About Us
Governance
Comm Unity Plus Services Ltd has a constitution that covers all areas of governance.
Comm Unity Plus Services Ltd is governed by an elected, voluntary Board of Management, which meets bi-monthly.
Our Board
Jackie Mead - Chair
Jackie was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2020 and became the Chair of the Board in December 2022. Jackie is a member of the Governance Committee.
Jackie is a long-time resident of Melbourne’s Inner West and has a passion for creating and supporting vibrant communities that are inclusive and compassionate at their core. She brings more than 15 years of not-for-profit experience, along with a background in consulting and HR.
Jackie is currently the CEO of the national community legal service, knowmore Legal Service.
Jackie has a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Melbourne (ANZSOG). Jackie has certification from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is proud to play a small part in the great outcomes being achieved by commUnity+.
Emma Hunt - Deputy Chair
Emma was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2020 and Emma Hunt
role of Deputy Chair in 2022. Emma is a member of the Governance Committee.
Emma is an Executive Manager at Victoria Legal Aid (VLA). Emma is an experienced executive with broad expertise across the legal, not-for-profit, and government sectors in Australia and overseas. Her experience in leadership and management includes six years as a Co-Executive Director, Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) Vic Inc. (now known as Justice Connect), seven years as a senior manager in the Department of Justice and Regulation, and four years at VLA in a variety of roles.
Emma is an advocate for not-for-profit organisations that seek to improve the lives of Victorians experiencing disadvantage. Her career has been based on her belief that a strong legal assistance sector is a way of ensuring Victorians experiencing disadvantage receive the advice and help they need when engaging with the law and the justice system, in turn strengthening communities and individual agency.
Emma has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Adelaide, and a first-class Master’s degree in Criminology from The University of Melbourne. She is admitted to practice law in Victoria and holds a current practising certificate.
Emma Hunt - Deputy Chair
Emma was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2020 and the role of Deputy Chair in 2022. Emma is a member of the Governance Committee. Emma is an Associate Director in Legal Practice, Victoria Legal Aid (VLA).
Emma is an experienced manager and lawyer with broad expertise across the legal, not-for-profit, and government sectors in Australia and overseas. Her experience in leadership and management includes six years as a Co-Executive Director, Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) Vic Inc. (now known as Justice Connect), seven years as a senior manager in the Department of Justice and Regulation, and nine years at VLA in a variety of roles.
She has a strong belief that the provision of high quality community services such as the range of programs provided at commUnity + is a way of ensuring residents of Melbourne’s west receive the advice and support they need, in turn strengthening communities and individual agency.
Emma has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Adelaide, and a first-class Master’s degree in Criminology from The University of Melbourne. She is admitted to practice law in Victoria and holds a current practising certificate
Nella Buccheri
Nella was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2016. Nella is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Nella is a senior lawyer, and throughout her career, Nella has developed legal expertise in criminal law, administrative law, and litigation. Nella has particular skills in exercising public power, specifically administrative law decision-making. Nella is a local resident with a strong interest in social justice. She is an advocate for the work of commUnity+ in local communities and is committed to improving service provision in the Western Suburbs.
Nella has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from La Trobe University and is an Australian legal practitioner.
Poonam Fernandes - Treasurer
Poonam was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2022. Poonam is the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Poonam currently works for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority as the acting Chief Finance Officer. She has also held several senior finance positions at the Department of Health and has industry experience in Government, Non-profit Organisations, Mining & Resources and Financial Services.
Poonam provides expert advice on finance and operations to support business planning, governance and risk management.
Poonam is passionate about her work with different communities. She is part of the Sikh Community and volunteers for her local Trillium community to build a vibrant neighbourhood where the people who live there can form strong and lasting relationships.
Poonam has a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Certified Public Accountant, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kristie Lawson
Kristie was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2022. Kristie is a member of the Governance Committee.
Kristie is working as Director Corporate Services at Central Highland Rural Health. Kristie has well-developed skills in stakeholder management, project management and leadership, with several years of experience leading teams in the public sector working across both State and Local Government.
Kristie’s experience in leadership includes six years at Melton City Council, two years at Wyndham City Council and twelve years at the Department of Justice and Community Safety (formally Department of Justice). Kristie has strong social justice values and, having worked extensively with communities in the West, has developed an understanding of current and emerging trends that are unique to communities in the West, particularly more vulnerable cohorts such as women, children, and young people. Kristie is passionate about affecting real change and supporting place-based, trauma-informed and person-centred care to ensure that communities thrive and break the cycle of disadvantage.
Kristie holds a Master of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate of Management and Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice).
Susanne Legena
Susanne was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2016. Susanne was a member of the Governance Committee until September 2023 and joined the Community Advisory Committee in March 2024.
Susanne is the CEO of Plan International Australia and an advocate for community development, gender by quality and youth participation. Susanne has previously served as Chief of Staff to the Victorian Minister for Energy, Resources and Community Development and the Arts, where she contributed to key policies on energy and climate change and led the implementation of A Fairer Victoria – a whole of government social policy action plan to address disadvantage and promote inclusion and participation.
Susanne has dedicated her career to working on social justice issues, tackling family violence, poverty, youth unemployment, and homelessness.
Susanne has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Flinders University and a Master of Arts (Professional Communication) from Deakin University.
Jayne Nelson
Jayne was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2024.
Jayne has a diverse industry background, having worked as an executive leader in health, higher education, marketing and advertising. She often draws on her experience in these industries to find creative solutions to complex issues. Jayne has a strong track record of empowering teams to deliver quality services for people in local communities with diverse backgrounds.
Working with the team at commUnity+ to positively influence change, growth, and support of individuals and families through a range of early intervention and prevention programs aligns strongly with Jayne’s personal passion of creating opportunities, achieving positive outcomes and making a difference.
As the CEO of IPC Health, a not-for-profit community health organisation, Jayne is a highly collaborative and innovative leader who excels in developing strategies, building a high-performance work culture, and leading large complex teams to deliver service-oriented solutions for people.
Jayne is a graduate of AICD, has a master’s qualification in Marketing and a Degree in Arts/Design.
Martina Otten
Martina was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2024.
Martina brings extensive experience in education, health, governance, and engagement.
Martina’s international career has provided her with a rich perspective on multiculturalism and diversity. She held roles at RMIT University in International Relations and with the United Nations Global Compact – Cities Program, focusing on international and cross-cultural collaboration.
Martina has a robust skill set in strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. In addition to her governance expertise, Martina has a keen interest in fostering diversity and inclusion at all levels of an organisation.
Martina is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a MSc in Organisational Psychology from the University of London.
Valerie Sace
Valerie was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2022. Valerie is the Chair of the Community Advisory Committee.
Valerie is an experienced leader in Strategy, Transformation, and Project Management, with a strong commercial focus across industries like retail, digital media, FMCG, waste management, and community services. Known for her adaptability and customer-first approach, she has a solid track record of developing and delivering strategies that align with business goals. Valerie is skilled in leading teams and excels in communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving.
She’s also passionate about supporting communities, having served as President of Banyule Support and Information Centre (BANSIC), a not-for-profit in West Heidelberg. In 2022, she received a scholarship from the Women’s Board Leadership Program (WBLP) through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s Office for Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Valerie is a strong advocate for diversity, particularly in leadership roles, and believes in its power to drive better decision-making and outcomes.
Valerie has a Bachelor of Science (Major in Business Administration & Accountancy) from the University of the Philippines and is a non-practicing CPA. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP), an MAICD and a member of the ICDA.
Damien Smith
Damien was appointed to the commUnity+ Board in 2024.
Damien is well-versed in governance, risk management and strategy.
Damien brings over 25 years of executive experience in cybersecurity, technology and risk with large and medium-sized organisations and has provided cybersecurity consulting to several organisations.
A long-term resident of the West, Damien is passionate about equality, diversity and opportunity for all community members.
Damien has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science degree from Deakin University, and he is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Senior Leadership Team
Tracey Gaudry - Chief Executive Officer
Tracey is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in executive and governance roles. She has previously held CEO roles at Respect Victoria and the Amy Gillett Foundation. Tracey’s governance roles have included Vice President of Union Cycliste Internationale, where she chaired the global Women’s and Advocacy Commissions, and Director of the Sports Environment Alliance. Her leadership has focussed on prevention and early intervention research, and policy and program/delivery initiatives supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in local, regional, national, and international settings and communities.
Tracey is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the diverse communities that commUnity+ serves and brings significant knowledge, experience, insights, and energy.
Tracey holds bachelor degrees in commerce and science from Deakin University and a Master in Management from the National Graduate School of Management at the Australian National University. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mabel Msopero - General Manager Community Education
Mabel has been engaged in the education sector for over thirty (30) years, including private and public high school education, adult and community education, higher education, and vocational education and training in TAFE and Private RTOs. Mabel’s roles in education have included classroom teacher, program manager, head of department.
Mabel sums up her passion for education in the following:
“Education provides knowledge of the world around us, broadens our perspective, and helps us understand that the world is bigger than our backyard.With a proper education, one holds opinions substantiated by fact and reality, rather than assumptions.”
Mabel’s passion for community education comes from her belief that no-one is an empty vessel, and everyone brings something to the table and together we can build a beautiful and well-informed community. Mabel is and has always been an active member of her community wherever she lived. She has held voluntary roles as Board Member Auckland Asylum Seekers Support Trust, Member Auckland Council Ethnic People Advisory, Founder Member of the New Zealand Based Trust – Sharing Used Resources for Education (SURE).
Mabel is an active member of the Wyndham Council Building Blocks Community Leadership Program 2023 – Allies in the Community Project, and the Wyndham Council People’s Advisory Panel.
Melbourne based for seven (7) years, Mabel holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Certificate in Education, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Management. Mabel is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and New Zealand (IMLANZ).
Nimeshika (Nim) Peiris - Head of People and Culture
Nim Peiris joined Comm Unity Plus Services as Head of People and Culture in October 2019.
Nim brings more than 20 years of broad generalist experience in development of Human Resources
and Organisational Development strategy, learning and development, change management, talent acquisition,engagement and management, HRIS implementation and administration, and employee relations.
Previous roles in Human Resources management include with Good Shepherd Microfinance, Bulla Dairy Foods, Spotless Group and NDB Bank.
Nim holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (Sri Lanka), a Certificate IV in Human Resources from Charles Darwin University, and a Commonwealth Masters in Business Administration from the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Remberto Rivera - Chief Operating Officer
Remberto Rivera joined Comm Unity Plus Services as Chief Operating Officer in January 2024, bringing more than 25 years’ experience working in the for-purpose sector.
Remberto previously worked at ACSO for 12 years as CFO while carrying responsibilities for Facilities and Administration, IT and McCormack Housing (ACSO’s Housing Provider subsidiary). Prior to ACSO he was Corporate Services and Business Development Director at Bairnsdale Regional Health. He also spent ten years with UnitingCare Connections as Corporate Services Director where he led the organisation to consolidate a merger of three smaller agencies into Connections. A migrant from El Salvador, Remberto commenced his professional career in Australia with The Salvation Army.
Remberto has a special interest in Not-for-Profit Governance and is currently a Board Director and Chair of Foundation House (the Victorian Association for the Survivors of Torture Inc), a specialist refugee trauma agency supporting survivors of torture and other traumatic events.
Remberto’s qualifications include a Bachelor in Economics (Honours), Post Graduate Diploma in Business (Accounting) from Deakin University, Post Graduate Diploma in Aged Care Management from Victoria University, and a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University. Remberto is a fully qualified CPA
Key Policies
Terms of Reference
