Board of CALD2LEAD

CALD2LEAD Board

Sarah Wood GAICD FCPHR - Deputy Chair, Director Strategy & Capability

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.

Leissa Van Saane - Director Partnerships & Programs

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 - Company Secretary

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 - Treasurer

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 and is a Community Mental Health Practitioner at Mind Australia. 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 “Seat at the Table” program through the Centre for Multicultural Youth and observed CALD2LEAD.

Stephen Lansdell FCLP - Co-Founder, Chair

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.

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.

Hugh Wareham FICDA - Co-Founder, Former Chair

As a Co-Founder & former inaugural 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 including Greening Australia.

His current position as Policy Advisor at GreenCollar involves focusing on strategic 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.

Dennis Banfield, Co-Founder, Former Chair

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, Former Director & 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.