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
Chairman
An ASRC volunteer since 2008, Matthew Tutty (GAICD) has served as Chairman from 2011 and is a member of the Executive and Governance Committee. Drawing on career experience as a strategist and management consultant, Matthew is currently a divisional Head of Group Strategy for Telstra. As the Managing Director of strategic advisory firm, RERIGHT, Matthew has served a diverse clientele and held executive positions across several industries in Australia, China and Japan. He has a degree in Asian Studies, a Masters in Law (Melbourne), an MBA (Switzerland), and graduated from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (Performance). He is a Fellow of the Asialink Leaders Program, a Discussant for ASEAN-ANZ Track II Dialogue, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and former Certified Practising Marketer. Advocating for multitrack diplomacy in the global and regional management of forced migration and refugee affairs, 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.
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 currently on the Board of the Melbourne Recital Centre. Joe is semi-retired and consults on strategy and management. Prior roles have included CFO and Manager of Corporate Services for the Melbourne Recital Centre, Project Manager for Arts Victoria, CFO & Director Corporate Services Museum Victoria, acting CEO and Deputy CEO of Museum Victoria, Manager of Scienceworks, IT Audit Manager for Victorian Auditor-General’s Office, Director of Corporate Services for the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office, and a Systems Developer for the Department of State Development, Victoria. In addition to his Government roles, Joe has also worked in the private sector. Joe holds a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Paul Harrison
Dr Paul Harrison (PhD, MAICD, MAM) 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 leader of the Ethics and Social Engagement research cluster at the Centre for Sustainable and Responsible Organisations, senior lecturer in consumer behaviour and advertising in the MBA program 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.
Rebekah Lautman
Rebekah has been a long-time supporter of Centre personally and professionally over a number of years through the R.E Ross Trust. She has worked as a Social Worker/Manager in Mental Health, managed Human Services portfolios for the State Government and for the past decade has worked in philanthropy. Rebekah first became involved with the Centre when it was located in Footscray. As a family, she made contributions and through her children’s primary school, Footscray City, organised collections of canned and dry goods and supported the ASRC’s social enterprise (catering) at the school. Rebekah has also worked very closely with ASRC professionally. While at the Ross Trust, she assisted the ASRC to gain its first multi-year grant in August 2003. This initial grant from the Trust was expanded to become a partnership with additional grants in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Part of her role was to raise profile of the ASRC’s work not only with other foundations but also with State Government and other not-for-profits. Rebekah currently works at Australian Communities Foundation with donors who support the ASRC and in a voluntary capacity has served on school councils for 10 years.
Nga Luu
Nga Luu is a volunteer for the ASRC and has been actively involved in fundraising and advocating for the centre. As a former Vietnamese Asylum Seeker, her passion and commitment to the ASRC stems from her family’s Asylum Seeker roots. She believes strongly that given the opportunity and appropriate support, Asylum Seekers can be invaluable contributors to our community. Prior to joining the ASRC, Nga was a stock market analyst for HSBC and later for Goldman Sachs in Australia. This involved financial and strategic analysis of companies in various industries. She later migrated to conduct Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) research within Goldman Sachs. She currently consults to a boutique corporate advisory and capital raising firm that assists start-up businesses. Nga has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Melbourne University and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments. She is fluent in English and Cantonese and is conversant in Mandarin. Nga joined the ASRC Board in 2012.
Kate Sutton
Joining the ASRC Board in 2012, Kate Sutton is an independent consultant and partner of the Humanitarian Advisory Group based in Melbourne. She has worked for more than twelve years in the international development sector, with eight years based in humanitarian contexts focusing on work with refugee and migrant populations. Her work experience includes establishment of the Centre for Refugee and Migration Studies in Albania in 2000 to 2001; management of the refugee and IDP support programs for International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) in Afghanistan in 2002 to 2003; conducting protection assessments in complex humanitarian emergencies for World Vision Australia from 2005 to 2008; and coordination of the Oxfam protection and humanitarian programme in Timor Leste from 2008 to 2010. Kate has supplemented her practical experience with postgraduate masters in human rights law, with a focus on refugee law and practice (LLM University of London) completed in 2010. Kate has a keen interest in working to support refugees and asylum seekers in destination countries. Kate has a sound understanding of the principles of the Refugee Status Determination process internationally, especially as applied by UNHCR in their advisory and/or support role to state governments.
Kon Karapanagiotidis
CEO
Kon's profile is available along with his message of welcome: CEO's Message
