Our Team
The Palms Australia Development Philosophy proposes that those at the centre of directing our programs are the communities requesting the engagement of appropriately skilled and experienced others in their development.
These communities and program participants are the core of the Palms Team. Donors, Australian communities, members, directors, coordinators and administrators are the support team.
Most are professionals and activists offering their skills on a voluntary pro-bono basis. Our work endorses a deep commitment to the mutual development of one another.
Anyone wanting to inquire about Palms programs (Australia or Abroad) or join Palms team please do so by contacting us and asking to be connected to one of the relevant team members:
SORAYA KASSIM
Soraya’s whole working life has been spent living and working in cross cultural communities in Australia and overseas. Her qualifications include Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Psychological Sciences, and Masters Qualifying degrees in Adult Education and Social Work, in addition to other graduate diplomas and management credentials. Soraya comes with decades of leadership experience in the community sector, Local and Commonwealth Government, as well as a strong background as an adult educator, community development worker and counsellor. She has a deep compassion and connection with the marginalised and a passion and infectious enthusiasm for the Vision, Mission, Values and Goals of both Palms’ Global Mission and Neighbours Without Borders Programs.
EDITH HURT
Edith has a corporate management background as well as significant experience in operations management and people leadership in the NFP sector. Originally a registered nurse, she has experience as a mental health educator and in building capability in organisations, communities, teams and individuals. She brings an understanding of international volunteering through providing support for several of her family members who completed long term placements in India, Jamaica, Samoa and East Timor, where she has visited. Edith has a Master of Human Services (Strategy and Policy) and Master of Data Science (Strategy and Leadership). She joins Palms International Volunteering as Global Programs Manager.
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EMILY SHAW
Having studied, volunteered and worked internationally, Emily has a passion for cultivating cross-cultural partnerships. Her educational background in Counselling in addition to experience in the higher education sector has led to a desire to support those in need. She aspires to strengthen community and mutual collaboration through creative but authentic storytelling. Emily’s work at Palms centres on engaging participants’ communities at every stage of their journey. She is a strong advocate for gender equality to eliminate violence against women on a local and global scale.
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KEVIN WILSON
Following too many years at ruthless corporations, Kevin came to Palms seeking a new path for his love of justice and desire to assist others, along with a taste for culture and adventure! After some years on overseas assignments, Kevin joined the Palms office where he continues to share his passion for Melanesia and the lessons learnt in the field. His latest challenge is bringing it all together to support our operations as Palms’ Finance Officer.
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CASSANDRA FALSON
With a background in education and many years of administrative experience with not-for-profits, Cassandra’s passion for justice and equality for everyone has brought her to the Palms team to assist facilitate mutual development. Her focus is on engaging the Australian community, cultivating efficiency and participant formation to ensure a lasting impact in remote communities around the world. She is keenly building on her knowledge and skills in creative design to assist the team on projects.
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PATRICIA SISI
Patricia is from the Western part of Fiji. She has a background in Accounting from Fiji and pursuing the same in Australia with experience across the Community Services, Travel, Treasury, Education and Admin fields. She loves to facilitate, budget, implement and assess for greater outcomes. Patricia is working in Admin Support.
EVELYN UMALI
Evelyn has a background in treasury with experience across the Travel, IT, Manufacturing and Hospitality industries. Answering a call from the Lord to use her skills to serve, she is generously volunteering 2 days a week in the office to help with bookkeeping.
Our Members
Palms Australia is a unique independent and democratic organisation, open to the direction of its members. The board has five directors elected by the membership and three appointed by those five to ensure a strong network and appropriate talents are available to take Palms forward. It is an agency whose legal structure is voluntary, not-for-profit and non-government.
Palms Australia consists of members from diverse backgrounds. If you would like to become a member of Palms Australia or to find out more, please visit our Membership page.
Our Board
Veronica Lawson – Chair
Tutor, North Shore Coaching College
BSc; Dip Ed; BEdSt; M Litt; Grad Dip RE; PhD; M Ed Leadership; Cert IV Training and Assessment
Palms Australia program participant, American Samoa 2022 – 2023
Veronica is an experienced teacher, administrator and principal having worked within the Catholic Education sector for more than forty years. More recently, she volunteered as teacher/mentor in American Samoa, working with principals to provide appropriate professional development for teachers, classroom observations and appraisals and tutoring small groups of students.
Currently Veronica is working as a tutor for the North Shore Coaching College but prior to volunteering with Palms in 2022 -2023 Veronica worked with the Catholic Education sector as teacher, administrator and principal.
Ariana Shepherdson – Treasurer
Chartered Accountant
BCom-Accg (Macq), GradDipCA (CA ANZ)
Ariana has over 15 years of experience working in the accounting profession in both corporate and not-for-profit sectors, as well as in public practice and private organisations. After witnessing the devastating and pervasive effects of poverty as a child, Ariana has a lifelong passion for finding long-term and sustainable solutions to poverty, with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty experienced by individuals, families, and communities. She is a strong supporter of Palms and its unique program of focusing on relationships, its respect for international communities, and Palms’ commitment to sustainable development. Ariana is currently undertaking the Master of Public Policy (Global Development Policy) at the Australian National University.
John Bradley
BOptom (Hons), GradDipEd, GradCertRE, MTh
Palms Australia program participant, Kiribati 2001-2003, Samoa 2023
John Bradley was elected to the board in 2023. John worked in private optometric practice for 20 years before volunteering with Palms Australia as a secondary teacher in Kiribati from 2001-2003. He commenced his formal teacher training by correspondence whilst in placement and completed it upon return. John worked as a Science, Physics and occasional French teacher in Catholic secondary schools in several locations in regional NSW. He completed a Master of Theology degree in 2014 and maintains an ongoing interest in the dialogue between Science and Religion. After retiring from full-time work, John continued as a casual teacher and tutor. John volunteered again as a secondary teacher and teacher mentor in Samoa in 2023.
John’s Science and Religion backgrounds and his links with Pacific cultures inform his understanding of, and advocacy for, climate justice. John values involvement in the local community, and he has recently completed 40 years of service as a leader in the Scout Association.
Rachel Donovan
Communications Consultant
BA (Honours), MA (International Affairs), M International Law, Cert IV Training and Assessment
Rachel Donovan was a community radio broadcaster in western Sydney before volunteering as a communications lead with the Community Radio Association of Timor Leste (2014-2016) and the Press Institute of Mongolia (2016-2018). Rachel worked with Palms Australia as Communications Officer for 18 months before moving to Papua New Guinea where she worked with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office and, from April 2022, with the United Nations Population Fund.
Sam Haddin
Assistant Principal, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Erskineville
BEd (Primary), BSocSc (Psychology)
Palms Australia program participant, Timor Leste 2014-15
Sam Haddin was elected to the board in 2020. Sam volunteered with Palms Australia from 2014-2015, with her main role being that of teacher mentor to the teachers of two schools in Dili, Timor Leste. Since returning from her placement, she has been teaching at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in North Ryde. She was appointed as the school’s Religious Education Coordinator (REC) in 2017. Through her role on the school’s leadership team as REC, she has had experience in developing and implementing annual improvement plans and has been involved in the organisation and strategic planning of the future direction of the school.
Her experience as a returned volunteer gives her a unique perspective to bring to the Board of Directors. Her insight into the realities of living and working as a volunteer in the field will be beneficial to the decision making process and in the continued support the Board of Directors gives the Palms office staff, volunteers and partners.
Soraya Kassim
Executive Director Palms Australia
B Ec (Syd), B Psyc Sciences (UNE), M Adult Education (Coursework) (UTS), M Social Work (Qualifying) (Syd), Graduate Management Qualification (AGSM), Grad Dip Relationship & Family Counselling (Aust Inst Social Rel), TAE40110, Cert IV Community Cultural Dev.
Soraya has over two decades experience working in advocacy, community services, community development and counselling, since leaving roles in the Commonwealth Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and of Industry, as well as a stint as a Ministerial Adviser. She has led national programs and a state peak body. Soraya also has experience as an entrepreneur and is currently completing her MBA at AGSM.
Position Vacant
Our deepest condolences go to the loved ones of Jennifer Newman who passed away at the end of September 2024.
Jennifer Newman, Author, Activist & Educator grew up in Narromine, NSW, and descended from long lines of Wiradjuri and Australian yarn spinners. Jennifer lived by the Cooks River on Wangal Country, where she contributed to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander forums and river care groups. Jennifer was a member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Aboriginal Lead Trainer for the NSW Community Housing Industry Association and delivered Aboriginal Studies talks and courses for local and international universities, training centres and community groups. For many years she provided this perspective to assist prepare participants at Palms Orientation Course and served on our Board since October 2023. She will be greatly missed by all.
Bishop Tim Norton SVD
Bishop of Broome
B AppSc; B Th; M Th
We wish Bishop Tim Norton well in his new role as Bishop of Broome. We are now seeking expressions of interest to fill this role of Board membership.
Liz Stone
General Secretary, National Council of Churches in Australia
BA, MIntS, Grad Cert Leadership, AGIA
Elizabeth Stone, known as Liz, was elected to the board in 2020. Liz is the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA). Liz worked with the Caritas Internationalis family of agencies and with Caritas Australia over two decades. Liz has been a member of the Governance Institute of Australia since January 2016. Liz is a long-standing Member of Palms Australia and in November 2019 participated in Palms’ inaugural Encounter Visit to Myanmar and Northern Thailand.
Our Patrons
Palms Australia is proud to have the following patrons of our organisation.
H.E. Dr Jose Ramos Horta
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Past President and Prime Minister Timor-Leste
Deacon Gary Stone
Australian Defence Force Chaplain
Peacekeeper Timor-Leste
Founding member Friends and Partners with East Timor
The role of patron includes, but is not limited to:
- Enhancing the status of Palms Australia by their willingness to be publically associated with the objectives and activities.
- Providing advice and counsel on general directions or specific activities of Palms Australia.
- Attending public events of Palms Australia as VIPs and from time to time, participate in significant events.
- Attending fundraising events or support fundraising activities.
Members may nominate further individuals, whom they believe would assist promote the vision and mission of Palms Australia.