PATHFINDERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Executive Team
Alan Brennan has been CEO of Pathfinders since 2004.
An experienced leader with a passion for social policy, he has a strong background in human services, child protection and welfare, juvenile justice, disability, community education and development.
His role is to manage the 300+ staff who make up the Pathfinders' teams to ensure that the many programs and services we deliver continue to make a difference to our clients, improve their lives and create opportunities.
Alan sits on the board of YFoundation, a peak body addressing youth homelessness, and is a member of the Children in Care Collective and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a former board member of the Association of Children's Welfare Agencies.
He holds qualifications in Law, Social Work, Psychology and Education.
Alex Shaw OAM has been a dedicated force in the service of the community for over five decades. Alex has always held a deep commitment to making a positive impact on society.
Beyond the corporate realm, Alex's dedication to community service has been unwavering. His involvement with the Royal Freemasons' Benevolent Institution, where he served as CEO from 1993 to 2016, exemplifies his commitment to aged care and support.
In addition to his significant contributions to RFBI, Alex has played pivotal roles in various organisations, including serving as a Board Director of the Royal Freemasons' Benevolent Institution and as a member of the Rotary Club of Sydney since 1991. His exemplary leadership within the Rotary Club is underscored by his tenure as President in 2016 and the honour of receiving the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow for Service in 2018.
Recognised for his outstanding service, Alex was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2019, a testament to his enduring dedication to community welfare. This honour acknowledges the breadth of his contributions to his communities. Alex Shaw's involvement with Pathfinders began in 2017, where his wisdom and experience have proven invaluable in guiding and growing the organisation. Alex brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep-rooted passion for making a positive impact on the lives of those in need.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Executive Team
Courtney Pay is our Senior Manager for Out of Home Care, with responsibility for Foster Care, Residential Care, Semi-independent Living, the Interim Care Model and the Short Term Emergency Placement program.
She joined Pathfinders in 2017 and has worked across all aspects of the Out of Home Care program, including experience as a front-line caseworker.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
With a career spanning over three decades, Damian is currently engaged as the Zone Substations Field Manager Telecommunications North for Essential Energy. As a seasoned Telecommunications Coordinator and Senior Engineering Officer since 2004, Damian has been instrumental in executing successful operational and capital works programs. His expertise extends across crucial areas including risk analysis, budgeting, technical evaluation, safety in High-Risk work environments and stakeholder engagement which Damian has brought to his role as Director with Pathfinders.
Damian's qualifications extend beyond his professional accomplishments. He possesses a diverse set of industry certifications including Advanced Diplomas in Telecommunications Engineering and Program management, in addition to several other industry and safety related accreditations. Beyond his professional life, Damian is an engaged member of the community. He has a strong passion for various sporting organisations and has even had the honour of representing Australia in the "Presidents 8 Polocrosse Squad" during their 2005 tour in Canada and USA. Damian also dedicates his time to volunteering at sporting and social gatherings, actively supporting, and promoting the development of youth.
Damian Hall's unwavering commitment to his community is evident in his three-decade-long career marked by exceptional leadership and dedicated service. His extensive expertise and wealth of knowledge in the field of telecommunications, risk analysis and stakeholder engagement support the continued growth and impact of Pathfinders.
Joanne Hall is the Senior Manager for Corporate Services and has been an influential member of the leadership team since 2013 when she joined Pathfinders as Human Resources Manager.
She is responsible for a broad suite of programs and services, including: Human Resources, Work, Health & Safety, Quality Assurance, Special Projects, training and education, Pathfinders National Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program and Cultural Support, Specialist Homelessness Services, Aboriginal Early Years Program, NDIS, family and youth support programs, Non-Placement Support Services, Therapeutic Care, media and promotions, and grant and tender works.
A strategic thinker, people orientated and empathetic, Joanne has been integral to the success and growth of Pathfinders.
Joanne holds a Bachelor of Business with a Double Major in Human Resources and Economics from the University of Southern Queensland and is currently undertaking a Juris Doctor from the same university.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, NSW Law Reform Commission
Justice Wood currently serves as the Chairman, NSW Law Reform Commission (from 2006); Member NSW Sentencing Council (from 2006); Member NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team (from 2011); Member Human Research Ethics Committee Children's Hospital, Westmead (from 2005) and is the Director of Painaustralia Limited.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director With the Grafton Ngerrie LALC
Kevin is a proud Aboriginal man from Warren NSW Wailwan country, now living in Wauchope on the Mid North Coast of NSW.
Kevin grew up in Sydney and in Warren NSW. Kevin has worked for The New South Wales Public Service for 50 years for various Departments, over his long career, pursuing a position that Kevin can share his knowledge of his Aboriginal Culture where it will make a positive difference and support the communities he had worked in, as well as sharing this knowledge with agencies and his peers. Kevin's time with The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) over the past 34 years 24 of those years as a Senior Caseworker (Aboriginal) during Kevin's time with, The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) Kevin obtained his Diploma in Community Service, has spent time acting as Manager Casework. Kevin's areas of expertise are in the child protection and out of home care fields where he has been able to make a real difference in the support, care and protection on children, young people and vulnerable families, which exemplifies his commitment to sharing this knowledge with agencies and his peers and supporting Aboriginal communities.
Kevin working as a champion for First Nations people formed part of a team representing the Northern Rivers Region, to develop and put into practise, the Aboriginal Consultation Policy which is now applied in the use of the Aboriginal Case Management Policy Rules and Practice Guidance policy for the Department of Communities and Justice and their partner agencies. Kevin is and has been actively involved in numerous community based and non-government organisations, providing support, advice on issues effecting Aboriginal people and engages in Aboriginal consultative processes when required. Kevin has an extremely vast knowledge of the issues facing First Nations people and he actively supports and encourages others to be more proactive and educated in this area.
Prior to moving to Wauchope Kevin live in Grafton for 14 years, 4 of those years, Kevin became a director with the Grafton Ngerrie LALC, prior to moving to Wauchope, where Kevin is an active member of the Bunyah LALC.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Training and Education Centre in Armidale Providing Vocational Skills Development, Education and Accreditation
Marie Delaney Training and Education Centre in Armidale providing vocational skills development, education and accreditation
Job Titles:
- Pathfinder 's Senior Manager Finance
Mark Crompton is Pathfinder's Senior Manager Finance and is responsible for all of the company's financial functions, including corporate finance, auditing, accounting, business planning, forecasting, and partnership investment relationships.
He oversees the teams responsible for financial management, information technology management, resource management (properties and fleet) and insurance. Mark drives a culture of continuous growth and innovation and plays an integral role within the leadership team, with a focus on delivering improved outcomes for our clients. He provides financial direction and overall strategy in line with Pathfinders' mission and values.
Prior to joining Pathfinders in 2019 Mark had an extensive 40-year-career working in financial and IT positions within a number of councils and not-for-profits. He holds a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University and an Advanced Diploma of Management from the University of New England.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Mark has over 30 years' experience in the finance field, including financial reporting and management reporting, he possesses a Bachelor of Business Majoring in accounting from Charles Sturt University - Bathurst, Accounting Certificate from the Department of Technical and Further Education - Armidale and have. He has experience in the for profit sector and gained experience in not for profit sector.
During his career, Mark has been involved in all aspects of finance, including HR/payroll and the migration of finance systems. Mark has extensive experience in leadership, and he believes that people should be made feel part of the team and pride himself in seeing individuals and work groups achieve their goals whilst providing compliant and quality support to the organisation. Mark has recently completed a Diploma in Christian studies and has taken on a part-time position a chaplain in aged care and a role supporting regional pastors and leaders for Fresh Hope NSW and ACT.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Rosemary was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2023. As a director on the Pathfinders Board for ten years Rosemary has been able to influence decisions that improve the lives of Aboriginal people in the areas we work including Education, employment, refuge and cultural connection are all important.
Rosemary is an Aboriginal Elder currently living in Glen Innes where she volunteers and advocates for a number of Pathfinders' programs including the Pathfinders National Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program and the Pathfinders Royal.
Raised in Tingha and Mungindi NSW, Rosemary has experienced a unique, colourful and gifted life to date. During the early stages of her long and accomplished career Rosemary helped to form the Tingha Aboriginal Corporation, providing local Indigenous families with housing.
As well as this Rosemary volunteered with the Health Commission to eradicate tuberculosis amongst Indigenous people living in Tingha and surrounding regions. Rosemary has served with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and on the Aboriginal Development Commission (previously known as ATSIC) as well as serving on numerous other boards and committees. She has accumulated numerous accolades and awards for her work in the community.
Job Titles:
- KC - Pathfinders Official Patron
Pathfinders is honoured to have the Honourable James Wood AO, KC as their patron.
Mr Wood is well known for his commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.
Mr Wood was commissioned to conduct the inquiry to determine what changes within the child protection system are required to cope with future levels of demand. In November 2008 he released the Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW. The inquiry reported on what changes were required within the child protection system to improve the safety of children and families in NSW. Keep Them Safe is the NSW Government's response to the Wood Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.