Daryl Buckingham, Chairman
Daryl has over 30 years’ leadership experience within local government, community development and commercial business. A contemporary leader; he encourage local government and industry to challenge the way things have ‘always been done’, leading innovation and transformation.
His experiences includes developing and delivering: Gig Economy, Smart City & Connected Community Economic, Development Strategies, Agile Local Government Systems, Place Based Economic Development Plans, Digital Transition Strategies, Local Government as a Service Model, Smart Horticulture and Agribusiness Development, Cooperative Research Centres, Long term financial sustainability.
He also volunteers as welfare officer and peer councillor supporting Veterans with PTSD and depression and assist them with transitioning from the military to civilian life. He is also a lived experienced peer councillor with Roses in the Ocean an experience of suicide organisation saving lives and reducing emotional distress and pain.
Lynne Cawley, Secretary
Lynne Cawley is a successful, solution-focused HR and Operations professional and the Chief Operations Officer at Canstar.
Lynne is responsible for fostering the company’s culture, as well as developing and leading the implementation of Canstar’s operational strategy to drive business goals through quality research and technological advancements.
With a degree in psychology at QUT and having specialised in Organisational psychology, Lynne established the human resources function at Canstar. Lynne has expanded this role in recent years to now head up the entire operations function, leading the People & Culture, Research, Product Data, Data Platform Services and Infrastructure teams.
Lynne’s leadership role sees her managing the back-end technology platforms that power many of Canstar’s data initiatives including the company’s Star Ratings research, product database and data feeds to the website. Her teams are also responsible for building resilience into the Canstar technology infrastructure and applications.
Sandra Cipriotti, Director
Having grown up starting businesses in the garage and consistently excelling in my academic and creative studies, thinking strategically is something that comes naturally to Sandra. She always aim at performing to her highest ability and that drive is what she wants to instill in others throughout her career, across various roles.
She worked in Education, Art, Media, Fashion and SME’s as CFO, Finance Director, Business Consultant/Operations, Project/Change Manage and Entrepreneur meant that she had a very diverse range of responsibilities and priorities while working with a diverse set of stakeholders across multiple corporations simultaneously.
She is very passionate about the constant improvement, growth and best practices of organisations she’s represented and the continuous learning of those around her. The fulfillment of strategic objectives coupled with growing the self-confidence of her teams and impact on the business brings her a great sense of accomplishment.
Michelle Teis, Director
Michelle is the Managing Partner of a National Management Consultancy firm specialising in the core fields of digital transformation and information and data. In November 2021, she was awarded as the National Data Leader of the Year by Women in Digital, a global community dedicated to connecting, educating and empowering women.
Based on a 30-year career, Michelle is a trusted advisor to clients (government, commercial and not-for-profit) seeking to leverage the potential value of information and data to simply solve complex business challenges.
Samantha Tinsley, Director
Samantha Tinsley is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of expertise in driving change for business owners and CEOs. She excels in building high-performance teams through empathy and curiosity and has held key leadership roles, including Head of Sales and Marketing at PE Foods Pty Ltd ,Managing Director at Bare Bite Pty Ltd and Chair of The Food Connect Shed.
Dedicated to fostering innovation, Samantha simplifies complex ideas and guides teams through transformative journeys, especially in times of uncertainty. She aligns business goals with strategic objectives, creating cohesive, productive cultures.
Samantha is skilled in developing comprehensive business strategies, optimising performance, and adopting new systems and processes. Committed to the mission of the Women’s Mentoring Foundation (WMF), she excels in helping organisations achieve growth and resilience.
Pushpa Vaghela, CEO
Pushpa Vaghela, Founder of The Women’s Mentoring Foundation (WMF), is dedicated to empowering women to overcome trauma, challenges, and distressful situations, guiding them towards strength and their best selves. As a professional Leadership Consultant, Mentor, and Clinical Neuro Practitioner, Pushpa has positively impacted thousands of leaders globally, fostering transformation and developing exceptional leadership qualities. Her mission, fueled by a deep understanding of mental and emotional health challenges, led her to establish WMF as a Harm Prevention charity organisation, providing Workshops, Speaking Engagement and Peer Counselling to assist women on their empowering journey.
Stef Miladinova, Digital Manager
Stef has joined WMF as a Digital Manager. She has formal qualifications in systems engineering, with nineteen plus years experience in IT. Stef also has business experience gained from running her own businesses over the years. She is currently looking forward to giving back to women in the Brisbane community by supporting them through the Women’s Mentoring Foundation. Stef is a keen reader with a particular passion for mystery, fantasy and SiFi. She loves cooking, trying different foods and cuisines, watching movies, travelling and going for long walks in the country-side.
Kavya Suresh, Administration Lead
Kavya is a vibrant individual based in Brisbane with a diverse background and broad interests. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics and is currently pursuing studies in International Business. Her career began as an Assistant Professor, where she developed a strong passion for management and administration. Kavya also has a diploma in Women’s Studies, highlighting her commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality. Outside her professional life, she enjoys music, traveling, shopping, and yoga. Her enthusiasm for these activities enhances her career and academic pursuits, portraying a person who excels in balancing professional ambitions with personal passions.
Michael Godfrey, Digital Assistant
Michael is a lively and varied individual from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He served in the Australian Army before becoming an English teacher abroad. Now, with a degree in agricultural science, he specialises in pest and disease management for farms and property owners. Beyond work, Michael enjoys fitness at the gym, riding motorcycles, and exploring the world. His passion for technology leads him to develop hobbies like coding projects and volunteer projects. He’s particularly interested in using AI and other tech innovations to make a meaningful difference.
Pushpa Vaghela, CEO
Pushpa Vaghela, Founder of The Women’s Mentoring Foundation (WMF), is dedicated to empowering women to overcome trauma, challenges, and distressful situations, guiding them towards strength and their best selves. As a professional Leadership Consultant, Mentor, and Clinical Neuro Practitioner, Pushpa has positively impacted thousands of leaders globally, fostering transformation and developing exceptional leadership qualities. Her mission, fueled by a deep understanding of mental and emotional health challenges, led her to establish WMF as a Harm Prevention charity organisation, providing Workshops, Speaking Engagement and Peer Counselling to assist women on their empowering journey.
Stef Miladinova, Peer Counsellor
Stef, a seasoned Digital Manager at WMF, brings over nineteen years of IT experience and business acumen to her role. Eager to support women in Brisbane through the Women’s Mentoring Foundation, she’s committed to empowering personal and professional growth through peer counselling. With a compassionate approach, Stef provides invaluable support to women and young people, guiding them through the challenges of life and/or trauma recovery, offering a listening ear, practical advice from personal experience, and emotional encouragement. She strives to create a safe and nurturing environment where individuals can find solace, strength, and pathways towards healing and resilience.
Sharon Hawthorne, Peer Counsellor
Sharon Hawthorne, has traveled and survived numerous challenges, demonstrating her commitment to supporting women in their healing journeys. She is an author and writer with over two decades of experience working in various capacities within newspapers, magazines, and book publishers. This includes advertising, feature writing, marketing and communications, book editing, and author mentorship. Sharon also coaches and mentors authors and writers, aiding them in producing the most professional versions of their books and navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the self-publishing industry.
