We are a registered charity in Australia currently in the process of getting tax deductibility status
Honorine Jarkey
Honorine is an Executive Assistant with a huge passion for helping others, and a strong track record of success in supporting senior leaders in organisations to achieve their goals. As a skilled communicator with a Can-Do attitude who uses connecting and influencing skills required to complete projects, she has managed a wide range of administrative and operational tasks, including developing and implementing processes, creating and coordinating local and international events. Honorine also has extensive experience working within Charity organisations, in management (Augustinian Volunteers Australia) and specialising in fundraising/event organisation.
Robie Jayawardhana
Robie is a Padua College Brisbane old boy. Whilst the Franciscan charism feeds his soul, more recently, the Edmund Rice charism has heightened his commitment to social justice and service. Robie believes you change the world one encounter at a time. His 35 years of experience in the Education sector has included school roles such as Teacher, Chaplain, Head of Department Technology, and Deputy principal. His system leadership roles have included Curriculum Consultant and IT Administrator. Robie has skills in the use of data and information systems to deliver automation and efficiency. He builds highly competent teams who are client centered and solutions driven. These demonstrated skills are underpinned by formal qualifications that include: MBA, BSc, Dip. Ed., Cert IV Theol., and CETL.
Peter Marley
Peter is a Chartered Accountant and Risk Manager at Macquarie Group. He has worked on projects across asset management, capital markets, financial services, financial management, taxation and treasury to verify compliance with regulation, effectiveness of process design/operation and appropriate risk mitigation.
He is passionate about redistributing funds to those in need and reducing inequality gaps wherever they may arise. Of equal importance, he believes acts of service is vital to community empowerment. Knowledge sharing, relationship building and companionship facilitates more long term change than empty handouts.
Finally, he finds joy in exploring diverse spiritualities and connecting the key messages, experiences and divinities that unite them.
Chris Molligodde
Chris Molligodde is a Civil Engineer and Pavement Surfacing Manager at Road and Maritime Services, where he is responsible for the planning, construction, and maintenance of roads and pavements. He is also a passionate advocate for social justice and spiritual formation. Chris has over 10 years of experience in the civil engineering industry, and he has worked on a variety of projects, including major road upgrades, new bridge construction, and pavement rehabilitation. In addition to his engineering work, Chris is also actively involved in social justice and spiritual formation. He volunteers his time to help the homeless and unemployed, and he is also a mentor to young people.
Paul Newman - Chair
Paul has more than three decades of private sector business experience working as an accomplished Aboriginal business leader, advisor, business coach and professional corporate trainer. Paul is a current company Director of Sydney based Southern Cross Pacific company and has also played an active national Aboriginal economic development leadership role for over 40 years within the broad ambit of Aboriginal affairs. His practical lived community, business and industry experiences are also underpinned with his Bachelor of Business, and Master of Arts (MA) in Communications and Cultural Studies tertiary qualifications.
Kambiz Razmara
Kambiz brings to Communitas Volunteers Australia 20 years of experience in commercial and legal services and before that, an engineering career where he cultivated a holistic and empathetic understanding of end-to-end business and project operations. Kambiz is driven to make a difference. His experience in commercial law spans multiple continents and industries. As someone who has been heavily involved in local and multinational legal advice, Kambiz has a depth of experience in managing local and multi-jurisdictional requirements, using his legal, engineering and commercial expertise and networks. Kambiz has specific experience in: Commercial Law - extensive experience in Engineering and Manufacturing; Mergers & Acquisitions; Business Structures; Commercial Contracts; Risk Management; General Employment Law; Property Law; Supply & Distribution Agreements; Establishment of Enterprises outside Australia; Establishing a Presence in Australia for International Companies. Additionally, Kambiz speaks Farsi.
Olivier Valente
Oliver is a dynamic and enthusiastic leader with over 21 years experience in leading teams to successfully enhance customer’s services, health and wellbeing in Disability Services, Day-Care, Independent Living and Residential Aged Care settings both in Australia and overseas. Passionate at heart, Oliver thrives on connecting people with their family and the community.
He has an outstanding track-record in operational management, customer satisfaction, quality and risk management which have allowed him to build a strong reputation as a leader that gets results and can balance creativity and effectiveness.
The Communitas Advisory Group is where the partnership between the vulnerable community and COMMUNITAS come together. It is based on a shared empowerment model of operation.
Comprises development, delivery and monitoring of all approved initiatives, in consultation with identified communities, including associated resources, volunteer coordination and fundraising activities. First, the communities consult with CVA on what assistance they want. CVA then helps the community to recognise/identify their hopes and dreams and develop these with support and necessary resources from volunteers.
Continuation of the structured and nationally accredited Volunteer Formation Program, through the Broken Bay Institute (BBI). All volunteers will be carefully vetted and trained before they start their placements. It also offers credits for several University courses.