Led by a proactive and strategic Board, United Way Australia is a team of 30 dedicated people located in Sydney and greater NSW with the goal of bringing about systems change to break the cycle of disadvantage.
Shelly has built strong technical accounting, financial reporting and process improvement experience over her 15 years in industry and consulting roles. She has worked with a variety of organisations, from start-ups to large ASX listed companies, and acquired many insights on best practice and how to implement it. As a member of the United Way Australia team, Shelly uses her background and skills to make a real difference by driving financial strategy, day-to-day operations and implementing the strategic vision.
As a mother to two children under 5, Shelly understands well how the experiences and education a young child receives can set them up for a successful future. Shelly is passionate about helping children to get their best start in life.
Shelly has a Bachelor or Business from UTS, is a Chartered Accountant and member of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.
Rubie joined the Hive as Director in 2020 and provides strategy and direction to all of The Hive’s work in Mt Druitt. Rubie has experience in Collective Impact work, and has held various leadership roles. Rubie works alongside The Hive’s key partners to build relationships, advocate for system-level change and identify new opportunities to respond to community aspirations and priorities.
Rubie has great love for Mt Druitt, she completed her high schooling locally in Bidwill and continued to work in Bidwill, and in the Western Sydney area for many years. Rubie has two large German Shepherds and also has her own podcast.
David brings 20+ years’ experience across corporate, not-for-profit, industry body and small business environments. He leads partnerships and marketing that inspire supporters to help Australian children read, learn and succeed.
He has worked with Boards, executives and frontline teams across banking and finance, insurance, construction, engineering, retail, education and membership organisations, delivering commercial outcomes and social impact.
Passionate about education and equal opportunity, David holds a B.Ec. (Marketing) and an MBA (Strategic Management). Outside work, he supports the Sydney Swans and volunteers with Greyhounds as Pets.
Cheryl joined United Way in 2024, bringing over 20 years of management experience across corporate, SME, and micro business sectors, particularly in Financial Services and IT solutions. She oversees operational functions such as IT, procurement, risk, governance, compliance, CRM and donor management, HR, major events, and projects. Cheryl is dedicated to supporting the United Way team in achieving their goals. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, further enhancing her leadership capabilities.
Julie Johnson is a dedicated philanthropy leader committed to driving impactful giving. As Head of Major Gifts, she partners with generous donors to create lasting change in communities through strategic philanthropy. With extensive experience in major gifts fundraising, Julie specialises in donor engagement and stewardship, ensuring every contribution makes a meaningful impact. Passionate about United Way’s mission, she connects philanthropists with opportunities to drive real social change.
Claire Galea is the Head of Research at United Way Australia with over 30 years of experience as a statistician. She is passionate about using data to tell compelling stories, aiming to highlight and drive positive change for children worldwide. Claire’s expertise and dedication make her a key figure in leveraging data for impactful narratives.
