Our Board

Chair

Kaz Naito, now retired, was most recently Managing Director and Head of Sales and Marketing for J.P. Morgan Australia and New Zealand. He served on the board of J.P. Morgan Securities Australia and previously led Prime Finance Sales and Trading for Asia Pacific. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Kaz spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs across Asia, working in equity derivatives. He holds an LLB from Keio University. Kaz lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with his wife, Catherine, and their four children.

Tim is the Director of Sales for Nine Plus (ASX:NEC), a national sales division within Australia’s largest media organisation. Nine Plus delivers television, radio, print and digital advertising campaigns for thousands of businesses each year. With 25 years of experience in media, marketing and advertising, Tim has held senior roles at APN Outdoor, WME-IMG, Huawei and Nine. He has built strong business relationships across every state and almost every industry sector. Tim holds a BA in Media from Macquarie University and lives in Mosman with his wife, Toula, and their two children.

Jessie is Joint Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of BlackWall Limited (ASX:BWF). She joined the company in 2011, was appointed COO in 2018, and took on her current role in 2019. Jessie has a Bachelor of International Communication from Macquarie University and is completing a Bachelor of Property Economics at the University of Technology Sydney. She is passionate about property investment and funds management, bringing strong leadership to the BlackWall team.

Tim is the founder of the Run for Kids Foundation, a philanthropic initiative he launched in 1994 after being diagnosed with epilepsy. He has since channelled his commitment to fitness and health into raising awareness and funds for children with cancer. Tim believes kids are the world’s greatest asset and is dedicated to helping them reach their full potential. His work continues to inspire and support families affected by childhood cancer.

Debra was Group CEO Household Goods for Greenlit Brands, overseeing Fantastic Furniture, Plush, OMF and Freedom. She was an Executive Director on the board until March 2020, when she moved into semi-retirement. With over 30 years’ experience in leadership, she was the first female to lead a trading division at Woolworths. Debra is also a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW) and serves as a Non-Executive Director at Shaver Shop (ASX:SSG). She continues to mentor emerging leaders.

OAM, Founder

Col received an Order of Australia in 2000 for his work supporting children with cancer. Before founding the charity, he spent 30 years as a tourist coach driver, working with high-profile clients, including US Secret Service agents and members of Pope John Paul II’s Papal visit. Col dedicated his life to improving outcomes for children with cancer, raising awareness and funding vital research. His vision and determination have made a lasting impact in the childhood cancer space.

LLB (Hons), BEc

Cathryn is a partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley, specialising in insurance and employment law. Recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia (2018-2020), she represents professionals and businesses in negligence and workplace-related claims. She has extensive experience in unfair dismissal, discrimination, underpayment, OH&S and general protections matters. Cathryn is passionate about supporting businesses with legal strategies that drive positive workplace outcomes and long-term success.

BCom (Marketing and Management), Masters (Military and Defence Studies)

Simmone is a founding board member of The Kids’ Cancer Project and an officer in the Australian Army. Passionate about people, she is pursuing further postgraduate study in human resource management. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing, account management and category development for Unilever and Nestlé. Simmone brings a strategic approach to leadership and governance, helping drive initiatives that support children’s cancer research and advocacy.

FCPA, BCom, Grad Cert (Mgmt), MBA

Nigel is Managing Director Oceania at Gate Gourmet, one of the world’s largest inflight catering companies. He has 20 years’ experience in operations, finance and strategy, working across Asia and Europe in aviation, automotive and quick service restaurants. Before joining Gate Gourmet, he was CFO of a leading Australian quick service restaurant business. Nigel has a strong background in business improvement, with a focus on operational excellence and strategic growth.

Shane was a founding partner of Argyll Scott Asia, responsible for its expansion across the Asia Pacific throughout the 2010s before its merger with Hydrogen Group plc. He stepped away from the role when his daughter, Ariane, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. This experience ignited his deep passion for understanding the brain. The Melbourne native, now based in Sydney, coaches leaders globally in the areas of transformational leadership and performance and spends his weekends supporting his two children’s ambitions.