Who we are

Non-Executive Director; Member of the Partnerships Committee Adam Lees was appointed as Rio Tinto’s Chief Indigenous Affairs Advisor in May 2021. He has over twenty…

Alan Joyce has been Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Qantas Group since November 2008. In his time as CEO, he has overseen…

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andrew is Managing Director and CEO of The Pinnacle Foundation. He is also Non-Executive Chair of search and outplacement…

South Australian Committee Chair Anne has many years of experience managing services, projects, programs and people and in the development and implementation of health and…

Member, Investment Committee Annette Mullen was appointed as a member of the Investment Committee in April 2017. Annette is an Adjunct Professor with the Discipline…

Governance & Risk Manager Ben became a Pinnacle Scholar in 2019 while he was studying his Juris Doctor at The University of Melbourne. Experiencing first-hand…

Benjamin Law is the author of the memoir The Family Law (2010), the travel book Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East (2012) and the Quarterly…

Robert James “Bob” Brown is an Australian former politician, medical doctor, and environmentalist who is a former Senator, and former Parliamentary Leader of the Australian…

Non-Executive Director; Chair Audit & Risk Committee Brenda retired in 2009 after 35 years working in the corporate sector and is heavily involved volunteering with…

Alumni Manager Caitlyn joined The Pinnacle Foundation in January 2020 as the Alumni Manager. As a former Pinnacle scholar, Caitlyn feels strongly about giving back…

Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors; Member People, Remuneration & Nominations Committee; Member Audit & Risk Committee During her first five years as CEO…

Daniel Kowalski is an Australian former middle and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle events. He competed in the Olympic Games in 200-, 400- and 1,500-metre…

Chief Information Officer Darren has been creating innovative technologies and managing software development teams in the digital space for the last two decades; working for…

Member, Partnerships Committee David is a senior corporate affairs leader specialising in global energy and resources development and management. He has led teams spanning government…

Non-Executive Director; Member Investment Committee Dr Cassandra Goldie is CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, the national peak body for the community sector,…

Non-Executive Director; Member of the People, Remuneration & Nominations Committee  Craig personally experienced the uplifting experience of education. As a teenager, growing up in a small country…

Australian Capital Territory Committee Chair Dr Shirleene Robinson is a historian, author and curator. She has volunteered with Australian Marriage Equality since 2012, serving as…

Foundation Advisor Dr Jim Sait worked in the higher education sector for 35 years. He has taught at universities in the UK, Canada and Australia…

Australian Capital Territory Committee Chair Beth has worked in enterprise risk management, performance audit, corporate and academic governance for the past 15 years.  She is…

Company Secretary Evelyn is a senior associate in King & Wood Mallesons’ Mergers & Acquisitions team.  Evelyn advises corporate clients (including leading ASX-listed companies) on…

Chief Financial Officer Gavin has extensive experience in leading commercial and enterprise planning, budgeting, reporting and analysis. This includes the provision of strategic advice and…

Georgie Stone is one of the most visible transgender individuals in Australia. In 2011 she was the youngest person to receive puberty blockers in Australia,…

Tasmanian Committee Chair Ginna is a long-term and passionate public servant having worked in both the Commonwealth and Tasmanian State Service all of her career….

Non-Executive Director; Chair of the Investment Committee Greg is a director of The Pinnacle Foundation and is also on the board of Youturn Youth Support…

Patron-in-Chief We are honoured to welcome Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria as our Patron-in-Chief. On 1 July 2015, the Honourable…

The Business Council of Australia is the nation’s premier business organisation, advocating for a stronger and fairer society through a more prosperous Australia.Jennifer Westacott AO…

Jessica Strutt is a journalist and broadcaster with ABC Radio Perth. She worked as a political reporter in WA for more than a decade and…

Chief People Officer Jill is an organisational development specialist, coach and mentor with twenty years of industry experience in the financial services sector in Australian,…

Non-Executive Director; Chair Partnerships Committee Karen is National Director at strategic communications firm Cannings Purple. A trusted advisor and expert communicator, she has worked at…

Member, Partnerships Committee Ken is a fairly new transplant to Melbourne Australia after having spent most of his career as a talent agent in Los…

New South Wales Committee Chair Liam has recently joined at NSW Committee Chair, having previously been a Pinnacle Mentor. Liam has had a broad career…

Libby O’Donovan is a “powerful and sassy performer” (SMH), renowned for her nuanced interpretations and extraordinary voice. She is a critically acclaimed Jazz and Cabaret…

Non-Executive Director; Chair of the People, Remuneration & Nominations Committee Madeline is an experienced senior executive in the South Australian public service. She holds a…

Victorian Committee Chair Mark has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, covering retail and commercial banking, payments, financial planning, foreign exchange and…

Non-Executive Director; Member of the Partnerships Committee Mark has spent the past 20 years working in the not-for-profit sector in Australia, Europe and Asia as…

Member, Investment Committee Michael is the Head of Investment Strategy at First State Super, one of Australia’s largest profit-for-members superannuation funds. He is responsible for…

Narelda Jacobs has been a journalist at Network 10 since 2000 and has presented 10 News First Perth for the last 11 years. She is…

Scholar Manager Nic grew up in regional Australia and currently lives in Junee, New South Wales. After coming to terms with his sexuality at a…

Paul is a Co-founder of Pinnacle Foundation. He was inspired by the vision of fellow founders Sean Linkson, Philip Comans and Susan Brooks to help…

Western Australian Committee Chair Paul Ward is a technology expert with more than 25 years’ experience. He specialises in business intelligence, data engineering and training…

Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Directors; Member of the People, Remuneration & Nominations Committee Paul Zahra was appointed chair of the board of directors…

Program Manager Paula Corvalan has over ten years’ experience working in communications, marketing and social services. Paula has worked in print and digital media, advertising…

Philip is the partner of Sean Linkson, and the youngest in a family of four children born in Canberra in 1959. Philip was lucky enough…

With 25 years’ experience in community services, governance and social justice, Ro Allen has a deep commitment to equality and a broad experience in strategic…

Scholar and Mentor Manager Sam (they/them) is a community development and wellbeing professional with a background in LGBTIQ+ mental health and youth empowerment. Based in…

Chair Scholarship Selection Committee Sam Jacob brings more than 25 years’ experience in higher education in the UK and Australia, including senior roles at Laureate…

Member, Investment Committee Sarah Percy-Dove, Managing Director, is Head of Asia Pacific Fixed Income Research within BlackRock’s Asia Pacific Active Investments Group. She holds a…

Sean is one of the four Co-founders of Pinnacle along with Philip Comans, his partner of 20+ years, Susan Brooks, and their long-term friend Paul…

Financial Accountant Sophie is a qualified accountant with substantial experience encompassing both industry and business services roles. Sophie has nearly 20 years of experience in…

Co-Founder and Foundation Advisor Susan has extensive experience in managing regulatory risks and consumer issues from within executive government, statutory administrative bodies and the financial…

Member, Investment Committee Susan is an investment professional, her career spanning over 30 years in the financial markets, with the focus of the last 20…

Non-Executive Director; Member Partnerships Committee A dynamic and commercial executive in the world of theatre and live events, Suzanne Jones has been actively involved in…

Michael Kirby was Australia’s longest serving judge before his retirement from the High Court in February 2009. He is a strong advocate of human rights,…

The Pinnacle Foundation’s first Queensland-based Ambassador, Justice Bradley was born in Cairns. He was educated at St Bernard’s School and Clairvaux College in Brisbane and,…

Marketing Manager Tim has over 25 years of experience working in the retail technology and professional services space. Tim was appointed The Pinnacle Foundation’s Marketing…

Queensland Committee Chair Tom has several years’ experience in professional services, delivering risk, compliance, and learning solutions to a range of clients throughout Australia and…