Banksia Gardens Community Services continues to impress with its track record of excellence in the delivery of education and community programs. The organisation’s work has been recognised at a local, state and national level.
This dynamic organisation has managed to recruit some of the most inspiring and dedicated staff, who help attract a wide range of local residents to get involved in the services offered.
Critical to the success of the organisation is the quality and commitment of its 75+ staff, who gather 500 years of experience in community development and education, speak 23 languages and who have allowed Banksia Gardens to partner with dozens of organisations of varying types and sizes over the last 44 years. The following section provides a summary of the skills and experience that the Banksia Gardens team bring to work every day.
Executive management

Gina Dougall GAICD
Chief Executive Officer
BA Recreation, Dip Education, Dip Business Management, Dip Counselling
Gina brings extensive community, health and leadership experience to her role as CEO of Banksia Gardens Community Services. Her background has been in recreation management, community health and juvenile justice. Prior to commencing at Banksia Gardens in 2001, Gina spent seven years living in Alice Springs where she was employed as Manager for Education and Training for Family Planning Northern Territory. Her role included much remote area work with Indigenous Australians. Her goal is to grow Banksia Gardens Community Services into the most innovative community services organisation in Victoria. In 2017, Gina graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jaime de Loma-Osorio Ricon
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, co-director NCESE
M.Sc. Applied Physics, Master of Engineering
Jaime has had a long association with Banksia Gardens, where he started volunteering as a mathematics tutor a decade ago. In his role, Jaime has been responsible for the establishment of many of the organisation’s current programs and he played a pivotal role in the redevelopment of the organisation’s headquarters. Jaime’s interests are quite diverse and include social and environmental issues, science and languages. Jaime has been a volunteer translator with Greenpeace International for over 11 years and has sat on a number of not-for-profit boards.

Paul Atkinson
Manager Community Development and Youth
Master of Peace and Conflict Studies

Dr Rana Tbaileh
Manager Training and Employment
PhD Engineering, Adv Dip Business Management, Cert IV TAE, Cert IV TESOL
Rana was first involved in Banksia Gardens as a volunteer tutor, soon becoming a Project Coordinator in the Community Development Department. Working at Banksia Gardens has allowed Rana to pursue her passion in the education and teaching field, demonstrated through her role as an adult education trainer and extensive experience, which led her to her current role. Rana enjoys the friendly, supportive and team spirit that shines at Banksia Gardens, and is looking forward to future developments, both personally and professionally through her career.
Management

Seral Fehmi
Lead Teacher at Project REAL
BA Youth Studies, Grad Dip Education (Secondary)

Dr Edgar Caballero Aspe
Education and Sustainability Coordinator
PhD Philosophy, Master of Science (Environmental Biology), Grad Cert Marine and Coastal Sciences, Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology)
Edgar has a strong background in education and biological sciences. He has many years of experience teaching and working with multicultural youth from Mexico, the United States and Australia. Edgar complete his PhD in Environmental Education, researching his interest in creating innovative and educative experiences and opportunities for young people. He is part of a network of emerging environmental leaders after participating in the ‘Global Environmental Summer Academy’ in Switzerland. He loves speaking languages, like his native Spanish, about different cultures of the world and sharing his Mexican food skills. Edgar also has a moving background that includes acrobatics and dance, and firmly believes that movement and creative expressions are essential elements for learning.

Georgia Ransome
Good People Act Now Coordinator
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Georgia first came to Banksia Gardens in 2017 as a volunteer for the GPAN Project. She undertook her final university placement in the same year with the Community Development team. She continued to volunteer for GPAN for a number of years and first stepped into the role of Gender Equity Coordinator in 2020. She is a passionate feminist and committed to helping create a gender equitable future.
Georgia loves travelling, DIY home renovations and spending time with her family, friends and her dog, Ollie.

Michael Mansour
Kenley Court Neighbourhood House Coordinator
Master of Social Science (International Development), Bachelor of Electrical Engineering
Michael is a community development practitioner with a background in engineering. Before joining Banksia Gardens, Michael was a project and community development worker in Sudan for three years, working with marginalised and ethic groups in the education, health and social sectors. Michael also volunteered in several community development projects in Egypt, Philippines and Australia. His practice is influenced by participatory principles and approaches to development. His strong passion for social justice led him to participate in the Egyptian Revolution in 2011. Michael loves reading, travelling and connecting with people from different backgrounds.

Dhammika Jayawardene
Finance & Payroll Coordinator

Bodhi Sweeny
Study Group & School Holiday Program Team LEader

Tash Alabakov
Youth Transitions Coordinator
Bachelor of Health Promotion, Cert Education Support
Tash first came to Banksia Gardens Community Services as a volunteer in mid 2012, assisting in Study Groups and encouraging friendly competition in weekly pick up games on the outdoor basketball court with local youth. She has since become one of Banksia Gardens’ Youth Engagement Officers, leading the Youth Transitions Program and supporting newly arrived young people into work, study and volunteer opportunities. Tash also helps facilitate various primary and high school activities as part of Social Cohesion Through Education projects.
Tash has worked in schools and local councils, and she loves all sports. Tash hopes to empower and engage local youth in making lifestyle choices that impact positively on their health, and encourages youth-led participation in projects and programs.

Jonathan Chee
Chief Storyteller and WPI Coordinator
BA (Philosophy), Grad Dip Ed, AssocDeg Prof Writ & Edit, Cert IV TAE, CELTA

Dr Eric Dommers
Co-Director, Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement (NCESE)
Doctor of education, HDipTeachSec, Cert Health Prog Eval, Cert ProjManagement
Prior to taking up a role as Co-Director, Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement (NCESE), Eric worked at the Brotherhood of St Laurence Research & Policy Centre as Principal Research Fellow, Inclusive Education – where he also worked on the evaluation of Project REAL. Prior to that, Eric worked at the University of Melbourne, as Barr Research Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, and as Evaluation Manager – Social Inclusion Projects, Queensland Department of Communities.
In addition to working in evaluation and research roles, Eric also has an extensive background in health and education, with roles including Manager, Organisational Health, Queensland Department of Education; Principal Policy Advisor, Primary Health Care & General Practice, with Qld Health; Director of Strategic Research; QDGP; CEO, Brisbane Inner South Division of General Practice; Director, National Nutrition Education in Schools project, Queensland University of Technology; and Schools Programs Manager, National Heart Foundation (Vic).
Eric has a doctorate in Education, as well as qualifications in evaluation from Melbourne University, and Project Management.
Business Services Team

Georgina Wheeler
Manager People, Finance and Operations

Dhammika Jayawardene
Finance and Operations Officer

Kylie Aloi
HUMAN RESOURCES AND WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER

Thishali Arangallage
Office coordinator

Parwana Ahmadzai
administration assistant

Siyoda Jayawardene
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

Dana Ghawi
Early Years Community Worker
Training and Employment Team

Rana Tbaileh
Manager Training and Employment

Jamil El Sabayn
English Tutor

Fatme Al Rai
Sewing tutor/food pantry Assistant

Usama Al Ogidi
IT Tutor

Mathew Colbourn
English Tutor
Kenley Court Neighbourhood House Team

Michael Mansour
Kenley Court Neighbourhood House Coordinator

Nella Centorbi
English Tutor/Study Group Tutor (KNCH)

Thaera Yonan
Client Support Officer & Towards Equality Facilitator

Soni Baidar
Towards equality facilitator

Gagandeep Sharma
Towards equality facilitator

Vivian Haya
Girls Circle Facilitator
Youth Justice and Community Support team

Paul Atkinson
Community development manager

Melodie Radatti
Community Development Coordinator

Saida Nur
BCYJA Case Worker

John Rutter
Youth and community support worker

Emma Solai
Youth and community support worker
NCESE & Project REAL Team

Jaime de Loma-Osorio Ricon
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, co-director NCESE

Dr Eric Dommers
Co-Director Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement

Seral Fehmi
Project REAL Lead Teacher

Astrid Decloux
project real teacher

Tallulah O'Brien
Project REAL youth engagement and learning mentor

Ta Tupou
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Fakaoho Tupou
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Sophie Tsokas
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor
Gender Equity Team

Georgia Ransome
GOOD PEOPLE ACT NOW COORDINATOR

Natasha Guisti
GENDER EQUITY OFFICER
Study Group Team

Tess Cheetham
Youth and sustainability education officer

Bodhi Sweeny
Study Group & School Holiday Program Team LEader

Edgar Caballero Aspe
Education and Sustainability Coordinator
Aiming High VCE Support Team

Dilini Patibendage
Aiming High program coordinator

Marie Spyros
Aiming high program coordinator

Luyee Bai
Aiming high program Tutor
Social Cohesion Through Education

Melodie Radatti
Community Development Coordinator

Tash Alabakov
Youth Transitions Coordinator
Community Development Programs Team

Ann Pavlovic
Great Young Movers coordinator

Dana Ghawi
Early Years Community Worker
The Common Bean Cafe Team

Tod Myles
Common Bean Supervisor

Maddisyn Lang
Cafe Trainee
Facility Team

Puspa Acharya
Lead Maintenance Officer

Ambar Chhettri
Maintenance Officer

Harry Sahin
Hallkeeper
