Board and Governance
The primary responsibilities of the Board are those of strategic management and governance, including strategic, fiduciary, supporting and monitoring functions:
Members of the Board
Matthew Tutty
Chair
An ASRC volunteer since 2008, Matthew has a degree in Asian & Islamic Studies, a Masters in Law, an MBA (Switzerland), is admitted as a Certified Practising Marketer (CPM) and graduated from the Conservatorium of Music’s Recital stream. Conversant in several East Asian languages, a technologist and visual designer, Matthew has held senior executive and creative positions internationally, including CMO of Haliplex, Managing Partner of ChangeSense, Lead Management Consultant for Coffey International, Intercultural Consultant to the Aichi Government of Japan, Foreign Expert in the People’s Republic of China, and specialist consultant to a diverse clientele including Qantas, Telstra, Nokia, Asia Pacific Rail and NanoJapan. Most recently, Matthew has assumed the role of Head of Group Strategy for Telstra's sales and service businesses. Matthew is committed to the work and mission of the ASRC, and to supporting the tireless efforts of the organisation’s staff and volunteers who secure justice and the light of humanity for seekers of asylum.
Brigid Arthur
Brigid Arthur was a member of the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre's Committee of Management which then gained Board status in 2002. Brigid is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. She has an experience in all aspects of school and adult education including education systemic finances and the establishment of governance structures for schools. Brigid has been closely involved in asylum seeker and refugee work for ten years. Brigid is one of the Coordinators of the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project which offers accommodation and material assistance to about twenty asylum seekers on Bridging visas. She has also been involved in advocacy work for asylum seekers, often in conjunction with the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.
Rick Barry
Rick Barry was elected to the ASRC Board in 2010. He has been involved in the community sector for over 20 years both in Australia and internationally, including two years spent living and working in rural Zimbabwe. Since arriving in Australia in 1998, Rick has held a number of roles with community organisations such as Volunteering Australia (National Program Manager) and the Ross House Association (CEO), and is currently the Programs Manager for Microfinance and Innovations at the Brotherhood of St Laurence as part of the Brotherhood’s goal of working for an Australia free of poverty. In addition to his work with the ASRC, Rick also sits on the Board of Bicycle Victoria and has been involved in governance roles for other community organisations. With a diverse educational background including Astrophysics, Russian Literature and Intercultural Management, and a work history that has included teaching, community development and employment services, Rick brings a wide range of skills to the Board. He has a strong interest in organisational development and welcomes the opportunity to help the ASRC continue to grow to best meet the needs of asylum seekers in our community.
Joseph Corponi
Treasurer
Joe Corponi has been involved with the ASRC as a Board member and the Treasurer since 2007, and is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. With extensive experience in executive management and financial stewardship, Joe brings broad operational and strategic expertise to his voluntary work with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Formerly Board Member and Treasurer for ICOM Australia (2006-2008) and Board Member of Gould Group (2004-2008), Joe is also the interim CFO and Manager of Corporate Services for the Melbourne Recital Centre. Prior roles have included Project Manager for Arts Victoria, CEO and Deputy CEO of Museum Victoria, Manager of Scienceworks, Director of Corporate Services for the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office, and a Systems Developer for the Department of State Development, Victoria. Joe holds a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Joan Grant
Dr Joan Grant is a Board member, Convener of the Program Committee, and a volunteer ESL teacher at the ASRC. She has been a volunteer since 2001, working first at the ASRC house in Thornbury for several years. Joan’s career has been in academia and publishing, and she is currently an Adjunct Research Associate at Monash University’s Asia Institute. She taught “Contemporary Asia” at Monash and at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra, and was Executive Officer of Monash Asia Institute from 1989 to 1995, where she edited the Asian Studies Association of Australia journal and created an online course in Asian Studies for overseas students. Joan has been a book editor at Rigby and McPhee Gribble in Melbourne, and Eastern Universities Press in Singapore. Her published works include articles, poetry, The Australopedia (the official children’s book of the Australian Bicentenary), Worm-eaten Hinges (an account of a year teaching English in Shanghai during the Tiananmen uprising), Cat and Fish, which won the Children’s Picture Book of the Year award in 2004, and Cat and Fish go to See. Joan has served on a number of non-profit boards, including The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Australia China Council, Asialink, The Institute of International Affairs, The Asian Studies Association of Australia and Sisters Publishing.
Paul Harrison
Dr Paul Harrison has been a member of the ASRC board since 2005, is a member of the Finance and Risk Committee, and was chair of the ASRC for four years. Paul is currently Deputy Director at the Centre for Sustainable and Responsible Organisations, senior lecturer in consumer behaviour and advertising at Deakin University, and makes films related to social justice issues. Paul's research and advocacy is focused on the psychology of attitudinal and behavioural change, particularly in relation to the exploitation of people, animals and the environment, "I started volunteering at the ASRC in 2004 to do my utmost to contribute to a change in attitudes amongst Australians about people seeking asylum, and to help the ASRC become a sustainable, professional, and well-resourced organisation." Paul holds a PhD in consumer behaviour, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and brings a significant amount of experience in management and governance, having worked for, consulted, or served as a board member for a large number of nonprofits, NGOs, and government organisations, including Care Australia, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, and the Department of Environment and Heritage.
Hannah Lawson
Hannah Lawson is Board Secretary, Chair of the HR Committee and a member of the Executive and Governance Committee. Hannah has a background in executive consulting, recruitment and business strategy, and has partnered with diverse organisations across the public, private and not for profit sectors. Hannah has worked with and assisted diverse groups of migrants, facing extensive challenges and prejudices, seeking employment. This inspired her to become a volunteer with the ASRC. She is deeply concerned about human rights issues and the problems faced by Asylum Seekers when they arrive in Australia. Hannah joined the Board as she wanted to assist the ASRC in fulfilling its corporate governance responsibilities, particularly in regard to human resource management.
Kon Karapanagiotidis
CEO
Kon's profile is available along with his message of welcome: CEO's Message
