Meet the Board

Penny Fowler

Chairman, Herald & Weekly Times

Penny Fowler is Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times, a role she was appointed to in July 2013.

Penny acts as News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador. Her involvement in building on the company’s legacy of supporting the communities within which we live and work is an area she is passionate about.

Penny is Chairman of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, is a Board member of The Australian Ballet, Deputy Chairman of The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and a Board Member of The National Portrait Gallery.

She is also on the Advisory Board of Visy, the Advisory Board of the Bank of Melbourne, Chair of the Bank of Melbourne Foundation and has recently been appointed to the Board of Tourism Australia.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Penny holds a Bachelor of Business degree from Monash (Chisholm) University and is a CEW member.

Zoe Sredovic - GFA

Zoe Sredovic

Commercial Finance Manager, News Corp Australia

Zoe is a Certified Practicing Accountant with 30 plus years of experience in Commercial Finance. Across her long career at News Corp Australia, Zoe has rotated through varying roles within the finance, commercial and community space. This includes Head of Reporting and Controls for the Herald and Weekly Times, Head of Finance and Operations for the Leader Community News, Commercial Finance Manager for News Corp National Community Media & Real Estate and her most current position as the Commercial Finance Manager for News Corp Publishing.

Zoe’s commitment to the community is reflected in her involvement as a board member of the Good Friday Appeal and her continual voluntary work across her career.

Peter Blunden - GFA

Peter Blunden

National Executive Editor, News Corp Australia

Peter Blunden was appointed National Executive Editor of News Corp Australia in May 2020 with responsibility for the company’s national journalism and commercial editorial operations.

Peter was previously Victorian Managing Director – Editorial for eight years with responsibility for all News Corp print and digital mastheads in Victoria and Tasmania including the Herald Sun, Sunday Herald Sun, the Weekly Times, Leader Community Newspapers, the Geelong Advertiser Group, and The Mercury before which he served five years as Managing Director of the Herald & Weekly Times and eleven years as editor and editor in chief of the Herald Sun. Peter edited the Adelaide Advertiser for more than five years, held various senior positions with The Australian, and was founding editor of The Australian’s colour magazine in 1988.

His 43+ year career with News Corp Australia has taken him from Sydney to Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne. Peter was inducted into the Victorian Media Hall of Fame in 2014, and was awarded a Centenary Medal for services to the media industry in 2001.

Directorships: Peter is a director of the Herald & Weekly Times, the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Good Friday Appeal, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, and a committee member of the Moonee Valley Racing Club.

Peter Clark

Executive Director, Arthur St Digital

Peter has been a director of the Good Friday Appeal since 2013. He has more than 25 years experience in media and marketing in senior executive roles such as Executive General Manager of The Herald & Weekly Times and Executive General Manager – Digital Publishing at News Corp.

Peter is currently an owner and Executive Director at Arthur St Digital, an award winning Geelong based Digital Marketing agency.

Lewis Martin

Managing Director Seven Melbourne, Seven Network

Lewis first joined Seven as a Sales Executive in 1994. Mr Martin was appointed Managing Director of Seven Melbourne in 2008 and Network Head of Sport in 2019. He leads the day to day running of Seven Melbourne, and plays a critical role leading sports rights negotiations and broadcast management.

Mr Martin is a Board member of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Visit Victoria, a Director of the Cure for MND Foundation and an advisor to a number of Melbourne based not-for-profit organisations, He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Head shot of Richard Ainley

Richard Ainley

Partner | Health and Wellbeing, PwC Australia

Richard was appointed as a director of the Good Friday Appeal in December 2021. Richard is a partner at PwC Australia where he is consulting leader for health in Victoria and national leader for ageing and reablement.

Richard brings more than 25 years’ experience in the healthcare industry spanning consulting, executive, board director and clinical roles. He has a previous clinical background as a physiotherapist. Richard is committed to achieving positive change and new value for health systems, organisations and people.

Richard is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, where he has a special interest in developing and mentoring future leaders.

Meet the Team

Rebecca Cowan - GFA

Rebecca Cowan

Executive Director

Rebecca joined the Good Friday Appeal as the Executive Director in April 2020.

She started her career in the corporate sector before moving to the not for profit sector where she has held senior leadership roles across strategy, marketing and fundraising. Rebecca is passionate about the health and wellbeing of children and is delighted to be working with the Good Friday Appeal.

As a kid… you would find Rebecca on the basketball court or camping with her family

Headshot of Lucille

Lucille Degenhardt

Marketing & Communications Manager

Lucille joined the Good Friday Appeal team in February 2022.

With over fifteen years’ experience in marketing and communications, Lucille enjoys developing practical solutions and collaborating on creative projects.

Lucille is delighted to be working at Good Friday Appeal and helping The Royal Children’s Hospital deliver world class health care services. Her family were touched by the RCH team when they saved the life of her daughter in 2016.

As a kid… you would find Lu laughing and singing as she plans her next tea party.

Claire O'Ridian - GFA

Claire O'Riordan

Supporter Relations Coordinator

Claire joined the team in December 2020 after spending five years living in Asia and the USA raising her two young sons.

She brings with her over 10 years of experience of working in the Arts and various charities specialising in stakeholder engagement, corporate partnerships, events and fundraising.

Claire has studied mindset and positive intelligence and is passionate about maximising personal and team effectiveness.

As a kid… you would find Claire zooming around with her favourite toy; her roller skates.

Ryan Withers

Partnerships and Campaign Manager

Ryan has spent his career curating long lasting partnerships to help create win-win scenarios. Working across training, education and medical he brings a unique perspective to how our partners can facilitate fun and unique fundraising campaigns

His role as Partnerships & Campaign Manager means our partners can bring their ideas to life while working with a friendly & welcoming face.

As a kid.. you would find Ryan exploring the vast bushland surrounding his rural home!

Simone Dalla Riva

Head of Fundraising and Communications

Simone joined the Good Friday Appeal team at the end of July 2021.

Simone has spent most of her career working with commercial partners in the publishing industry to create and deliver successful marketing and advertising campaigns.

She is looking forward to taking this experience to the Good Friday Appeal as Fundraising and Relationship Manager to collaborate with our amazing corporate and community partners to continue to build on their very generous fundraising efforts.

As a kid… you would find Simone hiding up a tree in the backyard, reading a book.

Headshot of Michelle

Michelle Orbach

Digital Solutions Manager

With over a decade of experience working in operations and systems management, both in not-for-profit and commercial sectors, Michelle joined the Good Friday Appeal in December 2021.

Michelle is thrilled to be part of the Good Friday Appeal Team and its important work in support of The Royal Children’s Hospital. Her aim is to both support and further enhance the digital reach of the Appeal, within a rapidly changing world.

As a kid… Michelle could be found curled up in a cozy chair by the window reading her favorite books.

Glenn Anderson

Finance Officer

Glenn joined the Good Friday Appeal as the Finance Officer in July 2021.

He started his career in the corporate sector before moving to the not for profit sector where he has held senior finance roles.

Glenn is delighted to be working with the Good Friday Appeal given the great impact that it has.

As a kid… you would find Glenn playing tennis or cricket and camping/fishing with his father and grandfather.

Remi Lih

Social Media and Content Executive

Remi joined the Good Friday Appeal team in July 2022.

She has spent her career exploring the wonderful world of social media and enjoys creating fun and impactive campaigns with cut through.

Remi is looking forward to making a difference with the Good Friday Appeal and sharing incredible stories from the people and patients who make the appeal possible.

As a kid.. you would find Remi playing dress up with her childhood dog Maxy.

Anna Wilson - GFA

Anna Wilson

Community Fundraising Manager

After living overseas and travelling the world for 16 years, Anna moved back home just over two year ago and has been working for the Good Friday Appeal ever since.

Anna has worked for various charities in England, however, she grew up with the Appeal and now gets to live it!

She feels incredibly fortunate to work for the Good Friday Appeal because of the amazing volunteers that she gets to work with every day.

In her role, she assists volunteers and fundraisers, ensuring they have everything they need to carry out a successful fundraising event.

As a kid… you would find Anna munching on a classic Caramello Koala; her favourite treat.

Georgie Hill - GFA

Georgie Hill

Operations & Volunteer Manager

Georgie’s role at Good Friday Appeal is to manage the improvement of processes for Events, Stakeholder Relationships and Volunteer Coordination.

Her aim is to ensure our volunteers are well supported and recognised for the generous giving of their time and skills, whether that is for an hour, a day or a lifetime of involvement.

As a kid… you would find Georgie playing Cluedo or Scrabble.

Welby

Silvana Schirripa

Administration Assistant

Silvana has been a member of the Good Friday Appeal Team since 2010. Silvana’s role includes account reconciliation and administration duties.

On Good Friday you will find Silvana in the middle of a very busy Money Counting Room, supervising the counting of tens of thousands of coins brought in by our dedicated Collection Groups.

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