Our team
Hi, how can we help?
Everyone on the FRRR team has a strong affinity with rural communities, with most either growing up in small towns, or currently living in regional Victoria or New South Wales.
We are all very passionate about understanding community needs, wants and aspirations, and enabling our partners to support these communities in ways that meet their objectives.
Most of our team is based in Bendigo, Victoria, however, we are regularly on the road visiting communities and providing opportunities for our partners to join us as we visit projects and regions and build stronger networks.
So, if you have a question, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Natalie Egleton
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GAICD
Natalie Egleton is passionate about facilitating effective responses to issues facing rural communities.
She was appointed CEO of FRRR in November 2015, after joining FRRR in 2012 and is responsible for shaping FRRR’s strategy, designing new programs and developing and nurturing new funding partnerships. In her previous roles with FRRR, she was responsible for managing natural disaster recovery and preparedness programs as well as those addressing social innovation.
Before joining FRRR, Natalie consulted with Matrix on Board, working with numerous not-for-profit organisations in program evaluation, undertaking research analysis and developing business plans. She also worked with clients to develop financial policies and procedures, strategic plans, organisation reviews, service mapping, feasibility studies and governance models.
Natalie has also held in-house roles at Evolve (Typo Station) and at ANZ Banking Group, implementing projects that made a tangible difference to the lives of people living in rural, regional and remote Australia.
She lives in the small rural town of Maldon in central Victoria.
Donor Partnerships & Services
Sarah Matthee
General Manager, Partnerships & Services
Sarah is our Partnerships and Services Manager, focused on supporting FRRR’s partners to facilitate impact across rural, regional and remote Australia. She oversees FRRR’s donor care and stewardship, corporate service delivery and develops opportunities for FRRR to utilise its knowledge by providing assistance to others.
Sarah joined FRRR in August 2017. She has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector, having held a range of volunteer, board and staff roles over nine years with Engineers Without Borders Australia, and volunteer roles at environmental and arts organisations. A chemical engineer and lawyer, Sarah has also worked at a global commercial law firm.
Joanna Kemp
Philanthropic Services Manager
Jo has more than fifteen years experience in the community development and social services sector, working in both local government and not for profit settings. During this time she has facilitated successful programs engaging a broad range of stakeholders including schools, businesses, government and community organisations. Her work has had a strong emphasis on supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities living in Victoria.
Jo commenced with FRRR in August 2018 as our Philanthropic Services Manager responsible for looking after Not-for-Profit Fundraising Accounts, Giving Sub-Funds and Community Foundations, as well as advisory / consulting services. Jo is passionate about building local capacity and enabling individuals and community groups to achieve positive change through a community development approach. She lives with her family in the small town of Macedon.
Danielle Griffin
Philanthropic Services Manager, Corporate
Danielle manages the Giving Sub-Funds of corporate donors to deliver tailored grant rounds for targeted impact. Danielle helps to develop partnerships that will connect corporate Australia to the needs of rural, regional and remote communities.
Prior to joining the FRRR, Danielle’s business and community partnership experience has included working with the Australia Red Cross on national and international projects, and other NFP roles in the arts, education and health. She is proud of working in the third sector to enable meaningful outcomes through community engagement that seeks a shared understanding and benefit for everyone involved.
In her free time, Danielle enjoys the written word in many forms, and both visual and performing arts, escaping outdoors and overseas to hike or play in water.
James Depasquale
Insights and Learning Manager
James joined FRRR in 2019 as a Grants Officer working on grant making in NSW / QLD / ACT. In 2020 he moved to the Philanthropic Services team, where he supports a breadth of national programs. He moved into the Insights and Learning Manager role in February 2021.
James comes from a Local Government and project management background, with an emphasis on environmental protection and responding to the challenges of climate change.
Jeanice Henderson
Program Coordinator
Jeanice is responsible for leading several targeted national and issues-based programs. Since joining FRRR in 2010, she has managed a wide variety of grant programs and has a wealth of knowledge on a diverse range of issues in rural, regional and remote communities.
Prior to joining FRRR, Jeanice’s experience included records management, historical research and community heritage, events management, grants management and working in early childhood social-emotional development programs. She has been a dedicated early childhood and primary school extension program volunteer and regular contributor to music programs in local aged care facilities. Jeanice travels off the bitumen when ever possible, to explore and support rural and remote communities.
Hayley Troy
Development Officer
Hayley Troy is FRRR’s Development Officer. She joined the team in 2016 and is responsible for managing our CRM and providing support to the team, as required. Her role is focused on donor information management, fundraising support and donor care and stewardship.
She also works with the Back to School team on administering the Back to School program. Previously, she has worked in retail and hospitality management across the Bendigo and Heathcote region. Outside of work, Hayley loves photography, concerts and cheering on her beloved Essendon Bombers.
Fiona Bradshaw
Philanthropic Services Officer
Fiona joined the FRRR team in 2019 as a Grants Officer with the Tackling Tough Times Together Program, and moved into the Philanthropic Services team in 2021.
Coming from an administration and projects background, Fiona also brings with her personal experiences living in Central Western NSW and has recently returned to the Bendigo region to live. Fiona has been a community leader for a number of years and is passionate about creating opportunity, contributing to developing resilient communities, working together to better achieve and encourage community ownership.
Program Managers
Carlene Egan
Programs Manager
(TAS / SA)
Carlene is FRRR’s State Programs Manager for Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, joining the FRRR team in June 2019. Carlene is responsible for implementing and administering place based programs within these states, including Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities, Strengthening Rural Communities and ANZ Seeds of Renewal.
Before joining FRRR, Carlene worked in program and project management, both in local government and within the not-for-profit sector. Most recently she managed the Community Capacity Building Unit with an NGO and has worked extensively on grassroots community development projects.
Carlene holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in Sociology, Politics & Social Research. She is actively involved in her local community and is passionate about supporting community engagement. Carlene grew up in the Adelaide Hills, moved to Victoria as a child and has lived in Bendigo since 2000.
Michelle Murphy-O’Kane
Programs Manager
(QLD / NT / WA)
Michelle joined FRRR in 2019, and is the Grants Program Manager for Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Michelle holds a Master of Business Administration, and brings to FRRR highly developed skills in leadership, community engagement, program design and implementation. Michelle is passionate about empowering and facilitating social change through innovation, collaborative leadership and connecting people in to community.
Prior to FRRR, Michelle worked with a number of not for profit organisations developing and scaling programs to strengthen communities, leading grant applications and developing a social enterprise. Michelle has led a number of successful funding submissions to seed and grow innovative community programs and services at both the local and State level.
Michelle has worked in women’s health and family violence services as well as the private sector, successfully translating business practices to the not-for-profit context, to grow reach and impact. Her diverse background includes marketing and communications, event management and finance.
Jacki Dimond
Programs Manager
(NSW / ACT)
Jacki is FRRR’s State Programs Manager for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, having joined the organisation in 2016. Jacki is also responsible for implementing and administering place based programs within these states, including Strengthening Rural Communities, ANZ Seeds of Renewal, and Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities.
Jacki worked with Government before joining FRRR, which involved managing a grants program, and supporting the needs of community.
Jacki holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology, Politics & English and post-graduate Project Management studies. She enjoys being involved in her local community and is a voluntary Board member with Access Australia Group. Jacki grew up in Hamilton, Victoria and is passionate about making philanthropy accessible to, and meaningful for, grassroots organisations.
Karly Smith Whelan
Programs Manager
(VIC)
Karly is the Grants Program Manager for Victoria, joining FRRR in March 2021. She brings extensive experience working in project management and research in corporate, university and not‐for‐profit community organisations to the role. Prior to joining FRRR, Karly was the Executive Officer for a not-for-profit organisation in central Victoria, working across community and stakeholder partnerships governance, strategy, and communications portfolios.
Her previous role as a researcher at Monash University’s School of Rural Health saw her working with rural and remote communities in NSW and Victoria. Karly holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in Geography, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Outside of work Karly keeps busy hiking, camping, bushwalking and reading, and has recently rediscovered her love of playing tennis. She is an active volunteer in her local community.
Alli Mudford
Investing in Rural Community Futures Program Manager
Passionate about agriculture, sustainability and rural communities, Alli Mudford comes to FRRR with strong skills in grant management, regional and state-wide policy-making and program delivery. She brings a positive, can-do approach to her work, with a drive to make a difference through community consultation. In her career to date, Alli has worked with the Victorian government, statutory authorities and with regional and state-based not for profits. Over the past 15 years, she has delivered high profile programs working with communities on a range of disaster recovery, capacity building and water efficiency initiatives to ultimately help communities thrive.
Alli brings a deep understanding of the capacity issues facing rural and remote communities having lived and worked in country Victoria and NSW her whole life. Alli, her husband and young family, run a mixed farming enterprise in Cassilis NSW, where she is heavily involved in her local community. She sits on the DPI Young Farmer Business Program Advisory Committee, the NPWS Regional Advisory Committee for Northern and is on the Inland Hunter Local Land Services Board.
Nina O’Brien
Disaster Resilience & Recovery Lead
Nina is passionate about advocating for the people that call regional Australia home and making their communities great places to live. Raised in the Mallee scrub of western South Australia, her skills in strategic thinking, project management, governance, communication, and community engagement position her well to lead the Disaster Resilience & Recovery team at FRRR.
Nina has recently taken on the challenge of studying an MBA and holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Community Sector Management, and certificates in Governance and Training and Assessment. She has previously worked in not-for-profit management, community services, regional arts development and local government in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. In her spare time, Nina is a practising artist and also volunteers in the Echuca Moama community.
Deanne Cavalier
Tackling Tough Times Together Program Manager
Deanne is the Program Manager for the Tackling Tough Times Together program, and commenced with FRRR in 2019. She has over ten years experience in corporate philanthropic and community investment in a number of organisations and state government, with a focus on grant programs, employee volunteering and engagement.
Deanne grew up on a farm near the small town of Wycheproof in north-western Victoria, and remains connected to primary producers with her ongoing involvement at the local Bendigo farmers market. She is passionate about building capacity in regional communities to enable them to thrive. Deanne lives in Bendigo with her husband and three busy boys.
Program Coordinators
Jacqui Bell
Disaster Resilient: Future Ready Program Coordinator
Jacqui joined FRRR in March 2021 as the DR:FR Program Coordinator. In this role, Jacqui will work alongside a group of Victorian communities to build their capacity and overall resilience through the exploration, development and application of community-led, evidence-based methods approaches.
An Architect by background, Jacqui draws on over 10 years of experience in both the private and for-purpose sectors working across the areas of strategic and participatory design, social innovation, business and enterprise development, partnership brokering and capacity building.
Jacqui is passionate about mobilising people and organisations to use their unique skills, knowledge, resources and networks to effectively collaborate to tackle complex challenges and create sustainable positive change. She enjoys spending her spare time outdoors, with her family, working on personal design projects and volunteering on climate change initiatives.
Kate Nolan
Grants Operations Coordinator
Kate joined FRRR in 2018 as a Grant Operations Coordinator. She has a background in heritage management for non-profit and government organisations with an emphasis on community planning and development.
Kate is passionate about capacity building of community groups, fostering pride of place and supporting community ownership of revitalisation endeavours from inception.
Kate has experience applying for and administering grants and has lived in Bendigo since 2010.
Kate Dezarnaulds
Investing in Rural Community Futures Coordinator for Shoalhaven
Kate joined FRRR in June 2020, to support the roll out of the Investing in Rural Communities Futures (IRCF) program in the Shoalhaven region. She has extensive experience working with community groups, not-for-profits, cultural organisations and social ventures to help them increase their perceived value and economic sustainability, with a key focus on business development, sponsorship and fundraising strategies.
Kate has degrees in both art history and business. She is active within her community, having held roles as Board Director, committee member and as a regular volunteer for a range of cultural and community groups. Kate recently relocated back to the Shoalhaven region.
Hannah Jakab
Coordinator Disaster Recovery and Resilience
Hannah commenced with FRRR in June 2010 as a Program Support Officer for the Natural Disaster Recovery programs and is now responsible for coordinating the national Disaster Recovery and Resilience programs.
Hannah holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Bachelor of Human Services from La Trobe University, Bendigo. Born and raised in the dairy farming area of Cohuna, Hannah has a broad understanding of rural issues and challenges.
Grants Officers
Lisa Mahon
Programs Officer (National / NT / WA)
Lisa joined FRRR in 2009, initially as a casual Grants Assessment Officer and is now the National / NT & WA Programs Officer. She has a background in emergency services and agriculture and is passionate about increasing food security through localised community led food systems. Lisa has extensive experience supporting rural communities to become more resilient and achieve their goals. She works across a large number of programs, assessing grants and and providing administrative support for FRRR.
Grants Officer, Tackling Tough Times Together
Vivienne McCrory
Grants Officer (VIC / TAS / SA)
Vivienne joined FRRR in October 2017 as a Grants Officer. She has a background working in community-based organisations in areas of emergency services, homeless programs and migrant settlement.
Vivienne has extensive experience in program administration and supporting volunteers throughout regional Victoria.
Grants Officer (QLD / NSW)
Yashna Poorun
Program Support Officer for the Investing in Rural Community Futures Program
Yashna commenced at FRRR in July 2020 as the Program Support Officer for the Investing in Rural Community Futures Program (IRCF). Prior to joining the team, Yashna worked in several roles with the YMCA, while completing her Bachelors in Health Sciences (Honours) and International Development at La Trobe University.
Yashna has a deep belief in the importance of the not-for-profit sector, and has actively participated with Scouts Australia and volunteered her time at Cancer Council Victoria. Born and raised in Melbourne, Yashna loves being outdoors in nature, practicing yoga and travelling.
Operations and Corporate Services
Karen Fazzani
Corporate Services Manager
Karen Fazzani is FRRR’s Corporate Services Manager. Karen is responsible for overseeing, leading and managing the business operations of FRRR including the Finance, Human Resource and IT functions.
Prior to FRRR, Karen was the Executive Officer of the Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Group, a statutory authority under the Environment Protection Act. Karen has over 25 years’ experience in senior public sector management positions, predominately environment related.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Business, Master of Business Administration (Public Sector), is a Certified Practising Accountant and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Karen is passionate about the environment and the rural farming community she lives in and loves to travel. She is a current Board member of Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, Wedderburn Tourism Board of Management, Wedderburn Community House and Treasurer/Secretary of the Wedderburn Fire Brigades Group and a player for the Wedderburn Tennis Club.
Carolyn McMillan
Administration Officer and Executive Assistant
Carolyn joined the FRRR team in March 2017, and is responsible for providing executive support to the CEO, effective coordination of the FRRR office and general administrative support to the management team. A key responsibility is supporting the administration of FRRR’s Donation Account Services.
She has over fifteen years’ experience working in local government in the Tourism and Arts Sector, Civic and Event Management and Community engagement.
Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Librarianship, majoring in psychology, and grew up on farming communities in Cohuna and Echuca and currently lives in Bendigo.
Sylvia Perez
Information Management Officer
Sylvia is our Information Management Officer and has responsibility for data management and analysis, keeping track of the information and systems that FRRR draws upon. She joined the team in August 2011 as Administration Officer.
Having previously worked in a range of different organisations, from Government Departments, to Minister’s Offices, as well as in health and retail, and within large corporations, Sylvia brings a wealth of practical administrative experience. She also has a strong customer service background.
Loralee Luckett
Finance Officer
Loralee commenced as the Finance Officer for FRRR in 2011, Loralee is contracted to FRRR for two days per week, although is fully considered one of the FRRR Team. Using MYOB accounting software, Loralee takes care of all financial matters for FRRR including Payroll, accounts payable and receivables, donation receipts, budgeting, general ledger, banking and reconciliations in accordance with legislative requirements and organisational policies and strategies. On the remaining weekdays when Loralee is not in the FRRR office, she assists other businesses with their finance and bookkeeping requirements, including several other Not for Profit entities. When not attending to bookkeeping and finance matters, Loralee enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, cooking and camping.
JAW Communications
Communications Consultants
JAW Communications supports FRRR with marketing and communication. With many of the team raised in country Australia, they understand the issues facing rural and regional Australia and have been working with us since 2012.
