Candidates for the Board Director Elections

Kath Follers

If re-elected I will continue to work towards ensuring the Board and Management of Girl Guides NSW & ACT remain focussed on the fundamentals of Guiding. I will use the experience I have gained over the last 3 years in conjunction with my extensive knowledge and practical experience of Guiding to ensure that the Board continues to employ sound personnel and fiscal management allowing us to fully embrace the Girl Led Programme in all its aspects. This will support the Guides on their journey towards developing into confident self-respecting young women. 

Sonja Freeman

I would be honoured to serve on the Board of Girl Guides NSW, ACT and soon to be NT. Born into a family of Guides and Scouts the Guiding spirit has always run through my veins. I want to use my skills and experience to help the organisation grow in terms of visibility and community engagement.
After achieving my Baden-Powell Award through Guiding I left the Guide movement to gather other professional skills.
I returned to the movement as an adult member to offer my time and passion for a new generation of Guides, to become a Leader as my mum had done, to volunteer within a movement that provided me with so many opportunities for development, adventure, friendship and joy in my youth to ensure other young women and girls could have those same opportunities.
My work history as a Lawyer has seen me develop knowledge and experience in industrial relations, property law and management that would be beneficial to the Board in line with the areas it’s seeking to expand skills.
I have solid judgment, high emotional intelligence. I am motivated, a strategic thinker and committed to working hard to achieve the mission of Girl Guides.

Michelle Kothe

It’s with enormous passion that I submit my application to serve on the Board of Girl Guides NSW & ACT.
As a successful business woman, having served on a commercial Board, and with over 25 years of experience working in the non-profit sector with community focused organisations in front-line and management positions, I believe I have a lot to bring as a director.
I have a long history of involvement with Girl Guides and its principles. Girl Guides has provided me with skills, support and leadership opportunities that I have been able to use to help myself and the community. My interest in serving on Girl Guides NSW & ACT Board of Directors stems from my passion for working with girls, youth and the community for social change. Over the last two decades I have been building and refining a wide range of skills which I am keen to use to contribute to the Board. As a member of the ACT & SE NSW Region I think it is important that the Board has representation from across the whole of NSW & ACT especially outside Sydney’s Metropolitan area. Regional representation is even more important now we will join with NT.

Jhess Lee

Like many of you, I have been a Guide most of my life! Guiding taught me to be open to new experiences, be resourceful, think on my feet and be confident in making decisions. These skills helped me immensely as a young girl who migrated to a new country, and later in my career.
I am a qualified Accountant (CPA) specialising in tax and technology. Currently I manage the technology portfolio in one of the Big4 accounting firms offering support & software lifecycle management, vendor management, project management and client services. On the Guiding front, I joined Eastwood Guides as an interim leader in 2015 and now run Glebe Guides.
I am ready for my next challenge and would like to offer my professional skills and international guiding experience to the Girl Guides NSW & ACT. With a deep understanding of this international movement and a passion in empowering girls, I am equipped to help the organisation achieve its mission and goals, support its volunteers and provide benefits to our members.

Joanne Muller

Having been a member of Girl Guides for over 50 years I feel well placed to contribute to Guiding going into the next 100 years. While the past provides us with firm foundation, we need to work hard towards securing the future of our member based organisation. This work requires careful & dedicated attention and the team work of all of our members. My contribution to date demonstrates my commitment to the future of Guiding. 
Being a Queens Guide and Guide Leader secured my first full time job. The wonderful leadership training and mentoring I received in Guiding together with the governance experience opportunities I have had through membership of the State Executive, Board & Committees of Guiding has given me the tools to succeed in many other roles. I want to see these opportunities, and more, reaching as many girls and young people as possible.
Currently I am the Chair of an organisation managing two of the largest cemeteries in Sydney – with a turnover of over $10 Million. Between this role and my other professional roles I have well developed skills in finance & investment, governance, property management & infrastructure, change management, marketing and human resource

Lisa Walters

I am a senior executive with experience across Government, Corporate and the Not for Profit sectors. I bring relevant skills and capabilities to the Girl Guides NSW & ACT Board including:

• Demonstrated financial management and reporting skills with a strong background in reporting and decision support at the Board level as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
• Strong governance capabilities, and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
• Strong strategic and operational cross functional knowledge including Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, logistics, Commercial Activities and Sales and Marketing 
• Highly effective relationship management skills with strong interpersonal skills.
• Effective team leadership, in fostering collaboration, team development, growth and retention as well as leading organisational cultural change.
• Proven business development capabilities including the strategy development and implementation.

I am a mother of three, two girls 13 and 10 and have been a Junior Guides Leader since 2012 for the Jannali unit. I thoroughly enjoy my volunteering opportunities with girl guides. I bring a fresh and modern perspective with a “can do” attitude. I am passionate about developing and empowering girls. I look forward to continuing my guiding journey with the appointment to the Girl Guides NSW and ACT Board.