What makes the Centre so successful is that it is managed and staffed by people who are passionate in their support for the Riverwood and surrounding community. Our Board is drawn from and elected by local people to serve the local community. Our staff are carefully selected to ensure we respond to the issues confronting our community. Our volunteers allow us to extend services to hundreds of people in our community.
Board Members
Pauline Gallagher OAM
Chairperson and Board Member since 2016
Pauline is a former of the Riverwood Community Centre (RCC). With more than 36 years of dedicated service at Riverwood Community.
Pauline has provided courageous and creative leadership to the Riverwood Community Centre and local communities for over 40 years. Under her leadership the Centre has grown from a small house with three part-time staff to 94 workers and 160 volunteers.
Pauline is a local icon and her work has been considered integral to the positive changes in the local community. In 1999, Pauline was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her outstanding Service to the Riverwood Community Centre, in 2016 she has been named the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year.
Karl Saleh OAM
Vice Chairperson and Board Member since Mar 2024
Karl has more than 25 years of extensive governance experience and expertise at the board level of not-for-profit organisations and local governments.
He holds a Diploma of Governance from the Institute of Community Directors and completed a Risk Management & Corporate Governance course qualification from the University of Sydney, and he is studying Diploma of leadership and management with TAFE NSW.
He was elected as a Canterbury Bankstown City Councillor for 4 terms in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2021. He also served as Deputy Mayor for three terms in 2008, 2012, and 2015.
In 2019, Karl was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his outstanding Service to the community of Canterbury Bankstown.
He founded the Canterbury Bankstown Harmony Group (Harmony Care INC) in 2005, which includes more than 15 local cultural diversity groups. Additionally, he founded the “Lakemba Ramadan Night Festival” in 2009, an event that now attracts more than a million visitors to the City of Canterbury Bankstown.
Tony Moubarak
Board Member since 2022
Tony Moubarak Director at the RCC who lives and works in the community and has been involved with the RCC for approximately 15 years.
As his family has always served and volunteered in the community he had continued their roll at the RCC serving as a volunteer.
Tony has also became a Board Member getting more involved at the centre who still till this day is teaching the Martial Arts.
Tony along with his brother Joseph has worked in the tow truck industry, a family business, for many years. They have seen so much on the road and have supported many causes for road safety.
Tony Moubarak also a Mercantile and Private Inquiry Agent involved in Debt Recovery and Investigation giving many a voice who have been taken advantage of.
Kevin Mooney
Board Member Since 2020
Kevin is a Local resident committed to his community and Human Resources Professional with a large amount of experience working in the Government and NFP Sector.
Zorka Petrovska
Board Member since 2018
Zorka is a long-term resident of Riverwood and a Community Volunteer at Riverwood Community Centre. and is a key participant in many Community and Social groups.
She has won many accolades and awards for her active contribution and service to the local Community, most notably, Citizen of the year 2009 and Ambassador for Harmony Group in 2018.
Bhadra Waiba
Board Member since 2021
Bhadra holds Bachelor of Nursing from Flinders University of South Australia, she worked in the Australian aged care sector for more than 10 years.
She is a elected Councilor of City of Canterbury Bankstown since 2021, representing Roselands Ward. She was awarded the NSW local Woman of the Year for 2019 for her services to the local community.
Management Team
Ram Nishant Alajangi
Finance and Corporate Services Manager
Ram joined our team in August 2022. He is a passionate career Finance professional priding an achievement-based career of more than 16 years in Accounting, Auditing and Planning and Analysis.
With natural ability for numbers, in-depth proficiency in all facets of finance, analytics, business, and management and providing comprehensive financial analysis and reporting, Ram brings in a wealth of knowledge and experience of having worked in both commercial and not-for-profit organisations across sectors ranging from Construction, Infrastructure and Oil and Gas.
He loves spending spare time with his two kids helping them to pursue their interests in mechanics and aviation.
Phone: 9533 0143
Rosaly (Tina) Warner
Manager of Children’s Services
Tina brings in enormous knowledge and experience if having worked in Council and large Childcare organisations.
Her key focus is the development of high quality, sustainable services for children and families. In the past three years, she had been successful in winning and attracting eight new contracts to provide OSHC childcare on school sites. Her areas of expertise include children’s education and care services, recreational programs and activities, managing for financial sustainability and quality, maintaining and upgrading facilities and outdoor play spaces, community development, events, grants and tenders and leadership development.
Phone: 9533 0136
Jessica Laker
Aged Care & Disability Services Manager
Jessica joined the Riverwood Community Centre team in May 2023.
She is passionate about the care provided for aged and vulnerable people.
Jessica has years of experience within diverse healthcare service delivery of Aged Care, NDIS services and management of Allied Health practitioners.
Her enthusiasm, empathy and acquired knowledge make her a valuable asset to the RCC team!
Salma Taleb
Manager Community, Youth and Family Support
Salma began working as a Counsellor and NDIS Support Coordinator at Riverwood Community Centre in April 2021. Salma has a Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences in Counselling.
Salma currently holds the role of the TEI (Targeted Early Intervention) Manager at Riverwood Community Centre. Her responsibilities include managing a number of services including community development, youth, counselling, and family support.
Salma carefully evaluates and maintains her professional limits in terms of integrity, respect, diligence, and confidentiality. Salma is a firm believer in the concept of Duty-of-Care and always supports the well-being and safety of others. She works with compassion and empathy, providing exceptional support when necessary. Salma is also self-sufficient and prioritises her time efficiently in order to meet the needs of her role.
Salma is proficient in Arabic and uses her skills to assist clients who have a language barrier. Salma welcomes clients in need of assistance to the centre.
Phone: 9533 0126
