Jan Withers: Program Manager

Jan Withers commenced her term of appointment as the Australian Program Manager from 1 November 2010. Jan is currently the District Leader for Longbeach District, South Metro Region, Victoria.

Prior to taking up the national position, Jan was the NSW/ACT State Program Adviser, and before this the assistant NSW ACT State Program Adviser with specific responsibility for the five to 10 years age group. She also held the positions of Region Program Advisor for the ACT for a period of two years.

Prior to this, Jan was actively involved in Guides Victoria, holding a range of positions including South Metro Region Leader. At the same time she was the leader for Carrum Guides (aged 10 - 14).

Jan has been involved in Guiding for most of her life and obtained her Queen's Guide many years ago. She was especially proud to see both her daughters also receive their Queen's Guide award.

Jan firmly believes in a Guiding program that allows leaders at every level to be able to use their own initiative and imagination while following the broad guidelines set out in the Australian Guide Program. She also believes in the Australia Guiding Program having its genesis in the WAGGGS program.

In her capacity as the National Program Manager, Jan will continue to actively involve her State Program Adviser colleagues. She encourages all Leaders to share their ideas with her directly, or via their State Program Advisers to ensure the betterment of the Guiding program.

Bev Nielsen: Outdoors Manager

Bev lives in Ipswich, Queensland with her husband Peter. She has three children, all of whom are "grown up" Guides and Scouts and four granddaughters.

Bev was a Brownie, Guide and Air Ranger at Rocklea in Brisbane at a great time when Scouts and Guides socialised together. She was a Leader for three years until she married and took a break until her daughters needed a Leader. After 10 years as a Ranger Guide Leader in Ipswich, she became Region Leader for Moogerah Region in the Brisbane Valley for five years and Queensland Outdoor Manager for five years. She now looks forward to the National Outdoor challenge helping to give girls and Leaders the opportunity to safely access outdoor activities and camping. "It is what makes Australian Guiding unique," she said,

Why Outdoors? "I have been a guide almost all of my life and as a family spent all our holidays hiking and camping around Australia. A personal goal is to try to visit every National Park in Australia but I have quite a few to go yet. The fellowship of Guiding is very important to me and I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with 33 other Leaders on a Four World Centre Tour. International Guiding was a tremendous experience. To be on Brownsea Island camping ground in the Centenary month was a very special Guiding memory.

Guiding has given Bev many opportunities and she hopes to help girls and young women to challenge themselves and have fun in the outdoors.

Prue Carpenter AM: Volunteer Services Manager

Prue has held a range of Guiding positions for over twenty years.  In her local town, Bowral, she was a Leader of Youth 1988 to 2003. State positions have included GG NSW & ACT Training Adviser 2001 to 2003 and State Commissioner 2003 to 2009. Prue continues to be a State Trainer and enjoys engaging with fellow leaders and volunteers at every opportunity.  In 2010, Prue took on the new role of Volunteer Services Manager, currently a yearly appointment during the restructure processes of GGA.

Prue is looking to build a Volunteer Program that will bring a growth in the number of volunteers within Guiding and provide sound management practices for the recruitment, orientation and retention of volunteers.  Looking to a bright future where Girl Guides will be the organisation of choice for volunteers.

Joan Bunker: International Manager

Joan Bunker took up the reins of International Management for Girl Guides Australia in January 2011.  She has a long term involvement in World Guiding, having been State International Adviser in Tasmania for 5 years and spent 2 years on the International Committee heading up Friends of World Centres.  She has travelled the world extensively with Guides and family and has experienced life in both western and developing countries.  Joan is married to Peter and has three adult children.  All children have lived and worked in other countries as the travel bug hit them early! 

Joan has had many Guiding positions and experiences other than international, including that of State Commissioner for Girl Guides Tasmania, State and National Board member, convenor of a number of State events,  Leader of Youth of all age groups and way back was the State Editor for Guiding Australia.

Joan believes that World Guiding is more than overseas travel with Girl Guides, although this is a fantastic way to see the world - it is a way to gain an understanding of other cultures, religions and ways of life.  To explore other countries through the Australian Guide Program (AGP) creates a sense of excitement and longing with the hope that one day the dream of being in a different country will become true.  Along the journey to make this dream a reality, Guides learn about people of different races, religions and lifestyles. They explore the possibilities of helping those who are not receiving consistent schooling or those who do not have enough water to drink.   As Guides grow through the AGP they have the opportunity to join youth forums and camps where they can advocate for and contribute to ideas to help change the world into a better place for all. 

Dawn Borchardt: Learning and Development Manager

Dawn is the Learning and Development Manager for GGA, an active trainer, canoe instructor, Guiding Partner and Resource Leader. 

Dawn has had over 20 years’ experience in training and has fulfilled several state management roles including State Training Manager for Girl Guides SA. 

Having been involved in Guiding since her youth, Dawn has achieved the Queen’s Guide Award; the Olave Baden-Powell Award; the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award; Leadership Qualifications; camping and canoeing qualifications; Girl Guides Australia’s Adult Leadership Award; and GGA’s Level 3 Trainer Qualification.  The fun and learning experiences of youth membership have developed into a love of learning new things, trying them out and sharing with others. 

Dawn said, “I love the outdoors and those special experiences like a promise ceremony in canoes on the Murray River, or the breathtaking view from the top of the cliff I’ve just climbed with such a sense of achievement, or that very special feeling of Sisters in Guiding that you get from sharing the campfire’s glow.  I am passionate about young women and the amazing opportunities Guiding offers.”

With a very comprehensive Learning and Development Review almost completed, Dawn is really excited about the possibilities and opportunities the future holds.

Renée Bianchi: Olave Program Manager

Renée was appointed to the role of National Olave Program Manager in December 2011. Renée has previously held the position of State Olave Program Consultant in NSW&ACT as well as being a member of the National Olave Program Committee.

Renée is passionate about Guiding, having started as a 7 year old Brownie, over 20 years ago, and progressing through the youth program as a Guide and Ranger Guide. Renée’s passion began when she was seven after seeing a group of Guides dressed in uniform at a parade. “It looked like immense fun, so I told my parents I wanted to join,” she said.

Renée has also previously been a District Leader, Guiding Partner and elected member of the Board of NSW&ACT, where she was able to use her professional skills as a lawyer.

Renée has completed her Olave Baden-Powell Award and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Renée was fortunate to be selected as part of the Girl Guides Australia delegation to the 34^th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2011. This experience has opened her eyes even more to the opportunities that are available to Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the globe, particularly to young women within the ages of 18 and 30 years.

Renée is looking forward to developing the Olave Program and completing the Awards structure for this age group, as well as developing the Peer Education Project, along with assistance from various not-for-profit organisations.

Along with Guiding, Renée dedicates time to the NSW Young Lawyers, where she is an Executive Councillor and is a co-vice chair of the Civil Litigation Committee.

“There is no female only organisation in the world larger than us which means I have sisters in Guiding throughout the world,” Renée said. “The values and skills this organisation has taught me, as well as those it continues to teach me and the opportunities it gives me to teach others, I just couldn't get from any other organisation.”

Linda Latham: State Executive Officer NSW & ACT

Linda has been State Executive Officer of Girl Guides NSW&ACT since mid-2008. For three years before then she was Chief Executive Officer of Family Day Care Australia, a position which required extensive travel in all States and Territories, and to New Zealand.

She was a Commonwealth public servant in Canberra for sixteen years, working in the Departments of Finance and Administration, Communications, Agriculture, and Prime Minister and Cabinet. Following this she was a business development and government relations consultant for fifteen years.

Her voluntary work has been mainly with youth organisations, such as the Canberra Youth Refuge and The Infants Home in Ashfield, but has also included The Exodus Foundation. She helps out Guiding in her local area.

Jane Rudwick: Office Administration NT

Watch this space for more information on Jane.

Paul Nicholls: State Executive Officer QLD

Watch this space for more information on Paul.

Wendy Kirk: State Executive Officer

I grew up and was educated in New Zealand, having completed a Bachelor of Science (Earth Science). I worked a few years in the retail sector and horticulture sector, then went on a number of overseas adventures as is the norm for young Kiwi’s and Aussies. I spent my youth selling Guide biscuits, doing real camping and hiking, and having a whole lot of fun every year as a Guide in New Zealand.

Throughout this time, I was a Camp Counsellor for GSUSA in Virginia for two summer seasons and ventured to a number of Jamborees.

 I settled in Brisbane around 1996 and became an Australian citizen a few years later. I worked in the book retail industry managing various stores and groups of stores.  I moved to South Australia in 2008 and I am currently the State Executive Officer for Girl Guides South Australia with having had two years experience in the same role with Girl Guides Queensland.

As an adult, my volunteer roles have been vast, ranging from over 23 years as an active Guide Leader in New Zealand, Queensland and South Australia. I have held various Regional roles, State roles such as Assistant State Commissioner and have been a State Trainer for Girl Guide Queensland. I have also been a member of the Australian and Queensland Program Committees and I’m  currently a Honorary Australian Associate, Guiding Partner and Resource Leader.

I have represented Girl Guides Australia in Iceland (a few years ago) and have recently been privileged to attend the WLDP (WAGGGS Leadership Development Program) in Burundi (East Africa).

Viv Rylance: State Executive Officer TAS

Watch this space for more information on Viv.

Wendy Lewis: Chief Executive Officer VIC

Watch this space for more information Wendy.

Julie Scott: State Executive Officer WA

Watch this space for more information on Julie.