Banksia Gardens Community Services is governed by ten Board of Governance members with a diverse range of skills and expertise. Our Board is focused on building sustainability to achieve long term impact. Their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm are one of the reasons Banksia Gardens achieves significant positive results for the people of Hume City and beyond.
Justin Breheny
Chairperson
Justin has over thirty years of experience in the insurance and banking industries in Australia and throughout Asia, working primarily for the ANZ bank and Insurance Australia Group (IAG).
Key roles at IAG included Group Chief Risk Officer, with responsibility for all risk management across the group; and Chief Executive Officer, Asia with responsibility for creating then managing IAG’s general and life insurance interests in Malaysia, Thailand, China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
At ANZ bank Justin held senior executive management and board positions within Asian operations – including General Manager of the Bank’s Asia business – with responsibility for managing ANZ’s retail and corporate banking business in China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
In all, Justin has spent over twenty years living and working in Asia.
Joanne Bliss
Public Officer
Khaled Chakli
Treasurer
Khaled Chakli is an experienced board member and executive driven by a passion for fostering growth and instigating positive change within community, health, medical, and research sectors. His track record has solidified him as a dynamic leader and strategic thinker, showcasing an innate ability to make pivotal decisions while collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve ambitious objectives.
Khaled served as an Advisor to Federal and State Ministers before transitioning to executive and leadership roles in prominent national peak bodies.
Khaled has an academic background in Arts/Psychology, and in biomedical science. He is also a Master of Business Administration candidate.
Khaled has previously Chaired a charitable Trust and brings a wealth of expertise that spans strategic policy development, advocacy, organisational development, strategic planning, leadership, and operational management to his role as Treasurer of Banksia Gardens Community Services.
Carole Fabian
Secretary
Carole has lived in the northern suburbs for nearly thirty years. She joined the board of Banksia Gardens Community Services in 2011 and became Chairperson in 2013. She has a BA (Journalism) from the University of Canberra, and has worked for numerous Members of Parliament as Ministerial Adviser, Electorate Officer and speech writer. Carole currently works as an Electorate Officer for Maria Vamvakinou MP, Federal Member for Calwell, a role she has held and enjoyed since 2008.
Carole has a long history of volunteering, including as a member of the committee of management of Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre in Coburg, as President of the School Council at Moonee Ponds Central School, and as Secretary of Brunswick Zebras Junior Football Club. She has also worked as a volunteer biographer and editor for Beyond Words, a community organisation that helps older people record their life stories, and Courage to Care, an organisation that teaches young people how to stand up against bullying and discrimination.
Carole enjoys running, Pilates and writing. She has two adult children, one of whom is a primary school teacher in Broadmeadows.
Edwin J S David
Ed David has had extensive experience in government, community housing and the building, construction and property management sectors. Ed was previously Director, Property Services & Asset Management for the Victorian Office of Housing. This involved the management of some 75,000 properties across Victoria.
Since leaving Government, Ed’s property advisory company has undertaken a number of projects with Federal, State and local governments as well as the private and community housing sectors.
Ed has a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree.
Parsa Deylami
MBA, M. Mechanical Engineering
Parsa Deylami was an immigrant to Australia, arriving over 10 years ago on a student visa.
Since then he has become an ambitious engineering leader, holding a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Melbourne, as well as holding MBA qualifications.
He has experience and exposure across many different industries including Aerospace, Automotive, and Energy.
His extensive history across many types of projects, businesses and industries brings leadership experience, people, project management skills to the Board.
Asifa Qarar
M.Sc. Applied Physics, Master of Engineering
Asifa Qarar is a banking professional with a Bachelor of Business in Banking and Finance and an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration. Currently a Senior Commissions Officer at ANZ Bank, she has seven years of experience in the financial sector. Asifa is also the Director of Tamanna Social Enterprise and has over a decade of experience in community work, including a year as a social worker for refugee families with Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre.
Her commitment to community service includes serving as Treasurer of the Afghan Community in Craigieburn for three and a half years and running a Dari language school for four years. Through fundraising and various social events, Asifa has gained valuable insights into the struggles faced by migrant families in Australia. She is dedicated to contributing to Banksia Gardens Community Services and making a positive impact in her community.
King Ng
Bachelor of Economics
King has extensive experience in the Commercial Property Development Industry, having spent 7 years at Grocon and 2 years at Lend Lease developing commercial and residential projects. King also has experience in Government, delivering Community and Social Housing for the Department of Human Services and most recently, specialising in Youth Homelessness prevention in the form of developing Youth Foyers with Partnership with Government and non for profit agencies.
King has spent many years as a mentor and volunteers with Youth at Risk in Custodial services and is passionate about the importance of support programs for at risk youths that provides a stable home environment, education, mentoring and peer support. King is also on the Victorian Advisory Board of Housing All Australians.
King now runs his Family Office which specialises in Commercial, Retail and Residential Assets and Property Development.
Julijana Todorovic
Julijana has lived and worked in the northern and northwestern suburbs her whole life. She is a lawyer working in land rights, disputes and advocacy for First Nations people, for people suffering financial hardship and people facing discrimination. Before practising law, Julijana worked as a political staffer and brings knowledge of government and campaigning to Banksia Gardens.
In addition to her work at Banksia, Julijana runs a housing activism group which campaigns for better social and affordable housing. She has also been a consumer advocate for better cancer care of young people and those with bone and soft tissue cancers.
Julijana is constantly inspired by the staff, volunteers and, most importantly, the community at Banksia and has a particular passion for Banksias leading role in gender equality and ending gendered violence.
Julijana holds a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Global Issues and a Juris Doctor.
Anthony Potesta
Anthony Potesta has been working in education for over 20 years. A strong passion for the Arts Anthony began his career teaching instrumental music in schools whilst at University. After graduating with degrees in Music and Primary Education, Anthony became a primary school teacher and spent many years honing his skills as an educator who based his skills in developing strong, trusting and respectful relationships with all sectors of the school community, but in particular, with the students he worked with. Anthony completed his master’s in educational leadership , and after seven years as Assistant Principal, and several acting Principal roles, Anthony stepped into his first substantive Principal appointment at Meadows Primary School in Broadmeadows in 2017. In 2023, Anthony was appointed to Banum Warrik Primary School – a brand new school in Kalkallo which opened in 2024.
Anthony is committed to building strong relationships with the school community to improve educational and wellbeing outcomes for all learners.
