Executive Committee
Direction, guidance and growth of the spiritual soul
Governance
The day-to-day Governance of the ANSD lies with the Executive Committee which comprises three Office Holders (for three-year terms) and not less than five Ordinary Members (for one-year terms) representing the Regions in which ANSD conducts its affairs – basically, the states of Australia – plus a member from the Coolamon journal team.
The three Office-Holder positions are:
President
Administrative Secretary
Treasurer
The Executive Committee currently has 7 Ordinary Members, representing the ACT, Brisbane/Qld, Sydney/NSW, SA/NT, Tasmania, Victoria and WA. These members are nominated by members of the regions they represent.
ANSD Committee
Link through for more information about each committe member, plus their email address.
Cathie lives on Wardandi land in the town of Margaret River, Western Australia. Shecompleted her PhD in 2022, exploring how contemporary women on the edge of the church respond to the lives and writings of the beguine mystics from the thirteenth century.
Denise has worked in office administration, and pastoral ministry (Baptist Church) until retiring in 2021. She lives in the Huon Valley in southern Tasmania where she and her husband Mark are growing a community of faith centred round their Long Table, food, hospitality and contemplative practice.
Anne is a spiritual director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and a registered nurse. She’s spent five years in full-time ministry and brings a wealth of leadership experience from both church and business settings.
Iain was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1994 and spent 20 years as a chaplain and teacher (humanities). He is at present working at the Jesuit retreat centre in rural South Australia (Sevenhill). He has had the blessing of visiting many parts of the world. His hobbies include gardening, bushwalking and cycling.
Heather lives on Coochiemudlo Island which is on Quandamooka Country. She believes strongly in the ties between environmental and social justice and reads and acts widely to promote that justice.
Annie has lived in the Goulburn-South Coast-Canberra region since 1996, finding home in Canberra on the sacred land of the Ngunawal and Ngambri people. Annie has participated in spiritual direction conversations since 1999 and graduated in 2022 from the Listen into Life spiritual direction formation program offered by Barnabas Ministries.
Denise has worked in office administration, and pastoral ministry (Baptist Church) until retiring in 2021. She lives in the Huon Valley in southern Tasmania where she and her husband Mark are growing a community of faith centred round their Long Table, food, hospitality and contemplative practice.
Jenelle lives on Wadjuk land in the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. Having a previous background of study in cultural heritage and politics, Jenelle’s more recent research for her Masters of Spiritual Direction focuses on beauty as a decreative force, unravelling illusions of self.
Josie has strong and deep connections to the local Victorian membership, and like John Stewart, Josie is happy to call them “my mob.” This affection has led her to accept the role of convenor for the region.
Anne had trained as a prayer companion, with Sr Margaret Walsh, a Presentation Sister, in the diocese of Wagga Wagga, where she participated in programs notably Weeks of Guided Prayer, based on praying with scripture. Also, in running weekend retreats and prayer days.
Christine enjoys reading and writing (especially poetry) and the collaborative work of the Coolamon journal.