Wayside Chapel is led by a Board of Directors who are passionate about supporting the most vulnerable people in our community.
Simon Perrott, Chair
Simon Perrott has a wealth of experience from a career spanning over 30 years in investment banking in Australia and the UK. His career included senior executive roles with ABN AMRO and Merrill Lynch, and he remains a senior advisor to Morgans Financial Group. Simon is a non executive director of Lendlease Real Estate Investments Ltd and Global Commercial Trust Ltd (Singapore). He was previously a non executive director of DUET Group, and a Trustee of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Simon joined the Wayside Board in 2014 and believes that in a challenging world, Wayside is where compassion lives. He was appointed as Chair at the October 2022 Annual General Meeting.
Cassandra Michie, Deputy Chair
Cassandra Michie joined the Wayside Board in 2016 and was appointed as Deputy Chair in 2020. Cassandra is a partner at PwC, and a member of PwC’s Board of Partners, with over 30 years of finance and accounting experience as an Australian Fellow Chartered Accountant. She is also a trustee of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Cassandra has been a Wayside volunteer for years in the kitchen and is the co-creator of the Sunday roast and passionate about fairness and equity and serving the local community.
Rev. Kent Crawford, Board Member
Rev. Kent Crawford is the Executive Minister for Sydney Presbytery of the Uniting Church NSW/ACT. Ordained in 1999, he has previously served at West Epping as well as Engadine-Helensburgh Uniting Church congregations, as well as 2 years with the NSW/ACT Synod Board of Education. Trained in Psychology, Theology and Governance of Not-For-Profit Organisations, Kent is passionate about developing healthy, thriving and inclusive communities.
Sangeeta Leach, Board Member
Sangeeta Leach brings to the Wayside board a passion for philanthropy and 25 years of experience developing robust business, marketing and brand strategies. She has spearheaded strategies for major blue-chip organisations and smaller boutique specialist firms across 4 continents in her career as a senior executive in global advertising agencies, before successfully co-founding her strategic advisory business, The Leach Partnership. Her key strengths are articulating bold visions and the pathways to success, the ability to simplify complex problems and a rich understanding of the power of diversity and inclusivity.
Nym Kim, Board Member
Nym Kim’s previous incarnations were as a television presenter hosting movies and arts at Australia Network, and Arts Presenter at SBS hosting Masterpiece, Arts on Saturday, Opera Viva and various other programs. She came to be involved with Wayside through her work in the rooftop garden and has since become a member of the Wayside Board. With a background in music and performing, Nym has represented Australia as a concert pianist, recorded with artists such as Crowded House and Vince Jones, and co-founded international film sales and financing company Arclight Films.
Cilla Robinson, Board Member
Cilla Robinson is a Partner in the Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety Group at Clayton Utz, and brings over 17 years’ experience advising in all aspects of industrial relations and employment matters. Committed to pro bono at Clayton Utz, Cilla has far exceeded her pro bono targets each year and she has personally invested a lot in understanding and servicing Wayside for many years. Cilla has been the Co-Chair of the Gender Stream of Momentum (the firms Diversity Committee) and a member of the Clayton Utz Community Connect Committees for many years, demonstrating her genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion and Clayton Utz Community Partners.
Jon Owen, Pastor and CEO
Jon Owen began as Pastor and CEO of Wayside Chapel in July 2018, taking over from Rev Graham Long after he announced his retirement from the role of 14 years. Jon was the lucky candidate, chosen from 50 potential applicants after a robust and independent selection process conducted by Wayside’s Board. Jon was already a big part of Wayside, working as Assistant Pastor and Head of People and Culture since November 2016 and all of our community was delighted with this decision.
For more on Jon Owen, click here.
