Our People
Board of Directors
Chris Brown OAM
Chris and his family have been involved with Windgap for 50 years, with his brother in Windgap’s services. Chris Brown is also a director of a public listed company and is a commercial lawyer and senior partner in the Sydney law firm Brown Wright Stein, which has provided pro bono legal assistance to Windgap for over 30 years. He holds a University of Sydney Master of Law degree and was awarded OAM in 2013 on the Queen’s birthday list for service to the community, particularly people with a disability. Chris became a Director of the board in 1987, commencing as Chairman in 1997.
Heather Brown OAM
Heather is a founding board member of Windgap Foundation Limited since 15 September 1990 and is the Board Secretary and member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. Heather has also served on the board of the now defunct Eastern Suburbs/South Sydney Branch of Challenge Foundation from 1980. Heather also has a professional background as an executive assistant, is a Justice of the Peace and received the Rotary International Community Services Award in 1999. Heather was awarded OAM in 2013 on the Queen’s birthday list for service to the community, particularly people with a disability. Heather has a brother who is a member of Windgap’s Life After Work program.
Andrew Simpson
Andrew has been a member of the Windgap Board since December 2013, and is a member of both the Audit and Risk and Investment Committees. Andrew is a Partner and Chartered Accountant at Gunderson Briggs Chartered Accountants and has supported and been involved in assisting Windgap for many years.
Byron Fitzgerald
Byron joined Windgap with almost 50 years’ in the Construction Industry in both Building and Civil Engineering and has extensive project management experience on major construction projects. Byron has a Bachelor of Building and is currently lecturing at UNSW in the Faculty of the Built Environment. Passionate about serving the community and with a 25-year service medal through Surf Life Saving has been a past Director of Education and Junior activities at Clovelly SLSC.
Madelaine Inglis
Madelaine joined the Windgap Board in December 2019. Madelaine is a commercial lawyer and a partner in the Sydney law firm Brown Wright Stein. She is particularly passionate about Elder Law assisting the older members of the community and their families with legal issues unique to the elderly. She has supported Windgap for many years.
Kathryn Santifort
Kathryn joined Windgap in December of 2019. She has a background as a registered nurse, working within Sydney’s east. She has a bachelors degree in nursing from Notre Dame with post graduate qualifications in anaesthetics, and regularly teaches upcoming and new nurses within the clinical environment. She has a special focus in quality and improvement projects, and a focused eye for ensuring national accreditation standards are evident in practice.
Leadership Team
Andrew Anderson
Andrew commenced at Windgap as CEO in July 2021. Over the past 20 years he has successfully held senior leadership positions in not-for-profit and commercial organisations across social services, health, financial and industrial sectors. This experience encompasses multi-discipline roles including operations, sales and marketing, corporate services and finance.
Having been in the not-for-profit sector during the past ten years, Andrew has a genuine passion and empathy for this sector and the community that it serves. Accordingly he is committed to delivering on the mission of Windgap and execution of a strategic vision and culture, to continue to provide relevant, agile and sustainable services within the intellectual disabilities sector for the future.
Andrew holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Australian Graduate School of Management and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Joanne D’Arcy
Joanne has been at Windgap since 1993, starting as a community support worker. Joanne has held various positions across the organisation and has a background in Education, Certificate IV in Disability Support, Certificate IV in Leadership and Management and a Diploma in Community Services Management.
Mark O'Neil
Mark joined Windgap in October 2021 and holds a Bachelor of Business, Master of Taxation as well as being a qualified CPA and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mark has over 20 years professional experience in financial management, including 15 years in senior leadership roles and the last six years spent with not-for-profit organisations. He is highly experienced, tertiary qualified and brings a wealth of operational experience with a consistent record of delivering outstanding results and achievements.
Jo Nevin
Jo has over 7 years experience in marketing, sponsorship and development in the not for profit sector. She is currently completing her MBA at CQ University, to complement her previous business and education qualifications. Jo is passionate about people, leadership, culture and about encouraging inclusive initiatives to support Windgap’s mission. She joined the leadership team at Windgap in September 2022.
Erika Hewitt
Erika joined Windgap with over 10 years experience in the not for profit sector across human resources, operations, and quality management roles. Most recently for the peak body for the community managed mental health sector in NSW. Erika joined Windgap in October 2021 and holds Advanced Diploma Business Management (HR), and a Diploma Human Resource Management.
Patron & Ambassadors
Paul Graham
Paul Graham, Patron, life member, former Chairman and Director of Windgap was appointed as an Ambassador in 2015.
Paul was Chairman of the Windgap Board from 1986 to 1987 and was reappointed as Director in June 2007. He served as a Director and acted in an advisory capacity relating to Windgap properties and has been involved with the foundation for over 30 years. Paul worked in the event logistics industry for over 25 years which included working on four Olympic Games. He is a British war veteran with over 15 years of service in the Royal Navy and he was appointed as the President of the Royal Naval Association (NSW). Paul was previously the president of Mascot RSL Sub – Branch Club and served as a Deputy Mayor of Botany Council and was awarded Bayside’s inaugural Australian of the Year in 2017.
Paul continues to support Windgap in a great capacity by engaging with the community to bring awareness and with his involvement in initiatives, events and celebrations such as: Windgap Warriors Soccer Team, St Patrick’s Day and Remembrance Day.
“I have great belief of ensuring that clients and supported employees of Windgap have a great chance of succeeding in life” – Paul Graham
Matt King
Matt King is a former professional rugby league footballer for National Rugby League (NRL) team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and is former New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative. Matt King joined Windgap Foundation as an ambassador in the beginning of 2014.
Matt King has been a respected member of the Rugby League world and now of Windgap Foundation and we believe he is a great asset in raising awareness and spreading our mission to the community at large.
“Windgap is a great organisation that makes a difference to the lives of so many people. I’m always inspired by the achievements of the guys” Matt King