CALD2LEAD Board
Sarita Narayan CCD - Chair
Sarita joined the CALD2LEAD Board in 2025 after successfully completing her CALD2LEAD scholarship and the Certified Community Directors Course through the Institute of Community Directors Australia. Having already established our CALD2Action Working Group focussed on increasing our “Scholars Experience and Impact”, Sarita joins our Board as a purpose-driven diversity advocate and strategic leader with over 24 years of experience across government, consulting, and community engagement.
Sarita is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and driving meaningful policy reform. Sarita has a proven track record in leading diverse teams, chairing influential networks, and delivering systemic change through cross-sector partnerships. She is recognised for translating community insights into actionable government strategies, drawing on lived experience and inclusive governance expertise to influence long-term reform. Her passion lies in strengthening social cohesion by fostering collaboration that delivers equitable outcomes for all Victorians.
Sarita is also Founder and Director of both SDN Connect and The Resilient Journeys.
The Resilient Journeys provides a platform to empower women and individuals from multicultural and multifaith backgrounds — including migrant communities — through tailored coaching, mentoring, and inspirational keynote speaking. It also provides consulting services to advance cultural inclusion through corporate programs, inclusive leadership development, and diversity coaching tailored to organisational needs.
SDN Connect is a purpose-driven consultancy advising government and community organisations on customer centric strategic planning, business case development, and investment models that align with community priorities and public value.
Stephen Lansdell FCLP - Board of Director
As a Co-Founder and Board of Director, Steve is passionate about assisting members of CALD communities to secure quality leadership training and access to industry-leading programs through scholarships.
A Leadership Victoria alumni, Steve’s leadership journey and community volunteering weaves throughout his life and across the globe from building and fundraising for African schools to forming lifelong bonds and mentoring with asylum seekers, to creating gender diversity in local football and sports clubs and helping transform communities, education and not-for-profit organisations.
Steve currently serves as a Director on the Geelong Grammar School Council and sits on their Survivor Engagement and Asset Management Committees. With 20 years of experience in the environment sector, he currently leads EPA’s Western Metropolitan Region and has established it's Sunshine hub and operations across Melbourne's CBD and western suburbs.
Sarah Wood GAICD FCPHR - Board of Director
As an experienced consultant, coach and facilitator in organisational development, Sarah is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources, and also serves as a Non-Executive Director for WEstjustice. Sarah has extensive experience in effectively partnering with Executive teams and Boards to deliver best practice in leadership, team effectiveness, capability development and culture change across a range of sectors.
Having developed a number of workforce and business strategies, Sarah takes an innovative approach to developing optimal workplace solutions and applies robust frameworks to establish and monitor progress of an organisation’s goals.
Sarah has been providing guidance and advice in regard to CALD2LEAD’s strategy, goals and values since early 2023.
Closely aligned with CALD2LEAD’s vision, Sarah is passionate about providing individuals with opportunities for growth and development, and she has been mentoring and coaching senior leaders, team leaders, aspiring leaders and HR professionals for many years.
