Our people

Meet our Board

President: Vosawale Tamani

Vosawale is a highly experienced leader of large-scale programs with extensive expertise in creating, deploying and evaluating multinational strategies. Currently Head of Corporate Sustainable and Financial Inclusion Asia Pacific & Pacific Communications for ANZ Retail Asia Pacific, Vosawale oversees corporate communications and brand development, as well as community development and good corporate citizenship. Initiatives delivered by Vosawale include domestic violence-based financial literacy programs for local communities around the world, and volunteer skills program in 10 countries. Vosawale has also launched and supported a strategic partnership with Australian Volunteers International, and has sat on various Boards including the Fiji Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Board of Trustees, Alabaster Centre, Fiji.

Treasurer: Zahid Answer

Zahid is a Commercial Analyst and Management Accountant with extensive experience in commercial feasibility analysis, forecasting, financial modelling, stakeholder management, and the implementation of strategic corporate strategies. In his current role as Management Accountant for QNP Queensland, Zahid is responsible for setting parameters, delivering and managing budgets, forecasting, and strategic planning. Zahid is a CPA Australia member and the founder of Cloud Intellect – a business that develops and distributes cloud-connected integrated hardware to help business owners make sense of their business, increasing profitability and overall business efficiency.

Board member: Jill Armstrong

BA Arts(Hons) Dipl. MA/MBA

Jill is currently the Regional Manager of Multicultural Australia where she leads a team of 20 staff in central Queensland, the Darling Downs and Townsville. Jill’s high-level communication and mediation skills have been developed through 12 years’ experience working in a variety of roles within out-of-home care and settlement organisations. She has also worked extensively with Life Without Barriers, a not-for-profit organisation delivering services within foster care, disability support, aged care, and mental health.

Board member: Lyn Chapman

Dipl. MA Dipl. ACC MBA

An accomplished business manager with leadership, accounting, operations, sales and staff management expertise, Lyn has extensive management experience across a diverse range of industries including construction, mining, retail, SME, government, rural, education, and large multinational organisations. With Diplomas in Accounting and Management, a Master of Business Administration and a Certificate in Digital Marketing, Lyn is skilled in budgeting and reporting, auditing and internal control development, contract negotiation, governance, and regulatory compliance.

Secretary: Priti (sits outside Board)

Meet our staff

General Manager: Julie Pettett

Julie is a visionary networker with extensive leadership expertise, who seeks to partner with others to make a difference. She has three decades of community development experience and 20 years as a CEO/General Manager of community owned organisations focused on strengthening volunteering, conserving our environment, creating learning and education opportunities, and developing social enterprises, as well as boosting multicultural economic, social, community and civic participation. With tenacity and dedication in all she does, Julie has deep-seated respect and appreciation for people with different skills and experiences, from the mosaic of cultures that make up our
world. Julie’s on-the-ground experience is complemented by a breadth of expertise in governance (Graduate of the NZ Company Directors) and representation of Government Commissions, Federal and State Advisory roles to Ministry and Premiers (Wellington, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide). In 2020 Julie moved from regional Victoria to take up the position of General Manager for Integreat Queensland.

Healthy Communities Coordinator: Esther Arzolay-Martinez

Originally from Venezuela, Esther migrated to Australia in 2011 and has a Bachelor of Systems Engineering. With 15 years’ experience as a Councillor, Esther’s passion for community work as a volunteer began when she moved to Gladstone in 2014 and worked in aged care, early childhood education, and administration support. Esther began working for Integreat Queensland in 2020, where she now coordinates Resilient Relationships programs and playgroups as part of our Healthy Communities initiative.

Projects and Pathways Coordinator: Stephanie Smaller Thomson

Originally from Whakatane New Zealand, Stephanie first came to Australia in 2017, where she managed a volunteer program in Victoria. In early 2021, Stephanie moved to Gladstone and volunteered with Integreat Queensland before gaining a permanent role. She enjoys facilitating community education programs and helping people meet their goals. Stephanie is particularly passionate about domestic and family violence and mental health support for the migrant community.

Learning for the Future Facilitator: Jaclyn Thompson

Jaclyn moved to Gladstone in early 2022 to take up the Learning Facilitator role in our Learning for the Future team at Integreat Queensland. After living and working in Japan for almost eight years, Jaclyn is passionate about language education and community development. Her experiences working as an English teacher and learning Japanese have inspired her to support migrants in their own language pursuits. As well as helping others achieve their learning goals, Jaclyn is keen to help develop more inclusive and resilient communities.

Little Steps Multicultural Playgroup Coordinator: Jessica Ponciano

Originally from the Philippines, Jessica moved to Gladstone with her family in 2012 and became an Australian citizen in 2014. Married with two sons, Jessica enjoys cooking Filipino cuisines and in her spare time volunteers at a local church. In 2012, Jessica joined Integreat Queensland as a volunteer and has since become a valued staff member working as one of our coordinators of the Little Steps Multicultural Playgroup in Gladstone and Rockhampton.

Administration and Communications Support Officer: Rikki Razon

In 2016, Rikki migrated to Australia with his family and has been living in Gladstone ever since. With an avid interest in photography, graphic and web design, Rikki originally came to Integreat Queensland as a volunteer to enhance his computer skills and also meet new people and gain confidence speaking English. In 2018, Rikki started employment at Integreat Queensland and in 2021 he gained a Diploma of Digital Media with CQUniversity.