Nikkia McLennan

Education Program Project Officer

Nikkia McLennan is a Wemba Wemba/ Ngyiaapa/ Tirrganydii woman with experience in education support and community services.

Valerie Atkinson

Leadership Coordinator

Valerie is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman, born and raised in Shepparton. She currently works as the Youth Leadership Coordinator, where she supports and empowers young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to grow as strong leaders.

Chrystal Chapman

Education Program Project Officer

I am a proud Kuku Yalanji, Nyamal and Kalkadoon woman, born in Darwin and moving around before landing in Shepparton in 2017, where I first found Ganbina. I was privileged enough to be able to experience Ganbina's Education program, Youth Leadership Program and Employment and Training Program first hand as a participant, before joining the team in 2022 and returning in 2025.

Abigail Madikhula

Education Program Project Officer

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.

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. 

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 Transformation Manager

Anouk joined Ganbina in 2024 as Digital Transformation Manager, bringing over 10 years of experience in digital technology and consulting. Previously, she worked at BlueRock Digital, where she led a team of consultants to develop digital strategies, managed projects, and provided strategic technological leadership as virtual CTO for a diverse range of clients.

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.

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