Board Members

Gillian Boyd - President

I have been on the Belconnen Community Services Board for 3 years. I have spent the last year as President which I have found very rewarding. I have been involved in community groups since I first moved to Canberra 30 years ago. Firstly in the ACT Playgroups Association and then on the parent committees at preschool, primary school, high school and college as my children grew. I have also trained as a hockey coach to support my daughter, my love for the game I participated as a volunteer and a competitor in countless athletics, running, triathlon and cycling events. My membership of the BCS Board allows me to continue my involvement in the local community in a way that complements my skills and the time I have available. I find that being involved in my community is a great way to get to know a myriad of interesting and vital people who share my commitment to social justice.

My skills are in community development. I acquired these skills working in the community sector where I managed a small community centre that supported families with young children by providing an innovative education program with low cost child care on site. As well as having a lot of fun I learnt a lot about working with people, supporting and encouraging them as mothers and as women. I apply the principles of community development to all the work that I do, both as a volunteer on the Board at BCS and as a manager in the vocational education and training area in the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. At present being President of the Board of BCS is my only ongoing voluntary commitment although I do participate regularly as a volunteer in running events such as the ACT marathon and Half Marathon championships.

Drew Kruzins - Treasurer

My name is Drew Kruzins, I am an Accountant with a heart, that is to say while numbers are important it is our relationships with our families, friends, neighbours, communities and our environment that are vitally important to our collective wellbeing.

My passions are in the protections provided by the rule of law and a fair go for all, especially for the elderly and those who are doing it tough through discriminations of disability, age, social and economic disadvantage. BCS is a champion of the fair go and that is why I take pleasure in contributing as a volunteer on the Board.

I am currently studying law at the University of New England where my special interests are Human rights, Succession law (Wills and estates), and Elderly law.

I have a Bachelor of Arts (Accounting) from the University of South Australia and I have attained the status of Certified Practicing Accountant with the Australian Society of CPA’s.

As a Certified Practicing Accountant with nearly 30 years’ experience in accounting and administration for large and small enterprises. I am the current Treasurer; it is my role to chair the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee provides oversight of financial affairs of BCS to ensure they are managed in accordance with policies set by the Board and ensure they comply with the law. The Finance Committee also manages risk relating to the organisation’s finances.

As I director I apply my experience and expertise in formulating policy to strengthen the finances corporate governance of the organisation.

I am the Financial Controller of the Law Council of Australia, where I am responsible for managing the finances and compliance issue of the organisation. The Law council is the peak body representing 55,000 lawyers at a national level. Among its objectives are to promote access to justice and the rule of law.

Formerly, I have held positions of Chief Financial Officer of Beelgara Estates Wines and Finance Manager for the Tandou Limited Group

Norman Ivory - Vice President, Secretary

My name is Norman Ivory. I am currently the Vice president of BCS. I am retired from work where I worked in business and factory administration and manufacturing management in a number of industries including making white goods, bricks, chemicals and televisions. I chose working in factory management to work with and help people. After leaving work I felt a strong need to work with people on an ongoing basis and help with the community so the opportunity to join the board of BCS I found very satisfying. I am also a spiritualist minister and a freemason and spend as much time as possible in those fields also serving the community. In my spare time I enjoy gardening and spending time with my family.

Having worked in administrative management I have a good grasp of financial governance and book-keeping so can critically review the accounts kept by the BCS. As a result of this experience I gained in administrative management I am part of the finance sub-committee. I have qualifications in management - particularly in commercial and factory management and contract administration - , paper conversion and printing and have taken courses in OH & S. I also have diplomas in Psychology, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Counselling, Human Sexuality, Psychopharmacology and Medical terminology. I am also a Justice of the Peace.

I have previously served on the board of the Griffin centre in Canberra

Neville Hurst - Ordinary member

Neville Hurst - retired, joined BCS in September 2010. I am impressed with the calibre of the BCS - management, staff and volunteers - and I am really keen for it to be better known to the people of Belconnen, influencing for good the life of the community

I was qualified in mathematics as a precursor to working for forty years in the Public Service. This, along with membership of boards of voluntary bodies, has given me an interest in governance and the importance of encouraging people. BCS is in a period of significant change, and good governance at this time is a challenge. A particular niche is for the BCS to be part of the sustainability movement and establishing links with SEE-Change is helpful in achieving this.

I was previously on the Council of Anglicare Anglican and Goulburn and the Board of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Care. I have recently retired from the Council of SEE-Change Inc.

Jessica Wilds - Ordinary member

I am a fairly new member having only joined in April 2010. Several years ago I trained as a volunteer community parent here at BCS and was so impressed by the enthusiasm, passion and commitment of the staff. When the opportunity came up to join the Board I couldn’t refuse. Volunteering is a wonderful way of connecting to your community, I highly recommend it.

Having been on the Board of two childcare centres and having three children myself, I am passionate about the wellbeing of children and building a vibrant, connected community. Being on the Board allows me to bring my experience to the Belconnen community.

I hold a Health Science degree, and trained as a Naturopath where I Practice in Dickson. I have a passion for natural therapies and enjoy teaching this to the Canberra community. In order to expand my abilities I am currently undertaking a graduate diploma as a community counsellor.

Sue Ludwig - Ordinary member

I joined the Board in October 2009. I am a long-time resident of Belconnen and have been active in the ACT and national community services sector for many years. My own interests include enjoying some of Belconnen’s indoor and outdoor facilities, notably swimming pools and nature parks; live music and theatre; communing with marine life (but not in Belconnen); and spending time with family and friends.

I bring strategic, governance and networking skills to the BCS board as well as a strong commitment to social justice and inclusiveness. Agencies like BCS are often the ‘glue’ that helps to strengthen and support local communities and it’s good to be part of such an energetic and creative team.

Eve Wisowaty - Ordinary member

I was delighted to be nominated and then elected to be a member of the Board at the 2011 Annual General Meeting as BCS is such a vibrant, professional not-for-profit organisation delivering important services in our local community.

I see BCS as an organisation that is well placed to foster solutions to exclusion and promote the value of inclusion in our community. BCS is an organisation that brings people together and develops that sense of what a community really is about, connection with people.

I am a manager at the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations where my work over the past ten years has been in the policy and programs areas of employment, participation and social inclusion which included working on the National Compact with the Third Sector. This gives me an insight and experience in to how programs and services are designed and the importance of the relationship between community organisations and governments in service delivery. My experience will hold me in good stead for my work on the Governance sub-committee.

I have a particular interest in children’s services as I have a young son.

I recognise the potential for personal growth and learning, which comes from active community participation and look forward to contributing to BCS and that work that it does as well as look forward to all that BCS can teach me.