Mission Australia's Board guides the organisation's strategic direction, oversees management and ensures compliance with the organisation's goal, purpose and strategic objectives. Mission Australia's Constitution requires between six and twelve Directors, who are Independent Non-Executive Directors. Our current Directors bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise, particularly with regards to corporate stewardship.

They act voluntarily and receive no payment for their services, but are compensated for costs incurred while fulfilling their duties. Their knowledge of Mission Australia is maintained by regular visits to our services, presentations and education programs.

The role of the Board is summarised in the Board Charter. 

People are at the heart of our business. The role of our Executive Committee is to provide leadership, direction and support to enable our people to perform at their absolute best. Led by our CEO Sharon Callister, the Executive Committee meets monthly to review operations, monitor performance, identify new opportunities and plan for the future.

Our Directors

Photo of Ian Hammond

Ian Hammond
BA (Hons), FCPA, FCA, FAICD
President And Chairman
Ian was appointed Chairman of Mission Australia in November 2022 and has been a Director since 2016. He is a Director (and former Chair) of Mission Australia’s Social Housing subsidiaries and a member (and former Chair) of the Board Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Service Impact Committee. Ian is based in Sydney. Ian is Chairman of Quiz Worx Inc. and a Director of Suncorp Group Limited and Perpetual Limited. His previous Director roles have included Venues NSW (NSW Govt authority which manages Stadiums), Chris O’Brien Lifehouse (integrated Cancer Hospital in Sydney) and Citi’s Australian retail bank. Previously, Ian was a Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers for 26 years and has held a range of senior management positions, including lead partner for several major financial institutions.

Photo of Bob Mitchell

Dr Robert Mitchell AM
LLB, MPhil, GradDipTax, GradDipTheol, MThSt, GradCertMin, PhD, FAICD
Independent Director
Bob was appointed as a Director of Mission Australia on 27 February 2019. Bob is a member of the Board Audit & Risk Committee and is Chair of the Service Impact Committee and the Clinical Quality and Safety Committee. He is based in Melbourne. Bob is a Director of Eastern Health and The Company of CSC Australia Limited. Bob is an ordained Anglican minister and is a council member of the University of Divinity. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of Anglican Overseas Aid and previously served World Vision Australia in senior strategic and operational roles. A solicitor by background, Bob was a partner at PwC for nearly 15 years. In 2019 Bob was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant services to the community through charitable organisations and to the Anglican Church of Australia.

Photo of Debra Stirling

Debra Stirling
BA, GAICD
Independent Director
Debra was appointed as a Director of Mission Australia on 22 February 2017 and as a Director of Mission Australia Housing, Mission Australia Housing (Victoria) and Mission Australia Housing Tasmania on 18 August 2022. She is also Chair of the People Culture & Remuneration Committee. Debra is based in Melbourne. Debra is a Director of MaxiPARTS Limited and a member of the Council of Scotch College, Melbourne. She is an experienced Director having formerly held several directorships across the corporate and government sectors. Debra has over 25 years’ experience as a senior executive across industries including building & construction, retail, property, mining, financial services, agriculture and manufacturing.

Photo of Mike Codling

Michael Codling
BSc (Hons), FCA
Independent Director
Michael was appointed to the Mission Australia Board on 22 November 2021. He is the Chair of the Board Audit & Risk Committee, a member of the People, Culture and Remuneration Committee and attends the Clinical Quality & Safety Committee. Michael is based in Sydney. Michael is Chairman of the Diocesan Financial Advisory Task Force and the Audit Committee of the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Australia. He previously chaired The Freedom Project and had a 38-year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney and London where he held various leadership positions including the senior partner role for a number of large financial institutions.

Nancy Fox small

Nancy Fox AM
BA, JD Law, FAICD
Independent Director
Nancy was appointed as a Director of Mission Australia on 24 February 2021 and as Director and Chair of Mission Australia Housing, Mission Australia Housing Tasmania and Mission Australia Housing (Victoria) on 22 November 2022. She is a member of the People, Culture & Remuneration Committee. Nancy is based in Sydney. Nancy is a Director of Perpetual Ltd, Aspect Studios and is Chair of Perpetual Equity Investment Company and Deputy Chair of RFS Benevolent Fund. She is an experienced Director having also formerly held directorships with several ASX listed and not for profit companies. Nancy has over 25 years’ experience in the finance sector including debt capital markets and infrastructure finance working predominantly in New York, Asia and Australia. In the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours Nancy was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the financial and banking sector, and to women in business. Nancy is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AIDC) and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Photo of Elle Davidson

Elle Davidson
BTRP GradCert Indigenous Engagement GAICD MPIA
Independent Director
Elle was appointed as a Director of Mission Australia on 21 November 2022.
Elle Davidson is a proud Balanggarra woman from the East Kimberley and has been a member of the Mission Australia Service Impact Committee since 2019. She is based on the Northern NSW Coast. Elle has worked in community engagement and the planning industry for more than a decade, with extensive experience working alongside First Nations Peoples. Elle previously held various roles at GHD, a global water, energy and urbanisation professional services company including as Indigenous Engagement Leader, Reconciliation Action Plan Coordinator and Stakeholder Engagement and Social Sustainability consultant. Elle currently serves as a Director of Zion Engagement and Planning, an Aboriginal consultancy services and training provider for built environment projects that engages with First Nations communities. Elle is also an Aboriginal Planning Lecturer at the University of Sydney.

Photo of Joanna White

Joanna White
BCom MBA GAICD
Independent Director
Joanna was appointed as a Director of Mission Australia on 21 November 2022 and is a member of the Mission Australia Board Audit & Risk Committee. She was appointed as a Director of Mission Australia Housing, Mission Australia Housing Tasmania and Mission Australia Housing (Victoria) on 14 August 2023. Joanna is based in Sydney. Joanna previously served as a Director and Chair of Opportunity International Australia. She was a Director of the Commonwealth Bank’s employee superannuation fund and was Chair of the Investment Committee. She has also served as a Director and Vice-President of the YWCA NSW and as President of the Harvard Club of Australia. Joanna was most recently a Vice-President at Capgemini Invent and has held executive leadership roles at Westpac, Commonwealth Bank and NAB. She was a founder and CEO of The Australian Charities Fund (now Workplace Giving Australia).

Photo of Jacqueline Kelly

Jacqueline Kelly
BA MBA (Advanced) MAICD AIST
Independent Director
Jacqueline was appointed a Director of Mission Australia on 21 November 2022 and is a member of the Mission Australia Service Impact Committee. She is based in the Sunshine Coast. Jacqueline has extensive governance and executive experience across the not-for-profit, private and public enterprise sectors, including previous roles as a Director on the Board of UnitingCare Queensland and member of the Queensland State Advisory Council for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. Her experience includes 15 years as chief executive of a significant aged care provider, disability, family and community services, and housing. Jacqueline also serves as a Trustee Director on the Board of Prime Super.

Photo of Jon Hayman

Dr Jon Hayman
MBBS FACEM
Independent Director
Jon was appointed to the Mission Australia Board on 1 December 2023. Jon brings clinical care experience to the Board as a medical doctor. He is currently a Senior Staff Specialist, Emergency Physician, Director of Emergency Medicine Training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney and Clinical Chair of the NSW Health Training and Education Institute Emergency Medicine State Training Council. Jon has clinical experience through his clinical work caring for indigenous peoples, the homeless and geriatric patients and has provided advanced medical care (aeromedical retrieval service) to rural and remote communities in NSW.

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Our founding purpose - 'Inspired by Jesus Christ, Mission Australia exists to meet human need and to spread the knowledge of the love of God'