State Council / Trustees

Peter was elected as NSW State Council President of the Society in August 2024. Peter has been an active member of St John the Evangelist Parish Conference Dapto since being posted to Wollongong as a primary teacher in the 1970s, where he raised his family, and later served as a school principal.

Over many years of service to the St Vincent de Paul Society, Peter has served as NSW Vice-President - Membership, President’s Vice-President, Wollongong Central Council President, and Central Illawarra Regional Council President.

Peter holds a Bachelor Degree in Arts / History, Master of Studies, and a Master of Education (Hons).

Beverley served as Vice President of the NSW State Council, a Company Director, and President of Vinnies Services. Beverley joined the Society 20 years ago and is a member of the Corrimal Conference, as well as previously serving as Regional President for Wollongong. Beverley is the Chair of the Service Quality and Safety Committee, a member of the Audit and Finance Committee, and served as a member of the Governance, Risk and Nominations Committee this FY. She sits on the Coonamble Advisory Committee and was previously Advisory President for Ozanam Industries, Migrants and Refugees, Compeer and established the Rural Task Force. She is also a Director of Amélie Housing and member of the Amelie Housing Audit, Risk and Finance Committee. Beverley has a background in social services and previously worked for the NSW Department of Family and Community Service.

A highly experienced and well-regarded barrister with more than 20 years’ experience, Bradley specialises in taxation, administrative, commercial law and equity.

With an expansive practice in Commonwealth and state revenue matters, Bradley regularly appears for both taxpayers and revenue authorities in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia.  He has advised resident and non-resident clients across a range of industries including: banking, finance, property development, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, telecommunications and mining industries in relation to both domestic and international transactions and disputes.  He has also advised the New South Wales, West Australian and Queensland Governments on Commonwealth tax-related matters.

Bradley holds a Master of Laws, a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and a Commerce degree. He has published numerous articles on Taxation issues and is co-author of Evans, Jones & Power, Equity & Trusts. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser of the Tax Institute and a Fellow of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Mary joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2014 and served as President of St Patrick’s Conference Swansea from 2017-2021. Mary currently serves as Eastlakes Regional Council President and as Chair of the Spirituality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Brooke graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering (Structures)) from the University of Sydney and currently works as a Senior Structural Engineer for Taylor Thomson Whitting. She has been volunteering with the Society since 2009, including positions in the Night Patrol, Kids Camps, Buddies Days and Sydney University Young Vinnies. She is a member of Our Lady of the Way conference in North Sydney.

John became a member of the Maroubra Junction Conference in October 2006 and remains a member of the Conference to date. He was elected President of the Conference in March 2007 and still holds the position.

John is a qualified accountant and a Fellow of the CPA, with qualifications in Financial Counselling (used for working for the Society) and Financial Planning. He spent six years (1988 to 1994) in two of the large accounting firms and has been a part owner of, and consultant in, a specialist tax consulting business from March 1994 to date. The business has clients across all levels of industry.

Frances joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in the Wilcannia Forbes Central Council after volunteering in the highlands of Papua New Guinea for years, where she saw firsthand how much the Queensland St Vincent de Paul Society overseas assistance helped local communities.  Frances worked in the Wilcannia Forbes office for 10 years whilst also acting as the Central Council’s Twinning Officer. Frances is the NSW Overseas Partnership Committee (OPC) Chairperson and works at spreading the knowledge she has gained about how much their twinning is valued and needed in our South-East Asia and Pacific areas with Society members in NSW.

Maddie graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Sydney. Since then, Maddie has been working in community development, running community events, and implementing early intervention and prevention programs for young people. She also has experience working within the disability sector, supporting children with additional needs. Maddie first became involved with the Society in 2011 through her high school conference and has continued to be involved in various roles throughout university and beyond.

John Adams is a member of St Patrick’s Conference Glen Innes and serves as Social Justice Representative on the Armidale Diocesan Council and Chair of the Finance Committee of St Patrick’s Parish, Glen Innes. John is a Justice of the Peace (NSW), formerly served as Deputy Chair of the Glen Innes Health Service Board and recently retired from a long career as a Paramedic with NSW Ambulance. John and wife Elaine have celebrated over 45 years of marriage and are proud parents and grandparents. 

Marina Gray was elected as Central Council President for Bathurst in February 2024. With 25 years of experience as a Society member, Marina has held various significant positions, including Conference President in Bourke and Bathurst, as well as Regional President in Cobar Region within the Wilcannia Forbes Central Council. She also previously served as Regional President for Evans.

Marina is actively involved in grassroots work through St Therese Conference in Bathurst. Her dedication to volunteering was recognised with the Rural Women’s Network Hidden Treasure Honour Roll award in 2023, highlighting her outstanding contributions to organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul Society and the State Emergency Service (SES).

Michelle was appointed as Broken Bay Central Council President in June 2021. Michelle has previously served as the Vice President for Youth and remains an active member of the Asquith Conference since joining the Society in 2015. She brings to her role a passion in youth ministry, having mentored the Asquith Youth Conference for the past six years and served as a member of the Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic Parish Pastoral Council and as their Youth Coordinator.

Michelle is currently the Vocations Officer for the Diocese of Broken Bay and the Central Council President for Broken Bay at St Vincent de Paul.

Vikram was born in Kolkata, India, the city where Mother Teresa made her home. He lived a few hundred metres from Saint Teresa’s home and was fortunate to have met her on many occasions.

He completed his bachelor’s degree in commerce and an MBA and, shortly thereafter, got recruited internationally on a banking job that turned out to be his chosen profession. Vikram has not returned to India other than on family visits. He moved permanently to Australia in 2008 and started his own finance brokerage company. A passion for law compelled him to complete a graduate degree in immigration law.

Finding himself with time on his hands, he joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2017 with his wife, Debra, to have an outlet for their passion for community work. He was also baptised in 2017 – Debra calls this her prayers of 28 years answered. They have two adult working sons and are blessed to have a happy family.

Gail has been a St Vincent de Paul Society member since 2011 with the St Louise Conference Woolgoolga. She has held the positions of Conference Secretary, Conference President, Orara Regional President (pilot We Care Framework), Central Council Vice President, before taking up the President tenure in 2019. Gail has a background in Supermarket Management.

Brian joined St Patrick’s Conference Swansea in 2014. He became Conference President, then Eastlakes Regional President before replacing John McKendry as Central Council President at the conclusion of his term in October 2021. He was Commissioned on Pentecost Sunday 2022.

Anthony Foley is currently the President of St Clare’s Conference, North Albury Care and Support Centre, and the Central Council President for Wagga Wagga. Over the past ten years, Anthony has actively contributed to the Society.

In his retirement, Anthony is able to dedicate quality time to the Society, focusing on enhancing the functionality of Regional Conferences.

With a career spanning 35 years as a civil engineer, Anthony has contributed significantly to state and local government entities in the Riverina region and has contributed to other community organisations.

Jim joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2007 and previously served as Wilcannia Forbes Central Council President from 2014-2018. Jim has been a member of Conferences in Parkes, Peak Hill and Condoblin and served as Central West Regional Council President after retirement from a long career in agriculture. Jim is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Peter joined the Society at St Joseph’s Conference, Moorebank in 1995. After moving to the Southern Highlands in 2012, he joined St Michael’s Conference, Mittagong. John became Regional President for the Southern Highlands in 2017 and since then performed many duties for Wollongong Central Council.