Our Team & Board
Kerri Jefferis
Community Engagement Officer
Kerri is an artist, organiser, facilitator and habitual plotter. She joins us fresh out of the UK where she has spent the past fifteen years living, studying and working across grassroots projects, tertiary education and cultural production.
Kristen Soon
Secretary
Inspired by the Vic Park Community Centre’s values and initiatives, Kristen embraced the opportunity to serve in a Board capacity with her experience and organisational background in November 2021. Kristen had an extensive career experience in the higher education sector before stepping out to pursue her lifelong interest in people and in social justice which led her to a humanitarian organisation working with refugees and asylum seekers, and subsequently to the family law sector and an environmental youth organisation. Driven by her pursuit to see people flourish and her passion to building connectedness in culturally diverse and vulnerable communities, Kristen dedicates her available time to volunteering and championing purpose-driven initiatives in the community. As a mum of two young children, she believes in leading by example and impacting future generations.
Mary Hewitt
Board Member
As Digital Operations Manager for a global resources company, Mary is a self-professed technology nerd, having worked in the areas of Robotics, Data Science and having a deep interest in anything else that is cutting edge - Quantum Computing, Augmented Reality, you name it. Mary recently moved into her forever home in the Town of Victoria Park, where, keen to be a part of the community, she co-founded the Carlisle Street Activators in 2020 - a group that tries to build local connections within the Carlisle community and activate unused public spaces. As a part of the Vic Park Community Centre board, Mary wants to ensure that the centre's activities are inclusive, leveraging digital technologies to ensure that all can benefit from the centre, and continue to support a centre that truly reflects the diversity of the Vic Park community.
Lucy Smales
Board Member
Lucy Smales seeks to make things happen in their most useful and flexible form. Her capacity for listening to the whole and integrating perspectives to find the simplest next step (or dance move) enables communities to dance on the shifting carpet together. Lucy embraces the Vic Park community life, catalyzing ideas, and sparking and nurturing connections. Lucy brings her experience as a learning designer, facilitator, social, government and commercial innovator into our work and play spaces. A natural capacity builder, Lucy loves learning and creating learning experiences and spaces with connection and belonging at heart.
Rahul Seth
Board Member
Rahul is the founder of Perth’s biggest mental health support group, Activate Mental Health. A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Rahul has built a network of volunteer-led fun social activities throughout the Perth metropolitan area for those who identify with lived experiences of mental health issues.
Rahul has been an active user of the Victoria Park Community Centre, where he’s hosted a monthly board games night since August 2016.
Belinda Gault
Chairperson
Belinda brings a wealth of business experience to the Board including strategy implementation and organisational governance. She has held Management and Executive level roles for more than 20 years in a diverse international arena working extensively in Australia, Asia, USA, UK and Canada. She is passionate about the pursuit of innovation and community inclusion and is excited to be working with the Centre to add value to the Victoria Park Community.
Elaine Makinya
Treasurer
Inspired by the Vic Park Community Centre’s values and initiatives, Kristen embraced the opportunity to serve in a Board capacity with her experience and organisational background in November 2021. Kristen had an extensive career experience in the higher education sector before stepping out to pursue her lifelong interest in people and in social justice which led her to a humanitarian organisation working with refugees and asylum seekers, and subsequently to the family law sector and an environmental youth organisation. Driven by her pursuit to see people flourish and her passion to building connectedness in culturally diverse and vulnerable communities, Kristen dedicates her available time to volunteering and championing purpose-driven initiatives in the community. As a mum of two young children, she believes in leading by example and impacting future generations.
Ben Fahrner
Community Engagement Officer
Ben joins the centre with a background in facilitating and managing educational programs for young people in Perth and abroad. With a history of volunteering and qualifications in commerce and project management, he is keen to apply his skills an experience at the centre.
Renee Darbyshir
Board Member
Renée is a Vic Park local who believes in the power of community for changing the world and transforming lives. She brings to the board over 20 years experience in community development and social impact leadership. Renée is a strategic thinker and strong collaborator who looks forward to contributing to the good governance of this vibrant community centre