About Us
About Us
Founded in 2012, we’re proud to celebrate our upcoming 10 Year Anniversary this year and look forward to sharing the recognition with our generous members, staff, friends of the foundation and of course our loyal donors who have helped us get to where we are.
Our work has two key streams
Collaborative projects that build on telecommunications technology, reach and resources to support social causes through the Industry Impact Hub.
Building resilience in young Australians through Small Change Big Change by supporting a wide range of education and engagement programs designed to promote good mental health, a strong sense of identity and connection beyond connectivity.
Our Members
Our Board
The Foundation is structured as a company limited by guarantee, acting as trustee of a Public Ancillary Fund (“PuAF”). This structure enables a wide mandate for fundraising from organisations, staff and customers, allowing the funds to be given to up to 20,000 charitable institutions in Australia. The Foundation has also been granted Deductible Gift Recipient status, enabling donations over $2 to be tax deductible and undergoes an annual audit by Deloitte Australia. The Foundation’s administration costs are covered by members, which allows 100% of all fundraising activities to go towards community partners.
The Telco Together Foundation relies on the skills and expertise of the Board of Directors and a high-calibre Advisory Board to guide strategic direction and to ensure the Foundation has a measurable impact and a sustainable future.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is the primary governance body overseeing areas of fiduciary responsibility such as risk management & compliance, financial management & reporting, investment strategies, and organisational performance. As required by the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, a Company acting as trustee for a PuAF must have a Board of Directors consisting of a majority of ‘responsible persons’ –that is, persons who are considered to have a degree of responsibility to the community because they perform a public function or they belong to a professional body. This may include doctors, judges, school principals, chartered accountants, or lawyers. As such, the composition of the Board of Directors is limited to a number and skill set that is appropriate to achieve efficient decision-making, whilst meeting the requirements of common law, tax law, good governance and statutory obligations.
Director of HR, Vodafone. Michael Stanley is a senior HR executive with substantial experience across the telecommunications and financial services industries as well as government and not for profit sectors. Commencing 2006 with Vodafone, Michael was the HR Director for Vodafone New Zealand between 2007 and 2012, for Vodafone Group Commercial (UK) between 2012 to 2014 and Vodafone Hutchison Australia from 2014 to 2017. Michael also has a passion for corporate philanthropy and Chaired the Vodafone Foundation Boards in NZ (2008-2012), Fiji (2010-2012) and Australia (2014-2017).
Michael Stanley
chair
Director of HR, Vodafone. Michael Stanley is a senior HR executive with substantial experience across the telecommunications and financial services industries as well as government and not for profit sectors. Commencing 2006 with Vodafone, Michael was the HR Director for Vodafone New Zealand between 2007 and 2012, for Vodafone Group Commercial (UK) between 2012 to 2014 and Vodafone Hutchison Australia from 2014 to 2017. Michael also has a passion for corporate philanthropy and Chaired the Vodafone Foundation Boards in NZ (2008-2012), Fiji (2010-2012) and Australia (2014-2017).
Renee is an experienced senior manager and strategic marketer with over 20 years in the telecommunications industry in Australia, Ireland and the USA. As founding CEO of Telco Together, Renee led the development of the Foundation’s strategic programs, including Text Giving, the Skills Exchange, and Small Change Big Change.
Renee transitioned to the Foundation Board as Executive Director in early 2018, with a specific focus on further developing industry-wide initiatives supporting disadvantaged communities within Australia.
Renee Bowker
executive director
Renee is an experienced senior manager and strategic marketer with over 20 years in the telecommunications industry in Australia, Ireland and the USA. As founding CEO of Telco Together, Renee led the development of the Foundation’s strategic programs, including Text Giving, the Skills Exchange, and Small Change Big Change.
Renee transitioned to the Foundation Board as Executive Director in early 2018, with a specific focus on further developing industry-wide initiatives supporting disadvantaged communities within Australia.
Well-known for his involvement establishing Vodafone Australia in 1990, Philip was a director of Vodafone Australasia until 2001 and has continued industry involvement. Through his support of health and the arts, Philip is a Governor of Florey Neuroscience Institutes and a director of the NGV Foundation. He is also a director of various companies involved in telecommunications, property and general investments.
Philip Cornish AM
non-executive director
Well-known for his involvement establishing Vodafone Australia in 1990, Philip was a director of Vodafone Australasia until 2001 and has continued industry involvement. Through his support of health and the arts, Philip is a Governor of Florey Neuroscience Institutes and a director of the NGV Foundation. He is also a director of various companies involved in telecommunications, property and general investments.
David is an experienced partner in the Assurance Practice of Ernst & Young, where he has worked since 2002. Previously with Arthur Anderson in the UK, David transferred to Australia in 1995. David’s experience includes a diverse range of industries, markets and financial services in the UK, Australia and the US. He has led a large number of high profile due diligence and public listing engagements and has extensive experience in both external audit and a number of specialist reviews and assignments such as financial and acquisition due diligence, public listing and business risk consulting projects. David holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from University of East Anglia, and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, and a Registered Company Auditor. He has also completed the Graduate of Leadership Victoria in 2002.
David Shewring
non-executive director
David is an experienced partner in the Assurance Practice of Ernst & Young, where he has worked since 2002. Previously with Arthur Anderson in the UK, David transferred to Australia in 1995. David’s experience includes a diverse range of industries, markets and financial services in the UK, Australia and the US. He has led a large number of high profile due diligence and public listing engagements and has extensive experience in both external audit and a number of specialist reviews and assignments such as financial and acquisition due diligence, public listing and business risk consulting projects. David holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from University of East Anglia, and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, and a Registered Company Auditor. He has also completed the Graduate of Leadership Victoria in 2002.
Jackie is a Partner at Lander & Rogers in Melbourne, where she has worked since 2002. Her areas of expertise are mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and the commercialisation and exploitation of intellectual property. She has a broad based commercial practice and advises listed and unlisted companies. Jackie holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance from Chartered Secretaries Australia. She is also a member of the Law Institute of Victoria. Previously Jackie has been the Chair of Women Sport and Recreation Victoria, Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association, and a former member of the National Committee for GST Education for Sport.
Jackie Solakovski
non-executive director
Jackie is a Partner at Lander & Rogers in Melbourne, where she has worked since 2002. Her areas of expertise are mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and the commercialisation and exploitation of intellectual property. She has a broad based commercial practice and advises listed and unlisted companies.Jackie holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance from Chartered Secretaries Australia. She is also a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.Previously Jackie has been the Chair of Womensport and Recreation Victoria, Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association, and a former member of the National Committee for GST Education for Sport.
Jono is the Managing Director of the Wellbeing Outfit and Chief Mental Health Advisor to EY Oceania. In 1997 he was one of the founding staff members of ReachOut, Australia's leading digital mental health service for young people and their parents. After 10 years as ReachOut CEO, he founded the Wellbeing Outfit, an advisory business that helps organisations drive performance by improving the safety and wellbeing of their people. He has an honours degree in psychology and a Masters in Public Health and was a 2018 finalist for the Australian Mental Health Prize.
Jono Nicholas
non-executive director
Now working as a consultant in culture, inclusion and communications, Janet was formerly Chief Reputation and People Officer for Aussie Broadband, having joined the company at the start of its rapid expansion in 2016. Before that, she worked in media, communications, people and reputation roles across various sectors and states. Janet holds a Master of Arts (Communication Management) from the University of Technology, Sydney, and is a Graduate of the JMW Leader of the Future program. She has a particular interest in inclusion and diversity, and was presented with the Cisco Women in IT Diversity Initiative Award in 2020. She has a long history of volunteering in the not-for-profit sector where her work has been recognised with the Queen’s Scout Award, WF Waters Award, and the Silver Koala for distinguished service to Scouting.
Janet Granger-Wilcox
non-executive director
Advisory Board
The Board of Directors is supported by an Advisory Board that meets twice a year. The Advisory Board makes recommendations on the strategic direction of the Foundation by considering the fundraising and charitable funding initiatives submitted by the Foundation’s Executive. This includes considering the fundraising activities conducted by the Foundation and setting of fundraising targets, as well as considering which partnership and grants programs should be supported.
The Advisory Board consists of a number of experienced leaders from the telecommunications and not-for-profit sector. Invitations to join the Advisory Board is made to Chief Executive Officers of our Premium Members (key telecommunications providers). The Advisory Board meet half-yearly to consider Foundation activities, as well as presentations from thought leaders on social issues being targeted by the Foundation. Recommendations from the Advisory Board are passed to the Board of Directors to ensure compliance with the Constitution and other governance requirements.
Michael Stanley
chair
telco together foundation
vanessa hicks
Group Executive,
People Experience
TPG Telecom
Vaughan Bowen
Independent Representative
Christy Ditchburn
Sustainability Principal
Telstra
Helen Maisano
Director Group Sustainability
Optus
Amber Kristof
Chief People Officer
Vocus Group
Annabel Allen
Head of Risk & Compliance
Uniti Group Limited
Our Team
Renee Bowker – Executive Director
Renee is an experienced senior manager and strategic marketer with over 20 years in the telecommunications industry in Australia, Ireland and the USA. As founding CEO of Telco Together, Renee led the development of the Foundation’s strategic programs, including Text Giving, the Skills Exchange, and Small Change Big Change.
Renee transitioned to the Foundation Board as Executive Director in early 2018, with a specific focus on further developing industry-wide initiatives supporting disadvantaged communities within Australia.
Kristy Kelly – Chief Executive Officer
Carin Lavery – Program Manager, Industry Impact Hub
Carin is a specialist in creating and managing corporate social responsibility strategy and partnerships with over 20 years in corporate, consulting, not for profit and public sectors in Australia and the UK. She represented ANZ Bank on the London Benchmarking Group Steering Group, the Department of Education on the Merit Protection Board and received a Gold Sustainability Award for implementing a tourism sustainability strategy.
Carin is passionate about empowering people and organisations to utilise their strengths to address social problems. She believes that there are no bounds to what can be achieved when working together!
Jen Lau - Strategic Operations Program Manager - Small Change Big Change
Jen is a passionate strategic marketer. After graduating from Monash University in 2011 she co-founded a local Retail Collective in Brunswick, Melbourne and mentored over hundreds of creative Australian businesses building their commercial confidence and small enterprise knowledge.
Joining the Telco industry in 2016 working across several areas of business including Projects and Diversity & Inclusion, Jen is a dedicated advocate of gender equality and inclusive practices.
Max Einsohn - Strategic Projects Officer
Ciara Shorten - Marketing Manager
Ciara is an experienced Marketing Manager, previously leading marketing in Northern Europe working across Start-ups and Global Software companies in the manufacturing and engineering space, she now brings her expertise to the Telco Together Foundation following a recent relocation to Australia. She brings a wealth of expertise in leadership, relationship management, brand development, digital and social media marketing, and event management.
Driven by a passion for impactful marketing and spreading meaningful messages, Ciara excels in creating strategies that resonate and make a difference. She is continually seeking new challenges and opportunities to expand her horizons and grow both professionally and personally and is excited to continue making a meaningful impact at Telco Together Foundation.
