mandy@globalsisters.org

Heather’s 25 year professional career has been dedicated to social and economic justice for women. Her background in microfinance led her to live and work in France, the Philippines & India, as well as working extensively in Indonesia and Timor Leste.

Heather pursued a career in women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship after her year long placement at the OECD in France, working on a project for small to medium businesses for women. She then went on to spend close to a decade working with one of the largest microfinance organisations globally, Opportunity International (OI). In a number of roles at OI Network and OI Australia, Heather worked with partner organisations that varied from start-up NGOs to large-scale microfinance banks, all of whom were transforming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women living in poverty by helping them to create sustainable incomes through micro business.

In Australia, Heather had the privilege of working on the establishment of one of the first microfinance programs in Australia, now called Many Rivers Microfinance. Her time at Sydney Community Foundation shaped her understanding of collective impact and place based philanthropy, as well as gaining a deeper insight into gender based poverty and disadvantage in a high income country context.

Heather joined the Founder of Global Sisters, Mandy Richards, to set up the organisation and launch operations in early 2016. They have gone from a 2 woman operation to leading a team across Australia. After several years of piloting and iteration, Global Sisters has started to scale impact, supporting thousands of women to reach their full economic potential & create a ripple effect of change in their family, community and society.

Heather holds a Masters in Development Administration from ANU and has studied social entrepreneurship at INSEAD Singapore. She has expertise in social impact, community development, organisational capacity building, microfinance and program design.

She is a Trustee of the McLean Foundation, a philanthropic foundation dedicated to conservation, education and gender equality. She is on the volunteer leadership team of her local church. Heather and her husband are raising three young children and live on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.

heather@globalsisters.org

Lisa Edinburg brings with her a wealth of experience in both the corporate and community sectors. Lisa started her career as a management consultant, supporting large firms with customer experience, business transformation and supply chain transformations before moving to Social Ventures Australia where she advised social entrepreneurs, non-profits and philanthropic funders on business strategy, social impact growth and measurement. Lisa has led programs around the country including cutting edge initiatives with remote Indigenous Communities and thought leadership on impact measurement.

Whilst living in Canada, Lisa helped to pioneer venture philanthropy into the Canadian market and returned to Australia to embark on her own entrepreneurial dalliance. It was then that Lisa realised the challenges of starting up a business first hand and after becoming a mother, Lisa realised the inequities of options and barriers for women.

Lisa’s passion is for social purpose businesses and the women that tend to lead these businesses.

lisa@globalsisters.org

Claudia is a CPA-qualified accountant and graduate of Sydney University, holding a Bachelor of Economics. With two decades of experience, including 14 years in CFO and Financial Controller roles, Claudia has a rich background spanning multiple industries, with a special focus on media and training organisations. Early in her career, she gained international experience in the UK, working with organisations such as the BBC. Returning to Australia, she served as Group Financial Controller for Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Australia and later as CFO for a group of companies dedicated to training and business development.
A strategic leader, Claudia is passionate about enhancing the Finance Function’s impact on organisational success. She has contributed to significant growth initiatives, from acquisitions of strategic partners to expansions into new markets. Her expertise also includes driving process improvements and advancing reporting and analysis capabilities within finance teams.
Claudia recently joined Global Sisters, a move she felt strongly about as she sought a purpose-driven role in the NFP sector. She is inspired by the work of Global Sisters which makes business and self-employment possible for all women.
Residing in Sydney with her husband, son, and dog, Claudia finds balance through her love of the beach and time spent in nature.

Claudia@globalsisters.org

Emily is a mother and passionate women’s advocate dedicated to supporting women in the community and in the workplace through initiatives that promote mental health, emotional wellbeing, and social empowerment. As an experienced Human Resources and People & Culture Manager, she brings a holistic and inclusive approach to addressing complex organisational needs, with a focus on building sustainable teams and nurturing people to share their brilliance.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology, equipping her with a strong foundation in compliance, risk management, critical analysis, and problem solving. She is known for her harmonious, innovative, and proactive mindset, fostering colloaborative workplace culture and organisational wellbeing.

Her career spans across continents, having lived and worked in North America for several years in leadership roles. She managed some of Canada’s largest sales territories, supporting high volume accounts as well as regional and remote teams through relationship building, training, events, and education. Emily was also second-in-command to the founder of a global, women-led beauty brand, serving as both Marketing Manager (USA) and On-Air TV Educator on QVC, the world’s largest retail shopping channel. In this role, she represented the brand’s mission, products, and social impact—supporting Berber women in Morocco and championing female empowerment through ethical enterprise.

Emily is passionate about dedicating her skills to working with and for women, contributing to the removal of barriers that hinder women’s ability to thrive. Her insight is shaped not only by her diverse cultural background, but also by her lived experience as a woman and a deep, sensitive understanding of the complex realities women face. She brings these perspectives into her work with empathy, integrity, and a strong commitment to social change.

emilyt@globalsisters.org

Gershon has a decade of experience working in advocacy, policy and research centred on issues of social justice. He has been the creator and lead author of the Ethical Fashion Report and the Ethical Electronics Guide, world leading research that examined the practices of corporations around the world to mitigate the risk of slavery and exploitation; he has led and grown grass roots movements to campaign against poverty and labour rights violations; he has worked with many of Australia’s largest companies to improve labour rights in their supply chains; and he has authored policy reports on child and maternal health, water and sanitation and Australia’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Gershon is passionate about seeing the vulnerable empowered, and seeing people and communities mobilised to end injustice. He has degrees in Business and Commerce, and a Masters in Social Change and Development (with Merit) from the University of Newcastle. 

Gershon is passionately crafting sustainable housing models tailored to empower women.

gershon@globalsisters.org

Joeline is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in business, marketing, communications, advocacy, and community outreach. 

As the Sustainable Housing Lead at Global Sisters, she pioneers a pilot program providing housing opportunities for women escaping domestic violence, aiming to break intergenerational poverty cycles and fostering economic independence.

Drawing from her extensive background, Joeline approaches this role with a holistic perspective, recognising the vital intersectionality between environmental sustainability, community development, and social justice.

Her past endeavours, including co-founding the nurses charity ‘Feed Our Medics’ and running as an Independent Candidate for State Election, showcase her tenacity, community engagement and resource mobilisation skills.

Passionate about purpose-driven initiatives, Joeline’s strategic acumen and collaborative spirit position her as a catalyst for positive transformation in sustainable housing for women working toward economic independence. 
Her founding role in Northern Beaches War On Waste and membership in Northern Beaches Council’s Environmental Strategic Reference Group, underscores her commitment to community engagement, sustainability and driving positive change.

With a keen focus on empowerment, resilience, and inclusive solutions, Joeline is committed to creating a supportive and nurturing environment where women affected by domestic violence can find safety, stability, and hope for a brighter future in their very own sustainable home.

Joeline@globalsisters.org

Nicola brings more than 30 years’ experience in business development, partnerships, and strategy across the media, sport, politics, retail, and not-for-profit sectors. She has worked within large corporates, political offices, creative agencies, sport and wellbeing industries, as well as small businesses, having run a small global business within the surf industry and built and run her own consulting business. Her strengths lie in building trusted, long-term relationships, developing clear and achievable strategies, and moving comfortably from boardroom strategy to hands-on delivery. She is a warm and thoughtful communicator who thrives on bringing people together around a shared purpose.

A qualified coach with a people-first approach, Nicola is a creative problem solver who values mentoring, collaboration, and positive team culture. Her work is guided by a strong commitment to equality and cultural respect.

Nicola lives in Sydney and loves to surf, though she happily admits to being a perpetual beginner.

nicola@globalsisters.org

Narelle is a dedicated professional with over two decades of experience in the community services sector. Her unwavering passion for empowering individuals has led to a career marked by innovation, impact, and a commitment to positive change.

Throughout her career, Narelle has demonstrated an exceptional ability to develop and deliver programs aimed at empowering people. Her innovative approach has paved the way for numerous success stories, leaving a lasting impact on those she serves.

One of Narelle’s notable achievements is the creation of a flexible education program tailored to young people at risk of homelessness. This program has not only provided vital educational opportunities but has also offered hope and stability to vulnerable youth, helping them build brighter futures.

Narelle’s dedication to social impact extends beyond traditional service delivery. She, along with a small team, developed two thriving social enterprises, each providing employment opportunities to long-term unemployed individuals. Through these enterprises, she has championed the cause of economic empowerment, breaking the cycle of unemployment and transforming lives.

In a transformative move, Narelle and her family made the life-changing decision to relocate to a picturesque coastal town on the Bellarine Peninsula. This move reflects her commitment to balancing a fulfilling personal life with her professional aspirations.

geelong@globalsisters.org

Diana is a proud Kiwi, originally from Aotearoa (New Zealand), now living in Werribee, Victoria. She is a lived experience leader, ceramicist, and advocate working with Global Sisters as the Domestic/Family Violence and Women’s Economic & Housing Security Lead in Geelong.

Diana is deeply connected to the land, a connection nurtured in her upbringing and now expressed through her handmade ceramics business, Earth by Diana, founded in 2021. As a mother and survivor of more than two decades of family violence, she brings courage, clarity, and lived wisdom to her work, always centring the needs and voices of women.

She is contributing her lived experience and advocacy to Little Green Houses for Her, an initiative helping women who’ve experienced violence move toward owning their own homes. It’s about more than housing, it’s about security, dignity, and the chance to truly begin again.

Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Social Sciences from La Trobe University. During her time there, she also served on the Academic Board, representing four regional campuses. A role that deepened her commitment to equity, inclusion, and the power of lived experience in shaping systems.

Her advocacy extends across community and government spaces. She has worked with McAuley Community Services for Women, the Safe at Home pilot, and the St Vincent de Paul Society, and has contributed to major policy submissions to the Royal Commission into Mental Health and the Parliamentary Inquiry into Domestic Violence and Homelessness.

Diana is also a sought-after speaker, regularly invited to share her story and insights at events like the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and across media platforms. She uses her voice to drive change, raise awareness, and build systems that truly support women and children.

Whether speaking on stage, creating with clay, or walking alongside another woman in crisis, Diana is grounded in purpose and powered by hope.

diana@globalsisters.org

Georgina joins Global Sisters with over 15 years’ experience in place-based partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and community development. Her background includes designing partnership strategies, capacity building within local communities and building collaborative ecosystems that create genuine social and economic impact at local level.

Originally from the UK, George moved to Australia 8 years ago and has since built a successful coaching practice focused on supporting women in business to develop their confidence, marketing, and leadership capability. She is also the leader of Mums in Business Moreton Bay, a thriving community of over 1,300 women entrepreneurs across the Moreton Bay region.

George’s approach combines strategic thinking with deep community understanding. She is passionate about seeing women succeed – through self-belief and the ability to gain the skills and access the support they need. As Head of PLACE and Community, George will be developing and managing place-based strategies that link community members, government, funders, and partners to advance women’s self-employment and enhance broader economic security outcomes, so that women across Australia have access to the coaching, community, and resources they need to build sustainable businesses.

George lives near Brisbane with her daughter Bea. When she’s not working, you’ll find them camping, hiking, or wild swimming – George is passionate about nature-based wellbeing and is also learning about forest and ocean therapy.

Heidi brings over 30 years of experience across marketing, social media, brand strategy, and creative direction, working with businesses in the lifestyle, interiors, retail, wellness, and property sectors. At Global Sisters, she supports the growth and visibility of the organisation through marketing, content, and partnerships, while also working closely with Sisters to strengthen their brand presence and connect meaningfully with their audience.

Passionate about storytelling and connection, Heidi plays a key role in nurturing relationships — from one-on-one coaching with women in business to building aligned brand partnerships that support the broader Global Sisters mission. She is deeply invested in helping women show up with clarity and confidence, using content and strategy as powerful tools for growth.

Having built and run her own businesses, Heidi understands the realities of self-employment and the importance of financial independence. As a solo mum, she brings lived experience to her work and is driven to create pathways for women to feel supported, capable, and secure.

Heidi is also the creative lead on Little Green Houses, a pioneering initiative creating an accessible pathway to home ownership for women. Through this work, she continues to combine her strengths in design, marketing, and strategic thinking to support long-term impact and meaningful change.

Outside of work, Heidi finds joy in the ocean, design, and creating beautiful, considered spaces that inspire the way people live.

Sascha has an extensive background in social media, content creation, community support and marketing.
She is fiercely passionate about female empowerment and facilitating community connections.
Dabbling in her own entrepreneurial journeys over the years, she thrives being creative and busy, always willing to try something new. Coming to Global Sisters with a thirst for change and a role that aligns directly with her passions and values, she is excited to be a part of the change we so need as a society.
Born and bred in Australia, she is now raising her 4 young kids on the Mid North Coast and understands now more than ever the importance of financial security and having a creative outlet.
Sascha has had experience setting up her own small businesses over the years, more recently a service based business, The Pram Cleaning Collective, founded in 2022.
Sascha enjoys the simple joys of life, like cooking, family walks & slow beach days.

Sascha@globalsisters.org

Originally hailing from beautiful Bavaria in Germany, Laura is an avid Marketing enthusiast, with a commercial background and extensive hands on experience in all things digital marketing, sales and social media.
After years of working in high growth, commercial businesses, Laura is excited to bring her skills and passion to Global Sisters.
Working across multiple parts of the business, she is excited to see our Sisters thrive and achieve their goals of being successful female entrepreneurs.

laurav@globalsisters.org

Born in the Middle East and raised in the UK, Ran has been fascinated by computers from an early age. She began her career as a video game developer working at companies including Creative Assembly, SEGA and THQ. Developing for consoles, mobile and the web she spent 15+ years learning how to build experiences that matter. Both as a designer and technical manager, Ran focused on using innovative technology to craft interesting narratives.

She migrated to Australia in the early 2000s, and has since worked across technology roles—software development, government advisory and lecturing at university level. She has volunteered her time to focus particularly on the next generation of women in the
games industry, believing that a diverse workforce improves both the workplace and the end product.

She’s always been drawn to how technology can tell stories and create meaningful connections and she brings this experience to Global Sisters as their Technical Lead. Ran is passionate about marrying technology and storytelling to support the women who need it most. She’s excited to be at Global Sisters, where technology can unlock real opportunity for economic empowerment.

Lauren’s career experience spans over 20 years in Administration, Client & Office Management, with significant expertise as a Digital Operations Lead.

Lauren’s professional journey has crisscrossed various fields, gaining expertise in multiple platforms along the way. She spent a significant amount of time contributing to the administrative and publicity efforts of Dog’s Life Magazine, where her love for animals was nurtured. For over 11 years, Lauren was instrumental in managing clients and overseeing the production process for several home-related publications, while also juggling the daily operations of a small office.

Her role as a Digital Operations Lead has further expanded her skill set, where she manages online platforms, optimises workflows, and has led digital transformation efforts to streamline business processes.

An avid animal lover, Lauren turned her passion into a small pet-minding business, run from her home, combining her entrepreneurial spirit with her care for animal welfare.

Lauren is deeply committed to empowering women to achieve financial independence, understanding the profound impact this has on families and communities. She is thrilled to blend her passions and extensive skill set with Global Sisters, furthering her mission of supporting women on their path to success.

lauren@globalsisters.org

Andrea has an extensive background in executive support, office management, and supply chain operations, with over 20 years of experience across multiple industries.

She is meticulously organised with a passion for transforming complex processes into streamlined systems and implementing productivity solutions that enhance operational outcomes. Andrea brings valuable experience in training and mentoring team members, managing multiple projects simultaneously under pressure, and leading process improvement initiatives that drive organisational growth.

Swiss-born and now an Australian resident, Andrea brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to her work, with expertise in managing operations across different time zones. Her international career includes nearly a decade supporting a health and fitness company across multiple operational areas, and several years at a leading global management consulting firm in Switzerland supporting C-suite executives with complex scheduling and high-profile event coordination. She has extensive experience coordinating photoshoots, PR events, and corporate functions, ensuring seamless execution from planning through to delivery.

A self-described workplace “Mary Poppins” who brings a little magic and a lot of organisation wherever she goes, Andrea is excited to support Global Sisters’ mission of empowering women to achieve financial independence.

Born in Switzerland but having embraced Australia as her home for the past thirteen years, Andrea now lives on the Northern Beaches with her husband and two teenagers, balancing her professional dedication with family life.

Andrea enjoys the simple pleasures of beach life and believes every challenge can be solved with creativity and methodical planning.

andrea@globalsisters.org

Wendy Beech brings over two decades of experience across education, business, and creating meaningful experiences that bring people together. For the past eleven years, she has owned and operated Wendy Does Weddings, a celebrancy business that began as a passion project and grew into a thriving full-time enterprise. Through this work, Wendy has built a successful business while maintaining the flexibility to be present for her young family.

Wendy’s approach is grounded in warmth, professionalism, and a genuine care for the people she works with. She is passionate about creating inclusive, welcoming spaces and is a strong advocate for Indigenous rights and the LGBTQIA+ community, ensuring every ceremony she conducts is respectful, thoughtful, and deeply personal.

Before becoming a celebrant, Wendy spent eleven years teaching adults completing a Certificate IV in Tourism and also worked in primary education and the travel industry. These experiences have shaped her strong communication skills, attention to detail, and her ability to connect with people from many different backgrounds.

Wendy is passionate about supporting women to build businesses that align with their lives and values.

Elise brings a varied range of experience having worked with businesses at all scales, from large fashion retail brands to coaching startups and running her own holistic wellness coaching business supporting female entrepreneurs in recovering from burnout. She combines this strong understanding of the ecosystem of business with a human centered and caring approach to support the Sisters as part of the Membership Services team.

She began her career in acting before transitioning into fashion buying, giving her a deep end to end understanding of product based businesses from product design through to marketing, ecommerce, supply chain and logistics. From there she expanded into the startup and service worlds, working as a Founder Success Coach for a business supporting start up fashion brands, and spending six years running her own health and wellness coaching practice. She knows firsthand what it takes to start a business and the challenges that female founders face. That lived experience, combined with years of coaching women out of burnout, has given her a genuine and deep empathy and understanding of the mindset challenges female entrepreneurs face.

Elise passionately believes that when you lift women, you lift entire communities. Having witnessed the incredible shift that happens when women have the right support, guidance and a community around them, she is proud to be a part of the Global Sisters team helping deliver that at scale to positively impact as many women as possible. Her warm, empowering and holistic approach always considers the whole person in front of her, not just the business challenge, helping Sisters build the tools and confidence to keep making progress and feel fully supported on their journey.

Originally from London, Elise spent six years in beautiful Aotearoa/New Zealand following her love of outdoor adventures including hiking, kayaking, climbing and camping. She relocated to Sydney at the end of 2025, and is loving the blend of city energy and closeness to nature.

Naomi Hart is a writer, former performer, and hospitality entrepreneur with a rich background in storytelling—on stage, on air, in print, and on the plate. After a decade performing musical theatre and cabaret in New York, she returned to Australia and, with her chef husband Gregory Llewellyn, co-founded the acclaimed Hartsyard (a Good Food Guide hatted restaurant), the award-winning cocktail bar The Gretz, and the cult fried chicken eatery Wish Bone.

Her memoir Life At The Bottom Of The Blender (Bad Apple Press, 2022) blends humour and honesty to explore motherhood, marriage and identity, and has been featured on ABC Radio, national television and podcasts. Naomi’s audio storytelling includes original features for ABC RN’s Life Matters and Earshot, and her writing has appeared in publications such as Dumbo Feather and Wet Ink. She also co-authored the cookbook Fried Chicken and Friends (Murdoch Books, 2015).

Naomi is currently working on a contemporary romance series and a collection of voice-driven personal essays—both projects that reflect her signature blend of emotional insight, character-driven humour, and clear-eyed storytelling.

She is loving working with Global Sisters, telling the stories of women building businesses and economic independence. She believes Global Sisters is addressing the deeper, systemic challenges facing Australian women today and feels proud to play even a small part in that work.

naomi@globalsisters.org

Kylie first picked up a camera over 10 years ago, and what began as a hobby quickly grew into a passion. While she immersed herself in the technical side of photography, she soon realised that a meaningful photograph is about much more than settings and clicking a shutter.
Through photographing her own children, Kylie discovered that capturing a moment is about helping people feel seen and at ease. She believes you don’t simply take a photograph — you create a space where people feel comfortable enough for their true spirit to show.
Kylie has been creating images for us for almost a decade, during which time her style and ours have quietly evolved together. This natural collaboration has shaped the majority of the imagery you see across our socials and media today.

Born in Manchester, England, Kirsty traded grey skies for Australian sunshine—and brought her creative spark along for the ride.

With a degree in Graphic Arts from Liverpool John Moores University, her design career spans over two decades across agency, in-house, and entrepreneurial roles. As founder of The Brand Cafe, she’s partnered with a broad range of clients across the UK, Europe, the USA, and Australia – from early-stage start-ups to global brands. Her experience across multiple industries gives her a diverse perspective to her work in blending marketing strategy with creative intuition to deliver smart, uncomplicated, and purposeful design solutions.

Kirsty has been part of Global Sisters since its beginnings in 2016, using design as a force to support and empower women-led businesses. Her creative influence can be seen throughout the organisation’s visual identity, helping bring its mission to life in a way that’s both powerful and accessible.

Outside the studio she is fuelled by a love of travel and exploration, embracing new global experiences, cultures, people and places. She is always on the lookout for the next dose of inspiration and, whether she’s building a brand or boarding a plane, she brings curiosity, colour, and heart to everything she does.

Taking a cue from empowering entrepreneurs, Kirsty’s latest venture – onedaywebsiteaustralia.com.au – delivers stylish affordable starter websites to help founders stand tall, show up and shine online, and feel confident in what they offer.

kirsty@thebrandcafe.com.au