The Board
Peter Allwood
Chair
Peter is an experienced board director and senior executive having held positions across a range of industries including health, property, banking, and manufacturing in Australia and internationally over many years.
Prior to transitioning to the not for profit (NFP) sector, Peter spent 19 years with Lendlease, including 10 years based in London leading the organisation’s European retail property business.
Most recently Peter was in the role of Head of Strategy and Investment for National Breast Cancer Foundation after spending several years as Chief Operating Officer with CanTeen.
Peter is also a Board Director of Sydney Fringe, The Sydney University Settlement, and Pink Elephant Support Network and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
As a result of his experience, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to the boardroom, with a proven track record of assisting organisations enhance long term sustainability and impact through a focus on strategy development and delivery, building strong partnerships, and investing in people.
Ken Bone
Director
Ken Bone is a semi-retired senior public service manager – having worked in Commonwealth, State, and local government. A graduate of Economics – his public service roles have focused on housing, health services, children’s protection, and childhood services. In addition, Ken has worked in a range of urban services and capital-building programs.
Ken was brought up in the western suburbs of Sydney and is keenly interested in seeing services delivered that provide a basis for people to believe in themselves and allow people to use their talents to their full potential to achieve independence.
As a Board member, Ken is passionate about supporting Woodville Alliance to be an even more key contributor to the community life of southwestern Sydney. He has been on several boards, including community housing, sports boards, and a showground trust.
Vinita Deodhar
Director
Vinita is Chief Product Officer at Open Orbit, a tech start-up based at Stone & Chalk. Prior to this, she held the position of Executive Director with the NSW Government. Vinita is a seasoned senior executive with deep experience in leading change and enhancing enterprise performance in complex environments. She combines business acumen with a deep sense of caring and compassion for people.
Her experience in Government spans over 13 years – mainly with NSW Treasury and Education, Environment, Climate Change and Water, and Investment NSW. Vinita led NSW Government’s transformation to a more outcome-focused culture.
A well-rounded leader, Vinita brings a wide range of expertise from across public and private sectors – covering strategy, governance, management, budgeting, public policy, marketing and advertising. She holds a PhD in Economics from Macquarie University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Vinita is a committed Rotarian working on local and global philanthropic projects including the provision of sanitation, water and hygiene. She has envisioned and led community service projects to recognise the role, contribution, and challenges of older people.
Born in India, Vinita speaks Hindi and Marathi, besides English.
Hanna Ebeling
Director
Hanna Ebeling is CEO at SEFA where she leads a team that works closely with purpose-driven organisations on developing financial solutions or investment readiness services to suit their needs.
She is passionate about working with philanthropy on blended finance deals and innovative housing models. She works with the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership to improve government, private sector, and philanthropy collaboration.
Prior to Australia, Hanna spent two years in the Philippines, managing a social enterprise accelerator program for LGT Impact Ventures and launching an affordable bamboo housing business with United Nations and the Hilti Foundation. Before moving into impact investing, she spent six years in banking with HSBC globally, lastly working for the Chief Investment Officer of Group Private Banking.
Hanna holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, is a CFA charter holder, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Elizabeth Grinston
Director
Elizabeth is a lawyer and works at the University of New South Wales, whereas the General Counsel and University Secretary – she is responsible for the legal and governance functions of the University. Prior to this, Elizabeth had very diverse roles as a legal practitioner, becoming a partner of a large national law firm early in her career, and being appointed as a legal member of numerous State and Federal Tribunals. These included the Social Security Appeals Tribunal, where she acquired experience in relation to issues of disability and social disadvantage.
Prior to joining the University of New South Wales, Elizabeth was general counsel at Screen Australia, a Commonwealth authority established to invest in and support the Australian screen and digital media industry. In addition, Elizabeth has been a non-executive Director of companies in the financial services and energy sectors.
While pursuing her career as a lawyer and non-executive Director, Elizabeth raised four children. Elizabeth is a first-generation Australian, and her family background is European. Through her family’s history, Elizabeth has a deep understanding of the experience of migrants who restart their lives in Australia.
Anthony Zheng
Director
Anthony is a doctor who specialised in public health medicine. He currently consults for the non-government sector primarily on health strategy projects.
Prior to starting his own business, Anthony helped to set up the state’s COVID-19 response. He has spent most of his career in the government sector, working on health policy as well as managing disease outbreaks and environmental health issues.
Anthony was an Executive at a non-government health organisation and is passionate that everyone has a fair go at health.
The Executive Team
Melanie Andrews
Chief Executive Officer
Melanie has worked in the Community Services sector for over 20 years. With a strong sense of social justice, Melanie commenced her Social Work career in community development roles in communities across greater Sydney. For over 15 years, Melanie has held senior leadership roles with large non-profit organisations overseeing the operations of child, youth and family services, mental health services, disability, community aged care and community development programs.
Melanie’s passion is to deliver high-quality community services that improve the lives of vulnerable children and young people, their families and communities.
Melanie is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and FAMS NSW Board member since 2018.
Casey Hailes
Executive Manager Operations
Casey joined Woodville Alliance in July 2023. She has worked in the disability services sector for over 20 years and has executive and board-level experience.
Most recently, Casey was the National Manager at Life Without Barriers. A professional highlight was the project management of national ‘group-based price changes’ and the management of DSOA contracts, including appropriate onboarding for new DSOA clients. Prior to this position, she was General Manager of Services at Achieve Australia, managing group homes, day programs, medically complex children and adults respite service centres, supported employment, retail shops and community participation services. Casey also served as the Executive Manager of Client Services at AFFORD for almost four years, leading significant whole-business strategic planning. Casey first entered the workforce through a recruitment agency and spent that time working with organisations in the health and human services sector, working with clients before progressing to management.
Casey’s strong leadership and experiences in leading and overseeing service delivery, quality, performance and development across community services have created her passion for delivering positive outcomes to improve the quality of life for clients and their families.
Casey holds various qualifications, including a TAFE Diploma and Certificates in Disability, Ageing and Frontline Management & OHS.
Bruce Tosello
Executive Manager Strategy & Growth
Bruce joined Woodville Alliance in August 2023. With over twenty-five years of experience creating strategies, building brands, developing businesses, understanding customers, and leading teams in FMCG, building products, and financial services, Bruce moved to the for-purpose sector in 2015.
As the Chief Customer & Market Engagement Officer at Sunnyfield, Bruce led the Marketing, Customer Service, Sales, Commercial Management, Fundraising, Data and Insights, and Support Coordination teams.
Bruce is passionate about listening to, and learning from, customers, while supporting for-purpose organisations to become commercially astute, never compromising their core values, and remaining commercially viable.
Bruce holds a Bachelor of Design (UTS), MBA (UoS), and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Bruce is a Non-Executive Director on the Anowah Board.