Our Team

Elly’s professional background ranges from serving as a forest firefighter and policy advisor at DEECA, to CEO of Global Voices, and co-founder of AusRegen Inc.

Elly is passionate about the Healesville community, having volunteered in a number of roles, and is excited to contribute to the Community Foundation.

Elly Hanrahan; Close-up of a woman with blonde, wavy hair wearing a green ribbed top and a gold necklace with a circular pendant, smiling softly.

Elly Hanrahan

Community Engagement Officer

Charlie Simson is a People & Culture executive with 20+ years’ experience across startups, government and large organisations.

A Healesville resident, she brings expertise in strategy, governance, operations, stakeholder engagement and facilitation.

Close-up of a woman with curly brown hair, wearing a beige t-shirt and a delicate gold necklace, smiling outdoors with blurred background.

Charlie Simson

CEO & Executive Director

Our Board

Charlie Simson

Executive Director & CEO

Genevieve Timmons

Director

A retired lawyer, now living and managing his family winery in the Yarra Valley. Many years of not-for-profit involvements and a corporate career stewarding significant financial resources.

Jonathan Hamer; A smiling bald man outdoors with a blurred green and yellow background, wearing a black collared shirt.

Jonathan Hamer

Chair

Leader who strengthens not-for-profits through strategy, governance, risk and operational improvement. Known for stakeholder engagement, partnerships and people leadership. Chair of The Good Life Farm.

Michael Robertson; A smiling middle-aged man with a white beard and short white hair, wearing a white polka dot shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred natural background.

Michael Robertson

Secretary

An experienced Senior Executive across Financial Services in Australia and Southeast Asia with over 25 years' experience in both For and Not for Profit Boards.

Now semi-retired and thoroughly enjoying life in the Yarra Valley.

Greg Whimp; Smiling middle-aged man with glasses, short gray hair, a beard, wearing a navy blue polo shirt, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

Greg Whimp

Treasurer

Charlie Simson is an organisational design and People & Culture executive with 15+ years’ experience across startups, government and large organisations.

A Healesville resident, she brings expertise in strategic planning, governance, stakeholder engagement and facilitation.

Close-up of a woman with curly brown hair, wearing a beige t-shirt and a delicate gold necklace, smiling outdoors with blurred background.

An academic for many years, currently working in analytics and research for the tech industry. President of the Healesville & District Historical Society, bringing digital expertise to local history.

Joanne Fuller

Director

Dr Genevieve Timmons is a leading philanthropic executive, strategist and educator whose four‑decade career, governance leadership and influential publications have shaped contemporary giving across Australia and New Zealand, strengthening communities through effective, innovative philanthropy.

Our Advisors

Christian Clark is a senior finance professional with 14 years’ experience in strategy, research and corporate development. A Healesville resident, he brings strong analytical capability, strategic insight and a commitment to community development to the Committee.

A smiling man with crossed arms, wearing a light blue dress shirt, against a plain light background.

Christian Clark

Advisor

Front view of a wine store named 'Barrique' with a large window display showing wine bottles, a wooden barrel, tables with bottles and decorations inside, and a street outside.

The Yarra Valley Community Foundation has a brief but meaningful history. As we launch this website in January 2026, it’s inspiring to reflect on how it all began. A small group of ten passionate locals met on 20 May 2025 at Barrique Wine Store to explore the idea of creating a community foundation for Healesville and its surrounding communities.

That evening, Tony D’Abbs, Nina Sturgess, Bruce Argyle, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Leigh Harry, Elaine and Stuart Truman, Sophie Moore, Ben Banfield, and Jan Cochrane-Harry discussed the potential benefits of a foundation that could support and strengthen our community for generations to come.

Early in 2025, federal legislation, championed by Community Foundations Australia and Philanthropy Australia paved the way for the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, Dr Andrew Leigh, to introduce a new form of community charity structure.

The Yarra Valley Community Foundation is proud to be among the first established under this new framework. We began with humble beginnings; a single donation of $40,000 that made it possible to employ a part-time Executive Officer and lay the groundwork for our mission.

Now, as we move forward, our focus is clear: to help make living and working in our community more rewarding, enriching, and equitable for everyone.

Our History

. Healesville. Badger Creek. Castella. Gruyere. Coldstream. Dixons Creek. Mt Toolebewong. Yarra Glen. Steels Creek. Tarrawarra. Toolangi. Chum Creek

. Healesville. Badger Creek. Castella. Gruyere. Coldstream. Dixons Creek. Mt Toolebewong. Yarra Glen. Steels Creek. Tarrawarra. Toolangi. Chum Creek

Our District

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