Board of the Mercy Foundation
The Foundation is governed by its Board whose members are appointed by the Congregation Leader and Trustees of the Sisters of Mercy, North Sydney.
Chairperson
Ms Annabel Senior
Annabel has worked in a number of senior roles in the community services sector, in both government and non government agencies. She has worked in metropolitan and regional areas and has a commitment to issues of social justice spanning a career of over 35 years.
Annabel has also held a number of positions on boards including past President of the NSW Council of Social Services, member of the NSW government Social Justice Reference Group and Chair of Homelessness Australia.
She has a degree in Social Studies from the University of Sydney and was awarded the 2006 Family Action Centre University of Newcastle award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Community.
Deputy Chairperson
Mr Kevin Gardner
Kevin Gardner MCom, BBus, FCPA, FCIS, JP has over 35 years of senior management experience in finance, accounting, taxation, manufacturing and retail. He has well developed skills in business analysis, product strategy, sustainable business improvement, an effective communicator at all levels, including mentoring and successfully turned around loss making businesses. He recently retired as Chief Executive Officer for Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, where he was involved in fundraising, donor acquisition and bequest programs. Board Positions: Former Chairman Lenity Australia Ltd (now retired), Chairman Foresight (Australian Overseas Aid and Prevention of Blindness) Limited, Director Mercy Foundation Limited.
Mrs Nicole Christensen
Nicole is an outstanding educator who truly embodies the values of Catholic education in the Mercy tradition. She has a proven commitment to academic excellence as illustrated over many years at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College.
Nicole is a role model with energy, capacity and the resilience to motivate and inspire the young women in the College. She excels in her understanding and leading of educational policy at both State and National levels, has a firm grasp of the International Baccalaureate programme and processes, and will ensure Monte stays at the head of the educational curve.
Nicole brings to this role a variety of educational leadership and teaching experiences with over twenty-five years in independent Catholic girls’ schools. She has completed both a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education and is currently working on her PhD. Nicole has contributed and continues to contribute to a number of external education committees and Working Parties and is currently a member of the IB World Heads Council, a member of the Association of Independent Schools Advisory Council, a member of the AMSSA Executive and the Principals’ Representative on the Catholic Girls’ Secondary Schools Sporting Association and a Council Member of the Federation of Religious Institute and Ministerial PJP Catholic School Authorities in NSW and ACT.
Nicole is consulting with the Maliana Diocese of Timor Leste on their strategic plan and the building of a Teacher Professional Learning facility to improve the standard of teaching and learning in the 56 schools in the Diocese.
Mrs Louwana Saba
Louwana Saba is the Mission and Formation Director for Mary Aikenhead Ministries. Louwana is a two time graduate of ACU, having first completed her secondary teaching degree, and more recently completing a Master in Theological Studies with a specialisation in Biblical Studies.
Prior to her current work, Louwana worked as a Religious Education teacher and Retreat Coordinator at Jesuit school, St Ignatius’ College in Sydney, and has been significantly influenced by Ignatian Spirituality both professionally and personally.
After taking leave from teaching to have children, Louwana discerned in 2017 it was time for a career shift, and now works in the Catholic health care sector. She works with the Executive team to ensure that the staff and volunteers of the hospital know about its Catholic identity, values, ethics and heritage. She has completed the Ministry Leadership Program with Catholic Health Australia
Louwana feels strongly that her position on the Board of the Mercy Foundation is an example of the call to work in church ministry, seeking to bring hope and healing to communities near and far.
Professor Jennifer Burn AM
Professor Jennifer Burn is the Founding Director of Anti-Slavery Australia and has over 17 years of research and practice experience in human trafficking, slavery and forced marriage. Anti-Slavery Australia is a university-based law and research centre dedicated to advancing the rights of people who have experienced all forms of modern slavery.
Jennifer has led the development of Australian best practice anti-slavery initiatives since 2003. Through her research, advocacy and practice she has pursued legislative amendments and policy developments to promote best practice responses for the prevention of modern slavery and to ensure survivors of modern slavery have access to the protection and support they need. As a practicing lawyer, Jennifer has provided direct legal representation to hundreds of men, women and children in Australia. As a member of the Law Faculty at the University of Technology Sydney, she also teaches “The Law of Human Trafficking and Slavery”.
Jennifer was appointed to the inaugural Australian Government National Roundtable on Human Trafficking in 2008 and continues to serve. Over the years, she has served on various National Roundtable committees to improve Australia’s response to trafficking and slavery, particularly through active membership of the forced marriage working party, the supply chain working party and the labour exploitation working group. She was a member of the Sydney Archdiocesan Anti-Slavery Taskforce between 2017 – 2019. In 2019 she was appointed as the NSW Interim Anti-Slavery commissioner, a role she held until September 2020. Jennifer is currently a Board Member of the Mercy Foundation and a member of the Advisory Group for the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery (CReMS) at the University of Auckland Business School.
Jennifer is nationally renowned as a thought leader in the field of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, particularly for her work on the prevention of all forms of modern slavery and victim support. Jennifer’s work has been recognised through awards such as the 2016 UTS Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Medal for Research Impact and the 2020 Law Council of Australia Outstanding Migration Lawyer of the Year.
Jane van Beek
Jane is from a family where three generations have enjoyed the opportunity to attend Mercy schools and experience the Mercy charism. A former Director on the Board of Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College, Jane enjoyed a career with roles in high schools as an English, History and Japanese Teacher, Debating and Social Justice Coordinator, Communications and Publications Coordinator. She was also Schools Program Manager with Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. Now retired, Jane is a regular volunteer with organisations including The Asylum Seeker Centre, St Canice’s Café and The Story Factory.
Peter Knoblanche
Peter Knoblanche is an experienced director and former banking executive with a strong commitment to social purpose and community impact. He brings nearly four decades of leadership in financial services, including serving as CEO Australia and Regional Manager for Australia and New Zealand at Rabobank, the global food and agribusiness bank.
Peter is Chair of The Wheen Bee Foundation, supporting pollinator health and global food security, and serves on the boards of GrainCorp Limited and entities in the Laguna Bay Group.
He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme, holds a Bachelor of Commerce, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Peter is passionate about building a fairer, more sustainable future.
