Board & Governance
2023 AGM – Board Papers
Bower 2023 Audited Financial Report
Bower 2022-2027 Strategic Plan – Updated Nov 2023
The Board
As a co-operative and a not-for profit, the Bower is overseen by a group of directors who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure the longevity of our environmental charity. The Bower Board of Directors is a group as diverse and knowledgeable as the Bower’s members, and many have a long standing history with the co-op. The Board is elected annually by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
The Bower’s Current Board of Directors
Michelle Sheather – Chairperson
Michelle Sheather works in International Development Coordination and international Project Management has worked on all continents, focusing on environmental and human rights and disarmament initiatives for 30+ years in the international and Australian NGO community. Previously, Michelle held the role of Campaigns Director for Greenpeace International in the Netherlands with 35 global project; and coordinated their priority campaign projects and field expeditions in remote areas such as the Norwegian Arctic and French nuclear test site in the South Pacific. Michelle worked for Amnesty International on issues relating to Africa and setting up AI’s Crisis Response Unit on large-scale human rights issues. She has worked on numerous UN Conferences and treaties; and runs global training programs. Michelle is also a permaculturist and permaculture teacher.
Henry McKenna – Member Director-Treasurer
Henry is a Chartered Accountant and Registered Liquidator with over 20 years’ experience in insolvency and corporate advisory services, as well as two years’ experience as a Risk Manager with Australia’s Export Credit Agency. He has worked in London, Sydney, and Brisbane. He specialises in corporate recovery and restructuring, independent business reviews and external administrations. Henry’s role as an External Administrator has seen him work across a diverse range of industry sectors including manufacturing, retail, hospitality, property and construction, entertainment, agribusiness and civil engineering. Henry wants to use his experience and financial background to give back to the community through an active engagement with The Bower.
Shwetha Prem – Member Director – Secretary
Shwetha is an architect passionate about sustainable building and good design. She is particularly interested in our tiny house and workshop courses. Swetha strongly supports the Reuse and Repair ethos of the Bower.
Marcelle Psaila – Member Director
Marcelle is a Senior Project Officer in the NSW Government with over 20 years’ experience working in waste, resource recovery and circular economy across local and state government, consultancy and not-for-profit sector in the UK and Australia. Her work has centred on supporting communities to manage waste and resources sustainably and she is passionate about transiting to a circular economy. Marcelle has a background in developing behaviour change campaigns, undertaking research, design and implementation of government programs, strategy, and policy. Marcelle will support the Bower in its advocacy and community education role, helping to drive positive consumer choices while supporting those in need.
Kirk Simmons – Independent Director
Kirk currently practices as a lawyer in-house in the technology sector at Canva. Prior to that, he spent time in private practice at DLA Piper where he focused on commercial litigation. He is a proud parent, a member of the local community and is excited to be involved with the Bower to help reduce waste and promote recycling and reuse.
Christine Simmons – Member Director
Christine has held senior marketing roles during her career, primarily in legal education, legal and professional publishing and governance organisations. She served as a member of their Executive Committees helping to develop and implement strategic and operational business plans. Now retired she is keen to use her skills to contribute to the community via the work of The Bower as espoused in its Mission around the three prongs of environment, education and community.
Paul Wade – Member Director
Paul’s career has spanned two decades in the NSW public sector, with the last ten years as a senior executive. Covering a range of disciplines in the transport, planning and water sectors, his experience includes policy and program development, governance, strategy, risk management, financial and commercial management, WHS, infrastructure delivery, and asset management. Prior to that he spent time in engineering R&D and software development. He has graduate and postgraduate qualifications in the sciences, transport management, and public administration, and recently completed the Company Directors course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His career and personal life have been shaped by a passion for ecological sustainability and social justice and he looks forward to continuing this journey as a Director of The Bower.
Katherine Lindsay – Member Director
Originally from Newcastle in England, Katherine has lived and worked in London and New York, before settling in Sydney in 2018. She is a senior business consultant, accountant and project manager with a solid reputation for process improvement, structuring and advising finance functions and delivering large transformation projects within Financial Services organisations for over 15 years. Katherine is passionate about bringing teams together to thrive and deliver their best work and enjoys spending time mentoring and coaching her teams. She is excited to join the Bower community as their mission is truly inspirational and becoming more important given the ongoing cost of living crisis and ever-increasing importance of sustainability.
The Bower 2022 Governance Documents
Bower 2022 Audited Financial Report
Bower Business Plan 2021 – 2023
Annual Report 2020-2021
2021 Financial Report
2020 AGM Minutes
Annual Report 2019-2020
2020 Financial Report
2019 AGM Minutes
Annual Report 22018-2019
2019 Financial Report
2018 AGM Minutes
Bower Strategic Plan 2022-27
Business Plan 2016-2021
Bower Rules
Bower Conflict of Interest Policy
Co-Operatives Compliance Checklist
Governance for Good the ACNCs Guide for Charity Board Members
Board meeting minutes
Members may request access to minutes in writing addressed to the board. Members can also view or copy minutes at the Bower by appointment (please email the General Manager info@bower.org.au to make an appointment to view meeting minutes or other Co-operative records).
