About The Fair Co. Team
Our Team
Our small, dedicated team is made up of professionals from a variety of sectors who work with you to develop solutions for your business.
Staff Members
Michelle Cunningham, MBA GAICD
CEO
Michelle is a future-focused CEO known for successfully leading organisations through change and transformation. With executive and senior leadership experience spanning global FMCG, SMEs, complex for-purpose organisations, and the public sector, she brings a distinctive perspective that combines commercial acumen with operational expertise and an adaptive, people-focused leadership.
Michelle has led major transformations across nuanced sectors including multicultural family violence, regulation, FMCG, and faith-based organisations. Her achievements include overhauling people and culture frameworks during a Royal Commission, diversifying revenue streams and improving financial performance, leveraging emerging technologies and leading organisational restructures that enhance customer and employee experience, and embedding inclusive employment practices that foster innovation and long-term sustainability.
John Deppe
Director, Business Engagement
John is a senior executive and people leader with extensive experience in building business partnerships that produce positive commercial outcomes. Having led and grown Operations and Business teams across Australia, Asia, United Kingdom and Europe, John comes to Jobsbank with a lived passion for fostering successful stakeholder outcomes and coaching teams to achieve their goals and aspirations.
Margaret Portelli, FCPA
Director, Commercial & Corporate Services
Margaret is a highly experienced FCPA who has built her career on strategic, financial, operations and commercial leadership. She has been responsible for establishing business and financial control systems from first principles, implemented commercial and strategic business plans and has extensive knowledge of SME business operations. She is results-driven and has thrived in positions as CFO, Senior FC, and Financial and Management Consultant.
She is passionate about travel, good espresso, her daughter and providing excellent service.
Penny Molnar
Head of Strategy & Brand
As Head of Strategy and Brand, Penny is responsible for shaping strategic direction and leading The Fair Co.’s brand, marketing and communications portfolio.
With more than 25 years’ experience across government, industry and social impact, she is skilled at turning strategic ambition into clear positioning and meaningful engagement.
Penny led The Fair Co.’s rebrand and repositioning and works across the organisation to strengthen reputation, influence and impact, helping to grow fairness through inclusive employment and social procurement.
Leigh Jones
Head of Digital & Innovation
Customer focused and data driven, Leigh has spent the past 15 years in digital roles across a range of industries.
He then landed in the not-for-profit sector in 2017 with Good Shepherd Microfinance and Speckle Loans, bringing a world first ethical, digital lending product to market.
Leigh is committed to creating efficiency through strategic integration of martech, automation and using digital and marketing for good, always focusing on the “why” we do what we do.
When not working he can be found playing, coaching or watching various sports.
Suzanne Hewitt
Senior Manager, Client Solutions
Suzanne has a diverse background across the private, not-for-profit, and government sectors. With strong analytical skills and expertise in the Social Procurement Framework and inclusive employment, she collaborates with businesses to design and implement solutions that align with their goals and foster positive workplace cultures. Suzanne is committed to driving organisational success and social impact through strategies that embed diversity, equity and inclusion at every level.
Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys bush camping and getting out into nature with her family.
Ida Lloyd
Client Solutions Manager
Ida is driven by a passion for connecting people and places to spark economic and social change, with a special expertise in place-based employment projects.
Her extensive local government experience spans economic development and customer service. Recently, Ida successfully completed a DJSIR Priority Workforce Project, helping 125 jobseekers enter manufacturing employment. She also served as the Federal Government Local Jobs Facilitator for Melbourne's North Eastern region. Her knack for building strong relationships and advocating effectively has led to the successful delivery of these projects across all government levels.
Outside of her professional life, Ida thrives as a soccer mum, enthusiastically supporting her two sons on the field and coffee.
Oliver Grimshaw
Client Solutions Manager
Ollie is an accomplished advisor with a collaborative, results-driven approach to policy implementation. He is experienced in engaging stakeholders from both public and private sectors to achieve successful outcomes. A strategic thinker and pragmatic communicator, Ollie is skilled in executing and analysing policies such as the Social Procurement Framework and the Local Jobs First Policy. Projects previously supported include the Metro Tunnel Project, Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub and the Suburban Rail Loop.
On weekends, he enjoys watching sports and spending time with friends and family.
Hilarin Mendis
Financial Accountant
Hilarin is an energetic Certified Practicing Accountant with 15 years of experience working in the finance industry as a finance and payroll professional, ensuring efficient workflows and timely financial reporting. She possesses strong experience across statutory management and financial accounting with strong software knowledge on multiple platforms. She had volunteered as Treasurer and Grant Coordinator for Special Olympics Melbourne Inner East for 5 years from 2012.
Hilarin loves spending her leisure time in the gym, playing social netball, running in the local park, playing piano and doing Art and craft activities with her daughter.
Board Members
Daniel Findley
Board Chair
A firm believer in setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly towards them, Daniel has made a significant mark on the not-for-profit sector over the past three decades – driving growth as a board director and earning a prestigious Australian HR Institute CEO of the Year award.
Currently the CEO of Outlook Australia – a social enterprise that empowers people with disabilities and from priority workforce backgrounds – Daniel is deeply committed to cultivating diverse, inclusive communities. MBA-educated and known for his collaborative, performance-focused leadership style, Daniel has been CEO of Sparkways, West Arnhem Regional Council and Masonic Care Tasmania. In his push to take organisations to the next level, he has built support among disparate groups and created enthusiastic corporate cultures where talent is nurtured.
David has also served as Chairman of CouncilBiz in Darwin and as a Non-Executive Director at Helm Youth Services, where he was Chair of the Social Enterprise and Growth Board Committee. Daniel initially joined Jobsbank as a member of the Board, and soon became valued for his insights and positive, proactive approach. Daniel’s driving motivation is to make a meaningful difference, inspiring others to reach their full potential.
Samantha Read
Deputy Chair
Samantha is and accomplished CEO, Executive and Non-Executive Director. Her career spans more than 35 years across the chemicals, plastics, renewable fuels, automotive and steel industries.
Samantha is the Deputy Chair of Jobsbank and previously was Deputy Chair of Cobaw Community Health and Chair of the Governance Committee. Her non-executive directorships and external advisory roles have included universities, scientific, government, regulatory, governance, health and skills organisations.
Samantha brings a broad suite of skills and deep industry and government networks to drive successful business transformations and partnerships. She is passionate about building sustainable, inclusive and resilient businesses, industries and communities, with a keen interest in manufacturing and technology-based businesses.
Samantha is committed to the next generation of Australian industry leaders, having established the Chemistry Australia Leadership Institute and Emerging Leaders Advisory Council and in partnership with CEW, a substantial scholarship for a Woman Leader in STEM to attend the Women Transforming Leadership program at the Oxford Saïd Business School.
Samantha holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and member of Chief Executive Women, Women on Boards and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). In 2015, she was honoured to receive Monash University’s Distinguished Alumni Award for the Faculty of Engineering and was a finalist in the 2014 Telstra Business Womens Awards (Victoria).
Claire Ferres Miles
Board Member
Claire is an optimistic leader driven by curiosity, seeking out innovative partnerships with purpose-driven people and organisations to deliver tangible community outcomes of impact.
As Founder of CuriosityCo, former CEO of Sustainability Victoria and Interim CEO of the City of Melbourne, she has held executive roles in State and Local Government, Transport for London, and the private sector in sustainability, transport, infrastructure, city planning and place, business development and community engagement. Claire has been recognised as an IPAA Victorian Fellow and a ‘Top 50 Woman in the Victorian Public Sector’.
She has a Master of Transport, a Master of Traffic, a Bachelor of Planning & Design and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Emilie van de Graaff
Board Member
Emilie is an accomplished leader who has been involved in social procurement and social enterprise throughout her career, promoting diversity in both the corporate and government sectors. Currently the Managing Director of her own consultancy, Elleeva Associates, brings to Jobsbank not only extensive experience in policy and strategy development, but also practical, hands-on advice.
Committed to creating sustainable, inclusive and accessible solutions for people and communities, Emilie has spent more than 20 years in the transport and mobility sector, and prior to that, 10 years in communications and stakeholder engagement starting with The Body Shop, a world leader in social procurement and diversity. Her experience includes senior roles at Yarra Trams and Transdev Australasia, where she was responsible for strategy and held leadership accountability for risk, finance and legal compliance. A lifelong bike-riding enthusiast, Emilie recently stepped down as Vice President of Australia’s largest cycling organisation, the Bicycle Network.
A creative, visionary leader, Emilie recognises that positive outcomes hinge on meaningful stakeholder and community involvement. With her deep understanding of complex organisational challenges, Emilie will be invaluable in shaping Jobsbank’s future. She stands by the adage that you get what you give – and thrives on opportunities to make a positive impact on the world.
Kei Ho
Board Member
Kei is a well-rounded leader with extensive experience across the public and private sectors. She is currently a Project Director at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). Prior to DEECA, she was a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group, and has also spent ten years working for a multinational oil and gas company.
She is a collaborative and authentic leader who enjoys working on complex societal problems with the objective of making a positive impact in society. She has had a long-standing interest in the not-for-profit sector, and has a particular interest in inclusion and mental well-being. She was previously a Board Member of Friends for Good, a not-for-profit whose vision is to free people from loneliness, and a Board Observer at NEAMI National, a national homelessness and mental health service organisation.
Kei holds a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Melbourne, an MBA from Melbourne Business School, and has received training from the Australian Institute of Company Directors through the Board Observership Program.
Kei is originally from Hong Kong but has lived in Australia most of her life, and loves to play tennis and cook a range of delicious foods.
Vishaal Kishore
Board Member
Professor Vishaal Kishore is a strategist, political economist, academic and commentator. He is a leading thinker at the boundary of the public and private, the human and the technological.
Vishaal is Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at RMIT University, where he founded and leads the Health Transformation Lab and is architect of a number of applied innovation initiatives. He co-founded The MedTech Actuator – Australia’s National MedTech Catalyst, sits on the Investment Committee of a number of investment initiatives, and holds a several board and advisory positions across the Australian and regional innovation and impact ecosystems.
He has previously been Deputy Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services; director for government strategy in EY’s management consulting practice; a mergers and acquisitions lawyer; and an Associate at the Federal Court of Australia. Vishaal has held academic/research fellowships at Harvard and Brown Universities in the United States, and the University of Melbourne and Monash University in Australia.
Vishaal holds a doctorate from Harvard University, where his work focused on the intersection of law, political economy and socio-political theory.
