Our team
Tess Deegan
Board member
Tess Deegan is a lawyer who focuses on social justice, rights-based advocacy and community legal support. She currently works as a senior solicitor at a community legal centre in Sydney. Tess has particular expertise in employment and discrimination law as well as law reform and human rights advocacy in Australia and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Laws from the Australian National University and a Master’s degree from Duke University School of Law.
Jude Finch
Board member
Jude has over two decades of experience in community development and women’s empowerment in Timor-Leste and Australia. She co-founded Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters in 2005, raising nearly $1.5 million to support women’s education, health, and leadership. Jude has worked closely with the Alola Foundation and local partner groups on maternal health, employment, and human rights initiatives, and she regularly volunteers in Timor-Leste, offering grassroots support and mentoring. Her recent work includes helping establish a new library and a preschool, and connecting with groups advancing LGBTQI rights and disability inclusion. She also continues to meet with scholarship students and women’s groups, deepening the relationships at the heart of her work. A recipient of the 2017 Edna Ryan Award, Jude is known for her sustained commitment and thoughtful, community-led approach.
Mark Panayiotis Notaras
Board member
Mark has over 22 years’ experience in international development and social innovation across the Asia-Pacific region and 13 years in executive leadership roles. As Strategic Advisor and Facilitator for Rotary International and Advisor to the University of New South Wales, Mark supports global peacebuilding and humanitarian leadership initiatives. He is also a Rotary Positive Peace Activator for the Oceania region with the Rotary Institute for Economics and Peace. Mark is a trusted advisor to international NGOs, having worked extensively with Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and ChildFund in Timor-Leste. He played a leading role in developing Timor-Leste’s first generation of tourism and hospitality social entrepreneurs through the Timor-Leste Food Lab and Agora Food Studio. He has pioneered approaches to activating traditional and indigenous cuisine in emerging destinations, including through the Timor-Leste Food Innovators Exchange. Mark is a Rotary Peace Fellow and a 2024 Asialink Leaders Program alumnus.
Keya Saha-Chaudhury
Board member
Keya (she/her) is the lead researcher for Evidence, Knowledge and Good Practice at Parntneship for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE). Prior to this, she spent over 17 years working in the international development and humanitarian sectors, primarily in the Asia Pacific region for multi-stakeholder networks, the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, and reproductive health agencies. Her diverse roles have focused on amplifying NGO voices, brokering relations between key community and policy actors, emergency preparedness and response, and public health. Keya has supported programs and responses across a range of countries, including Myanmar, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pacific islands, Mozambique and Bangladesh. She holds a Bachelors in Arts/Law (Hons) and a Masters in International Public Health.
Jennifer Vallentine
Board member
Jennifer has over two decades of experience working on social justice issues with NGOs of all sizes across Asia and the Pacific, East Africa, Europe, and the MENA regions. Her work has focused particularly on migrant and refugee rights, and supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. She brings expertise in organisational and program management, design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), research, policy engagement, and community development. Jennifer has worked in close partnership with philanthropic foundations, UN agencies, governments, and civil society organisations to advance rights-based and community-led approaches. She is passionate about supporting communities to lead the solutions to the challenges they face. Jennifer holds qualifications in International Studies, Human Rights, Evaluation, and Community Sector Management.
Marat Yu
Board member
Marat brings two decades of experience across the philanthropic, non-profit, and private sectors, with a focus on migrant and labour rights, gender equity, youth empowerment, and public health throughout Asia. Marat is currently the Regional Programme Director for East and Southeast Asia at EMpower, the Emerging Markets Foundation, which facilitates transformation in emerging market countries by funding local organisations that serve and support marginalised young people. Marat believes in the power of community and the leadership of people with lived experiences. He holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Jemma Hollonds
Chief Executive Officer
Jemma is a not-for-profit leader with over 20 years’ experience across frontline services, international development, and philanthropy. She is passionate about shifting power and resources to where they’re needed most, and supporting community-led change through trust-based, equitable approaches.
Jemma began her career providing legal support to refugees and people seeking asylum, before moving into senior management roles focused on developing innovative outreach, education, and legal services. As a consultant, she has partnered with NGOs, funders, and grassroots organisations around the world to develop strategy, learn and improve, and centre lived experience in decision-making. Jemma is a trusted learning partner to philanthropic organisations and has supported global initiatives to build evidence, strategy, and systems for long-term social change. She holds an MBA (Social Impact), a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Hons), and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.