Reporting to the Board, the Foundation oversees HMRI's marketing, communications and fundraising initiatives. The members of the Foundation are drawn from a diverse range of businesses and community organisations and are leaders in their fields. The Chair of the Foundation is also a member of the Board.
Mr Glenn Turner
Chair, HMRI Foundation
Mr Turner had a thirty-year career at senior executive level in the mining services, manufacturing, engineering and contracting sectors in Australia, as well as USA, China, South American, South Africa and India. He is an accountant by training but has always worked in commercial and management roles in engineering/manufacturing/construction organisations. He occupies non executive roles in public and private companies in a variety of industries and the services sector.
Mr Mark Alexander
Partner, Crosbie Warren Sinclair
Mr Alexander has been a partner of Crosbie Warren Sinclair, one of the Hunter’s largest Business Advisory and Wealth Management Groups, since 2001. Mr Alexander’s responsibilities lie within the Wealth Management team, a highly awarded group specializing in areas of wealth creation and retirement planning. He has served on the National Advisory Council and committees of Securitor Financial Group, one of Australia’s largest Dealer Groups and a member of St George Bank group of companies. He has held similar positions with some of Australia’s leading fund manager groups over the past five years, and is now dedicated to the success and future growth of HMRI.
Mr Richard Anicich
Partner, Sparke Helmore
Mr Anicich has been a partner of Sparke Helmore since 1981. Sparke Helmore is a specialist law firm providing services to business, the insurance industry and government. He is a member of the Board of the Hunter Children's Research Foundation and a Director of Newcastle Grammar School. He has served on committees of the Newcastle & Hunter Business Chamber and the Newcastle Business Club. He is a past President of the Newcastle Law Society, past Chairman of the Young Lawyers Section of the Law Society of NSW, and formerly an executive councillor of the Young Lawyers Section of the Law Council of Australia.
Ms Kristie Atkins
Group Promotions & Sponsorship Manager, Amalgamated Holdings Limited
Ms Atkins, a National Radio and Film Marketing award winner, is responsible for sales & marketing activity across AHL businesses including Event Cinemas, Greater Union / Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, Thredbo, Sydney*s historic State Theatre, Featherdale Wildlife Park and more. She originally joined Greater Union after eight years at 2HD as an announcer, journalist and Promotions Manager. A multi-award winning singer and CONDA nominated actress, Kristie has also worked as a drama teacher and featured performer at many events. She is a dedicated member of HMRI's Foundation and chair of the marketing-communications committee.
Mr Stephen Connell
Oceania Technical Services Manager, Shell
Mr Connell brings to the Foundation demonstrated experience and knowledge in strategy, resource allocation, networking and marketing. While primarily working in the industrial environment he has acquired a range of business management skills in goal driven business planning and market-focused strategy development which will enhance HMRI's operations greatly. He is motivated to make a meaningful contribution to the broader community through the activities of the Foundation.
Mr Geoff Crews
Partner, Forsythes; General Manager, Forsythes Recruitment
Mr Crews commenced a position as a Recruitment Consultant at Forsythes in 1998; and was made a Partner and General Manager, Recruitment in 2006 where he is responsible for Forsythes’ recruitment business. He holds a Bachelor of Arts/ Psychology (Honours) and a graduate certificate in Business and Technology, and is also a member of the Recruitment & Consulting Services Association and Australian Human Resources Institute. Additionally, he is a volunteer trainer for the global recruitment alliance NPA, and is a Director of Lifeboat Community Services (providing after-school tutoring services to children).
Mrs Carol Duncan
Journalist/Presenter, ABC Radio
Mrs Duncan's radio career has spanned 20 years around Australia working for both commercial broadcasters, and since 2001 the ABC. She is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, was the inaugural winner of the NSW Cancer Council award for Excellence in Reporting, and a 2007 Premier’s Public Sector Awards medal. Carol is married to a research physicist, and has a keen interest in medical research, particularly pertaining to congenital heart disease. She is also a member of the HMRI volunteer register. Carol is keen that her vast media experience prove beneficial to continuing to spread awareness and support of HMRI, particularly by the local community.
Mrs Christine Gregson
Centre Manager, Marketown and Hilltop Plaza
Mrs Gregson has a background in marketing, hospitality and retail with 15 years in the shopping centre industry, and currently manages Marketown Shopping Centre and Hilltop Plaza. She was awarded the National Marketing Award from the Property Council of Australia for the campaign Special deeds for special needs. Mrs Gregson was also the inaugural Chair of Life Activities for a period of four years.
Mr Mark Gusse
Proprietor, Gallerie Fine Jewellery
Mr Peter Harvey
Manager - Engineering & Supply Chain, peoplefusion
Mr Harvey has extensive General Management and Project Management experience across a variety of industries including Manufacturing , Hospitality & Leisure and Not for Profit. He has significant experience in the Not for Profit sector through his involvement at Regional level with Variety the Children’s Charity. In 2001, his daughter was diagnosed, through the assistance of Hunter Genetics, with “Angelman Syndrome” – a rare disorder that affects development and communication. Since then Peter has been actively involved in changing the lives of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children. Peter is eager to continue his focus on community giving and brings knowledge and new networks the HMRI Foundation.
Mrs Maureen Jack
General Manager NSW/ACT, Prime Television
Mrs Jack holds a Graduate Diploma Business Management, and has over 20 years experience in management in the Media Industry across Australia, working in NSW, ACT, QLD and Western Australia with the Prime Network. She was recently appointed Director Regional Broadcast Australia Board, Committee Member Braun Foundation Newcastle University, and is a member of Women on Boards. Her other interests include reading, travel, being fit and healthy, walking and personal training, rugby union, golf, yoga and cooking. Mrs Jack brings vast experience in development of strategies for change management, business growth, sales and marketing, combined with previous experience gained on other community committees, as well as a huge belief to invest in medical research.
Ms Lynn Mangovski
Regional Marketing Manager, Greater Building Society
Ms Mangovski has over 30 years experience in customer services, marketing and business development. As the Regional Marketing Manager for the Greater Building Society she brings a wealth of experience in networking, marketing, public relations and human resource management to the Foundation. Since 2001, Ms Mangovski has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Honeysuckle Development Corporation.
Mrs Simmone Markey
Chief Financial Officer, Markey Group Pty Ltd
Ms Heidi Pollard
Director, Leading Value Pty Ltd
Ms Pollard has over 12 years strategic marketing communications experience in the public sector, seven of which were in the field of health. As Director of Leading Value, Heidi supports leaders and emerging leaders to bring prosperity, passion and purpose into their worklife through the vehicles of leadership and communication training and career and prosperity coaching. As well as being a member of the Foundation, Heidi is also a member of the Board of Management for the Hunter Region Women's Group and the Chair of the Professional Communicators Network.
Mr Robert Scrymgour
General Manager, Leadership Management Australia
Mr Scrymgour has over 30 years experience in the finance industry, with an emphasis on marketing and human resource management. His association with HMRI dates back to its inception and he is a strong advocate of the collective and united approach to medical research in this region. He is a management coach with Leadership Management Australia and a committee member of the Australian Marketing Institute in the Hunter.
Ms Sonia Walkom
Director, Walkom Linehans First National Real Estate
Ms Walkom brings energy and spirit to everything she does. One of the first female real estate agents in Newcastle, she established a reputation for success in property sales. Ms Walkom started her own real estate business in the sixties. In 1985 this incorporated another group and Walkom Linehans Real Estate was born. As Director, Ms Walkom now heads a team of 20 from her Newcastle office. She has recently won both gold and platinum industry awards but still remembers the thrill of her first $1million property sale.
Mrs Vicki Woods
Managing Director, Bushrangers Bar & Brasserie
Mrs Woods has twenty years experience as owner/operator of a multi award-winning hotel in the Hunter Valley and more than 15 years board and committee experience in statutory authorities, not-for-profit, local government and industry organisations. From 1999 - 2008 Mrs Woods served as a Councillor for Maitland City Council and was Deputy Mayor 2004-2005 and 2007-2008. During her decade as a Councillor was also a Director of Hunter Council Inc, and was a Director of the Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Committee. She is currently a Director of the Hunter Regional Tourism Organisation, Vice President Regions Restaurant & Caterers (NSW), Chairperson of Newcastle Hunter Restaurant & Caterers NSW, and sits on the Executive Committee for Maitland Chamber of Commerce. In 2004 Mrs Woods co-founded the Women’s Network (Hunter-NSW) and is an Ambassador for the Multiple Sclerosis Society (NSW/VIC).
