Nichola Perry – Board Chair

Nichola has over 20 year’s experience in Early Childhood across the not-for-profit and private sector. She holds a B. Education (Birth – 5) and Diploma of Vocational Education, and teaches Early Childhood Education and Care at CIT.

She is passionate about supporting children and families through high quality Education and Care, and elevating the skills and recognition of Educators.

Nichola joined the CS#1 board in 2021 and was appointed as Board Chair in November 2025. She is also Chair of the Community Services Subcommittee.

Jim Roy – Deputy Chair

With over two decades of experience, Jim has built a successful career in recruitment. This has involved growing businesses and providing essential insights and expertise to the C Suite and Boards nationally. Jim has relationships within the for purpose and commercial sectors nationally.

As a dedicated father of four, Jim is also a strong proponent of diversity and is devoted to creating a better future for the next generation.

Jim was appointed Deputy Chair in November 2025 and is Chair of the Risk, Audit & Finance Subcommittee.

Gill Savage – Ordinary Member

Gill is an experienced board director with a focus on strategy, governance, and innovation. Her board career spans over 25 years in the government, NFP and private sectors. She also has extensive strategy experience in the provision of professional services, including through her company LeadAbility Group Pty Ltd. Her current board roles include Chair of the Risk, Compliance and Audit Committee at The Navy’s Anchorage – a for-purpose Commonwealth company providing benefits to members and families of the Royal Australian Navy.

She is a former chair of a social enterprise focused on research into, and prevention of, domestic violence. Her career experience spans senior executive service roles within government developing and implementing policies and programs where she was a diversity and indigenous champion, and actively pursued a gender equality agenda.

She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an Executive Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and holds an MBA in International Business.

Gill is driven by the desire to make a difference and believes that it starts with small actions, every day that have a positive impact on people and communities.

David Maywald – Ordinary Member

David is an experienced board member and Non-executive Director, having made more than fifteen governance contributions during the last 25 years. Most of these have been for-purpose organisations or not-for-profit registered charities with service delivery that is similar to community services. He has served as Chair and Treasurer, as well as chairing many board committees. David is a Graduate of the Company Directors Course of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as having completed their Boardroom Mastery program. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, and a Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors Australia.

He is professionally qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). For two decades David worked in the Investment Management sector of the Financial Services industry (including product development, research, marketing, portfolio management, analysis, and customer service). He is the proud father of two children, a son and a daughter – who have both navigated early childhood education and care, preschool, and schooling.

David is Chair of the Governance Subcommittee

Sonya Blondinau – Ordinary Member

Sonya brings over 20 years of leadership experience growing businesses across Australia from start-ups to SMEs, corporates, listed and unlisted, not-for-profits and private organisations. Her strategy and leadership experience spans Chief Operating Officer, Senior Consultant in Governance and Strategy, General Manager, Non-Executive Director, Responsible Manager and Company Secretary.

Sonya has a Bachelor of Economics, Graduate Diplomas in Applied Finance and Investment and Quantitative Analysis, a Diploma in Children’s Writing, is a qualified hypnotist and Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and has lectured and authored papers and books on risk, governance, financial services, and leadership. She is also a recent graduate from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Sonya aims to make a positive difference in everything she does. She is passionate about giving everyone the right to belong , the right to participate and the right to be respected.

Judith Barker – Ordinary Member

Judith has over 40 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner in acute and community care. A specialist in wound management, she is a Fellow and Life Member of Wounds Australia. She has presented at national and international conferences and chaired committees developing best practice guidelines with other experts. Most recently, she served as Chair of the Pan Pacific Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention and Management of Venous Leg Ulcers.

Her clinical background spans primary health care, ambulatory care, and residential aged care, working across the Community Home Support Programme, Home Care Packages (now Support at Home) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. She has also led projects to meet accreditation standards with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and has a strong interest in quality and clinical governance.

Judith has four grandchildren and recently retired after 42 years with Canberra Health Services, where she received a Public Service Australia Day Award. She joined the CS#1 Board in 2025 and is committed to supporting high-quality community services.