Click on links to view staff by section
	Management Team		Venture Development Team
	The Incubator Team		Support Services Team
	Professional Services Team

(Click on name to view bio)

	Chris Cuffe, Executive Director [Team Leader]		Claire Kearney, Manager, Support Services
	Connette Blake, Manager, Marketing & Communications		Carolyn Lakos, Manager, Operations
	Lisa Cotton, Director, Social Investment		Genelle Nicholls, Chief Financial Officer
	Catherine Feeney, Acting Manager, Marketing & Communications		Ross Pulido, Manager, Investor Funds Support
	Suzy Gellert, Manager, Human Resources		Justine Roche, Program Manager, Social Investment
	Alicia Gibbs, Manager Investor Relations		Marylou Verberne, Director, Victoria
	Jacquie Hayes, Manager, Media Relations

Chris joined SVA in 2006 after more than 20 years of experience in building successful wealth management practices at Colonial First State Investments and Challenger Financial Services Group.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow of Finsia. He is also a Director of Unisuper Limited and WAM Active Limited.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW and a Diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia.

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Connette is responsible for the consistent and strategic delivery of SVA's communication activities.

Prior to joining SVA, she worked as a Managing Director at Changing Our World, a New York based philanthropic consulting firm. In this role, Connette advised local, national and international non-profit organisations on issues of fundraising, marketing, internal and external communications, event management, board development and strategic planning.

She holds a marketing degree from the University of Georgia (Hons) and an MBA from New York University.

(Connette is currently on leave).

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Lisa is responsible for building SVA’s network and managing a diverse portfolio of funders.

Prior to joining SVA, Lisa was a Director of DDB Worldwide Communications and before that managed the Sydney operations of The Perth Mint’s Sydney 2000 Olympic licensing program.

She has held a number of senior management positions with the WA government, is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program for Philanthropy Leaders and serves on the board of School Aid Trust.

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Catherine joined SVA in April 2008 and is responsible for managing SVA's marketing, communications and major events.

She has over 10 years of marketing experience gained on both the client and agency side and most recently managed the field marketing activities for a US-headquartered software firm in Australia and New Zealand.

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from University College Dublin.

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Suzy is SVA's Human Resources Manager. She joined SVA after a successful career as a self-employed small business operator, owning and operating several retail businesses including a thriving café in Sydney 's CBD and a large discount variety store.

Suzy has a Bachelor of Science from Macquarie University and a Graduate Diploma of Commerce (UNSW), as well as extensive training in sales and marketing.

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Alicia is responsible for managing investor services within the Social Investment team.

She has over three years of experience in the non-profit sector, coming most recently from a role in the fundraising team at Caritas Australia. Alicia brings to SVA a wealth of experience in database management and customer service from e-tail, corporate and non-profit organisations.

Alicia has also volunteered for many non-profit organisations from an early age, including the Australian Red Cross. Her passion is in social justice and environmental issues, and she holds an Environmental Science degree from UNSW.

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Jacquie is an award-winning journalist who has joined SVA to manage media relations.

She was most recently the Personal Investment Editor of The Australian newspaper where she designed and launched the successful weekly personal finance supplement, Wealth. Before joining The Australian, Jacquie was a senior reporter on the Australian Financial Review where, in 2001, she won the Citigroup Award for excellence in personal finance journalism.

Jacquie has also worked for the Sydney Morning Herald, Sun Herald, Daily Telegraph and Australian Associated Press after training on The Border Mail.

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Claire joined SVA in November 2008 as Manager, Support Services, working out of Melbourne.

Prior to SVA, Claire worked at Quiller Consultants, a strategic communications consultancy in London, advising clients on a range of issues including media relations, public affairs, communications strategy and reputation management. Claire worked on a variety of different clients including New Philanthropy Capital and Bridges Ventures. Prior to Quiller, Claire worked as a Research Associate for Ireland’s leading think-tank on European politics, The Institute of European Affairs.

Claire holds an MSc in International and European Politics from The University of Edinburgh and an International Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in History and Politics from University College Dublin.

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Ross has also volunteered for many non-profit organisations including Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse and Sydney PEN Centre. He is a Sydney committee member of goodcompany, a volunteering organisation.

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Justine is a Director of The Station Ltd, a drop-in centre for the homeless of Sydney. The Station Ltd. provides key services to the homeless such as housing assistance, legal advice, mental health support, meals and a place to be comfortable and accepted.

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Marylou is Director of SVA in Victoria with responsibilities for investor support, government and stakeholder relations and operational management.

She is a lawyer with over ten years of legal experience in banking and finance law and commercial litigation. Her early legal career was with Blake Dawson in Melbourne, before she relocated to Hong Kong to work on the new airport and harbour redevelopment. She spent time in Asia touring and producing theatre before returning to Melbourne in 2002 to work for a federal politician and then the Victorian Minister for Education in a think tank focusing on innovative reform in education. Marylou was the Executive Director of the Zoos Victoria Foundation prior to joining SVA.

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