Our Board
Dr. Andy Marks - Chair
As Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Andy drives Western Sydney University’s strategic collaborations with government, industry and the community. He is co-founder of the ‘LaunchPad’ startup incubator, founder of the CatalystWest forum, Chair of Western Sydney Community Forum, and Chair of the Committee for Sydney’s Western City Taskforce.
Andy writes regular columns for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Review, and the Saturday Paper on politics and social issues. He features on ABC radio’s political forum, and is an occasional panelist on The Drum.
Prior to his current role, Andy was a researcher in the social services sector and professional musician with ARIA nominated band Crow.
Natalie Chiappazzo - Deputy Chair
Natalie has worked in the Community Sector for the past 12 years and has been a strong advocate for young people during this time. She is passionate about using progressive and innovative methods to achieve social justice for young people who are at-risk and experience disadvantage, and is currently leads the Blacktown Youth Services Association. Natalie has held a number of leadership roles in the sector over the years including Youth Action’s Western Sydney Youth Representative. She also holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Leisure and Health).
Ben Jackson - Treasurer
Ben spent a decade working in the corporate sector and after project managing direct sales of charity products, he entered the not for profit sector. Since that time, he has held senior management positions in health, disability and community services. Ben is an active voice in the community sector and is the CEO of Active Care Network previously Great Community Transport and Easy Go Connect. He holds a number of leadership representative positions including being director of CTO the peak body for community transport organisations. Ben joined the Board in 2014 and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and post graduate qualifications in Public Relations.
Heather Chaffey - Secretary
Heather is a passionate advocate for social justice with 20 years experience in the community and Local Government sectors, particularly within Western Sydney. With a keen focus on place-based disadvantage, innovation and social leadership, Heather is driven to walk along side communities and challenge systemic disadvantage.
Heather is currently leading the Sustainable Communities Division of Wentworth Community Housing. The team works to create meaningful opportunities for client participation, to improve the financial literacy and access to education and employment opportunities available to clients. Heather is also working to address environmental issues affecting clients including rising heat in western Sydney and energy poverty.
Within her first year at Wentworth, Heather cofounded Neighbourhood Jobs, a social enterprise aiming to smash inter generational dependence on social housing by employing vulnerable young people. Neighbourhood Jobs is wholly owned by Wentworth Community Housing and is proudly funded by the NSW Department of Industry.
Heather is a skilled manager and leader, overseeing multiple complex programs with diverse funding models and contractual arrangements.
A gifted story teller and passionate voice for social justice, Heather frequently presents at conferences and events.
Heather joined the Board in 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Social Science, a Post Graduate Certificate in Local Government, and a MBAx (Social Impact) Business Administration and Management from the UNSW Australian Graduate School of Management.
Keith Hamilton - Director
Keith has a passion for social justice, and a drive to include people whom society often excludes. He has been a minster of the Uniting Church in Australia for 27 years, and involved in the church and community of Western Sydney for the past 17. Keith holds a Bachelor of Theology and three Masters’ degrees in Theology, Communications and Cultural Studies, and Community Management. Keith was the Group CEO of Parramatta Mission and deputy chair of the Uniting Church in Western Sydney. He is currently a Director on the Board of the Community Migrant Resource Centre, and joined the Board in 2015.
Turkan Aksoy - Director
Turkan is the NSW Coordinator for the Welcoming Cities program at Welcoming Australia. They is experienced in the government and non-government sectors, including building the capacity of small and emerging communities, cultural diversity training, employment skills development, women at risk, collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and youth mentoring. Turkan holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences, an Associate Diploma in Applied Science and a Diploma in Leadership and Management. She joined the Board in 2020.
Kamalle Dabboussy - Director
Kamalle has more than 33 years’ experience working in the fields of migrant and refugee settlement support, with culturally and linguistically diverse youth and in international humanitarian aid. He has worked actively and strategically across civil and political spheres to further the participation and successful settlement of diverse communities, including with Sydney’s Muslim communities, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAID, and with Parliamentary Ministers and MPs. Kamalle is the CEO at Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre and he chaired the SSI Board between 2012-2016. Both organisations have grown exponentially during this time to provide increased services and improved social impact. SSI has experienced eight-fold growth and diversified its operations into many areas, in this time, such as out-of-home care, asylum seeker support, housing services, disability support and most recently employment services. Kamalle is also Treasurer of South West Sydney Legal Centre and has been an active member and leader of numerous other boards and committees in his career. Kamalle joined the Board in 2020 and holds a degree in Industrial Relations and is an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate.
Stephanie Oatley - Director
Stephanie is the CEO of Platform Youth Services. She has made an extraordinary impact on the Youth Homelessness Sector and the Specialist Homeless Service system through her commitment, dedication and passion to ensure that there is a viable and sustainable service system for young people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Psychology and joined the Board in 2020.