Our Team traditionally know as ‘The Board of Governors’
Chairman of the Board - CJ Manjarres-Wahlberg
CRMgr, COHSProf, FLinstLM, FICPEM, FCLP, AFIAMCS, MRSN, SGFAS
CJ Manjarres-Wahlberg was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1978. Growing up with a strong family history of military service, he entered the Royal Australian Navy in 1996. He served a combined 11 years of active and reserve service in the Navy aboard three major fleet units deploying throughout the Asia-Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans. He served operationally on two humanitarian peacekeeping operations, in the Southern Ocean Exclusive Economic Zone and underway aboard U.S. Navy and Royal Navy fleet units. His final two years of service were in a joint military environment with the Australian Army.
He is a chartered risk professional, fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management and a Social Impact Fellow. He was appointed an International Leadership Fellow of the College of St George at Windsor Castle in February 2022.
Board Director - Paul Pokorny
TMIEAust, MAIP, MIEEE, MMSA
Paul Pokorny has been associated with the MV Cape Don Society Inc. since commencing as a volunteer Electrician in 2011. Over the past few years Paul has also taken on the office bearer role as Secretary and for a time, Acting President.
Professionally, Paul is Director and Engineering Manager of the NATA-accredited electrical testing laboratory company, Power System Support Pty Ltd since 2013, having spent the previous 15 years with the CSIRO/National Measurement Institute’s High Voltage Laboratory and the previous 20 years in a variety of technical and engineering positions in the electrical, electronic, scientific instrumentation and industrial production areas.
Board Director - Rick Hamilton JP
Richard (Rick) Hamilton has dedicated his life to the service of others. He was an operational Paramedic with the New South Wales Ambulance Service for 42 years before retiring as a Chief Superintendent.
Rick was instrumental in the development of the NSW Ambulance Service Rescue Paramedic traniing program, co-authoring the NSW Emergency Services Rescue Manual (1st Edition). He spearheaded the “Trauma Ted” knitted teddy bears program which provided comfort to children in distress which were also part of a relief package sent by NSW Ambulance Service to New York after the September 11th terroist attacks on the world trade centre and to patients involved in the Bali bombings.
Board Director - Richard Stevens MBA
Richard is currently a director of a risk firm providing global service lines and support. He directly manages risk and client services and holds an MBA from York Business School. He has global market expertise and has been managing and providing corporate risk advisory, analytic and audit services in addition to training, education and technology platforms within the health, hospitality, facilities, transport & commercial sectors for over twenty years.
Board Director - Brandon Cliff
Brandon has over 20 years experience working across Finance and HR Functions for Global and Australian organisations in the Listed and Public Sectors and has significant experience in Utilities, Medical, Rail and Logistics and Financial Services where he has been a key leader in Organisational and Finance Transformation programs. Brandon has deep experience in leading operations, outsourcing, implementing appropriate systems for financial management and reporting, assisting management with budgeting and cost control.