Our Board

Charitable Reuse Australia is governed by a volunteer Board, composed of qualified executives in the charitable reuse and retail sector.

Our Directors are elected by members and elections are held each October during the Charitable Reuse Australia Annual General Meeting.

The Board comprises up to nine directors including the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and State Directors.

Charitable Reuse Australia has a strong national focus, while acknowledging that many issues affecting the sector are dictated by state legislation. Our national remit ensures that we can:

Share charitable reuse and retail best practice with all member enterprises
Meaningfully measure and scale the impact generated by the sector as a whole
Advocate for government and community investment in reuse innovation.

Concurrently, Territory Directors and our accompanying member meetings ensure that we stay updated on state-specific challenges and opportunities.

Chair – Terry O’Neill

Chief Executive Officer, Link Vision

Terry is CEO of Link Vision Ltd, which provides accommodation and education services for people with low or no vision. In addition to his commitment to Charitable Reuse Australia, Terry is an active member of the VIA (Vision Impaired Association) and is President of the QWCC (Queensland White Cane Committee). He has extensive general management experience in the transport, materials handling, logistics and reuse sectors throughout Australia. Terry played a pivotal role in the introduction of kerbside reuse in South East Queensland, including Brisbane City’s first kerbside contract. He also successfully operated his own PR business for several years. Terry has previously been involved with Rotary International and Ronald McDonald Charities and in his spare time, he enjoys Jazz music and being a passionate AFL supporter.

Vice Chair & TAS Director – Peter Freak

Manager Assets & Property, City Mission

Peter is Launceston City Mission’s General Manager Social Enterprise and previously Vinnnies Northern Regional Manager. He has broad financial experience in the Banking and Finance industry for 29 years. This has included varied business and retail banking roles in South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania. In his final banking role, he was responsible for Westpac’s Commercial and AgriBusiness banking network covering Tasmania. Peter has experience in several different types of boards, including NFP and church organisations and is now focusing his efforts in the Not-For-Profit sector. Outside of work, he enjoys golf, bush walking and spending time with his wife and two adult daughters.

Treasurer – Susannah Slatter

Area Manager – Op Shop Strategy, Uniting Vic Tas

Working in advertising agencies for more than 15 years, Susannah has extensive experience in marketing, communications and relationship management. Susannah is passionate about using initiative, strategic thinking and expertise to interrogate, formulate and articulate business insights that lead to best practice solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and completed the Tasmanian Leadership Program in 2020.

Susannah currently holds the position of Area Manager – Op Shop Strategy for Uniting Vic Tas, managing the implementation of creative, innovative and unique strategic initiatives designed to create positive customer experiences and enliven communities. Susannah is based in Hobart and spends most of her free time reading library books.

NSW Director – Yolanda Saiz

CEO St Vincent de Paul Society NSW

Yolanda Saiz is the CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.

Yolanda is a versatile executive leader with over 25 years’ experience of making a difference for the community in the commercial, local government and non-profit sectors.

Her years of developing and delivering strategy, driving commercial growth and leading teams through cultural change have given Yolanda an authentic and relational leadership style.

Yolanda is a member of the CEO Institute of Australia, the Fundraising Institute of Australia and was previously a Company Director of the Animata Maternal Foundation. Yolanda holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism and Politics) and studied leadership at Harvard Business School.

QLD Director – Jamie Mackay

General Manager, Lifeline Retail, UnitingCare

Jamie has held the position of General Manager, Lifeline Queensland (excluding Darling Downs), UnitingCare since 2019. Having a retail background spanning over 40 years working in many large corporate environments. Jamie’s business acumen is wide, comprising of retail, financial, property, volunteering, media, marketing, advertising and working closely with team members across many businesses to enhance the industry business cultural for both customer and team. Jamie has worked together with many organisations including Government and Charities to enhance the Retail industry and support the coordination of subsidiary industries. Previously Jamie held roles including General Manager, Myer Queensland leading a team of over 3,000 with an annual turnover in excess of $800m, and RPG Nike Multi-state leader, with a team of over 200 members. He has attained the Mt Eliza Management Leadership executive program 2014 -2016 certification.

SA Director – Martin Nordstrom

Sustainability Co-ordinator, Salvos Stores

Martin Nordstrom is a highly educated, divergent thinker. As a multidisciplinary, Martin has worked in charitable reuse, retail, volunteer management, consultancy and project management across a 15 year period. As Project Manager with Charitable Reuse Australia, Martin oversaw the completion of research which continues to inform dialogue on illegal dumping, community behaviour and the role of government. As Sustainability Coordinator at Salvos Stores, Martin is leading the conversation on what it means to be sustainable as a charitable reuse enterprise and is passionate about People, Planet and Not-for-Profit. Martin holds a Master of Sustainability, a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Design Studies (Architecture).

WA Director – Aaron Harding

Chief Operating Officer, Good Sammy

Aaron is the Chief Operating Officer for Good Sammy, an iconic Western Australian charity that operates social enterprises in which over 400 people with a disability work and train.

He has previously worked with other ‘for purpose’ organisations such as St John Ambulance and the RAC of WA operating and building businesses in diverse sectors.

He has a degree in Commerce (Accounting and Finance) and a Masters of Business Administration.

Aaron has a commitment to inclusivity and creating employment opportunities for people with disability, a dedication reflected in his management and growth of training businesses in Perth and regional areas.

Aaron is also a Board member for Nascha – an innovative and transparent NDIS provider in Perth that has been providing individualised tailored support to Western Australians with a disability since 1991.

Omer Soker

CEO and Company Secretary (non Board role)

Omer joined Charitable Reuse Australia as CEO in March 2018, following his expertise as an association strategist and his passion for social, environmental and economic impact. He is the author of ‘The Future of Associations’; a 6-step roadmap for membership organisations and has led and consulted to a wide range of Not-For-Profit boards. Omer is a keynote speaker on strategy, innovation and engagement, as well as business ethics and organisational trust. Omer has held senior management roles in global corporations with $32 million in P&L responsibility and expertise in the retail, homewares, fashion and online sectors.