Our Team

Philip Smith

Treasurer

Phil has accumulated over 25 years experience working in the financial services industry spanning a number of people leadership and client facing roles in the small business, commercial, corporate and private wealth market segments.

Phil’s core values centre around integrity, trust, courage, discipline and achievement which underpin his highly competitive nature and a very strong will to win in both his professional and personal life.

All of these attributes are evident in Phil’s work with the Australian Red Cross (non executive director), the Reach Foundation (volounteer mentor), his role as Finance Director on the Board of Karting Australia and in his current duel role as National Director Business Development and State Director Vic/Tas at Export Finance Australia.

Over the past 25 or so years, Phil has enjoyed many roles with 3 of the 4 major trading banks in Australia across many states and has experienced work and life in different countries such as South Africa, UK, New Zealand and America.

An ambitious, driven, energetic and determined individual that thrives on achievement.

Stacey Lighton

Board Director

With a background as a trained psychotherapist and counsellor and with the mentoring of Aboriginal people both inside and outside of academia, Stacey’s field of interest and research has centred on the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) of Aboriginal women in Community.

Previous experience included working on the Social and Cultural Resilience and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Mothers in Prison (SCREAM) research project to better appreciate how the women themselves conceptualised health and their experiences of prison healthcare.

Her PhD (public health) research looked at the role of trauma (including intergenerational trauma) and removal of children in the incarceration of Aboriginal mums in NSW.

Her work is driven by the conviction that the trauma of Aboriginal women and mothers is different and that this group have needs which are specific; these include access to trauma-informed, culturally-safe Community led initiatives where they can feel safe and supported.

Melissa Combo

Board Director

Melissa Combo is a proud Bundjalung, Worimi, Biripi and Anawain woman, with family and kin connections along the east coast of NSW.

Melissa started a career as a professional surfer at a young age and became very eager and familiar with being a world class athlete.

Melissa has one son who is her everything.

Mainly through professional development Melissa has concentrated on caring and rewarding roles.

Having grown up with a younger brother with a disability, Melissa has always felt compelled, believing it’s a natural part of her journey to be caring for people.

Melissa has worked in community roles within Community Services working with people who are disabled, with elders, in child protection, nursing and currently is working within the community housing sector.