Pauline Thorneloe—President

Pauline was elected to the position of Board President in November 2011. Pauline has worked in the public service for over 30 years and specialised over the last 11 years in human resource management. She came to Canberra in 2002 and joined Lifeline as a telephone counsellor in 2004.

Pauline sees her contribution to Lifeline as a way to get more involved in the Canberra community. Pauline became a member of the Board in May 2009.

Joanna Houghton – Vice President

Joanna has served on the Lifeline Canberra Board since 2005, with a break in 2007-08 to live and work in the Federated States of Micronesia.  She was elected to the position of Vice-President in November 2011.  Joanna holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science from ANU.  Joanna is a native Canberran and is passionate about the work of Lifeline Canberra  - for the impact it has on people seeking its services and on the community as a whole.  After working as a lawyer in private practice, Joanna now works for AusAID.

Athol Opas - Secretary  

Athol has proudly served as a Director of Lifeline Canberra for over four years, commencing in February 2008. Athol has lived in Canberra for 19 years and is an active member of the Canberra community. Athol is committed to the values and work of Lifeline Canberra—changing lives for the better.

Athol is a graduate in Arts and Law, including a Master of Laws. Athol is a solicitor with over 12 years experience in private and public sectors, and has recently commenced practice with a high profile ACT law firm.

Steve Fielding - Treasurer

Steve has held senior executive and management positions in the public and private sectors.

He brings many years of practical experience to the Board of Lifeline and he is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He joined the Board in 2006.

Patti-Jane (PJ) Gould - Director

With over 20 years experience in the corporate sector PJ brings a wealth of knowledge and business acumen to the Lifeline Canberra Board.  PJ is the Head of Sales for Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles and has been involved with Lifeline Canberra since 2004 through her previous role at Toll Transport where she helped set up weekly transport and storage assistance for the Bookfair volunteers.  PJ has also been involved with various events and joined the Board in February 2007

Ayesha Razzaq – Director

Ayesha joined the Lifeline Canberra Board as Director in 2011. She brings a wealth of commercial knowledge and expertise obtained through her career in the retail energy industry, leading a dynamic business through a time of significant industry change. Ayesha is currently the General Manager Retail for local utility company ActewAGL and has completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at the Australian National University.

Ayesha is proud to be on the Lifeline Canberra Board and supports the important work it does in providing crisis telephone support to the people of Canberra and surrounding region.

Dr Jeff Harmer – Director

Dr Harmer began his public service career in 1978 and was promoted to the position of deputy secretary of the social security department in 1996.

In 2003, he was promoted to secretary of the education department, before taking on his current post in 2004. Dr Harmer was also a member of the panel appointed by Treasury secretary Dr Ken Henry to review Australia’s
tax system.

Cade Brown – Director

Cade joined the Lifeline Board as a Director in February 2012. Cade provides the board with a deep understanding of corporate governance, risk management and financial management skills that he has obtained in a twelve year career as a consultant in Canberra’s largest accounting firm.  He is currently a Director of PriceWaterhouseCoopers and has also figured prominently in Canberra’s sporting landscape, primarily as captain of the ACT Comets. Cade has a Bachelor of Commerce at Canberra University and is also a Certified Practising Accountant.

Cade is a proud Canberran and is committed to the Lifeline vision and values.  He is passionaite about the services that our volunteers and hard working staff provide to the people of Canberra and the surrounding region.

Jeanie Bruce – Director

Jeanie joined Lifeline as a Telephone Counsellor in 1999, quickly expanding her volunteering role to include In-shift Support Supervisor and mentoring new volunteers as a Group Facilitator.  In 2011 she was honoured to be named the ACT Volunteer of the Year, for her considerable and ongoing contribution to Lifeline.  She became a member of the Board in 2012.

Jeanie has extensive experience as a manager in the public sector in both WA and the ACT.  She holds a Master of Public Administration
and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and has been
a proud resident of Canberra since 1991.