Our Team

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Our Team

		Alistair Gee Executive Director Alistair has been involved in humanitarian, peace and human rights work for over 15 years. In addition to his role at Act for Peace, over recent years he has had leadership positions with a number of international protection initiatives working to reduce the impact of armed violence, including: Founder of the new Centre for Armed Violence Reduction; Chair of The Border Consortium - which provides humanitarian assistance to over 200,000 Burmese displaced by civil war; Founding Chair of the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect; Chair of the Australian Council for International Development’s Advocacy and Public Policy Committee; and Co-Convenor of Make Poverty History. He has also previously been Chair of Jubilee Australia; the Refugee Advice & Casework Service and Strathfield Home and served on a number of other boards, including for the Australian Council for International Development. Prior to joining Act for Peace in 2005, Alistair practised as a lawyer and was a doctoral candidate in international law (displaced person protection) at the University of Sydney. He grew up supporting Act for Peace initiatives such as the Christmas Bowl, and is very proud to be part of the Act for Peace team.

Alistair Gee
Executive Director

Alistair has been involved in humanitarian, peace and human rights work for over 15 years. In addition to his role at Act for Peace, over recent years he has had leadership positions with a number of international protection initiatives working to reduce the impact of armed violence, including: Founder of the new Centre for Armed Violence Reduction; Chair of The Border Consortium - which provides humanitarian assistance to over 200,000 Burmese displaced by civil war; Founding Chair of the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect; Chair of the Australian Council for International Development’s Advocacy and Public Policy Committee; and Co-Convenor of Make Poverty History. He has also previously been Chair of Jubilee Australia; the Refugee Advice & Casework Service and Strathfield Home and served on a number of other boards, including for the Australian Council for International Development.

Prior to joining Act for Peace in 2005, Alistair practised as a lawyer and was a doctoral candidate in international law (displaced person protection) at the University of Sydney. He grew up supporting Act for Peace initiatives such as the Christmas Bowl, and is very proud to be part of the Act for Peace team.

International Programs & Policy Team

		Janet Cousens Programs & Policy Director In December 2010 Janet was appointed to the position of Programs and Policy Director. With a long history in management, Janet joined Act for Peace in May 2008, where she was responsible as International Program Coordinator for our Burma, Zimbabwe, Cambodia and Syria programs. Previously working on policy and program initiatives for a range of agencies including STARTTS, the NSW Refugee Health Service and NSW Health, the focus of Janet's work prior to joining Act for Peace has been on refugee resettlement, with a specific focus on health. During this time, Janet travelled as a volunteer to Indonesia and the Thai Burma border on several occasions to participate in health based training for refugees and IDPs. Janet’s entry into the humanitarian sector followed a vocation change from the world of international television, where she specialised in documentaries, working for a number of international organisations. Janet holds a Bachelor of Social Work, completing her Honours thesis on resettlement issues for Tamil Sri Lankan women, and a BA (Mass Comm). “I firmly believe that we have a positive role to play in partnering with communities where we can fill the gap in the opportunities they have available to them to address the mechanisms that lead to injustices impacting on their lives. I’m constantly encouraged by the work of our partners and their belief that change is possible.”

		James Thomson Policy & Advocacy Associate Director James has served as the Act for Peace National Advocacy Officer for the Program on Refugees and Displaced People, and is currently Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy. James was the Rapporteur for UNHCR’s Annual Consultations with NGOs in 2007 and 2008, and he has attended the Ministerial Consultations and the DIAC-NGO Dialogue on Humanitarian Issues for the past seven years. James co-chairs the ACFID Protection Working Group, is the founding member and chair of the ACT International Protection Advisory Group, and is heavily involved in refugee rights work. Prior to his current position he spent five years in Ethiopia and Eritrea working as a journalist and in the development field. “I find my work to be a continuous challenge, but am motivated and inspired by the work of our project partners. I've worked for Act for Peace for eight years, but I continue to be amazed by our collaborative partnerships and what can be achieved when sharing common goals.”

		John Ball International Programs Coordinator John has a long history in policy and advocacy work. He is truly dedicated to ecumenism and has been heavily involved on Australian Indigenous issues, Sri Lankan peace advocacy and has played an integral role in the refugee and displaced peoples programs of Act for Peace. John was awarded the Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award in 2009. This award is presented to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to advancing human rights in the international development sector. John is currently an International Program Coordinator working with project partners in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, India and with the Christian Conference of Asia. John has completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours Psychology) at the Australian National University, a Graduate Diploma in Management, RMIT and a Diploma in Education at La Trobe University. “Serving and challenging the churches, as individuals and institutions, to advance ecumenical efforts for God’s shalom and salvation, is an inspiring but also often difficult mission.”

		Ben Fraser *International Programs Coordinator* Ben brings a wealth of international experience to the agency. He has undertaken a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Literature and has completed a Masters of Social Sciences in International Development. Ben has worked for Oxfam, Christian Aid, International Rescue Committee, International Lifeline Fund and has worked on the ground in many countries, managing the operations of programs in Sudan-Darfur, Uganda, Kenya, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia. He is now working with our partners in the conflict-weary Gaza Strip, the Philippines, Pakistan, Afghanistan, West Papua and Zimbabwe. “I find the inner strength of those facing adversity and their determination to make a better life absolutely inspiring.”

		Luke Johnson Vanuatu Church Program Coordinator Luke has worked in humanitarian assistance and community development for 16 years serving in Bosnia/ Croatia, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. He has recently joined Act for Peace as coordinator of the Vanuatu Church Partnership Program, and brings strong experience in the Melanesian region, having grown up in Papua New Guinea and worked in the region for the last 10 years. Luke has previously worked with NCCA–CWS as manager of the Pacific program from 2000 to 2003. He has a background in finance and qualifications in natural resource and environmental management. Areas of special interest are appropriate technology; community media and creative industries in development; environmentally sustainable development; indigenous cultures; and intercultural communication.

		Karen Rasmussen International Programs Coordinator Karen joined Act for Peace in February 2011. She grew up in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, and has an MA in International Studies from the University of Oregon. Karen worked in international development for over 10 years in Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Cambodia, mainly in the fields of child rights and child protection. From 2006, she worked with a human rights-based approach to development, particularly advocating for children’s rights to protection from violence, through media campaigns, developing organisational policies, community research with children and adults, and training parents and caregivers in positive (non-violent) discipline. “It’s been a big shift going from community development to humanitarian work, and taking a broader community protection focus, but I’m excited to be part of an organisation that is taking an active approach to advocating for peace by holding governments and other stakeholders accountable and empowering communities to take control of their lives.”

		Fifi Rashando Agency Development Manager Fifi joined Act for Peace in November 2010. She leads the development of information architecture, organisational knowledge management systems, and institutional infrastructure strengthening as part of a substantial and ongoing change management process. Her position was introduced to help Act for Peace and our partners assess how well we are achieving our strategic goals and to strengthen our capacity to do so. This has included developing technical tools and processes for improving the quality of institutional capacity and project evaluations as well as how we learn from them; coordinating reviews of our funding evaluation process and risk management; and leading the internal capacity assessment to ensure Act for Peace compliance with ACFID Code of Conduct, AusAID Accreditation Requirements, ACT Alliance Standards, and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) Standards. Fifi holds an MBA and has rich experience in successfully designing/refining business processes, setting up microfinance institutions, sustainable livelihood programs as well as social enterprises in post disaster environments. “I’m passionate to apply my skills and experience in providing strategic solutions to assist Act for Peace and councils of churches to enhance their capacity in developing sustainable development programs that will benefit their affected communities.”

		Ross Hardy Pacific Programs Manager Ross is an experienced aid and development professional who has particular expertise in community development, child protection and health administration specialist sectors. Ross has led large and complex programs for a range of international NGOs, UNICEF, AusAID and EU-funded programs. He has worked for over 10 years in the Pacific on development programs and in emergency and post-conflict regions in various countries. Ross holds Master’s degrees in international public health, rural development planning and marketing and management as well as qualifications in community development, and training and assessment. Ross’s countries of work experience include Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, China, the Philippines, India, Nepal, Sudan, Ethiopia, Pakistan / Afghanistan, and Southern Africa.

		Anthony Blake Regional Program Manager (Pacific) Anthony has worked in the disaster risk management and emergency response fields for over 10 years, in Fiji and other Pacific Island countries. Since 2012, he has worked with human rights and inclusive-based approaches to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, particularly advocating for inclusivity and cross-cutting issues, through developing supporting organisational policy development and training. Anthony is also the Disaster Response Focal Point for the Pacific and has responded to many disasters in the Pacific, including TC Pat in the Cook Islands, Samoa Tsunami Recovery Support, TC Evan in Fiji, the Fiji PC121 aircraft crash and others. Anthony supports Act for Peace’s partners in the Pacific as they develop and implement disaster risk management and climate change adaptation programs, and supports them to be better able to respond during emergencies. He is a member of several international, regional and national bodies including the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team and the UN Pacific Humanitarian Team.

		Dorothy Bryce-Fauonuku Assistant Regional Program Manager Dorothy is responsible for program development, implementation, finance and project monitoring and evaluation of disaster and climate-related programs in Fiji, Tonga, Solomon and Vanuatu. She works closely with the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) and National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), government ministries, faith-based organisations, civil society groups and NGOs in these four countries. Dorothy is the focal point in Tonga on gender for the Pacific Humanitarian Team and is dedicated to improving commitment to gender equality and social inclusion, particularly in the event of disaster.

		Aruna Thebuwana Program Finance Officer Aruna is an experienced professional in accounting and finance and joined Act for Peace in April 2012. Aruna is a Chartered Accountant by profession and also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance. He has worked in both accounting public practice as an auditor and in the corporate profit and not-for-profit sectors as a finance professional. He counts over 13 years of experience, particularly in financial reporting, compliance and capacity building. “I look for opportunities to apply my years of experience in finance to the organisations I work for and to continuously improve and add value.”

		Leia Supe *Programs and Policy Intern* Leia joined Act for Peace in September 2012. She recently completed a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (majoring in Social Science and Social Policy) from the University of New South Wales and strives to gain experience in policy review and development. As a Programs and Policy Intern, Leia's current responsibilities include reviewing Operational Plans and templates and facilitating the development of the Program Management Manual in line with the ACFID Code of Conduct and AusAID Accreditation Requirements. She enjoys volunteering at The Hub UNSW as a Wellness Team Project Officer, promoting and fundraising for events on campus to encourage greater student engagement and action on current social justice and public health issues.

Marketing & Communication Team

		Ben Littlejohn Marketing and Communication Director Ben moved from the UK to lead the Marketing and Communications team in May 2012. He brings with him extensive experience of marketing in the international aid and development sector. He has held a number of senior fundraising and campaigning roles, and prior to joining Act for Peace was Head of Innovation and Change Strategy at Oxfam GB, where he spent nine years. Ben has managed high-profile fundraising initiatives in a range of disciplines including events, community, digital, corporate, direct marketing, and institutional fundraising and he has worked on campaigns tackling poverty, trade justice, arms control and climate change. Before switching to international development, Ben worked in a number of commercial marketing roles for companies including Procter & Gamble. He has been lucky enough to visit development programs in Tanzania, Namibia, Nepal and Sierra Leone and feels privileged to be part of a network of committed people making a lasting difference through Act for Peace.

		Sarah Gregory Head of Marketing and Campaigns Sarah started with Act for Peace in March 2010. She holds a Masters with Distinction in International Development and a Bachelor of Communication. Sarah's previous experience is in advocacy campaigns, as the Coordinator of the Make Poverty History campaign in Australia from 2005 to 2007, then as the Global Mobilisation and Outreach Coordinator for the Global Call to Action against Poverty, where she had the privilege of working with pro-poor campaigners in 115 countries. Prior to joining Act for Peace, Sarah was a researcher for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, on its Global Project for Measuring the Progress of Societies. Sarah has lived and worked in South Africa, Chile and France, and travelled extensively through the developing world.

		Howard Graham Act for Peace Partners Coordinator Howard has completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) NSWIT (now UTS) 1983, and a Fellowship of the Australian Insurance Institute. He worked for 40 years with NRMA and retired as the General Manager of Strategic Planning. In 1998/9 he had two short-term management consulting assignments with United Church in Solomon Islands for Act for Peace and served 3 years as General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea in Lae. “I really enjoy drawing from past experience and using those skills to help raise funds and awareness for the amazing work of our project partners working in war-torn areas and with some of the world’s poorest people…”

		Corinne Roberts Acquisition and Campaigns Coordinator Corinne joined the team at Act for Peace after completing a Masters degree in Development Studies at the University of Sydney in June 2012. Corinne brings experience from roles in communications, campaigning, public relations and knowledge management. Before starting at Act for Peace Corinne worked for the United Nations Development Program in Fiji as Public Information Officer, introducing a new knowledge platform in the Pacific. She has more recently worked for a communications consultancy in Sydney, on public relations and strategic communications as well as for leading architect Zaha Hadid as a Press Officer in London. Corinne enjoys travelling and founded the fundraising arm for a small West African NGO, in Sydney after travelling and volunteering in the region six years ago.

		Trish Hogan *Marketing Coordinator* Trish completed a Bachelor of Communications at Macquarie University before embarking on a career in advertising. She has a wealth of experience working with clients to develop and deliver effective campaigns, in both Sydney and London. Her expertise crosses a range of communications channels including direct mail, press, outdoor, online, experiential, radio and TV. After living and travelling abroad for five years, Trish returned home to Sydney in 2012 with the intention of applying her corporate skills to a cause she felt passionate about. She joined Act for Peace as the Marketing Coordinator in 2013, and is currently studying her Graduate Diploma in Refugees and Displaced People at UNSW.

		Emma Halgren Media and Online Coordinator Emma began working at Act for Peace in January 2011. Much of her working life has been spent in church and not-for-profit organisations. Previously, she worked for four years as journalist and editor, and later in a promotions role, for Uniting Creative, the communications department of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT. In 2009, she spent twelve months in Geneva as a youth intern in the communications department of the World Council of Churches, an experience that gave her a real sense of how churches can work together to promote peace and justice in the world. Emma holds a Bachelor of Social Science from Macquarie University, and a Graduate Certificate in Journalism from the University of Technology, Sydney. “With so much need in our world, it’s a real privilege to work for an organisation like Act for Peace which is working in very concrete ways with partners around the world to bring peace and stability to communities affected by the kinds of conflict and suffering that most of us can’t even imagine.”

		Susan Lorenzo Marketing & Communication Assistant Susan began working as an intern at Act for Peace in May 2010 and moved into her current position in September of the same year. She obtained a PhD in Chemistry from the University of New South Wales. “I consider myself truly fortunate to work with people so skilled, enthusiastic and determined to help some of the most disadvantaged people in the world, and to be able to contribute to that work myself.”

		Kizzy Gardiner Head of Community Fundraising Kizzy joined Act for Peace in 2012, having previously worked with Oxfam and Macmillan Cancer Support in London, UK. Kizzy has had great success working with market-leading community fundraising teams and setting up high-profile community fundraising initiatives. Kizzy has experience managing relationships and staff within community fundraising, high-level giving, corporate partnerships and event-led fundraising. She has a deep commitment to using her skills to promote international development and overcoming poverty. She has travelled extensively throughout Latin America and the sub-continent and is grateful to now be working with Act for Peace to overcome poverty and conflict in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. “It is an honour to work with our supporters, who offer up unbounded time, energy and money, to help their brothers and sisters around the world whom they will probably never even meet. I am overwhelmed on a daily basis by the generosity possible in the human spirit. It is an honour to work for Act for Peace and to raise money for communities around the world.”

		Jeff Wild *Development Officer, VIC & TAS* Jeff was previously a teacher and has completed an M.Ed. in Religious Education. Since then he has worked for most of the last 20 years for the ecumenical movement. He has now completed a Graduate Certificate in International Development. Since joining Act for Peace (then CWS) in 2001, he has travelled to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Fiji, Geneva and Kuala Lumpur to become better informed about the work of our partners. “I love meeting our partners and hearing about, and seeing, their inspiring work. I also love meeting our supporters and am thrilled and humbled by their warmth and generosity.”

		Virginia Macaspac *Development Officer, SA & WA* Virginia joined Act for Peace in October 2010. She brings a wealth of experience to the team, having worked in the travel, customer service, insurance and finance industries, and most recently completed her Diploma in Financial Services (Financial Planning) in 2007. During her career so far, she has been fortunate to visit many countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and the Middle East. But it wasn’t until a short-term mission trip to the Philippines through her local church that Virginia really got see first hand the poverty and everyday struggles many people endure to feed and care for their families. “It is genuinely a humbling experience to live with local families and see people in the worst possible situations that are so willing to share what little they have, and smiling against all their adversity, they are truly inspirational! This motivates me to help raise funds to support our projects worldwide to reduce poverty and conflict, whilst using the skills and gifts God has given me for a greater purpose!”

State Ecumenical Councils

Act for Peace staff work in partnership with State Ecumenical Councils.
For specific contact details, please click here