Meet the dedicated individuals driving Inner Sydney Voice forward.

Our team is a diverse blend of local residents and representatives from community organisations within our local government areas. Comprised of seven esteemed board members and seven talented staff members, each person brings a unique perspective and skillset to our mission. Together, we’re committed to provide benevolent relief and deliver better social outcomes for people, families and communities. Explore our team members below and discover the collective expertise behind our organisation’s success.

Board

Staff

At the Annual General Meeting, the Board is elected from the Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development Inc. membership. The Board members are dedicated local residents and representatives from community organisations based within the local government areas that we serve.

Current Board Members

John Mikelsons

Chairperson

John Mikelsons has significant experience in the community sector and government, having worked for the past two decades in a range of community organisations and government agencies in NSW and QLD. John’s policy, service delivery and advocacy experience is focused on several issues including community services policy, health and health promotion, poverty and youth justice. John also has a PhD in social policy from the University of Queensland and is a Waterloo local.

Allison Lenard

Deputy Chairperson

Allison Lenard has been a proud resident of the Inner West for 27 years and is a workplace relations professional with over a decade of experience in human resource management, industrial relations, and employment law. She has provided in-house legal advice, advocacy, and strategic guidance across private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

Her work spans industries including hospitality, government services, property, disability support, mining, and construction. She has collaborated closely with governmental bodies, including the NSW Ombudsman, in her role as a Professional Conduct Officer at the Department of Family & Community Services.

Admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW in 2011, Allison also holds an MBA and is a qualified mediator. Deeply committed to supporting her community, she volunteers at Inner Sydney Community Legal Centres, offering employment law advice to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all. Allison is also a strong proponent of lifelong learning and promotes adult education through her involvement with Workers’ Educational Association Sydney.

Ha Bui

Co-chair, Communication and Campaigns Committee

A Waterloo local with a passion for social justice and sustainability, Ha brings a community-focused approach to her work in strategic communications. A Waterloo local with a passion for social justice and sustainability, Ha brings a community-focused approach to her work in strategic communications. With over 10 years of experience in brand building, stakeholder engagement, and change management within complex organisations, she creates solutions that are tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of organisations and communities. Proudly passionate about driving the ESG agenda, Ha is currently leading marketing and communications at Reliable, Affordable, Clean Energy for 2030 (RACE for 2030) a cooperative research centre dedicated to building a clean energy future for all Australians.

Alison Turner

Member Campaigns and Comms Committee

Alison is a journalist, feminist and unionist, with an innate passion for social justice. She has been a proud resident of the Inner West for more than 20 years, and joins the ISV board after previously volunteering for the Inner Sydney Voice publication. With 25 years of experience as a journalist, sub-editor and editor across print and digital media, Alison brings a wealth of publishing expertise to the table. As a board member, she aims to use these skills to sharpen ISV’s messaging and strengthen its communication strategies.

Julie Doherty

Secretary

Julie is a career and education specialist with over 20 years of experience in career education, learning and teaching, and student engagement. She has management experience gained from leading a team of career development consultants to deliver faculty-based career sessions, centrally organised workshops, and one-on-one consultations. Julie is passionate about improving employment outcomes, particularly for women.

Samuel Beattie

Board Member

Samuel Beattie brings a wealth of experience in enterprise risk management and disaster preparedness to Malaria Consortium, where he will focus on enhancing our capacity to take measured risks and promoting a shared understanding of our Risk Management Framework. With a background rooted in emergency services and disaster response, Sam’s career began in Australia, where he provided operational support during disasters and led disaster preparedness and community resilience building efforts.

His expertise further expanded during his tenure with the Australian government, where he played a pivotal role in building community resilience and preparedness. Notably, Sam developed a state-wide risk assessment framework and coordinated responses to major crises, including the 2020 Australian Bushfires.
After relocating to Geneva, Sam joined the Risk Department at the Global Fund, where he updated the organisations risk management framework to ensure its effectiveness during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. His passion for fostering a positive risk culture within the global health sector aligns with his commitment to ensuring that organisations can responsibly and sustainably reach marginalised communities and improve access to health services.

Sam holds a Master of International Security from the University of Sydney and an International Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management. He also has a Bachelor of Biological Sciences. Outside of work, Sam enjoys hiking in the summer and snowboarding in the winter, making the most of his time in Geneva.

At present, Inner Sydney Voice has seven staff members. Each of them can be contacted directly — either by phone or via email. Details below.