Our Board
CERES is a not-for-profit organisation and is managed by a Voluntary Board elected from the membership.
Andrew Hewett
Chair
Andrew is a long-term Brunswick resident and CERES member who has campaigned for social change since his teenage years. He has worked for peace and nuclear disarmament movements, anti-poverty organisations and trade unions. He worked for Oxfam Australia for nearly twenty-two years, including eleven years as Executive Director. Since leaving Oxfam at the end of 2012, he has completed a doctorate in international relations and has taught at Victoria and La Trobe universities. He has been a board member of the Australian Energy Foundation since 2010 and has recently become a board member of the United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria Division). He has the misfortune of being a dedicated supporter of the Melbourne football club.
Nicole Baker
Deputy Chair
Nicole is a public policy, strategy and governance professional specialising in climate change, energy, and the environment. Nicole has a passion for long-term thinking and our role as stewards of this planet – as good ancestors. Nicole is deeply committed to supporting the global transition to zero emissions and to creating a sustainable future.
Nicole’s career has included working for governments, international agencies, and NGOs across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. When not at CERES, Nicole works with Arup, helping clients chart a course to a zero-emissions, sustainable future.
Although Nicole has lived all over the world, Melbourne’s inner north is her home, and CERES has always been at the centre of her community. Nicole cherishes CERES as a unique organisation, which provides us the opportunity to live more consciously on this planet, and to connect with the earth and each other – a salve for these uncertain times.
Thomas Dobson
Treasurer
Thomas has been the CERES Treasurer for the last 12 years and a proud CERES advocate for much longer. He works closely with the stellar CERES Finance team to manage risk, audit and financial matters. He believes there is even more potential here to unlock now that we’ve learnt how to complement our prized environmental and social contributions with stable financial management and incredibly innovative enterprises. When he isn’t enjoying the fresh air at CERES, he works at NAB in marketing. Thomas has postgraduate business and company directorship qualifications. He lives locally and rides his bike everywhere. His favourite season at CERES is autumn.
Giselle Pinto
General Member
Giselle is a senior executive with a strong background in fundraising, philanthropy, communications, events, project management and strategy development across the for-purpose sector. Giselle is currently the Director of Programs and Content at Philanthropy Australia and is responsible for the development and delivery of a cohesive national program to inform, inspire and enable better philanthropic giving.
Giselle has previously held Company Secretary roles, managing Board and governance processes. She is an optimistic thinker with a unique perspective acquired from diverse personal and professional experiences and networks. This is complemented by a no-nonsense attitude and ability to both think big and get things done. Giselle is currently completing the Williamson Community Leadership Program and is a Director of the Victorian Student Representative Council, the peak body representing school-aged students in Victoria, putting them front and centre of education design.
When Giselle isn’t working, she enjoys knitting, reading, weightlifting, learning Portuguese and tending to her indoor jungle and outdoor veggie garden.
Lucy Richards
General Member
Lucy is a life-long social entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to harnessing the potential of business to shape our world for future generations. Lucy was the inaugural CEO of mindfulness app Smiling Mind and nominated as Young Australian of the Year (Victoria) for this work.
She has worked in the New York tech and start-up scenes, run advocacy campaigns alongside the UN General Assembly and helped shape the mental health narrative of Australia as Head of Brand and Strategy at The Resilience Project.
For the past 15 years, she has contributed to social change and regenerative business practices in grassroots and community organising settings, as well as with big corporations around the world. Lucy believes in the power and potential of safely and sustainably fusing community and corporate worlds.
Sophie Arnold
General Member
Sophie has volunteered and worked in the not-for-profit sector for more than 30 years, including in several Board roles.
She began her career as a journalist for The Age and other metropolitan media outlets, then ran her own media and communications practice, providing services such as development of communications strategies, media training and issues management to government, corporate and not for profit agencies.
She has also spent periods of time managing community sector organisations. She managed the Melbourne Athenaeum Incorporated, and the UN Association of Australia Victorian Division. In both community sector organisations, she worked closely She is a former Board member of WIRE-Women’s Information, the Melbourne Athenaeum Incorporated and the Thornbury Women’s Neighbourhood House and currently a Director for the Fitzroy Football Club.
She has lived in Northcote for the past 30 years and is a long-time supporter of CERES.
Tonya Scibilia
General Member
Tonya has spent most of her career working in People and Culture, often delivering transformational change for business. With her background, Tonya believes in the importance of leadership and the power of community. She is passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging with this commitment extending to the campaigning she did for the “single bubble” during the COVID lockdowns – driven by a recognition of our need for connection. For Tonya, CERES knits together so much of what is important to her – fresh produce, gardens, food and a space to form a very special community.
Join our ceres Board
We are currently inviting expressions of interest for the roles of Chair and two additional Board Members.
