Carmel Crouch

Board Chair

As Managing Director of STEPS Group of Companies Carmel is responsible for the strategic direction and overarching corporate governance of the organisation which maintains the success of STEPS operations, including employment, training, education, and social ventures. The STEPS Group of Companies is made up of STEPS Charity, STEPS Group Australia, STEPS Social Business and STEPS Staffing Solutions.  Carmel mentors and coaches the STEPS Group of Companies Board of Directors, incorporating strategic planning, the Executive Leadership Team and Executive Management Team, working with them all to develop strong values driven results orientation, with service delivery excellence. Carmel is a strong advocate in the disability and training space and has extensive experience liaising with Government departments including Director Generals of Government departments, public servants and Ministers at both the state and federal level and across four States and Territories within Australia. Carmel is highly skilled in the areas of leadership and corporate governance, often mentoring and coaching other CEO’s and Boards, particularly in the NFP sector, from throughout Australia.

Ben Carblis

Director: New South Wales and ACT

Ben has been in the role of Executive, Community Services for Mission Australia since 2018. In this role he leads and directs nationwide teams of over 2500 staff in the delivery of Employment, Community, Aged Care, Family and Children’s services. He most recently served as Mission Australia’s State Director NSW/ACT and leader for MA Social Enterprises. Ben has over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles within community and employment services and started out his career as a youth worker on the Central Coast, NSW. Ben is a member of the NSW Premier’s Council on Homelessness, holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education from the University of Newcastle, a Master’s Degree in Adult Education (MA Ed) from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Michelle Braham

Director: South Australia

Michelle Braham has 14 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector across service delivery, operational support, and in leadership roles. As an active social justice and equity advocate, Michelle believes everyone deserves a working future and to live a fulfilling and inclusive life. Since 2017, Michelle has been CEO of Employment Options and led the organisation’s transformation through innovation to become a leading South Australian Youth and NDIS services provider. Using human centred design, Michelle has challenged the way in which service users are engaged and supported in transition pathways in life, learning and career. Michelle’s passion for career development drives her desire for social change to achieve sustainable outcomes for those who are most marginalised in our communities. Her innovative approaches to achieving outcomes for young people, women, migrants, people living with disability and jobseekers has positioned her as a go-to-person for government and other organisations to explore solutions for their challenges. Michelle’s experience and qualifications provides invaluable understanding of the service delivery complexities and challenges for not-for-profits in a rapidly changing marketplace. Michelle is also a member of the National Executive Committee for the Career Development Association of Australia and Employment Options’ Board.

Chris Hamilton

Director: Queensland and Northern Territory

Chris Hamilton is the Chief Executive Officer of RESQ Plus Pty Ltd. and is responsible for the delivery of the Federal Government’s Community Development Program in South West and Central Western Queensland. The program provides quality employment, training and education opportunities for a diverse range of people, including Indigenous and the disabled. More recently Chris worked for Ruralco Holdings as a Business Process Manager and as the General Manager of Territory Rural Pty Ltd in Darwin. Chris also served in the Australian Army in full-time and part-time positions. His key roles saw him working in senior leadership positions in project management, training and infrastructure development in Canberra and Brisbane and overseas in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific. He continues to act as Colonel Commandant of the North West Mobile Force and the Pilbara Regiment and sits on the Premier’s Queensland Veterans Advisory Council Chris has significant Board experience having been the President and Chair of the Legacy Club of Brisbane Ltd, a Director of Legacy Australia and is a recent appointee to the South West Queensland Hospital and Health Board and RSL Queensland’s Governance and Awards Committee and Veterans’ Affairs and Policy Committee. Chris has an MBA in Human Resource Management and Marketing, a Bachelor and Diploma of Applied Science, a Diploma in Leadership and Management, and an Associate Diploma in Horticulture. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Duane Tang Wei

Director: Western Australia

Duane is the CEO of Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation (KRCIC) And a proud Aboriginal man from Broome, Western Australia, who has over 20 years’ experience working in remote and regional locations within the Aboriginal Affairs Sector, both with Government and also the Not for Profit sector. Duane has a strong understanding of Aboriginal affairs and specialises in Remote Service Delivery Projects and Operations, as well as change management associated with Remote Employment and Community Development Program and project delivery. For the past 10 years, Duane has been the Chief Executive Officer of Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation (KRCIC).  KRCIC is a regional and remote Employment Service Provider and a Not for Profit Indigenous Corporation that delivers a diverse range of employment and community development projects and programs within the Kullarri Region of the Kimberley in Western Australia. Duane’s experience provides a hands-on understanding of working with Government and with remote Aboriginal Communities and Groups to achieve project and service delivery outcomes, policy reform and change.  He is a strong advocate for Local Community Based Employment and Local Capacity Building.  He stands by the vision of KRCIC which is “Creating positive and sustainable futures for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People and Communities”.

Ben Vasiliou

Director: Victoria

Ben Vasiliou is a Social Entrepreneur & Social Justice Advocate. He is the proud CEO of Youth Projects, an independent Melbourne based Not for Profit. Ben is also Deputy Chair at LiverWELL, a Victorian Justice of the Peace and an Alumni Ambassador for the Australian Scholarships Foundation. Ben was named Innovator of the Year and One of The Top 25 most influential and inspiring people in the social economy in 2020, by Pro Bono Australia. He was also named in the Top 5 CEOs of 2021 announced by Third Sector. Ben also recently graduated from the Executive Education in Social Entrepreneurship Program at Stanford University (USA).

Ben Richards

Director: Tasmania

Ben is the Chief Operating Officer of Workskills Tasmania. Workskills Tasmania operates in Southern Tasmania, enabling positive change in the local community. Ben is responsible for delivering ParentsNext, Transition to Work, Workforce Australia Employment Services and the unique ‘Troublesmiths’ Youth Social Enterprise. Before joining Workskills Tasmania, Ben served for over 20 years in the Australian Army, holding various leadership and operational appointments. Ben holds a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of New South Wales and was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours.