WCCSA Board Members: Who are we?
Fotini Giannikopoulos, Chair
For the last two years, Fotini has been on the Board of the WCCSA and was Co-Treasurer in 2016/2017 and now Chair 2017/2018. Her education started at Unley Primary School and continued to Mitcham Girls High School where she graduated year 12 in 1985. Fotini then continued her education at the Stones Commercial College for businesses. She received employment in many different administration positions and after 5 years as Executive Assistant, she has currently ceased her employed as a (executive assistant) EA to the CEO at Elwa where her duties ranged from finance, running the office and organizing the executives. She has a strong background in research and possess a broad range of administration skills. With this background and knowledge, Fotini brings a wealth of experience to the Board as well as having been historically connected to the Centre for many years.
Nani Johnstone, Treasurer
Nani is of Chinese heritage, born in Indonesia. She came to Australia in 1987 as an overseas student and her first job was working at Sydney fish market on a Sunday, earning $5 per hour, starting from 6am until 6pm. As Nani’s English improved, she could work as a waitress, and then went on to start working as an office clerk. Her office job eventually took Nani on a journey to work in an accounting area of a publicly listed company whilst she continues to study part-time for her business degree. Today, Nani is proud to be her own boss. Nani loves her job, self-employed as a mortgage broker. She is passionate about financial literacy and home ownership. \She believes your home is a one asset that no one can take away from you. She recently established a Pathway to Home Ownership program which aims to empower women from disadvantaged background to achieve home ownership and be financially independent.
Dr Nicola Pitt, Secretary
Trained in human behaviour, specifically sociology and cultural anthropology with a focus in gender and feminist social theory, Nicola’s research interests and areas of expertise are relevant to the Centre’s goals across the business front, women’s rights, and migrant empowerment. She is currently working in market research while undertaking an MBA and has a PhD in the subject of mothering and motherhood. Nicola is a migrant herself, having moved to Australia as a student when Nicola was 19 and knowing what it feels like to feel despair and isolation from being in a new country. Nicola can recognise how difficult it would be for women in far less fortunate circumstances than her own. As a result, joining the board is a way to give back – both in terms of being grateful for her own fortunes along the way, but also in terms of recognising how important community is.
Kylie O’Callaghan, Public Officer
Is the General Manager of Zahra Foundation Australia. Zahra Foundation is an SA based charity that supports women affected by domestic and family violence with a focus on addressing financial independence. They do this through the delivery of economic empowerment programs and grants that link them to further education or employment. Kylie’s background is in social work and she has worked for more than 12 years in the domestic violence sector, primarily in the shelter system on the front line supporting women in crisis. The last three years her focus has shifted to more of a fundraising role. Zahra Foundation has a connection to the WCCSA as they have delivered Pathways programs there and have connected women to volunteer roles and have seen the great outcomes from the work of the Centre. Kylie’s passion is in fundraising, grant writing and events and feels that these are the skills she can bring to the Board to support the community centre succeed in its mission.
Mona Khizam, Board Member & Currently Acting Centre Manager (interim, since 20 August 2018)
Mona has a background in Social Work, Literacy, Cross Cultural Training and Film. Adelaide born and bred, she left Australia in 1984 for what was to be a one year contract in Malaysia but one contract led to another and after 30 years in South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe, she finally came home in 2014. During this time Mona’s interests remained steady: social justice, gender equity, diversity, inclusion and community. Currently, she works with Literacy and Culture for Immigrants as well as community film making through her company, Slice of Life Community Film Making. She is the author of Sahara Libre!, a book about Human Rights and The Western Sahara. Mona has always had an abiding interest in community and women’s advancement and has experience in the areas of business, film and inclusiveness which renders her a perfect fit to serve on the Board of the Women’s Community Centre SA as she deeply understands and lives by the values of the Centre.
Call us on (08) 8362 6571 or email us at reception@wccsa.asn.au
Visit us at 64 Nelson Street, Stepney SA 5069