Board of Directors
Wennie van Riet
Joined: September 2017
Position: Chairperson
Qualification and experience Bachelor in Sociology and a Research Master in Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam. Wennie has a background in working and volunteering for several not–for–profit organisations in various research and client facing roles in the Netherlands, South Africa and Australia. Wennie has experience working with CALD communities and people with disabilities and I am currently a Local Area Coordinator for the NDIS.
Particular interests: Building connected and inclusive communities.
Other local involvement: A proud member of various local mum groups.
Militsa Toskovska
Joined: April 2022
Position: Deputy Chair
Qualifications and Experience: Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences), Post Graduate Diploma (Public Policy), Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Governance Institute of Australia (GIA) (Affiliated). Member of Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA). Over twenty years’ experience in the public sector in various roles and government sector agencies. Past experience includes responsibility for Corporate and Business Planning, including risk and audit, public policy, project and contract management, and assistant corporate secretary to a Board for a state agency. Also worked as a management consultant in private practice. Presently Senior Manager in an emergency services agency.
Particular Interests: Education and continuous learning, connecting communities, environment and sustainability, social equity and opportunity. Education is a particular interest as it empowers individuals to create meaningful and substantial opportunities for themselves, their families and their communities.
Other Local Involvement: An interest in early childhood development and education led to becoming a member of a Committee of Management at a local community child care centre for three years then a School Councillor for six years, including a term as School Council President at a local Primary School. Activities in this capacity included being a member of School Council sub-committees (such as Finance, Strategy and Policy), volunteering in various activities such as fundraising, fetes, classroom help and working bees. Have also volunteered at the Fitzroy Legal Service and was involved in a local community theatre group, staging Shakespeare plays on the banks of the Merri Creek and one season in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Freya Shaw
Joined: June 2021
Position: Treasurer
Qualifications and Experience: Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Bachelor of Business (major in Accounting & Marketing), Australian Institute of Company Directors training and Mental Health First Aid training.
Particular Interests: Freya is passionate about community, sustainability and life long learning. Having traveled a lot as a young child Freya was exposed to many different cultures and experiences which made her appreciate the impact communities and neighbourhoods can have on our lives and on our environment.
Other local involvement: Involved with local running groups as park run Director and volunteer, previously volunteered at Lentil as Anything.
Jennifer Nathan
Joined: April 2022
Position: Secretary
Qualifications and experience: Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education (La Trobe University); Bachelor of Educational Studies (University of Melbourne), Master of Education (La Trobe University).
Jennifer has been a classroom teacher and teacher trainer in many different contexts including China and Indonesia. She has also worked as a program coordinator in the state education system (on-arrivals program) and in community education. In 2017, she was awarded The Australian Red Cross Service Award for her role in in the coordination and delivery of English classes for vulnerable migrants.
Over approximately 10 years, JenniferMarketing and social media also worked as a Hansard reporter in the state parliament and in the secretariat for a parliamentary committee.
Particular interests: Lifelong learning through community connections, language learning, reading and writing.
Other local involvement: Jennifer was born and raised in the local area and was a student at Westgarth Central School and Thornbury High School. She’s now a member of Darebin U3A. She’s a serial volunteer, and as well as volunteering on the Span Board, currently volunteers at Heide Museum of Modern Art.
Renee Daniele
Joined: September 2021
Position: Board Member
Qualifications and experience: Dual Diploma in Hospitality and Event Management. Currently completing a Diploma in Community Development. Renee has had over 10 years’ experience working in community venues and developing programs and events for and with the community.
Particular interests: Sustainability, social inclusion and engagement in particular for mature Australians and those from culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds.
Other local involvement: Renee was a member of The Compost Depot and started the swap and go compost system now running at SPAN.
David Westlake
Joined: November 2022
Position: Board Member
Qualification and experience: Electrical mechanic A grade, foreman, project management – commercial, government contracts, large sporting venues, transportation, railway upgrade for national rail network Melbourne to Geelong, high rise CDB building projects, night horse racing projects in Melbourne and Cranborne, phosphate ship unloading facility and conveyor system in Geelong, and seven years as an Apprentice Master. Facilitator of men’s group, facilitator of men’s shed, committee member of Scouts group, school committee member, English as a second language tutor, mentor to young future leaders in industry, pre-apprenticeship tutor.
Particular interests: Life long learning, mentorship of young people, community development and connection. Life time interest in all forms of car racing.
Other local involvement: Facilitator of men’s groups – OM:NI at Span and men’s shed. Service on local community committees, local primary and secondary schools representative for the northern region on the Federal Government Disadvantage Schools Programme, Member of the Northcote District Scouts committee and the local Scout troop.
Kat McGuffie
Joined: May 2026
Position: Board member
Qualifications and Experience: Kat has more than 20 years’ experience across media and the creative industries. Her career has spanned roles from presenter and executive producer through to senior leadership positions, including leading national radio networks at the ABC, creative teams and major audience initiatives. She brings extensive experience in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, governance, community engagement and organisational development. Kat currently serves as Manager of 3ZZZ Community Radio and is also a Board Director of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. She holds qualifications in media, marketing and music.
Particular Interests: Building connected communities, creative participation, social inclusion, and ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are represented across media, arts and community life.
Other Local Involvement: Kat has lived in Melbourne’s inner north for more than a decade and values the strong sense of community and creativity that characterises the area. She is actively involved in Melbourne’s arts, media and community sectors through volunteer board and advisory roles.
Bess Smallwood
Joined: May 2026
Position: Board member
Qualifications and Experience: Bess has more than 12 years’ experience working and volunteering in the community and legal sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Laws/Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and is admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner, specialising in criminal and community law. Bess is currently studying a Master of Community Development and working in disability justice policy and research.
Particular interests: Bess is deeply passionate about social and environmental justice, human rights and community-led approaches to addressing marginalisation, inequity and climate/ecological injustice.
Other local involvement: Member of Friends of the Earth Energy Justice Collective and Darebin Solidarity with First Peoples.
Miranda Cornelissen
Joined: May 2026
Position: Board member
Miranda has built a successful career around setting people, organisations and the (eco)systems within which they operate up for success. She started her career in aviation, defence and transport with operators, consultancy, government and international agencies such as the UN and NATO. More recently she has served in several senior leadership roles in health and human services.
Miranda is known for governance, providing assurance, building capability and generating insights by integrating lessons learned, evidence and the voices of people at the centre. Her systems thinking background helps her connect dots across a complex problem space, think outside the box and paint a balanced shared perspective. She is a passionate public speaker and dabbling into podcasts and other media to inspire and empower others with insights; an insight not shared is an insight lost.
When not at work, Miranda prefers to find spaciousness by getting lost discovering a place, watching a performance or by walking, cooking or crafting.