Organisation ready for upcoming challenges
Australian Marriage Equality has strengthened its board with the appointment of several new experienced and highly-regarded board members.
The move comes as the campaign for marriage equality heats up again ahead of a likely free vote on the issue later this year.
The Director of OutcomeAustralia and Sharelife, Janine Middleton, has become the co-chair of the organisation together with existing co-chair, Alex Greenwich MP. Former Mardi Gras treasurer, Phil Kershaw, has joined AME as treasurer, and Pauline Harbaugh has joined as company secretary.
National Director of AME, Rodney Croome, said
“I welcome Janine, Pauline and Phil to the AME team.”
“They bring immensely valuable skills and experience to AME that will benefit not only the organisation but the entire marriage equaltiy movement.”
“Organisationally, AME is stronger than ever, and ready for the challenge of achieving a government free vote and getting marriage equality through.”
Janine Middleton has recently returned to Australia after two decades overseas in the financial services industry. She has enjoyed all the benefits of marriage with her husband Shane for the past 18 years and passionately believes in marriage equality.
Pauline Harbaugh has worked as a lawyer across federal, state and local governments. She has conducted post-graduate research into notions of marriage equality overseas and married her wife Christy in Washington DC in 2011.
Phil Kershaw is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in senior positions in the business and not-for-profit sectors. As a Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board Associate Phil was responsible for obtaining Donor Gift Recipient status for Mardi Gras Arts.
Further biographical details, and photos of Janine, Pauline and Phil, are included below.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 22 April 2015
Janine Middleton: Co-Chair
Janine joined Australian Marriage Equality in January 2015 and brings with her a broad range of skills. She feels passionately that marriage equality is a human rights issue and must be achieved in Australia as soon as possible. Janine has enjoyed all the benefits of marriage, with her husband Shane, for the past 18 years and wants to be part of the team raising the profile of marriage equality throughout the community.
Janine has spent the majority of the last 20 years in Europe, she has in excess of 25 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry, working in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Janine spent 13 years with J.P.Morgan in London, working in Debt Capital Markets, covering both high grade and high yield transactions, in a range of industries across Europe and the Middle East. Janine has extensive management experience and held the title of Managing Director for her last five years with J.P.Morgan. She spent four years as a founding partner of an Australian private equity firm, Tasman Capital Partners and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Since returning to Australia in 2012, Janine has become heavily involved in the non for profit sector and is a Director of Outcomes Australia and ShareLife. Outcomes Australia is a corporate panel of senior professionals that work, pro bono, to bring global leading practices to the community. Through its subsidiary, ShareLife, Janine is part of a team dedicated to ensuring Australia’s organ donation for transplantation rate is comparable or better than the global leaders.
Pauline Harbaugh: Company secretary
Pauline has joined Australian Marriage Equality to undertake the role of Company Secretary. She is a lawyer who has worked across Federal, State and local government for the past 15 years. Pauline has substantial legal experience in the investigations, complaint resolution and regulatory compliance arenas and currently provides legal advice to key bodies within Victoria’s integrity regime. In addition, Pauline has recently commenced providing a range of timely and accurate legal services to a boutique selection of clientele as the principal of her own legal practice.
Since 2004, Pauline has undertaken research and analysis into international notions of marriage equality and family and devoted her honours thesis to exploring this concept further. In 2011, Pauline married her wife, Christy, in Washington DC and regularly travels to the USA where, even as an ‘alien’, she enjoys the virtues of marriage equality that currently elude her in Australia. Pauline and Christy share their home in suburban Melbourne with an adopted greyhound and two cats.
Phil Kershaw: Treasurer
Phil joined Australian Marriage Equality as Treasurer because of a strong belief in the values and objectives of Australian Marriage Equality and to bring his financial, commercial and legal skills to strengthen and grow Australian Marriage Equality to the next level where the tipping point could be pushed through to achieve Marriage Equality for all Australians.
Phil is a Chartered Accountant with expertise in financial management, systems and controls, compliance, corporate governance and the commercial development of businesses and opportunities.
Phil began his career working for 11 years for Deloittes before holding senior positions, including Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director, Commercial Director and general Manager Finance and Commercial in other organisations. Phil is also an experienced company director, having served on numerous Boards including publicly listed companies, superannuation trustee companies, joint venture companies, overseas companies, body corporates and Not for Profit Companies.
Phil joined Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras as a Board Associate in February, 2010, becoming a Director in July and Treasurer in August. Phil was responsible for obtaining Donor Gift Recipient status for Mardi Gras Arts.