General Manager - Shepparton and Echuca Operations
Tracy is a proud Gunaikurnai woman renowned for her leadership in change management, guiding high-performing Aboriginal workforces, major community project implementation and successful community outcomes through dedicated advocacy.
Abigail Madikhula
Youth Leadership Coordinator
Abigail is originally from Malawi; a country located in the south-eastern part of Africa. Born and raised in Malawi, she migrated to Australia in 2019 and has proudly called Shepparton home since 2023.
Liz Cleary
Education Program Project Officer
Liz is a proud Noongar woman from Wiilman Boodja who brings a strong commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and families to her role. She is dedicated to fostering meaningful opportunities that enable young people to build strong futures.
Hayden Newton-King
Employment and Training Coordinator
Hayden is a proud Yorta Yorta man born and raised in Shepparton, whose journey has been shaped by his early involvement with Ganbina’s Education Program.
Paris Taylor
Education Program Project Officer
Paris brings a wealth of experience gained from her background in residential care. She is known for her compassionate, coaching style and her ability to build genuine, trusting relationships with those she supports.
Sandee Gladman
Education Project Program Officer
Sandee has an extensive background in support work, with hands-on experience in personal care and community support. She is grounded by building genuine, trusting relationships and creating safe, supportive environments for the people she works with.
Echuca Office
Keith Hearn
Site Coordinator, Echuca
Keith Hearn is a proud Yorta Yorta man who has dedicated more than 35 years to supporting and strengthening his community through leadership, health, education, employment, and program development.
Nerrissa Leitch
Education Program Project Officer
Nerrissa is a proud Yorta Yorta and Gunai Kurnai young woman. Before joining Ganbina, I worked in the education space and then as a Better Futures Community Connector, supporting young people to stay connected, build confidence, and work towards their goals. I love being involved wherever I can.
Executive Team
Anthony Cavanagh
Chief Executive Officer
Anthony Cavanagh is a Taungurung man from Victoria and has been the Chief Executive Officer of Ganbina since 2013.
Paulleen Markwort
Executive General Manager
Paulleen is a Murri woman with ties to the Gulf of Carpentaria through her matriarchs and to Wiradjuri heritage through her grandfather. As a senior executive, Paulleen brings a wealth of experience in strategy and policy development across State Government and the community sector.
Craig Marshall
Finance Manager
Craig has been supporting the executive of Ganbina since 2001 to create Australia’s most successful school-to-work-transition program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth.
Julia Weber
Executive Assistant
Julia has been Executive Assistant to Ganbina’s CEO since 2022. She has a Bachelor of Education (Primary School) and worked in Vienna, Austria in personal assistance and concierge service for high-end, international clientele from 2016-2022.
Corporate Administrative Office (Melbourne)
Lachlan Harlow
General Manager – Projects
Lachlan Harlow is a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung man who was supported by Ganbina from 2010-2020. Lachlan moved to Melbourne Grammar School in Year 10 thanks to Ganbina’s support. He then completed a Bachelor of Arts Double Major in Criminology and Philosophy from Monash University.
Anouk Petit dit de la Roche
Digital Strategy and Service Design Lead
Anouk joined Ganbina in 2024 initially as Digital Transformation Manager before transitioning to Digital Strategy and Service Design Lead. She has over 10 years of experience in digital technology and consulting and led a team of consultants to develop digital strategies, managing projects, and providing strategic technological leadership as virtual CTO for a diverse range of clients.
Expansion Pilot Office (Brisbane)
Lisa Marsden
General Manager – Expansion
Lisa is a proud Gunaikurnai woman who grew up in Shepparton, Victoria and currently lives on the Gold Coast. She has dedicated her career to mentoring and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and has worked at Ganbina for 16 years
Tracy Bevan
National Manager - Expansion Project
A proud Kija woman from East Kimberley, Western Australia and also her father’s connections, a Bardi man from Dampier Peninsula, Tracy has worked for Ganbina since 2018. She began as Relationships Manager for the Ganbina Expansion Project and now works as Ganbina’s National Manager - Expansion Project.
Soraya Atkinson
Project Coordinator
Soraya is a proud Yorta Yorta and Bangerang woman who grew up in Mooroopna in Shepparton, Victoria. Soraya attended Mooroopna Secondary College where she was a past participant for Ganbina. Soraya finished her education with ASHE (Academy of Sports, Health and Education) and completed her Certificate IV in Community Services.
Memphis Henderson
Administration and Project Support Officer
As a proud Barkindji woman, with her mother’s mother’s people from the Murray–Darling Basin, Memphis brings a deep cultural understanding and lived experience to her work. She began her journey working with Mob during high school, volunteering during NAIDOC Week and in her senior years teaching jarjums song and dance at local primary schools. This sparked her love and cemented her passion to work closely with community.
Board
Fallon Wanganeen
Chair
Fallon is a proud Narungga man from the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. He is a results-driven professional with a proven track record in championing diversity and inclusion.
Chris Schulz
Deputy Chair
Chris spent more than thirty years as a partner at Allens, one of Australia’s leading commercial law firms, where he mainly practised Environmental Law. After retiring from full time work in 2017, he spent five years as a consultant to Allens and other organisations.
Carmen Barrett
Treasurer
Carmen is the Head of the Finance and Information Technology function at Yarra Capital Management, one of Australia’s leading independent fund managers. Joining Yarra Capital Management in 2020 and with more than 20 years’ experience in financial services.
Kevin Moore
Member
Kevin is a VC Indigenous Pre-Doctoral Fellow at RMIT School of Management Melbourne, with his PhD topic on Victorian Treaty, Voices and Identity.
Lena-Jean Charles-Loffel
Member
Lena is a Yorta Yorta/Gunai Kurnai woman and a Ganbina graduate. She joined Ganbina when she was 14-years-old and became the first Ganbina participant to obtain a Master’s degree (Master of Public Health) specialising in Indigenous Health from The University of Melbourne.
Larissa Falla
Member
Larissa has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, values driven leadership and cultural inclusion advocacy. In her role as Senior Koorie Education Advisor for the Shepparton Education Plan, she is passionate about reshaping systems to support improved access and participation in education and meaningful long-term outcomes for the region’s First Nations young people.
Jarrod Edwards
Member
Jarrod Edwards is currently the Executive Director, People & Performance with OzChild and brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership within his professional experience. After attaining a Masters of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School, he graduated from the prestigious Williamson Community Leadership Program at Leadership Victoria, Jarrod began his career in engineering and regulation within high-risk industries before joining the Children and Family Services sector in 2017.
Rachel Woodford
Member
Rachel is a Senior Aboriginal Executive, educator, and strategic advisor with over 25 years’ experience in Indigenous leadership, education, community development, and business strategy and has been operating her own consultancy for 12 Years. She brings extensive expertise in governance, strategic planning, and organisational capability, leading teams and embedding culturally grounded approaches that deliver measurable impact for communities.
Nicole Shanahan
Member
Nicole is the Senior Manager, Indigenous Education at RMIT leading Indigenous Education priorities across the University, including the Ngarara Willim Centre and a team off staff working across three campuses in Melbourne.
Get involved
On average 88.7% of Ganbina's participants graduate Year 12
