Meet our Team

John has broad experience having worked in the private, government and not-for-profit sectors. Specialising in strategic planning, building stakeholder relationships and managing change for business improvement, John is using his ‘numbers brain’, people skills and technical knowledge at PACT.

John’s early career included working as a financial analyst, economist and programmer for Thompson Reuters, before moving onto senior management roles with superannuation and financial planning companies. After a period of restructuring an aged care provider and an employment services provider, John later worked in executive positions within customer services, workers compensation and corporate service areas.

Outside of work, John is an active father to two slightly spoiled girls and enjoys martial arts, gymnastics, wakeboarding, skateboarding and flowriding.

Alicia is an experienced marketing, public relations, media and communications specialist with a background in non-profit philanthropy and fundraising. She has worked for a number of not-for-profits in Australia and the US, driving their mission through storytelling and targeted communications, marketing, fundraising, event coordination and relationship building.

Alicia has worked extensively with youth facilitating workshops, leadership trainings and team building along with outdoor recreation. She has a Master’s of Creative Writing for social justice, a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism and advertising and a Cert IV in Training & Assessment.

She is passionate about championing causes that drive social change on a fundamental level, particularly issues involving children and vulnerable groups and is a current member of the Australian Fundraising Institute (FIA). She loves working with an organisation that aligns closely with her values and desire to make a positive imPACT.

Samantha has more than 20 years’ experience in not-for-profit finance and accounting, and over 30 years’ experience in accounting and HR roles.  She is passionate about working in the non-profit sector, in particular working with children and young people, which has been her focus for the majority of her career including working with residential care facilities and employment services.

Samantha enjoys the ability to manage the operational aspects of PACT, giving her contact with PACT’s volunteers. Sam joined PACT in 2013, and enjoys the varied aspect of her role.

Tania joined PACT in 2017 as a volunteer, progressed to the Administration Officer and has since added the title of Volunteer Coordinator to her portfolio.

She now spends her days making the “business” of volunteering as smooth and easy as possible for all those invaluable volunteers (PACT Support Persons) who selflessly give of themselves every day. When Tania is not coordinating volunteers, she herself works as a volunteer PACT Support Person in the Gold Coast area which gives her up to date insights into the challenges faced by volunteers.

Tania won the Volunteering Queensland Award for Volunteer Manager of the Year 2021.

Dev comes from a trade and services background and has completed tertiary studies in Psychology. He moved to Brisbane in 2019 from his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand.

Dev joined PACT in 2021 to take on the role of Volunteer Coordinator for Brisbane. He’s excited to work alongside PACT’s volunteers and wider team to help make a positive impact for children and families that PACT supports by bringing our volunteer community closer and building a stronger volunteer network.

Danielle Kershaw (Danni) officially joined PACT in mid-2010 after working with PACT for six months in a casual, part-time capacity as an administrator.  She enjoyed the role of Office Administrator until the end of 2017 when she took on the challenge of Volunteer Coordinator for Greater Brisbane, a position she enjoyed greatly working to recruit, train and manage PACT’s Child Witness Support Volunteers.

In June 2020 Danni decided to step back into the role of Administration Officer. Danielle possesses a Bachelor of Education – Primary and successfully completed a Certificate IV in Volunteer Coordination in 2016.