"I would like to thank the committed and skilled staff of Anglican Overseas Aid for their marvellous efforts."
Anglican Overseas Aid Board Chair, A/Prof Julian Rait
Our staff
Anglican Overseas Aid currently has 3 full time employees and 9 part time employees.
CEO
Mr Bob Mitchell
Bob’s passion for international development arose from church based development projects in Timor-Leste. He has a deep commitment to aid and development as a ministry of the church, and is undertaking doctoral studies on the distinctive role of faith within international community development. Most recently he has worked in senior executive roles at World Vision Australia, including as Director of Legal Risk and Governance, and as Chief of Mission. Bob has been a solicitor for 25 years and was a Partner at PwC for 14 years. He has been a board member of several non-for-profit organisations including BlueCare, World Relief and the PwC Foundation. Bob has served as a member of the Federal Attorney-General’s International Pro Bono Advisory Group and is a director of Western Health. He holds post-graduate qualifications in public policy, theology, and taxation law.
Email: bmitchell@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM MANAGER
Jo Maher
Jo has worked in a range of Health and International Development organisations and has qualifications in Nursing, Anthropology, Health Promotion and Business Management. Past experience includes managing clinical services for Family Planning ACT, Reproductive Health Technical Assistant to the Lao PRD, Rural Women’s Project and Country Manager Solomon Islands and Vanuatu for Australian Volunteers International. Jo has a particular interest in women’s health and environmental protection, being in the great outdoors, family and music.
Email: jmaher@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
AFRICA PROGRAM MANAGER
Phillip Walker
Phillip Walker has over two decade’s professional experience as a development practitioner in Africa, Asia and the Pacific both in the field and Head Office.
He has worked on programs involved with integrated water resource management and has an abiding interesting in climate change, particularly the impacts on vulnerable communities. Phillip has worked for NGOs, humanitarian organisations, in the private sector and owned his own business. He has successfully implemented contracts for a range of donor agencies including AusAID, USAID, DfID and the AsDB.
Email: pwalker@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
PACIFIC AND SOLAR PROGRAM MANAGER
Kate Higgins
Kate has worked on development projects in the SolomonIslands and India and on several community development projects in Australia. She holds Bachelor Degrees in both International Studies (Hons) and Social Sciences and has published on development issues in the Solomon Islands. Kate is passionate about poverty alleviation and social justice issues relating to the Pacific.
Email: khiggins@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
Middle East Program Manager
Alison Preston
Alison is an experienced communicator and campaigner on global poverty and justice. Before joining Anglican Overseas Aid, Alison worked as a photo-journalist in East Africa, with a focus on women and children affected by civil war in Sudan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Alison has a strong interest in community-based trauma recovery, and is a trained facilitator with the Institute for Healing of Memories. Alison is actively engaged in the Anglican church.
Email: apreston@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
COMMUNICATIONS & FUNDRAISING MANAGER
Amanda Schofield
Amanda has worked in Marketing and Communications for the past 10 years with Oxfam, Greenpeace and the World Development Movement in Australia, Thailand and London. She is passionate about finding unique and satisfying ways for supporters to become engaged with the work of international aid organisations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing. Amanda is married with two daughters and enjoys travel, going to the theatre and yoga.
Email: aschofield@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
Media & Advocacy Officer
David Cook
David has a passion for telling stories, particularly related to social causes. His skills and interest have been shaped by 13 years as a professional journalist at newspapers in Australia and the UK (including nine years at The Age in Melbourne) along with personal involvement with poverty and marginalisation issues in Australia and overseas. Before joining Anglican Overseas Aid, David spent nearly four years as Media Officer for Plan International Australia. He is actively involved with his local church and faith-based movements for justice.
Email: dcook@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
Suzanne Trimble
Suzanne has over 15 years experience working in Big Four accounting firms both in Australia and London. During this time her focus was on taxation and software development for large corporate entities. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and has been a Chartered Accountant since 1996. Suzanne likes to spend her spare time travelling to new destinations, pilates and playing golf.
Email: strimble@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT
Jessica Hamilton
Jessica is a CPA with 20 years experience in the Private School sector. She has always been a supporter of social equity, animal rights and environmental protection and is thrilled to join AOA where her work can make a difference to those in need. She is married with two teenagers and loves to travel and spend time with her family.
Email: jhamilton@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
DONOR RELATIONS AND DATABASE CO-ORDINATOR
Kathryn Barres
Kathryn is responsible for managing the agency’s donor database and processing donations. Kathryn has worked in the gas and electricity industry and has experience in the legal and commercial property industries. She is an active Christian in her community of Blackburn, Melbourne and is married with three children.
Email: kbarres@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION/RECEPTION
Helen Boyle
Helen has 20 years experience working as an Analyst/Programmer in the IT industry in Melbourne and the UK. She holds a Higher National Diploma in Mathermatical Sciences. Helen is married with 2 daughters. Outside of work, Helen is actively involved in her local Anglican Church in Mentone and teaches and helps coordinate the Sunday School Program. Helen also enjoys travelling, and loves spending time walking her dog Kelly!
Email: hboyle@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICER
Ben Lakos
Ben has worked on youth-focused development projects in East Timor as well as a number of local community development initiatives on trade justice and refugee/asylum seeker issues. He holds a Masters in International Development and a Bachelor of Commerce. Ben is passionate about social and environmental justice issues, and in his free time enjoys gardening and other sustainable living projects.
Email: blakos@anglicanoverseasaid.org.au
MANAGEMENT OFFICER, MOTHERS' UNION (AOA), KENYA
Beatrice Wanjohi
I have worked with faith based organisations for more than 11 years in administrative and program management. The program focus has always been building the capacity of community and religious leaders to identify resources in the community for development and sustainability. I am completing my final year of a Master’s of Science, majoring in governance. I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Human resource major and a Diploma in Business Management. I am involved in youth development and training towards developing abilities/skills for sustainability. I have written a training manual for youth “Deploying your talents – putting your talents into practice”. I am an active member of the Mothers Union and am married with 3 children.