Meli Housing Board

Dip Frontline Mgt, OH&S and Vocational Education & Training

John is a retired policeman, having served 42 years with Victoria Police, almost all of which was in the Geelong area. He finished his career at the rank of Senior Sergeant, with responsibilities for training and supervision. John served in a number of different areas in his time with Victoria Police, including D.24, Prosecutions Division and child and sexual abuse investigation with Community Policing Squad. John was a long-time Board Member of one of Meli’s founding agencies, Time for Youth. He has a strong interest in advancing the opportunities of disadvantaged young people, which arose while policing and coming into contact with young people who could not find a safe place to live.  He also has a strong interest in the prevention of family violence.

BA (Econ), MBA.

Kathryn is a Certified Practicing Accountant and Financial Controller at Abaris Printing, with a Bachelor of Economics and Master of Business Administration.

She has held senior finance roles in a broad range of companies over her 30-year career, including four years as the Senior Accountant for the Ministry of Finance for the Cook Islands government, working for Ausaid to mentor Cook Island finance officers.

Upon her return to Geelong in 2007, she joined the Board of one of BCYF’s founding agencies, Time for Youth, and has served continuously since then as a Board member with BAYSA and now Meli Housing.

LLB, B(Com)

Daniela is a Special Counsel for Harwood Andrews’ Wills and Estates law practice area. Daniela has been practising law for 13 years, having completed a law and commerce degree at Deakin University. Her interest in corporate governance has resulted in Daniela having been a director on the board of Barwon Health, the largest regional health service in Victoria, as well as Barwon Youth, a not-for-profit agency that provided specialist youth services to disadvantaged young people in the Geelong region. Daniela has completed the AICD Director’s course and examination.

PhD; BA Hons

Karen is an Honorary Research Fellow at Deakin University. Karen’s research areas include: the politics and sociology of Mothering; Migration and Social Inclusion; and Maternity Care; Theories of Knowledge and Power; and Public Policy Analysis.

BA, LLB

Tara is a lawyer with more than 13 years of experience in professional practice. Tara has extensive experience in family law and enjoys being able to give back to the community. In addition to her role on the Meli Housing Board, Tara is on the Meli Community Board and is Deputy Chair of the Meli Kindergartens Board.

Tara currently works as a Principal Lawyer in Family Law with Harwood Andrews. In her spare time Tara enjoys spending time with her family and travelling.

BA(Ed), Grad Dip Sp Ed, Grad Dip Child Adol Psych, GAICD

Grant Boyd is the CEO of Meli. Grant has worked extensively in the not-for-profit, government and private sectors in the fields of education, community services, disability and health where he has held practitioner, leadership and consulting roles.