Darian joined Cufa in November, 2021
Darian brings over 15 years of experience working across Australia’s aid sector, including a decade managing the Australian Government’s Aid program as a governance and humanitarian specialist.
As the CEO of Cufa, Darian will oversee a dynamic program portfolio across the Asia Pacific focused on the economic development of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. Cufa promotes financial literacy, employment, enterprise and livelihood, and financial institution development. Through the Sydney team and network of local country offices, Cufa works with communities, institutions and governments to address and overcome the causes of poverty in our region.
Cufa’s board is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of the organisation.
Colette joined Cufa’s board in August 2018
With over 20 years’ experience in leading NGO’s both in Australia and Internationally, Colette brings a unique synthesis of effective and respectful leadership skills and practical experience gained through roles as the Laos-based Country Director for a global NGO, CEO of an Indigenous financial inclusion foundation, and strategic public-private partnership manager.
Colette has extensive knowledge and expertise in female-centred economic development programs, microfinance and financial inclusion and is a highly skilled fundraiser and strategic stakeholder management advisor.
Damon joined the Cufa board in June 2020
Damon joined the Cufa board in June 2020. Damon is a government relations and strategic communications specialist with over 20 years’ experience in designing and delivering government relations, strategic communications and social research programs for high profile clients in Australia and internationally.
He has experience in Federal Government working for the Finance Minister as well as on multiple federal and state political campaigns. Damon is the owner and Principal of Christmas Jalili, a public affairs, strategic communications and social research advisory consulting private sector organizations and industry groups on issues in business, finance and politics. Prior to that, Damon was also a Partner and Head of the Government Relations Practice at Kreab (formerly Gavin Anderson).
Kim joined the Cufa’s Board in June 2022
Kim joined the Cufa Board in June 2022. Kim is a Principal Lawyer, Division Head Personal Legal Services and Executive Director with Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and has been with the firm for more than 30 years. Her legal expertise encompasses personal injury , superannuation and insurance, wills and estate planning and is combined with leadership, strategy development and governance as a division head and executive director. Maurice Blackburn is a social justice law firm that believes everybody deserves access to justice not just those who can afford it.
In addition to her experience at Maurice Blackburn Kim has also been a committee member of an NGO supporting education for women and girls in Afghanistan; is chair of a Law Institute of Victoria Personal Injury Advisory Committee; and is a member of the RMIT JD Advisory Board in the Graduate School of Business and Law. She is also a member of the Australian Litigation Lawyers Alliance.
Jo joined the Cufa’s Board in June 2022
Jo joined the Cufa Board in June 2022. Jo is a senior executive with the Westpac Group with more than 20 years experience in Strategy, Transformation, Organisational Change, Operations and Risk Management across Financial Services and Aviation sectors.
Jo also supports the Westpac Foundation who help to build stronger, more inclusive communities by backing social enterprise creating jobs and supporting small and local charities making a difference in their local community.
George joined the Cufa Board in May 2023
George is a Finance Executive, passionate about leading firms to deliver strong and sustainable financial results. He currently leads the Commercial Finance function at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, guiding the firm through strategic investment decisions.
A qualified Chartered Accountant, George’s earlier career started in External Audit at Deloitte, shifted to Internal Audit at one of Australia’s leading health funds and meandered into a range of transformational and analytical finance positions.
George is energised by CUFA’s unique approach to coordinating community-led assistance in the Asia Pacific region.
Robert joined the Board in June 2023
Robert joined the Board in June 2023 and is Cufa’s inaugural overseas-based Director. A lawyer by profession, with more than 20 years of experience mainly in the private sector, he was appointed to represent Papua New Guinea as Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from June 2002 to July 2015. In December 2015, Robert assumed the position of Executive Director for Public & Government Affairs at ExxonMobil (PNG) Limited from December 2015 until July 2020.
In August 2020 Robert established a new consulting firm in PNG. He consulted for ADB in 2021 and, more recently, worked on a USAID-funded project to establish the American Chamber of Commerce Coral Sea (AmCham Coral Sea) and now serves in a “ex-officio” capacity on the Executive Committee. Robert serves on several Boards of companies including ANZ PNG Limited, the Hunters Rugby Football League Inc., the CPL Foundation Inc and is the President of the Port Moresby Rotary for the 2023-2024 period.
