Our People
ALBEI is a charity led by LGBTQ+ directors and executives, and supported by senior leaders who share our purpose.
Our board
When we review our own board, we look at both skills and diversity, as we ask Australia's listed companies to do. We're currently renewing the board and expect to welcome more directors soon.
Chair and Founder (he/him)
Mark has spent 40 years as a C-suite executive and director of major financial services organisations in Sydney, Hong Kong, London and Cape Town. Often "the only gay in the village", he is passionate about seeing talented LGBTQ+ people in senior corporate leadership. He has been a director of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Performance Space and NAVA, and in 2018 was named one of Australia's Top 50 LGBTQ+ Role Models.
Founder and Director (she/her)
Lesley has been an executive recruiter in the global actuarial market for 30 years, advising clients on recruitment and succession with diversity at the forefront. She is a former Chair of the Actuaries Institute's Diversity & Inclusion working group, and her Master's thesis explored identity in actuarial careers.
Director
Tom is a technology leader and executive search adviser who, until recently, led Russell Reynolds Associates' Technology sector practice across Asia Pacific. Before that he held senior strategy, technology and customer roles at Telstra, nbn and Vodafone Australia, and was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company. He has lived and worked in South Africa, Europe and North America, and is now based in Sydney.
Interested in joining the board? Get in touch
Our ambassadors
Our ambassadors are senior leaders who champion ALBEI's work, open doors and lend their voices to our cause, without serving on the board. Some are part of the LGBTQ+ community; others are allies or come from other under-represented groups, and all share our belief that boards are stronger when they draw on every kind of talent.
Ambassador
Michele is a non-executive director, chair and two-time CEO. She led Illawarra community housing provider Housing Trust for eight years as CEO and then Managing Director, and was inaugural Chair of Homes Tasmania. She now sits on the NSW Rental Bond Board, and her honours include the 2023 UDIA National Women in Leadership award.
Ambassador
Catherine is one of Australia's leading commentators on women, work and leadership. Over a long career at the Australian Financial Review she wrote the Corporate Woman column and helped establish the 100 Women of Influence Awards. Her books include Stop Fixing Women, which won a Walkley Award, and Breaking the Boss Bias. In 2022 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to journalism, gender equality and diversity.
With thanks
We thank the foundation directors and our founding Company Secretary, who helped turn an idea around a dining room table into a registered charity. Their advice, time and commitment laid the foundations for everything ALBEI does today.
Co-founder
A partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, where he helped establish the Corrs Pride network. David was inaugural Chair of GiveOUT and was named one of Australia's Top 50 LGBTQ+ Role Models in 2020.
Co-founder
One of the instigators of Commonwealth Bank's pride network, Unity, and convenor of the Pride in Finance network. David has chaired Out For Australia and was named one of Australia's Top 50 LGBTQ+ Role Models in 2018.
Pride in Diversity
Director of ACON's Pride Inclusion Programs. Dawn joined ACON in 2009 to build Pride in Diversity and the Australian Workplace Equality Index, now the national benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.
The Pinnacle Foundation
Chief executive of The Pinnacle Foundation and co-founder of executive search firm SHK. Andrew was recognised as an Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leader in 2020.
Company Secretary, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
A commercial litigation lawyer at Corrs and an active member of the Corrs Pride Network. With our thanks for serving as ALBEI's founding Company Secretary and helping set up our governance.
Fellow foundation directors Mark Baxter and Lesley Traverso continue to serve on the board.
