JANET CRIBBES – Chair of Wellsprings for Women

Board Member of Wellsprings since Feb 2016

Janet Cribbes has a career spanning three decades, working in State government, community services, the private sector and more recently, in the Not for Profit sector. Janet specialises in governance, ethical and authentic leadership coaching and mentoring in the non for profit and Local government agencies.

Janet is a private practice coaching executive of CEOs and leaders providing tools to find their authentic voices, balancing work/life issues, and live their best lives. She is actively involved in her community in voluntary roles, chairing a variety of school and community groups. Her community engagement saw her elected to Port Phillip Council in 2004 to 2008 with one term as Mayor. Public life has many rewards and challenges, having a sense of humour is great life skill.

Justice for Wellsprings for Women is evident across the organisation in words and deeds.

Wellsprings focuses on the needs and aspirations of women and recognises that injustice stems from structural barriers that impede women’s participation in life's economic, social and cultural opportunities. Therefore, we work with women at Wellsprings to dismantle these barriers and pave the way for them to gain greater control over their lives and prosper economically, spiritually and socially.

As a Board we have been instrumental in setting the overarching strategic vision for Wellsprings and supported staff, volunteers and participants with a leadership style that is both caring and enabling. The diversity of skills and experience each Board member contributes has seen Wellsprings flourish and expand its reach to welcome and help hundreds of more women who would have otherwise continued to be isolated, or remained unsupported in abusive relationships, or languished in a continuous cycle of poverty.

As Board members we have been enriched as a group and on a personal level, walking side by side with the women at Wellsprings has given meaning to our role but we are also humbled by the strength of their character and their sheer resolve to overcome whatever obstacles lie in their way. We are bonded by our commitment to equality, as without equality there can be no justice.

As we begin our planning for our new strategic plan, we are continually reminded of our commitment to the women we walk with and the privilege of sharing the journey with the women who come to Wellsprings, Kildare Ministries, staff and volunteers.

JOANNE ROSEWALL – Deputy Chair

Board Member of Wellsprings since Feb 2012

Joanne lives in Dandenong the local community and was educated by the Presentation Sisters. As a volunteer leader of Parents and Friends, Joanne spent many years organising activities for the children and their families who attended the primary school; with her eight children. Since its founding days Joanne has been involved with Wellsprings watching it grow from a weekly Drop-in session to the vibrant, gathering place it is today providing education, pathways, care and support in a growing culturally diverse community. What Joanne really treasurers about Wellsprings is the myriad of ways volunteers contribute to all the wonderful programs and opportunities available at Wellsprings.

This quote captures the spirit of Wellsprings, responding to the needs of the times:

“HOPE HAS TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS;

THEIR NAMES ARE ANGER AND COURAGE.

ANGER AT THE WAY THINGS ARE,

AND COURAGE TO SEE THAT

THEY DO NOT REMAIN AS THEY ARE.”

- ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

LAURA CONTI - Treasurer

Board Member of Wellsprings since July 2018.

Laura is a Chartered Accountant with 16 years experience working inside digital and technology businesses.

She Co-Founded #GoKindly, and works as a feminist activist and in advocacy for women inside Fundamentalist Christianity.

"Equal rights, fair play, justice, are all like the air: we all have it, or none of us has it." Quote by Maya Angelou

CARMEL COLLINS - Director

Board Member of Wellsprings since December 2016.

Carmel has over 35 years experience as a government lawyer and senior executive in areas as diverse as energy, public housing, gaming and land management. As she hails from the Northern suburbs, she was educated by the Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of Charity. Not least, she is a mad Carlton supporter.

Justice, living justly, is central to the Wellsprings vision of welcoming places, caring for and empowering women. “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

GEORGIA PRATTIS - Director

Board Member of Wellsprings since January 2018

Georgia is an accomplished gender equality and diversity consultant with policy reform experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors. She has an extensive background in gender equality and violence prevention work and has been involved in delivering initiatives emerging from the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children and the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. She has designed and delivered context specific gender equality initiatives for numerous organisations across Australia. Georgia also held senior roles in adult education, diversity and inclusion within the public safety sector. She is presently Director, Myriad International Consulting Services Pty Ltd.

Justice is ultimately about the continued pursuit of a society where the fundamental human right to dignity is upheld for all. It is about equal voice and equal participation in all aspects of society. Indian author Arundhati Roy has said ‘there is no such thing as the voiceless, there are only the deliberately silenced or preferably unheard’. I strongly believe Wellsprings is a place that provides a genuine space for often ‘preferably unheard’ voices and makes an invaluable contribution towards justice in our community.

MINH NGUYEN - Director

Board Member of Wellsprings since May 2017

Minh has worked in the legal, health and community sectors in a range of roles. In the social and community services sector, Minh’s roles range from direct service delivery in supporting women experiencing workplace problems, sector development to research and evaluation, and systemic advocacy. Minh has experience in service development and management, governance and strategic planning in the not-for-profit sector. Minh is passionate about social justice, representation and respecting people as experts in their own lives. In her work Minh, is committed to building capacity for individuals, families and communities to thrive and be the best versions of themselves. Minh holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Masters of Social Work and Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management.

"To me, justice is when the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our communities have the necessary access, rights and means to achieve, contribute and participate in our society".

JOY MARROCCO - Director

Board Member of Wellsprings since January 2018

Joy is an employee of AGL in their Technology & Future Business team and is also the Chair of AGL Equality, focused primarily on driving Gender Equality across Corporate Australia and the families and communities of their staff and customers.

"Justice to me, is about all the little things each of us can do differently, everyday, that will collectively drive change for a better future for all of us."

Kildare Ministries Newsletter

Issue 7 · 30 Oct 2020

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