Our Team

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Together we work to strengthen communities

Led by a proactive and strategic Board, United Way Australia is a team of 20 dedicated people located in Sydney and greater NSW with the goal of bringing about systems change to break the cycle of disadvantage.

Clayton Noble, CEO United Way Australia

Clayton Noble commenced as CEO of United Way Australia in early 2017. After a successful start to his career as an Air Force Officer, Clayton held executives roles with companies including Fuji Xerox, Dell & Coles Myers, leading diverse teams across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Clayton adopts a values-driven leadership approach with a deep sense of purpose and demonstrated commitment to life-affirming values. He is also a strong advocate for business leaders adopting a ‘profit for purpose’ mindset through effective business/community engagement. Clayton takes a collaborative approach to his work as a social change agent, and takes a particular interest in child & youth success and ethical supply chains.

Clayton has an undergraduate degree in business and master degree in science. He lives in Sydney, married with four adult children, and is a keen ocean swimmer & kayaker.

Leo Krikmann, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program Manager

Leo brings to United Way several decades of corporate business experience as a mentor and coach to business leaders across a wide mix of market segments in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. During the past decade Leo has been the director of a sales enablement consultancy and in more recent times transitioned to the not for profit sector.
His knowledge and expertise continue to enhance United Way Australia’s partnership development and stakeholder engagement capability.

Heading up the program management of the Imagination Library in Australia is an incredible opportunity to see the positive impact on the lives of thousands of children who are given access to a world class literacy development program.

Leo has five grandchildren and enjoys being a part of their developmental journey.

Rubie Ireson, Director, The Hive

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 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.

Shelly Mohan, CFO & CoSec

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.

Fiona Mitchell, Director of Programs

Fiona joined United Way in 2023 bringing over 20 years of experience in strategic and operational management within the not-for-profit health sector. Fiona is passionate about driving innovative solutions and adopting best practice approaches to achieve positive outcomes for communities and stakeholders. Fiona’s role focusses on stakeholder engagement and leading UWA’s growing READ, LEARN and SUCCEED initiatives nationally. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Business Law.

Grace Pestonji, Head of Programs – Growth & Impact
Grace joins United Way with 15+ years experience in marketing, partnership development and project management for NFP’s and creative industries. She brings to the role a proactive approach to marketing, event activations and strategic partnerships and a strategic outlook to the organisation’s programs for growth and impact. She is fuelled by building positive connections with people, time spent with her family, getting involved in creative pursuits and working where she can help make a positive difference.

Grace brings to UWA a wealth of experience and a proven track record in project management in creative industries, strategic marketing in the NFP sector and building successful business partnerships across a diverse range of roles.

At UWA Grace is responsible for driving revenue growth through partnerships and events, overseeing strategic marketing efforts and nurturing and strengthening our corporate partnerships for shared value.

Working in a collaborative environment, in a hands on role where she can make an impact is what drives Grace. As a mum of two young boys she is passionate about nurturing and supporting children to thrive and reach their full potential.

Our board

Liz Dibbs
(Chair), Western City District Commissioner – Greater Sydney Commission, Deputy Chancellor Western Sydney University
Anne Myers
Non-Executive Director, Defence Bank Ltd
April Palmerlee
CEO American Chamber of Commerce
Brett McGrath
President of the Law Society of NSW. Registrar, Family Court of Australia & Federal Circuit Court
Charles Woodall
Senior Vice President Alliances and Channel Sales, Salesforce
David Baynham
Director of Strategic Communications at the Business Council of Australia
David Harrison
Managing Director and Founder, Austcorp
Jenny Abood
Senior Investment Advisor, Morgans Financial Limited
Lyndsey McKee
Acting CEO, Centre for Social Impact
Michelle Locke
Boorooberongal woman of the Dharug Nation. Board member and Secretary of the Dharug Strategic Management Group. Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University
Nicole Wearne
Partner, Clyde & Co
Robyn McKern
Partner, McGrathNicol Advisory
Wayne Weaire
Farmer, Counsellor, MD Mingara Park, Chairman of the Ballarat Foundation and Director of Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
Liz Dibbs, (Chair), Western City District Commissioner – Greater Sydney Commission, Deputy Chancellor Western Sydney University
Anne Myers, Non-Executive Director, Defence Bank Ltd
April Palmerlee, CEO American Chamber of Commerce
Brett McGrath, President of the Law Society of NSW. Registrar, Family Court of Australia & Federal Circuit Court
Charles Woodall, Senior Vice President Alliances and Channel Sales, Salesforce
David Baynham, Director of Strategic Communications at the Business Council of Australia
David Harrison, Managing Director and Founder, Austcorp
Jenny Abood, Senior Investment Advisor, Morgans Financial Limited
Lyndsey McKee, Acting CEO, Centre for Social Impact
Michelle Locke, Boorooberongal woman of the Dharug Nation. Board member and Secretary of the Dharug Strategic Management Group. Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University
Nicole Wearne, Partner, Clyde & Co
Robyn McKern, Partner, McGrathNicol Advisory
Wayne Weaire, Farmer, Counsellor, MD Mingara Park, Chairman of the Ballarat Foundation and Director of Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

We work closely with our affiliates throughout Australia