Directors
Professor Paul Clark (Chair) - 5444 5331
Professor Clark was Foundation Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He later spent five years as Vice-Chancellor of Southern Cross University, retiring at the end of August, 2009. He has also held senior academic posts at universities in Melbourne and Rockhampton.
Professor Clark is very familiar with community foundations. While at Southern Cross University he established the Southern Cross University Foundation and created a strong relationship with the Northern Rivers Community Foundation.
An experimental physics academic, his board memberships have included the Australian Food Industry Science Centre, the National Marine Science Centre Pty Ltd, the Western Melbourne Regional Economic Development Organisation Ltd, the CRC for International Food Manufacture and Packaging Science, Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast Pty Ltd, Coffs Harbour Technology Park Pty Ltd and Quad Park Corporation Pty Ltd. He is chairman of Genesis BDI Ltd, a pooled development fund in Brisbane.
Simon Whittle (Deputy Chair ) - 5443 7227
Simon has spent his entire life with strong family connections to the Buderim community. He is well known for his passion for Buderim, its history, its people and its future. This passion and his belief in the value of volunteering and philanthropy have driven Simon for the last 20 years, as evidenced by the variety of his leadership roles with both the Buderim War Memorial Community Association and the Buderim Foundation.
Simon is particularly interested in the marketing and fund development area of the Foundation's operations, serving on both these committees, and plays a key role in growing the community's sense of ownership in the Foundation.
Earlier in Simon's career, he had extensive sales and management experience in the print media, culminating in a key role in the launch and early development of the Sunshine Coast Daily.
Simon was awarded an OAM for service to the community in 2003. He is Chair of the Foundation's Fund Development Committee and a member of the BWMCA Liaison and the Marketing Committees. Have a coffee with Simon
Sarah Bird - 0414 535067
Sarah is a doctor who has worked in General practice in Buderim for five years. Sarah now works in a specialist clinic for Dementia, Adults with ADHD and Weight Management needs.
Sarah qualified in the UK as a doctor (MBBS) then finished her training as a GP (FRACGP) in Buderim. Sarah is married and with husband Phil, has four children all attending local schools in which both Sarah and Phil are actively involved. Sarah has been on the committee of the Mons Playgroup and held the position of President of both the Buderim Preschool and Kindergarten.
As well as her Director role on the Foundation Board, Sarah is the Chair of the Foundation's Youth Committee and a member of the Fund Development and Investment Committees. We're here to stay
Michael Bloyce - 5476 5591
Michael has over 30 years' experience in the field of arts and event administration, spanning artistic director, administrator, venue manager, college lecturer and consultant roles. Most recently, Michael has been instrumental in the planning of the proposed Sunshine Coast Arts Centre.
As well as event management, Michael has expertise in project coordination, sales and marketing. He is an accomplished public speaker and has particular insights into the workings of government.
Educated in economics and law at the University of Queensland, Michael also holds a Master of Business Administration and other post graduate qualifications. He is an inaugural Fellow of the Australian Institute of Arts Administration and participates in several associated professional bodies.
Michael is a Director of Matthew Flinders Anglican College and was recently inducted into the international charitable organisation, Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem. For almost 40 years, Michael has sung in the Choir of St John's Cathedral, Brisbane.
Michael is a member of the Foundation's Fund Development Committee.
Leanne Evans
Leanne has over 15 years' senior management experience in a range of community sectors including sport, recreation, physical activity, education and training and philanthropy. Leanne has extensive experience in leading and growing non-profit organisations, having worked in various CEO roles. Leanne spent three years with the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation as Deputy Director General. Her last position before moving to Europe in 2001 was as CEO of the Australian Sports Foundation.
Leanne is currently living with her family in London, UK. She says that "collaborating with fellow Foundation volunteers has provided me with highly valued and strong connections to community life in Australia and helping the Foundation evolve from an idea to a successful fully fledged foundation has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career". As a silver medallist from the 1982 Commonwealth Games, Leanne believes that her volunteering with the Foundation is a positive way of giving back to the Buderim community that generously contributed to her sporting success.
Leanne's qualifications include a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies (Education) and a Master of Business Administration, both gained from the University of Queensland. Leanne holds professional memberships of the Australian Institute of Management and the Fundraising Institute of Australia. As well as her role as Board Director, Leanne chairs the Foundation's Grants Committee. Read about Leanne's dream
Swain Roberts - 0448 115 647
Swain Roberts has a background in legal and international finance. He was senior partner with a large, international law firm in the UK and Asia for 17 years. He returned to Buderim with his family in late 2006 and has since taken on various community-associated roles including tutoring in Business Law at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Margaret Thursby - 5476 6921
Margaret has worked in Australian universities for the past 16 years. At the University of Queensland, she was responsible for student recruitment before becoming Manager, International Development in 1998.
In early 2000, Margaret developed UQ's AusAID tender application resulting in UQ being one of only three Queensland universities awarded an ongoing AusAID contract. During this time, Margaret got her first taste of philanthropy when she administered a multi-million dollar Atlantic Philanthropies' project in Vietnam.
As the former Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Margaret focused on managing the reputation of this young university. Her office of 12 staff managed the advertising, media relations, large events, student recruitment, sponsorship, publications and Web.
She has a Bachelor of Arts from Griffith University and is a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
Margaret is the Chair of the Foundation's Marketing Committee. Get involved with Marg
Heinz Seeberg - 0458 588 433
Heinz Seeberg and his wife first visited Buderim in 1970 and
were so impressed that their long term plan has been to retire here. They recently
settled in Buderim after seven years in Switzerland. Heinz’s extensive
experience includes strategic management, performance management, quality improvement
and environment, safety and systems management.
Ken Waddington - 5443 4866
Ken is a practicing solicitor in Queensland with more than 25 years' experience, most of that time being spent on the Sunshine Coast. Ken's focus has been chiefly in the areas of commercial and property law, with particular emphasis on structuring and tax advice, trusts estate and succession planning - both in a business and personal context.
Partly as a result of Ken's extensive experience in structuring, he has in recent years been involved in the establishment of a number of philanthropic and charitable institutions, created by clients during their lifetimes or in their wills.
Ken's qualifications include B.Com, LL.B, LL.M., and Notary Public and he is a member of various professional organisations including the :
- Queensland Law Society
- Society of Notaries and
- Tax Institute of Australia (TIA).
Ken is the Chair of the Foundation's Investment Committee.
Margaret Welshe - 5445 2722
Margaret is a business accountant operating her own business, with most of her clients in the specialist medical field. Before semi-retiring to look after her current clients, Margaret held the position of accountant with Boral Ltd.
When first arriving on the Sunshine Coast from Toowoomba, Margaret was Financial Controller for MacFarms, the macadamia business owned by Arnotts Biscuits and subsequently Campbell Soup.
Margaret holds a Bachelor of Business and is a CPA, TPTC and a registered teacher in Queensland. Her committee responsibilities include membership of the Foundation Grants and the BWMCA Liaison Committees.
