At Social Futures we work to build inclusive communities where everyone is valued and supported. We support people to thrive by connecting them to the support they need when they need it. We work with communities, organisations and government. Our work focusses across key areas of homelessness, housing, youth and family, mental health and wellbeing, disability inclusion, sector support and seniors in community.
Thriving people, strong communities.
To achieve positive social change in our communities.
Connection is at the heart of everything we do. It is by connecting our participants to their communities, to services and to culture that we support them to thrive.
Our focus on connection is supported by comprehensive wrap-around services and a network of strong referral pathways. We have a diverse skills base and have developed a practice that is person-centred, culturally responsive, trauma-responsive and evidence-based.
Do what is right
Everyone matters
Get better at what we do
Pat Grier has extensive experience in the health care sector as well as sales, marketing and general management. Including 20 years as CEO of Ramsay H...ealth Care. Which he grew to become Australia’s largest private hospital operator. With more than 100 hospitals internationally, 30,000 staff and a turnover of $3 billion.
His early career included senior management roles at Reckitt & Colman and S.C. Johnson & Son. As well as General Manager at Revlon Australia. He received the Member of the Order of Australia in 2010.
Pat has previously served on a number of boards, including ten years as Chairman of the Private Hospitals Association.
Keith Sloan served on the staff of the Southern Cross University Business School for 23 years.
He has more than 40 years of research, ...consulting and teaching experience. Focussed in the areas of international finance and economics, investment analysis, portfolio management, and corporate finance.
Over 10 years board experience with listed, unlisted and not-for-profit boards.
In his role as a professional economist Keith became acutely aware of widening divergence in the quality of life. In particular the experienced by people living in this wonderful part of regional Australia.
Keith sees his work with the Social Futures board as making a small contribution to redressing these imbalances and building a stronger regional community.
Leanne has been in the financial services industry since 2002. She has built strong relationships with a variety of Aboriginal companies, people and c...ommunities across eastern Australia.
Leanne is passionate about financial education and having trusted and connected relationships. She has used her professional experience to provide practical support and opportunity to regional, remote and urban Australia. Especially in her current role as Manager of Indigenous Business at Westpac.
With expertise in transactional banking solutions for all industry but in particular the not-for-profit sector, she was awarded one of the bank’s Bicentennial Service Honours in 2017.
Penny’s diverse career has spanned journalism, property management and IT.
In her current position as Head of Sales and Account Mana...gement for Inlogik, she is a sought-after keynote speaker. She has spoken at financial seminars on the topic of finding solutions to improve efficiency and accountability in expense management for not for profit and commercial organisations.
Penny brings her experience working with more than 100 not for profit clients. Her passion for social justice to the Social Futures Board, with the hope of making a unique contribution to our organisation which, she believes, makes such a difference to people’s lives.
Kirstie has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and strategy. Which includes strategic marketing, branding, marketing communications, digita...l and consumer behaviour.
She has worked with organisations including Fairfax Media, DDB Australia, Omnicom London, McDonald’s Australia, Mercedes Benz UK and Royal Mail UK. As well as not-for-profits and local, state and federal governments.
Kirstie currently provides marketing consultancy and teaches postgraduate and undergraduate degrees in marketing and strategy.
Kirstie is an experienced Non-executive director, and has a Master of Commerce from University of NSW, and a Bachelor of Economics from University of Sydney.
Chris has 39 year’s experience in the disability sector at the federal and state levels. He is a former Deputy Secretary for Disability in NSW. He b...rings extensive experience working in senior roles in aged care, community care, corporate services, child protection and housing.
Chris managed the transfer of NSW disability services to the NDIS and contributed to the development of the landmark Disability Services Act.
He is also on the Board of the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Music and has previously been a member of a number of government boards, including most recently the NSW Mental Health Advisory Board.
Chris joined the Social Futures board in 2019.
Trish is General Manager of Indigenous Business & Community Engagement with Australian Unity focused on the economic development of Indigenous people,... business and community. She has more than 20 years’ experience working in human services roles within state government from front line service provision to senior executive leadership.
In 2018 after joining Westpac’s prestigious Equilibrium Program she transitioned into the financial sector. Trish is a proud Ngemba woman, from Bourke NSW. She is passionate about empowering community to be economically independent.
She has previous experience on a number of boards from large not-for-profits to local sporting clubs.
Trish joined the Social Futures board in 2019.
A non-for-profit and disability leader for over 8 years, Jane is a Disability Policy consultant, working with for-purpose and NFP organizations to del...iver high-level policy consultation work. Jane is currently a Non-Executive Director (NED) for Holy Cross Services and Social Futures.
Previously, Jane has been a Senior Policy Officer at People with Disabilities Australia (PWDA), Policy and Advocacy Team Leader at Blind Citizens Australia (BCA), and Non-Executive Director at Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), serving as Chair of the Nominations and Performance Committee.
Throughout Jane's policy work, she has contributed to the NDIS Review (lead), Disability Royal Commission, Aged Care Royal Commission, Senate inquiries, and federal and state consultations on a broad range of issues, including the NDIS, National Disability Strategy, state Disability Plans, transport, education, employment, banking, housing, community access, civic participation, and emergency response/planning.
Jane is passionate about changing the trajectory for upholding the rights of people with disabilities. Jane writes and speaks publicly on local, state, and national media, and social platforms, blending professional expertise with direct lived experience of deafblindness.
We farewell Joe in July 2024. During his tenure, Joe provided invaluable strategic insights and robust backing for our community initiatives. He activ...ely contributed to advocacy efforts, notably making significant contributions to campaigns like the Voice to Parliament. He is a proud Bundjalung and Yorta Yorta man and is highly respected for bringing the latest trends in strategy, technology and innovation to empower clients and First Nations communities to be future fit. Thank you Joe.
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We farewell Margarita July 2024. Margarita brought her wealth of experience in engagement and community enrichment with Indigenous and remote communit...ies to our Board. Her deep understanding of the issues they face includes the importance of education, access to services, and sustainable employment as pathways to positive social impact. Thank you Margarita.
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Finishing her time with Social Futures in November 2023, Orit has made an outstanding contribution during her 8 years on the Board at Social Futures. ...Orit has been an incisive, clear and steady contributor to Social Futures as we have grown and developed in her time here. She has shown a passion for our work and has always stepped in to help, most recently as Chair of Our Quality Risk and Governance Committee. Thank you Orit.
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