The Benefolk team
The Benefolk team
Meet the founder
Julia Keady, CEO, aka Chief Cheerleader
Having experienced and observed wide-scale burnout in the social purpose sector over the last 15 years, Julia set up Benefolk as a dual entity social enterprise to provide support and services for changemakers to achieve their mission without burning out. Prior to running the Collective, Julia was the inaugural CEO of Australian Women Donors Network (now Australians Investing in Women), and ran her own consultancy from 2012-2019. She is as passionate about advancing women as she is about rural and regional Australia, and serves as Co-Chair with the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE).
Meet the team
We have a small yet amazing team at HQ.
We procure all the additional support and services we need from within the community of Specialist businesses.
Our Specialists are also key to our success, with many providing volunteer support across leadership, events and community activities.
Sarah Davies AM
Inaugural Director
Benefolk Foundation
An experienced and dedicated sector professional, Sarah Davies joins the board of the charity arm. She is committed to raising the profile of the systemic contributors of burnout among social changemakers and seeing new joined-up solutions emerge to advance the sector. In her day job, Sarah is CEO of Alannah and Madeleine Foundation, and former CEO of Philanthropy Australia, and also serves on the board of the Centre for Social Impact.
Dr Wendy Scaife
Inaugural Director
Benefolk Foundation
Few people can say they have worked, studied and taught philanthropy and fundraising for three decades. Wendy is one of the sector's quiet achievers and most fierce advocates, and joins the Collective mission to see collaboration, research and smart people unite in an worthwhile quest. Wendy is an Associate Professor and the Director of Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at Queensland University of Technology. Wendy is also the Social-Purpose Research Theme Leader at QUT’s Centre for Future Enterprise.
Annette Herschtal
Special Projects and Partners
Benefolk Foundation
Annette has been part of the Collective community since Day One, and has 20 years experience in the Social Purpose sector. Annette has worked in partnership development, philanthropy, business coaching and building digital prototypes of systems maps and outcomes maps for better giving. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the Foundation, our charity arm.
Teisha Archer
Community Manager
Teisha brings 15+ years sector experience to run the Concierge service, listening into organisation leaders' needs and sharing how we can assist. Teisha has worn many hats in the sector - as many changemakers do - board director, volunteer, consultant, team leader and employee. Her passion for the sector is rivalled only by her renowned positive can-do spirit. Teisha is also a Foundation member of the Collective.
Kirrily Graham
Community Manager
Kirrily Graham is the first person our new Specialist members meet, as the Community Manager overseeing the successful transition for prospective new business members joining the Collective. The process is robust and takes on average three months to join the Collective. Kirrily brings an extensive career in the sector, along with experience in small business networking, and knows the immense benefit of bringing both together. Kirrily is also a Foundation Member and founder of Dovetail Social Enterprises.
Deb Vogel
Services Coordinator
Deb is a key part of our consulting services area, helping to collate the services information and service proposals, to make it streamlined for our consultants and clients to collaborate.
Jacqui Blanch
Technology Manager
Jacqui brings to life the digital presence and functionality for the Collective vision to thrive. With more than 30 years technology and development experience, across a number of member-based organisations, Jacqui has worked collaboratively with the Collective to create the front and back-end, including our robust Reference Checking process, Profile Pages, Search functionality and much more.
Dahlene Jordan
Community Manager / Platform Admin
Dahlene is the glue behind the scenes, working across the most important day-to-day aspects of the Collective. Dahlene has a career that spans government relations and small business ownership, and she brings a smile to the face of everyone who connects with her. We would be lost without her.
Lauren Corstens
Accounts Manager
Last but not least, our Accounts Manager Lauren who works across the trading and charity company, with support from governance specialists from within the Collective, Brenton Cox and Justin Hogg.
