About the Foundation
In 2021, the Yooralla Board established a dedicated Foundation for all donations, philanthropic gifts and funding received. Foundation funds remain part of and are covered within Yooralla’s Deductible Gift Recipient-1 (DGR-1) status.
Yooralla Foundation funds are used for the purpose of resourcing activities and initiatives that advance Yooralla’s purpose and aims, as set out in its Constitution to:
- improve the lives of people with disability;
- facilitate the same right of access to services as all Australians;
- give people choice and control over how, when and where supports are provided;
- provide tailored, reasonable and necessary supports for people to achieve their goals and aspirations;
- value the views, knowledge and experience of families and carers; and
- extend the use of Yooralla’s resources to meet the needs of other vulnerable people.
The establishment of the Yooralla Foundation has been inspired by the loyalty and unflagging generosity of supporters over many years. The Foundation honours their intent for their donations and gifts to benefit people with disability.
The Yooralla Foundation Committee
The Yooralla Foundation Committee, established in 2021 as one of the Sub-committees of the Yooralla Board, will guide the Board Directors, CEO and Fundraising and Philanthropy team in its endeavours of growing the Yooralla Foundation. Membership of the Foundation Committee are current Board Directors, the CEO, Director of Philanthropy, philanthropy professionals and philanthropic supporters of Yooralla.
Members
T. Campbell Johnston - Chair
Campbell became Chair of the Yooralla Foundation Committee in December 2022.
Campbell is Chairman of the Advisory Committee and is a Founder of the law practice, JRT Partnership. He has a distinguished career as a legal practitioner, having been a partner in a national corporate law firm for over 30 years. He has practised in all areas of banking and finance law, with extensive experience in project and corporate financing and domestic and international capital markets transactions.
Currently a Director of the Melbourne Anglican Foundation Limited, he was a former Member of the Council of Scotch College and the Council of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. He has also been a director of the Bell Shakespeare Company and the Goldman Sachs Australia Foundation Limited. Campbell is an accomplished rower, winning gold for Australia along with fellow Founding Director of The JRT Partnership, Geoff Rees, in the 1974 World Rowing Championships.
As a supporter of a range of causes, Campbell chose to support Yooralla for the impact of its work on the lives of people with disability and their families. He is particularly passionate about cultivating leadership in the sector as he believes it is key to positive outcomes for employees, the clients they support and disability as a whole.
Campbell has a Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Commerce and is an alumnus of the Harvard Advanced Management Programme.
Campbell joined the Yooralla Foundation Committee in June 2022.
Jennifer Williams - AM
Jennifer is the current Board Chair of Yooralla. She is also Chair of Northern Health and Deputy Chair of the The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority. Prior to being a non-Executive Director, Jennifer was Chief Executive of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service; Chief Executive of Alfred Health; and Chief Executive of Austin Health, as well as a Council member of La Trobe University. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of Science and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her service to public health in the 2017 Australia Day Honours list.
Sandra Beanham
Sandra is currently a non-executive director of the Yooralla Board. She is a senior marketing and business consultant with over 30 years’ experience working with some of Australia’s most well-known organisations in a variety of industry sectors. These sectors include fast moving consumer goods, cultural destinations, business to business, government and not-for-profit organisations. She has considerable experience working within the disability sector, a strong background in governance and 20 years’ experience on a variety of councils and boards. Sandra’s past board memberships has been with the Ian Potter Museum of Art, including as Chair of Supporters/Fundraising Committee; VATMI Industries, now merged with Endeavour Foundation; and the Lauriston Girls School Council. Sandra is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute. She has a daughter with a disability.
Linda Herd
Linda is originally from Scotland, but Melbourne has been home for the last 15 years. She has had an interest in philanthropy since her teenage years when she spent her holidays volunteering with various not-for-profit organisations. A schoolteacher by background, Linda is passionate about arts education and access for all. She is a committed supporter of the arts.
Linda has witnessed first-hand the challenges experienced by the family member of a friend in Australia in receiving disability support, as well as that of a close friend whose son has disability. Her support of Yooralla as a donor and as a member of the Yooralla Foundation Committee gives her a sense that she is making a contribution to help those with disability and their families.
Linda believes that people with disability should be supported to live their best life, whether it is socialising with others, dining out or being given the opportunity to participate in sports, the arts or whatever their interests may be. She also believes that for those who aspire to it, a chance to further their education and have access to pathways towards meaningful employment are important.
Linda joined the Yooralla Foundation Committee in July 2021.
Elouise Holmes - Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Executive Officer - Yooralla Foundation
BA, MBA, MFIA, Dip Gov, FICDA
Elouise joined Yooralla in 2019 as Director of Philanthropy and Fundraising, and has transitioned to her current role as CDO in June 2023, with its expanded responsibilities.She leads fundraising, marketing and communications, business development and our community engagement team, Yooralla Connect. She also administers the Yooralla Foundation, which was established in 2021.
Elouise has worked across areas of fundraising and philanthropy, focusing on developing and nurturing partnerships to raise major gifts and philanthropic funding to benefit the work of for-purpose organisations.
As someone who supports an immediate family member with disability, she feels very privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to efforts to advance disability.
Her previous experience includes leading major gifts and philanthropy at Arts Centre Melbourne and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. With a background in public relations, marketing and communications, Elouise has also managed communications and membership marketing programs within peak bodies, Diabetes Victoria and Volunteering Victoria.
She has been a Non-Executive Board Director for Lort Smith Animal Hospital from 2017 - 2023 and is currently in the Board of the Fundraising Institute of Australia, the national peak body representing professional fundraising in Australia.
Rob Paterson
Rob is an experienced senior manager with over 20 years’ experience in the education and not-for-profit sectors. He is currently Director of Advancement at Holmesglen Foundation. He has worked on The University of Melbourne’s ‘Believe’ Campaign as Development Manager, before becoming Philanthropy Manager at the Australian Sports Foundation.
Rob has a lived experience of disability and has had the opportunity to work with disability sport organisations, giving him both a personal and professional understanding of the sector. Coming from a sporting background Rob believes that a level playing field is a critical factor in giving people with a disability the opportunity to be the best version of themselves.
Rob has a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Management degree. He also holds a Certificate in Executive Coaching.
Rob joined the Yooralla Foundation Committee in November 2021.
Kumari Fernando
Kumari has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 15 years and has been in senior management positions for over 10 years. She is currently General
Manager at Helm Youth Services and, prior to this, gained experience in the disability sector as General Manager at TOM: Melbourne.
Kumari has spent the majority of her career in youth development, most particularly supporting young people to gain the skills and knowledge to access pathways into further training, education, work experience and careers. Kumari has worked as General Manager, Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO and CEO roles at youth-focussed organisations, Activate Australia and Doxa Youth Foundation.
Kumari holds a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree and continued to develop her skill set through the completion of a Masters in Public Policy andManagement from Monash University Business School. She is a Fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Kumari has a passion for socialjustice, social inclusion and supporting individuals and communities to access a fair and just future for themselves, their families and the broader community.
Kumari joined the Yooralla Foundation Committee in March 2023.
A hopeful and resilient future
Download our 'A hopeful and resilient Future' document which examine's our vision for a hopeful and resilient future and aspirations for addressing six overarching areas of need that represent gaps and barriers still experienced by the disability community.
Donate to the Yooralla Foundation
By making a donation to Yooralla, you can help us to enhance the lives of people with disability, their families and carers, in all their diversity, to live the life they choose.