CALD2LEAD Board
Hugh Wareham FICDA
As a Co-Founder & Deputy Chair of CALD2LEAD Hugh is passionate about assisting members of CALD communities to secure quality leadership training and access to industry leading programs through scholarships.
Hugh has spent 25 years in the environment and sustainability sector within government and not for profits in the United Kingdom & Australia including senior executive and CEO roles over the past 15 years.
His current position at Greening Australia involves focusing on policy, fundraising and influencing and engaging Australian governments.
Hugh is a board member of Jane Goodall Institute Australia and has served on the Board of Environment Victoria and been the Chair of Trustees.
Leissa Van Saane
Leissa is a Board member and Director of Partnerships and Programs of CALD2LEAD. Leissa is the Community Partnerships and Governance Officer at Wyndham City Council and volunteers with Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.
Leissa is deeply passionate about community development and leadership. Leissa spent five years at Leadership Victoria, managing leadership programs for a wide range of audiences across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.
Pearl Li Ng GAICD
Pearl is Board member and Company Secretary of CALD2LEAD.
Pearl is the Head of Smart City, Innovation, and Improvement at the City of Casey, a rapidly growing Council in Australia. With a future-focused agenda, she leads the integration of smart technology, collaboration, and innovation to enhance sustainability and resilience in the local region.
Pearl is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is committed to driving effective board leadership.
Trained as an engineer at the University of Melbourne, Pearl has a diverse background spanning professional services, non-profit, and government sectors.
She has been recognized with esteemed awards including the Science & Technology Australia's Superstars of STEM and a finalist for the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards. Pearl hopes to inspire the next generation of STEM practitioners to be exceptional leaders, especially females who are first-generation migrants.
Salima Hussaini
Salima is a Board member and Treasurer of CALD2LEAD and Director of Youth. Salima is passionate about educating and empowering CALD leaders to pursue leadership in their communities.
Salima has recently completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences. She has volunteered in mentoring programs to support students learn essential skills to prepare them for university by sharing her experiences.
Salima was part of the “Sit at the Table” program through the Centre for Multicultural Youth and observed CALD2LEAD.
Stephen Lansdell
As a Co-Founder and Chair of CALD2LEAD Steve is passionate about assisting members of CALD communities to secure quality leadership training and access to industry-leading programs through scholarships.
Steve’s leadership journey weaves throughout his life from building African schools to forming lifelong bonds & mentoring with asylum seekers, and from creating gender diversity in football and sports clubs to helping regional communities transform their industry, environment, and wellbeing.
With over 15 years of experience in the environment sector, he has a great opportunity to be part of a significant social transition as EPA’s new Western Metropolitan Regional Manager.
Dennis Banfield, Founder
Dennis Banfield has substantial leadership experience in the business and not-for-profit sectors across Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.
An executive member of Vp PLC, Dennis leads the growth and transformation strategy of one of VP’s Australian and Asia Pacific businesses.
Former chair and co-founder of CALD2LEAD, Dennis is passionate about assisting members of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to secure quality leadership development from high-calibre contemporary leadership programs.
Dennis is a Starlight Children’s Foundation board alumnus, Leadership Victoria mentor and Community Leadership FOLIO Fellow, and Victorian Government–appointed Australia Day Ambassador.
Dennis was born on 26 January 1968 and is delighted to celebrate his birthday as an Australia Day Ambassador.
Faye Shee-Durnion, Board Ambassador
Former Board member and now Ambassador Faye is passionate about assisting members of CALD communities to secure quality leadership training and access industry-leading programs through scholarships.
Faye is a university student studying for a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in politics and communications. She is an avid volunteer and public speaker with a passion for environmental activism, mental health advocacy anti-discrimination rights, and youth empowerment.
Faye is contracted to facilitate leadership workshops in schools with yLead and often works through the Centre for Multicultural Youth as an emcee, panelist, facilitator, and mentor with a focus on community development.
Faye recently completed the ‘Seat at the Table’ Leadership Immersion Program through the Centre for Multicultural Youth in parallel with a twelve-month Board Observership placement with CALD2LEAD.
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