Mr Terry Campbell AO
Terry Campbell was appointed to the AbaF Board in 2004 and accepted the role of AbaF Chairman in 2007. Terry was an inaugural AbaF Councillor and the chairman of the Victorian Chapter from July 2003 to August 2009. Terry was awarded an AO in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours for service to the business and the financial services sector and as a supporter of corporate social responsibility through contributions to community and charitable organisations.
Terry is the Senior Chairman at Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs is a strong advocate for business participation in the arts, with notable partnerships with Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC), National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Opera Australia and Sydney Theatre Company (STC).
Goldman Sachs was one of the first companies to participate in AbaF’s adviceBank and partners with AbaF to present the annual Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Leadership Award. The firm has an extensive corporate volunteering program and regularly includes the arts in their projects.
Mr Stephen Found
Stephen Found was appointed to the AbaF Board in 2010. Stephen has been a member of the AbaF Council since 2003. Stephen's career spans 30 years in the entertainment and hi-tech service industries, and he is renowned for his innovative approach to both technical and commercial challenges.
As the founding shareholder and Managing Director of Bytecraft Entertainment (now part of Production Resource Group of which Stephen is Chairman), the organisation has developed into an international player, credits including work with the Sydney Olympic Games, World Youth Day, 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
Stephen is also the founder and a Director of Bytecraft Systems Pty Ltd, now a Tatts Group ASX listed subsidiary company. Bytecraft Systems is Australia’s leading electronic repairer of high security, transactional equipment.
Stephen is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), sits on the Rally Australia board representing Events NSW, is a member of the Retail Advisory Panel for the city of Sydney, and has strong, extensive and high level ties into corporate Australia.
Mr John Irving
John Irving was appointed to the AbaF Board in 2011. John has been an active AbaF Councillor since 2005 and the chair of AbaF’s SA Chapter since 2009.
After 28 years as a specialist insolvency practitioner, John works as an independent consultant specialising in business improvement, risk management and executive development. John has undertaken a number of adviceBank assignments through AbaF providing business and strategic planning advice to Adelaide Baroque, Craft South, SALA (the South Australian Living Artists Festival) and others.
John is Chair of the State Theatre Company of South Australia and a Board member of The Big Book Club and Martindale Holdings.
John describes himself as having no artistic talent whatsoever, but he gets great energy and satisfaction from his interaction with the arts and the people who make it work.
Ms Patria Jaffries
Patria Jafferies was appointed to the AbaF Board in 2010. Formerly Executive Director at His Majesty's Theatre Foundation, she sits on the Advisory Committee for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, is a Board Member of Hope for Children Australia and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Curtin University.
Patria is a former Chair of the Small Business Development Corporation and was awarded the Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 2000. She was instrumental in the development of the Matilda Bay Brewing Company and Dome Coffee Australia. Patria has also been involved in the Australian Reserve Bank's Small Business Finance Advisory Panel, Arts WA's Capital Venture Board and the Youth Focus Foundation. In 2005, Patria was selected for the Stanford Graduate School of Business Summer Program in Social Innovation to build her capabilities as a global business leader.
Mr Ross Nielson
Ross Nielson was appointed to the AbaF Board in 2003. Ross has been an AbaF Councillor since 2001 and the chair of AbaF’s Queensland Chapter since 2006. Ross provides ongoing pro bono support through office accommodation and resources for AbaF Queensland as well as regularly hosting events for AbaF in Queensland.
Ross has regularly provided strategic advice, assistance and introductions for the Queensland Chapter, and takes part in local AbaF events and activities. In 2010 Ross was awarded Channel 7 Business Person of the Year. Through his long personal association with a number of Queensland arts groups, Ross has been an active advocate to business and state government stakeholders for business support for the arts.
Ms Naseema Sparks
Naseema Sparks was appointed to the AbaF Board in 2011. Naseema’s executive career was as Managing Director of M&C Saatchi, one of the world’s leading branding and advertising businesses. Her clients included major advertisers such as Woolworths, Qantas, ANZ Banking Group as well as a number of not-for-profit organisations.
Naseema graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy followed by a Master of Pharmacology. She also holds Postgraduate Market Research & Planning qualification and an MBA from Melbourne Business School.
Naseema is a director of Blackmores Ltd, PMP Ltd and Chartis Insurance Australia. She also sits on the boards of Sydney Dance Company and Osteoporosis Australia. Naseema is immediate past president of Chief Executive Women.