Rowena O'Byrne - Bowland
Board Chair
With over 15 years of
industry experience, Rowena runs The Write Words Communications, a strategic
copywriting and project management consultancy. The Write Words works with
organisations to best to communicate their core business to their clients and
stakeholders. This includes government submissions, tenders, external
resources, websites, award applications, internal documentation and so on.
Rowena first became involved with
ERCKWA in 2013 when she was approached to help write and edit our quarterly
newsletter, The Eddie-torial. Rowena then joined our Profile, Fundraising and
Events Committee in 2015 before being appointed to the Board in 2016 and as
Board Deputy Chair in 2020.
Kris Behets
Board Vice Chair
Kris is passionate about supporting not for profit organisations that assist Aussie kids to be kids, and support young people to become the best version of themselves they can be. She has cooked on a number of camps, played a Christmas elf at the kids Christmas party, enjoyed the celebrations of the annual ERC ball and hopes to continue this for many years.
The Behets Family Foundation supports a number of NFP organisations through financial and in-kind donations.
Aaron Dominish
Treasurer
Aaron is a trusted professional with 5 years' experience in restructuring, insolvency, forensic and management accounting services at Hall Chadwick Chartered Accountants. During this time, Aaron has been exposed to a range of industries and insights into the effective management of successful operations.
He joined ERCWA in 2013 and was involved as a volunteer leader, camp coordinator and representative of the volunteer leader committee. Through his role on the Board, Aaron is endeavouring to give back to the organisation that has helped shaped his character and expand his comfort zone.
Aaron also sits as the secretary of the Restructuring and Insolvency Network of Western Australia (RINWA) committee, which provides networking opportunities to young professionals in the insolvency industry, and volunteers his time at the Achievers' Club WA, where he tutors children between grades 1 and 12 in English and Mathematics.
Aaron has a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Marketing) from the University of Western Australia, is a professional member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a professional member of the Australian Restructuring, Insolvency and Turnaround Association. In his free time, Aaron enjoys watching sports (especially his beloved West Coast Eagles), playing guitar, dishing up new cuisines and keeps active by running and hitting the gym.
Thomas Coltrona
Board Member
Thomas is an
enthusiastic and affable young lawyer with a passion for volunteering for
organisations focussing on empowering young people. This passion began in 2013
when he joined ERCKWA, where he has been
involved as a volunteer leader, camp coordinator, camp assistant manager and
camp manager. Through his role on the Board, he is looking to use his skills to
build on the organisation’s success in positively affecting and investing in the
volunteers and participants of its programs. He knows first-hand from his camp
background how powerful the organisation’s programs can be in shaping a
person’s character and future prospects.
Thomas also has
an keen interest in education and in particular he strives to participate in
initiatives that will assist in raising the public level of legal knowledge and
practical legal skills. To this end he takes part in giving presentations to
high school students, informing them of their legal rights and how to navigate
the complex adult world outside school. He has also had several affiliations in
the past with other education based not-for-profits.
Thomas’
education and experience include:
* Practising
lawyer with commercial litigation experience;
* Juris
Doctor, Law from the University of Western Australia;
* Bachelor
of Arts (Law and Society; Business Law) from The University of Western
Australia;
* Director
of Practical Legal Education at Learn Lab Australia;
* Experience
as a Sessional Tutor in Law at The University of Western Australia;
* Prior Board Member of the Fogarty Foundation; and
* Prior Vice President and facilitator at UN Youth Australia.
In his spare
time, Thomas enjoys playing and watching basketball, reading about cultural
history and cooking for other people. He believes that having interests outside
of work and spending time with family and friends allows him to reach his full
potential and to live a balanced life.
Natalie Taylor
Board Member
Natalie has
worked for 35 years across the public and private healthcare sector in the areas
of clinical management and senior executive roles focusing the last 15- 20
years as a CEO managing small and day hospital environments. Natalie is
currently a Health Consultant working independently and contracting services to
Day Hospitals, Department of Health and various Health projects throughout WA. She
holds a Bachelor of Science (Nursing), post graduate studies in preoperative
nursing, health administration, occupational health and Safety.
She has
extensive knowledge and experience in strategic management and planning,
quality/risk management frameworks, governance and compliance, advanced
leadership skills, HR and project management and highly developed understanding
of healthcare legislation and standards.
Spends her
spare time as a board member of Day Hospitals Australia since December 2021 and
Director of Juniors at Reds Hockey Club. Enjoys family holidays and will be
glad to start travelling again. Books, outdoors and entertaining with close
friends are a few of her favourite past times.
She is a
very strong advocate for the consumer wellbeing and passionate about quality of
care delivered in hospital settings. This
passion extends into the volunteering space she enjoys engaging with young
children and making a different to their quality of life and future development. Discovered ERCKWA through her oldest son who introduced
her to the world of Eddie Rice Camps where she has not looked back enjoying her
time volunteering as a cook for the last couple of years.
Belinda de Corti
Board Member
Bel became involved with ERCKWA in her university days as a
volunteer leader and continues to be a proud supporter of the organisation. Bel‘s
professional background is advertising where she is fortunate to have enjoyed a
career spanning 15 years producing television, radio, stills and digital
campaigns for clients here and abroad.
Bel loves to travel and is fortunate to have enjoyed many adventures
with her husband Mark and their twin girls. An active P&C member at her
girls’ school, she’s passionate about fostering connections within her school
community and creating events the kids will remember for a lifetime. When she’s
not working on a shoot or at a school event, you’ll find her in the kitchen
cooking up a storm!
Bel is grateful for the connections and lifelong friendships
she has enjoyed through her involvement with ERCKWA.
Beth O'Regan
Secretary
Beth first began volunteering with ERCKWA in 2004,
and has served over that time as a Camp Leader, Coordinator, Cook, Coach and as
a member of various committees. Beth has made many lifelong friends because of
Eddie Rice Camps (including her husband!) and she is so proud to continue that
association now as a Board Member, and give back to the organisation that has
given her so much.
Beth currently works as a psychologist, with a
special interest in working with children and adolescents. She has spent the
past 17 years working in schools in rural, regional and metro areas of WA, as
well as dabbling in private practice. Over the course of her career, Beth has
also developed a passion for improving wellbeing at both an individual and a
group level, to help people, families, workplaces and communities be the best
they can be.
Outside of work, Beth fills her cup by spending
time with her husband and three children, going for long dinners with her
friends, and immersing herself in good books.
Jonathon Russo
Board Member
Jonathon is a Chartered
Accountant and Public Servant with 5 years experience in the public sector. He
began his career as an auditor before moving to the State Government where he
has worked across various governmental portfolios including child protection,
volunteering, disability services, sport and recreation,
homelessness, culture and the arts and local government.
Jonathon joined ERCKWA
in 2013 as a volunteer leader, attending camps, fun-fests and helping out at
fundraisers. As a board member he hopes to be able to apply his skills in a way
that can benefit the Eddie Rice community, the same way he has for the State's
most vulnerable in his time as a public servant.
Jonathon holds Bachelor
of Science (Engineering Science and Finance) and Master of Commerce
(Accounting) degrees from the University of Western Australia and is a
professional member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
In his spare time,
Jonathon enjoys spending time with his family and friends, is a regular at his
local F45 and also enjoys playing a variety of sports (basketball, golf,
padel). He also plays alto saxophone as a member of the Cambridge Musicians community
band.
ERCKWA STAFF
Meghan Huitema
Chief Executive OfficerMeg began working with ERCKWA as a young volunteer leader and completed her first camp in January of 2003. Her first staff role with ERC was as the Community Engagement Manager in 2013.
With over 25 years of experience working with children and NFPs in various capacities, Meg has a degree from ECU in the Management of Not-for-Profit organisations.
In 2022, Edmund Rice Camps for Kids WA said goodbye to Kevin Knapp, who provided considerable guidance and leadership to the organisation as CEO for almost ten years. Meg was engaged as CEO in June of 2022.
Meg is passionate about the work that she does with Edmund Rice Camps for Kids WA and thoroughly enjoys attending camp programs and meeting the kids, volunteers and stakeholders. The benefits seen in the children is the reason she loves and advocates for this organisation.
Meg has two children of her own; Estelle and Dominic.
Mel has been involved with ERC since volunteering on her
first camp in 2009. Since then she has held roles as camp coordinator, coach
and manager, and for the last 2 years has been contracted to oversee the EOTR
program as the Program Development and Strategy Manager. Her studies and career
path have been deeply influenced by her time volunteering and experiences
gained from being a part of the ERC community. Mel is excited to take on the
role of Community Engagement Manager to further the work of Edmund Rice Camps
and give back to the organisation that shaped her to be the person she is
today.
Mel has a Bachelor of Arts degree in community development,
international aid and development, and a minor in criminological psychology.
Her honours in sustainable development saw her travel and live in Nepal as part
of DFATs New Colombo Plan Scholarship. Mel’s love of working with young people
has seen her take on roles in both the not-for-profit and local government
sectors, working predominantly in the education and community development
industries.
When she’s not on camp, Mel can be found spending time with
her partner and friends or spoiling her furbaby - Astra the puppy - which
includes going for long runs together and frequently outdoor markets and cafes.