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.
Executive Management

Gina Dougall GAICD
Chief Executive Officer
M. Public HeaLth, Australian institute of comany directors Graduate, BA Recreation, Dip Education, Dip Business Management, Dip Counselling
Gina serves on several boards an committees in the region, with roles on the board of Broadmeadows Revitalisation, North West Metropolitan Partnership, Neighbourhood House Victoria and Hume Jobs Taskforce. Gina has held previous positions as Chair of the Hume Victoria and Hume Jobs Taskforces, Chair of the Hume Whittlesea LLEN and Chair of the Hume early years partnership. Gina holds a Masters of Public Health, along with formal qualifications in arts, education and business management. She has been admitted as a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is passionate about Health and loves her role as a board member on Sunbury Cobalt Community Health. Gina is a passionate supporter of the Saints, has three adult children and is a grandmother.

Jaime de Loma-Osorio Ricon
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, 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 two decades ago. In his role, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of many of the organisation’s current programs such as the Aiming High VCE Support Program, the Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement, Community Connectons and the Good People Act Project (GPAN). Jaime’s interests are quite diverse and include social and environmental issues, science and languages. He was a volunteer translator with Greenpeace International for over a decade and he currently sits on the Board of the Northern Community Legal Centre.

Georgina Wheeler
MANAGER PEOPLE, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
M.Health and human services, B. Health Sciences (Public Health), B. International development, Cert IV Training and Assessment
Georgina has worked at Banksia Gardens for over seven years across diverse areas including youth, education, sustainability and social enterprise. Between 2020 – 2023, she travelled as an English teacher in primary schools in Thailand. Currently Georgina manages the Business Services Team at Banksia. She loves the work environment at Banksia Gardens and the close connection that the organisation has with the community.

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.
Leadership

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)

Georgia Ransome
Good People Act Now Coordinator
Bachelor of Health Sciences

Michael Mansour
Kenley Court Neighbourhood House Coordinator
Master of Social Science (International Development), Bachelor of Electrical Engineering

Dhammika Jayawardene
Finance & Payroll Coordinator

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

Tash Alabakov
Youth Transitions Coordinator
Bachelor of Health Promotion, Cert Education Support

Astrid Decloux
Project real team leader

Dr Eric Dommers
Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement (NCESE) senior advisor, strategy and research
Doctor of education, HDipTeachSec, Cert Health Prog Eval, Cert ProjManagement

Nick Richardson
Common green coordinator

Olive Mavromati Bourke
Marketing and communications coordinator

Kylie Aloi
huMAN RESOURCES coordinator

Bodhi Sweeny
Study Group & School Holiday Program Team LEader

Tod Myles
Food Pantry coordinator

Bridget McHenry
Project real learning specialist

Dilini Patibendige
Aiming high coordinator

Tess Cheetham
sustainability leader
Saida Nur
youth and engagement coordinator

Zakhia Nisha
office coordinator
Business Services Team

Georgina Wheeler
Manager People, Finance and Operations

Dhammika Jayawardene
Finance and Payroll Coordinator

Kylie Aloi
HUMAN RESOURCEs coordinator

Olive Mavromati Bourke
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, and gender equity officer

Zakhia Nisha
Office coordinator

Parwana Ahmadzai
administration assistant

Ann Pavlovic
Great Young Movers coordinator

Dana Ghawi
Early Years Community Worker
Training and Employment Team

Dr Rana Tbaileh
Manager Training and Employment

Tod Myles
Food Pantry coordinator and community development support

Usama Al Ogidi
tutor / IT Systems officer

Jamil El Sabayn
Tutor

Fatme Al Rai
tutor
Gamze Coruk-Kiratlioglu
Tutor
Cavide Ulusoylu
Tutor
Mathew Colbourn
tutor
Uzay Ceylan
Tutor
Meral Sandalci
tutor
Kenley Court Neighbourhood House Team

Michael Mansour
Kenley Court Neighbourhood House Coordinator

Thaera Yonan
Community Development & Towards Equality Officer

Gagandeep Sharma
Towards equality facilitator
Shobha Poudel
Towards equality facilitator
Sapna Khadka
Towards equality facilitator
Mariam Moustafa
Playcircle Project Coordinator
Ruaa Markus
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Siyoda Jayawardene
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Rukaya Elmoustafa
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor
Community Development and Youth

Paul Atkinson
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Melodie Radatti
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Tash Alabakov
Youth transitions coordinator

Tara Barmby
family worker
Saida Nur
youth and community support coordinator

Melinda Xeres
Team Leader Intensive Case Management

Cara Hutson-Filis
Intensive Case Manager

Sofia Rose
Case manager youth

Paulina Sanchez
community development officer

Emma Russell
Tutor

Najelt (Sunday) Akot
Programs Assistant

Teish Russell
Programs Assistant
Edith Smith
Programs Assistant

Fadi Batikha
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER
Igor Pejic
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER
NCESE, Project REAL and Education Team

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

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

Seral Fehmi
NCESE/ Project REAL Lead Teacher

Astrid Decloux
Project real team lead
Anne Epstein
Project real team leader

Bridget McHenry
Learning specialist - student engagement

Olivia Gorman
Project real teacher
Karen Ind
Project real teacher
Manar Eltarifi
Parent engagement projects coordinator

Bodhi Sweeny
After-School Program Team LEader

Tess Cheetham
Youth and sustainability education leader

Dilini Patibendage
aiming high coordinator
Tiffeny Yong
Arts Facilitator

Nadeen Abu Ghalyoun
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Sali Asho
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Luyee Bai
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

David Thompson
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Fakaoho (Foxy) Tupou
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor

Aleyna Ozsoy
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor
Isaac Wattis
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor
Phoebe Harvey
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor
Hoosai Farotan
Youth Engagement Learning Mentor
Rehmet Ahmed
Program assistant
Gender Equity Team

Georgia Ransome
GOOD PEOPLE ACT NOW COORDINATOR

Olive Mavromati Bourke
Marketing And communications coordinator, and gender equity officer
Circular Economy and Sustainability

Donna Stoddart
Manager Circular Economy and Sustainability

Edgar Caballero Aspe
Education and Sustainability Coordinator

Tess Cheetham
Youth and sustainability education leader

Nick Richardson
BROADY BIKES & Common green COORDINATOR

Jonathan Chee
WPI Coordinator

Cheylee Fiddler
Sustainability & Education Officer

Nathan Nelson
program assistant

Suzanne Wilsom
Garden support worker
Common Bean Cafe Team
Courtney Edwards
Common Bean Cafe Coordinator
Samanata Thapa
Supervisor - Kangan

Pinar Akgol
Supervisor - DPV cafe

Maddisyn Lang
Common Bean Cafe Assistant (trainee)
Jane Lee
Common Bean Cafe Assistant chef
Rojina Shrestha
Barista
Facilities Team

Puspa Acharya
Lead Maintenance Officer

Harry Sahin
Hallkeeper

Ambar Chhetri
facility Maintenance
