Wesley Mission Board
Profiles of Board members
Matthew Chee, MBA, MDiv, BAcc
Matthew is a long-time elder of the International Congregation of Wesley Mission. He also serves on the Core Team for the Wesley International Congregation Ryde service, which he chairs and where he preaches occasionally. An accountant and businessman, Matthew has served in various capacities on the Wesley Mission Board, including the Cottee Orchard Board, the Finance Committee, the Aged Care Committee and as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Matthew has been a Board member since February 2000.
John Christison, JP, AAIM, AAII
John is currently an elder with the 6 pm Wesley Congregation, Secretary of the Elders Council, a lay preacher and Lifeline counsellor. John worked in the general Insurance industry in senior roles for 30 years, was an Electorate Officer and is a former Wesley Mission Director of Administration and Acting Executive Director Lifeline Sydney. John has been a Board member since February 2007.
Nick Farr-Jones, AM
Nick is a well-known sporting personality, lawyer, former Director of NRMA, Councillor of the City of Sydney, Director of Société Générale and current Director of Taurus Funds Management. He has extensive investment and banking experience and serves on a number of boards around the world. Nick has been a Board member since January 2001.
Rev Dr Keith V Garner,
MTh (Oxon), DD (Hons)
Superintendent/CEO Chair
For biographical information, see about Keith Garner.
David Greatorex, AO, BA (Hons),
MComm and Admin, PhD, FCA, FAIM
David is a member of the 6pm Congregation at Wesley Mission. David was Chairman of Westmead Millennium Research Institute, State Bank of NSW, IBM NZ, Securenet Limited, Computer Australia Limited, First State Computing Pty Ltd and Centennial Park Trust, and a Director of AWA Limited, IBM Australia Limited, NSW Cancer Council, TAFE NSW, Sydney Dance Company and the Macquarie Graduate School of Management. He was visiting professor at Wollongong and Macquarie universities for 15 years. David has been a Board member since February 1999 and has previously served as Honorary Secretary.
David Lewinsohn
David is an Elder of the Wesley Mission International Congregation and a Sydney Presbytery member. David is currently the Database Manager with AMPCo and has previously worked as an analytical chemist for the federal government and an operations manager for a pathology laboratory, and consulted in logistics to both government and industry. David has qualifications in applied chemistry, logistics management and information technology. David has been a Board member since February 2007.
Elizabeth McQueen
Having grown up with a Methodist background and educated at MLC Burwood, Elizabeth became a member of Wesley Mission in 1975, and is a long-term Elder of the Sunday-night Congregation. A Pharmacist and Registered Nurse, Elizabeth worked in London, PNG and country and city NSW. From 1989–1999 she manned the Lifeline phones and has a long involvement in aged care. Elizabeth has been a Boardmember since February 2008.
Robert McSkimming
Robert is Chair of Elders of the 6 pm Wesley Congregation and a member of the Wesley Mission Council. He is a Program Manager with Telstra and has spent more than 25 years working in telecommunications companies. Robert has been a Board member since February 2001.
Mark Scott, AO, BA, Dip Ed, MA (Sydney),
MPA (Harvard)
Honorary Treasurer
Mark was appointed Managing Director of the ABC in 2006. Under his leadership, the ABC has dramatically expanded its services and reach. Mark was named Media Person of the Year in 2008 and made the Financial Review’s respected “Power” list in 2009. Before joining the ABC, he held a number of senior executive appointments at Fairfax Media. Mark has post-graduate degrees from Sydney and Harvard universities in Government and Public Administration. Mark has been a Board member and Honorary Treasurer since January 2009.
Beverly Smith
Beverly has extensive knowledge of the Uniting Church administration from her 10-year experience as Secretary, Presbytery of Sydney and as Treasurer of Maroubra Uniting Church. She was previously a consultant to Burroughs Computing Systems. Beverly has been a Board member since February 2001.
Dr Keith Suter, BA (Hons), MA (Hons),
PhD, FAICD, FRAI
Honorary Secretary
Keith has been involved with the Uniting Church for over 30 years and is currently completing a PhD on the future of the Uniting Church. He is also a company director, conference speaker, broadcaster, writer and teacher at both Macquarie University and Boston University (Sydney campus). He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Keith has been a Board member since January 2000 and has served as Honorary Secretary since May 2012.
Johnny Teong, MBA, FCPA, ACIS, MAICD
Johnny is an elder in the International Congregation of Wesley Mission, chairs the Congregation council, is a member of the Sydney Presbytery Standing Committee of the Uniting Church, and chairs the Wesley Mission’s Audit and Risk Committee. He is the National Corporate Services Director of Landcare Australia Limited. Over the past 30 years he has held senior regional and national roles in finance and business management in multinational corporations, small to medium enterprises and not-for-profit organisations. Johnny has been a Board member since February 2005.
Edmund Walker
Edmund is the Honorary Treasurer of Uniting World, a Director of UCA Assembly Ltd, and a member of the United Theological College Finance and Administration Committee. Previously he was the General Secretary, Board of Finance and Property, of the Uniting Church. Edmund has also been a board member of the Nareen Gardens Retirement Village and Chairman of the Sydney North Regional Aged Care Board. Trained in industrial law, he was once a personnel manager for BP Australia. Edmund has been a Board member since November 1992.
Sarah White, BA, Grad Dip Ed
Sarah is the Program Director of Lent Event, the Uniting Church movement she founded in 2005 to address world poverty. She is also a designer of leadlights for UnitingCare, including Wesley Mission’s Lottie Stewart Hospital, and co-founder of Amazing Space, a women’s alternative worship initiative. Sarah has been a Board member since February 2010.
Senior Leadership
Rev Dr Keith V Garner
Superintendent/CEO
For biographical information, see about Keith Garner.
David Cannings, BBus, MBA, FCPA, AICD
General Manager, Finance
David is responsible for Corporate Accounting, Financial Planning, Information Services and Procurement Services. He has extensive executive management experience within finance, corporate and not-for-profit sectors. David sits on the Policy Committee and Investment Committee for the National Anglican Superannuation Fund. He is a Fellow CPA Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. David commenced his employment in April 2010.
Chris England, BSocSc
General Manager, Family & Carer Support
Chris is responsible for Family Support & LifeSkills, Home & Carer Support and Child & Youth Mentoring Services. Prior to joining Wesley Mission in 2001, Chris worked at Accenture and Mission Australia. Since October 2009, Chris has mentored and advised the CEOs and boards of many NSW-based not-for-profit organisations and peak bodies,and brings a rich understanding of the community sector to Wesley Mission. Chris re-joined Wesley Mission in January 2012.
Graham Harris, CAHRI
General Manager, Corporate
Graham is responsible for Human Resources, Communications & Fundraising, Property Management and Governance Support & Legal Services. His career in Human Resource Management spans over 25 years and he has gained sound management experience, strategic leadership and analytical skills. Graham currently holds an external Board membership: Australian Federation of Employers and Industries (AFEI) (Board member since 2000, being President from 2002–2008). Graham commenced his employment in January 1993.
Andrew Mitchell, BEc, Dip Fin Man (UNE),
MA (Theology), Dip Min (Moore College), BTh
General Manager, Employment,
Residential, Training & Health
Andrew is responsible for Employment & Regional Planning, Training & Recreation, Mental Health & Counselling and Supported Accommodation & Respite Services. Prior to joining Wesley Mission, he worked in Anglican pastoral ministry for more than 10 years and held executive management positions with QBE Insurance and Bankers Trust Australia. Andrew commenced his employment in April 2008.
Elizabeth Orr, BA, Dip Ed, MBA,
MAICD, MACHSE
General Manager, Enterprise
Elizabeth is responsible for Service Development & Support, Enterprise Development, Residential Care & Independent Living, Stakeholder Relationships, Development Projects,
Business Projects & Knowledge Management, Volunteer Services and Piccadilly Services. She has held many senior leadership and policy development roles in the community services sector and is a strong advocate for those suffering from mental health and family dysfunction traumas. Elizabeth worked at Macquarie University for many years researching innovative training methods and curriculum development to assist students with learning difficulties. Elizabeth commenced her employment in December 2002.
