Board Members

Michael Legge, President*

Appointed December 2011
(Deputy President, November 2003 to December 2011)

Michael joined Red Cross in 1986 as a young and enthusiastic volunteer ambulance driver with the St Marys Red Cross branch in Tasmania. Since then, Michael’s involvement with Red Cross has taken him as far afield as the Pacific, Pakistan and Mongolia. As a member of the Australian Red Cross Tasmanian Division Council and Finance Committee, Michael was also Deputy Chairman of the Division in 1998 and Chairman in 1999. Michael joined the Australian Red Cross Board in 1999 and became Vice Chairman in 2003. He also served on the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Board from 2001 to 2011, becoming Deputy Chair in 2007, and was also appointed Chair of the Board’s international Committee in April 2008. He also chairs the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and the International Humanitarian Law Chairs Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Centenary and Membership Engagement Committee, the Governance Committee and the 2013 General Assembly and Council of Delegates Committee.

Ross Pinney, Deputy President

Appointed December 2011
(Chair, Audit and Risk Management Committee, March 2007 to December 2011)

Serving as a Red Cross Victorian Division Board Member since 2005, Ross was elected as a member of the international Federation of Red Cross Finance Commission in 2007 and elected as the Deputy President of Australian Red Cross in December 2011. He worked for 15 years as a senior manager at National Australia Bank, as Executive General Manager in the Office of the CEO, CEO Europe, and Executive General Manager, Products and Services. in addition to chairing the information Technology Committee, he is a member of the Governance Committee; the National Awards Committee; the Nominations and Remuneration Committee; the Services, Members and Volunteers Activities Committee; and the 2013 General Assembly and Council of Delegates Committee.

Jan West AM, Chair, Audit and Risk Management Committee

Appointed April 2012

Jan has more than 35 years’ finance experience with Australian and international listed and private companies, government agencies and community organisations. Jan was an audit partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and retired from the practice in December 2011. As a Fellow of the institute of Chartered Accountants and of CPA Australia, Jan is also a graduate member of the Australian institute of Company Directors. in recognition of her services to the accountancy profession and to the community, Jan was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2007.

Chris Kwong, Youth Member*

Appointed October 2011

First volunteering with Australian Red Cross in 2008, Chris has since served as a member of the international Humanitarian Law (iHL) Committee of South Australia, the South Australian Youth Advisory Committee and the South Australian Divisional Advisory Board. He founded the South Australian IHL Collective, a group of Young Humanitarian volunteers with a keen interest in communicating the principles of international humanitarian law to the broader community. Chris is currently a solicitor practising in civil litigation. in addition to chairing the Governance Committee and the National Youth Advisory Committee, he is also a member of the Services, Members and Volunteers Activities Committee; the 2013 General Assembly and Council of Delegates Committee; and the international Humanitarian Law Chairs Advisory Committee.

Ian Anson, Chair, WA Divisional Advisory Board

Appointed November 2004

Originally joining Red Cross in 1993, ian served on a number of committees before being elected as Deputy Chairman of the WA Divisional Advisory Board in 1998, then Chair in 2004. ian received a Distinguished Service Award in 2003 and was awarded Honorary Life Membership in 2009. Now retired, ian was a practising accountant and business consultant for over 30 years. At Red Cross, Ian is Chair of the National Asset and investment Strategy Committee and Deputy Chairman of the international Committee.

Alan Clayton, Chair, QLD Divisional Advisory Board

Appointed November 2005

Alan joined Red Cross in 1979 as a foundation member of the Queensland international Humanitarian Law Advisory Committee, and was Chair from 1992 until 2005. Alan was elected to the Queensland Divisional Advisory Board in 1999. He has more than 37 years experience in senior educational management and policy positions within the Queensland Public Service. Alan is Chair of both the National Emergency Services Advisory Committee and the Services, Members and Volunteers Activities Committee, and is a member of the Governance Committee and the Migration Programs Advisory Committee.

John Hood, Chair, VIC Divisional Advisory Board

Appointed November 2007

After joining the Board of Red Cross Victoria in 1995, John was elected Deputy Chairman in 2006 and became Chairman in 2007. After having spent most of his working career as a management consultant, John is a Fellow of the Australian institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the institute of Management Consultants and a Fellow of the institution of Engineers. John chairs the international Committee, and is a member of both the National Emergency Services Advisory Committee and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.

Michael Howarth, Chair, TAS Divisional Advisory Board

Appointed November 2006

Michael joined Red Cross as the Australian Defence Force representative on the Tasmanian Division’s international Humanitarian Law Committee. Michael has been Chair of that committee for the last six years. in addition, he has been practising as a barrister and solicitor in Hobart for 27 years, both in private practice and for the government. Michael is a member of the Centenary and Membership Engagement Committee and the Governance Committee.

John MacLennan, Chair, NSW Divisional Advisory Board

Appointed August 2009

John joined the NSW Divisional Advisory Board in July 1998, was elected as a member of the National Council and became the Deputy Chairman in NSW in 2007. He has been Chair of the NSW Divisional Advisory Board since 2009. He practiced as a solicitor from 1977 to 2012, and is currently Chair of the Migration Programs Advisory Committee. John is also a member of the Governance Committee; the international Committee; the 2013 General Assembly and Council of Delegates Committee; and the Services, Members and Volunteers Activities Committee.

Deven Patel, Chair, NT Divisional Advisory Board

Appointed November 2007

Deven’s involvement with Red Cross dates back to 1978, when he was a junior auditor with KPMG conducting the audit of the NT Division. Deven volunteered as a driver during doorknock appeals and attended Red Cross auctions and fundraising events. He joined the NT Division in 1992. Deven was elected as Honorary Treasurer in 1994, a position he held until 2006 when he became Deputy Chair, prior to his appointment to Chair in 2007. Deven is also a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Migration Programs Advisory Committee.

Sue Vardon AO, Chair, SA Divisional Advisory Board*

Appointed December 2011
(Additional Board Member, April 2009 to December 2011)

Before being appointed Chair in 2011, Sue was on the SA Divisional Advisory Board from April 2009 as an Additional Board Member. Sue has had a distinguished career in public and community service as a Chief Executive in Commonwealth and State Government agencies. Sue was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia where she is currently an Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Work and Social Policy. in addition to chairing the Centenary and Membership Engagement Committee, she is also a member of the information Technology Committee; the National Emergency Services Advisory Committee; the Services, Members and Volunteers Activities Committee and the 2013 General Assembly and Council of Delegates Committee.

Arati Waldegrave, Chair, ACT Divisional Advisory Board*

Appointed February 2012

Arati has been involved with Red Cross since 1995, as a branch member and office holder in New Zealand Red Cross. She was a member of the Central Region Board of New Zealand Red Cross (2005 – 2007) and a volunteer with the Oakland Blood Services of American Red Cross in 2000 – 2001. Arati currently manages the housing policy section of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Dr David Hamill AM, Chair, Australian Red Cross Blood Service

Appointed November 2007

The Honourable Dr David Hamill served on the Queensland Divisional Board of the Australian Red Cross Society from 2003 to 2007. David has been a member of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Board since 2004. He served in the Queensland Parliament as the Member for ipswich from 1983 to 2001, and was a Minister in the Goss and Beattie governments. He received a Centenary Medal in 2001 and became a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2009. David is also a member of Australian Red Cross’ Nominations and Remuneration Committee.

Jeni McDonough, Secretary

Appointed December 2009

While not a member of the Board, Jeni attends Board meetings. Jeni commenced working with Red Cross in September 2004 as Assistant to the Board and was appointed Secretary in December 2009. Jeni has over 33 years experience in administration, the majority of which have been at a senior level. She holds a Certificate of Governance Practice and Administration and is a Certificated Member of the Chartered Secretaries Association (CSA (Cert)).

* Board Members who resigned in 2011/2012 include Greg Vickery AM (President from November 2003 to December 2011), Matt Eyles (Youth Member from July 2010 to October 2011), Lauren Nelson (Chair, ACT Divisional Advisory Board from November 2008 to February 2012), Paul Shinkfield (Chair, SA Divisional Advisory Board from November 2008 to November 2011) and Kate Carnell AO (Additional Board Member from July 2006 to December 2011). Board Members who commenced in 2012/2013 include John Pinney AM (Chair, QLD Divisional Advisory Board from October 2012), John D Dorrian (Additional Board Member from August 2012), Margaret Piper AM (Additional Board Member from August 2012) and Tanya Hosch (Additional Board Member from August 2012).