Meet
the board

With over 20 years’ experience in engagement, strategy and transformation across a number of sectors, Michele brings a wealth of experience in Public Health, Emergency, Human Services, Local and State Government, and Executive leadership.

Michele has an academic background in Health Promotion, Public Health and Business Administration and is passionate about engagement and reaching new segments to create and deliver better outcomes.

Pino is the founder and Managing Director of Cultural Perspectives in 1994: sector leader in consulting to, researching and engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia.

Pino is distinguished in his pioneering work around multicultural and multilingual communications and engagement, applying communications and engagement theory and strategies to the fast growing and diversifying CALD segment in Australia, and keen to explore a more culturally inclusive Engagement Institute.

Pino has significant governance experience across private and community structures spanning 40 years. He is a Fellow of the Communications and Public Relations Australia (CPRA), a Qualified Practicing Market Research (QPMR) and GAICD.

Kia ora, I’m a young, passionate engagement professional living in Ōtautahi Christchurch. I thrive in navigating complex decision-making and connecting with a diverse range of people.

I’ve gained skills in committee leadership, public participation, and financial stewardship through my work in local government and not-for-profit governance. I bring a unique ‘outside of the box’ perspective to problems, with lived experience having a disability and as part of the queer community. I prioritise inclusivity, reputation management, and productivity (getting stuff done!).

I’ll bring a fresh, innovative, and collaborative perspective to the Board – working to strengthen our profession and support our members.

Bsc (Hons), MA (Comms), FAICD 

In a range of executive positions, throughout his career Tony has led major health, mental health, education, housing and disability infrastructure projects for the Victorian Government during COVID. Tony has also led major change and transformation programs in the disability sector following the introduction of the NDIS. Tony brings over 30 years of governance experience to the table.

As Chair of Engagement Institute working internationally to re-shape engagement globally, Tony is passionate about good engagement equals good outcomes. Tony is on a number of boards including The State Trustees of Victoria, a Councillor for Hepburn Shire Council and an accredited trainer for the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Awarded the Kimberley Kitching Award for Human Rights by the Prime Minister in 2023, Tony harnesses his disability as a great strength and demonstrates that disability does not equate to inability, bringing the great value of lived experience to the workplace and board room.

Helen is a senior engagement leader with over 15 years’ experience across local and central government. She specialises in social impact, social risk, partnerships, and inclusive engagement that reflects Aotearoa’s diverse communities.

As Principal Communication and Engagement at Auckland Transport, she leads strategy for major city centre infrastructure projects. Her background spans housing, urban development, social impact, and organisational change.

Of Pasifika and Scottish heritage, Helen holds academic qualifications in Sociology, Spanish, and Sustainable Development. A collaborative and values driven leader, Helen is neurodiverse, a mother of two, and an active member of the Engagement Institute’s Auckland network, supporting the evolution of engagement practice locally and globally.

Mel Hagedorn is a Client Executive at Capire Consulting Group, Australia’s largest specialist engagement consultancy. With nearly 20 years’ experience across government, non-profit and private sectors, Mel brings deep expertise in community engagement, communications, and service design.

She has led digital transformation initiatives across Australia and globally, helping organisations enhance how they connect with communities. Her career highlights include introducing Queensland’s first braille ballot paper, enabling vision-impaired voters to cast a secret ballot, and supporting the sickest kids in Queensland through philanthropic work. Mel is passionate about creating positive, lasting outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

A proud advocate for First Nations engagement, truth-telling and inclusive practice, Mel was a finalist for the Women in Digital Indigenous Leadership Award. She thrives on learning from community experiences and developing strategies that create real change.

Mel is a proud Jarwon woman who is reconnecting with her culture and history. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, learning traditional ways, and walking her dog, Charlotte.

Having worked within cultural, not-for-profit and public sectors in roles including marketing, communications, engagement and public education, Danielle is a strategic leader motivated to work with organisations which provide benefits to our communities.

Danielle currently works with Watercare which provides drinking water and wastewater services to the people of Auckland. Her team supports community and stakeholder engagement on the delivery of these services including major infrastructure projects as well as communications and outreach. Danielle also established and led Watercare’s flood recovery engagement team after the significant weather events in January and February 2023.

In addition to qualifications in both business and communications, Danielle has an MBA from the Auckland University of Technology with a major in marketing.

Danielle is also a board member of not-for-profit organisation InsideOUT Kōaro.

I am an experienced engagement professional who has held senior management and executive leadership roles on some of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects. I have worked with consultancies; with Tier 1 contractors; in State Government; and with my own business as a founder.

In my time to date on the Board of Engagement Institute I am proud to have contributed to the increased competence and effectiveness of the Board during a period of significant growth and progress for the organisation.

In addition, I hold an MBA from Melbourne Business School, and a Foundation Certificate from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Alistair is Executive General Manager – Insights, Communications and Creative at RPS, a leading global professional services firm. There he heads the data analytics, communications and engagement, creative services and social advisory teams which support city-shaping projects around Australia. Starting his 23-year career in television journalism and corporate communications, Alistair’s been an engagement practitioner since 2007. Since then, he’s led engagement activities on major water, energy and transport infrastructure projects in New South Wales and Victoria.

During this time, he’s seen the benefits of, and become a passionate advocate for, meaningful engagement during the planning, design and delivery phases of the essential infrastructure projects and programs that support and enable our cities and communities. As a Director at Engagement Institute, Alistair looks forward to supporting the continued evolution, professionalisation and regard of engagement and its practitioners.

A resident of the Sunshine Coast, Alistair enjoys good food and wine, supports the Richmond Tigers and has a weakness for 80s and 90s pop music.

Based in Ōtaki, New Zealand Sarah is a principal at Aurecon, leading Engagement and Change Advisory for Aotearoa. Her team helps clients and communities solve some of NZ’s most complex infrastructure problems.

Sarah’s 30-year career began in the arts, analysing and communicating complex ideas for diverse people doing ambitious things on tiny budgets! A good foundation for her eminence in navigating complex infrastructure development and management, supporting government and communities through change to find their common ground.

Through promoting Engagement Institute training and principles, Sarah has delivered great outcomes and unlocked opportunities for communities, decision-makers, technical experts, and engagement practitioners alike.