Rgt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC
1992-1993 -
Mr John Allwright AO
1993-1994 -
Mr Bruce Gowrie Smith
1994 -
Mr David Asimus AO
1994-1999 -
Mr Robert Ferguson
1999-2000 -
Mr David Crombie AM
2000-2008 -
Prof Peter Shergold AC
2008-2010 -
Dr Wendy Craik AM
2010-2016 -
Mike Caroll
2016 -2022 -
Rick Sawers
2022 - current
Chief Executives/ Executive Directors
-
Mr Mike Beckingham
1992-2001 -
Mr John Quantrill
2001-2004 -
Dr Steve Clark
2004-2006 -
Mr Steve Marshall
2006-2007 -
Ms Lisa Wilson
2006-2007 -
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick
2007-2014 -
Matt Linnegar
2014 -current
Careers at ARLF
At Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, we’re always looking to grow our team, our capabilities, and our reach across rural, regional, and remote Australia. To support this vision, we’re constantly calling out for new professionals to join our team.
Meet our Community of Practice
Our Community of Practice (COP) shares our values and are uniquely skilled in developing and delivering leadership programs and initiatives to manage change in rural, regional and remote Australia. While the COP are often alumni from our programs this is not a requirement.
Community of Practice
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan is passionate about social and environmental change. He collaborates with individuals…
Community of Practice
Benny Callaghan
Benny has been teaching and facilitating leadership and systems change for over two…
Community of Practice
Ananth Gopal
Carlton, Victoria (Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country) Director, Polykala Ananth is a facilitator, coach, geographer,…
Community of Practice
Tom Henderson
Stanmore, New South Wales (Eora Nation) Co-Founder, Polykala Tom is a facilitator with…
Community of Practice | Corporate Services | Director | Staff
Lockie McDonald
WA | Wadjuc, Noongar Country
The corporate function acts as the “master of ceremonies” for the end-to-end business…
Community of Practice
Scott Gorringe
QLD
Scott is a Mithaka man who has worked in indigenous education for over…
Community of Practice
Susan Benedyka
VIC
Susan is a professional facilitator and communicator, who brings people together to engage…
Community of Practice
Michelle Deshong
QLD
Michelle is a Fullbright Scholar, leader and advocate, with extensive experience working in…
Community of Practice
Russel Fisher
Russell is a strategist, facilitator, educator and ecologist. He draws on experience in…
Community of Practice
Briony Arnold
WA
Director of Jouerdine Consultancy since 2018, Briony is involved in projects that enhance…
Community of Practice
Tanya Lehmann
SA
Once described as having enough energy to power a small town, Tanya has…
Community of Practice
Richard Dent
VIC
Richard has lived most of his life in rural and regional Australia, and…
Community of Practice
Adam Smith
Dr Adam Smith has a vital connection to the ocean, sustainability, science and…
Community of Practice
Jen Wressel
VIC
Jen has led teams in some of the most isolated places on earth…
Community of Practice
Catherine Marriott
Over the last 15 years, Catherine has worked in management, strategic and leadership…
Community of Practice | Facilitator
Steve Colman
NSW
Steve is a veteran of change management and a specialist in leadership development…
Community of Practice
Alana Johnson
VIC
Alana is widely recognised for her work in rural development and gender equality….
Community of Practice
Elizabeth Brennan
WA
Elizabeth is a dynamic leader in Australia’s agricultural sector and has facilitated several community, regional,…
Community of Practice
Stephen Brown
QLD
Stephen’s more-than 30 years of experience in education and the public sector means…
Community of Practice
Craig Jones
Craig is a leader that relishes problem-solving and bridging differences. His work is…
Board Chairs
-
Rgt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC
1992-1993 -
Mr John Allwright AO
1993-1994 -
Mr Bruce Gowrie Smith
1994 -
Mr David Asimus AO
1994-1999 -
Mr Robert Ferguson
1999-2000 -
Mr David Crombie AM
2000-2008 -
Prof Peter Shergold AC
2008-2010 -
Dr Wendy Craik AM
2010-2016 -
Mike Caroll
2016 -2022 -
Rick Sawers
2022 - current
Chief Executives/ Executive Directors
-
Mr Mike Beckingham
1992-2001 -
Mr John Quantrill
2001-2004 -
Dr Steve Clark
2004-2006 -
Mr Steve Marshall
2006-2007 -
Ms Lisa Wilson
2006-2007 -
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick
2007-2014 -
Matt Linnegar
2014 -current