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
Clr Karl Saleh OAM
Board Member since 2015, Chairperson since 2017
Karl is a Councillor of City of Canterbury Bankstown, representing Roselands Ward and a former Deputy Mayor Of Canterbury City Council, founder of Canterbury Bankstown Harmony Group.Karl Graduated with a Diploma of Governance from the Institute of Community Directors Australia 2021. In 2019 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to local community.
Email: k.saleh@riverwoodcommunity.org.au
Website: www.saleh.com.au
Pauline Gallagher OAM
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.
Robert Furolo
Board Member since 2020
Robert is a former Mayor of Canterbury and former Member of Parliament for the NSW Seat of Lakemba. He is currently the founder and principal of a planning advisory and community engagement business with an interest in social and affordable housing.
Email: R.furolo@riverwoodcommunity.org.au
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.
Email: K.mooney@riverwoodcommunity.org.au
Zorka Petrovska
Board Member since 2018
Zorka is a long-term resident of Riverwood and a Community Volunteer at Riverwood Community Centre.
Lyn Lormer
Board Member since 2022
Lyn has a long history with the Riverwood Community Centre dating back to the early 1980’s when she started out as a Community Worker and Coordinator.
Since that time Lyn has taken on many senior positions and board positions in the community sector including with the Leichhardt Women’s Health Centre and Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association.
Lyn has keen interest in local community services with a focus on inclusion and community development through improved resources, networking and advocacy.
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 Councillor 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
Matthew Martin
General Manager
Matthew has over 20 years’ experience working in the for-profit and not for profit sectors in leadership roles in the disability and community services. He has a master’s in social policy, Advanced Diploma in Management, and a Graduate Diploma in Education.
His roles have included overseeing NDIS services, Employment Services, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Information Technology and Marketing and Communications. He also has hands on experience working in secondary schools, TAFE, the criminal justice system, afterschool, and vacation care and running a community garden and cafe.
Matthew commented on his new role, “I am delighted to be joining Riverwood Community Centre team as its General Manager. This unique, wonderful, and progressive Centre is very closely aligned to my own skills, experience, and passions.”
Phone: 02 9533 0100
Email Matthew.M@riverwoodcommunity.org.au.
Tara Hrdlicka
Director of Early Childhood and OSHC
Tara joined the Riverwood Community Centre team as its Director of Early Childhood and OSHC in June 2021.
Tara has a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and has worked within Children’s services for over 10 years.
Her last role was with 3Bridges as a Service Manager. Tara has also held a number of other positions including the Nominated Supervisor in OSHC, Coordinator/Nominated Supervisor in OSHC, Early Childhood Teacher and 2IC in Long Day Care.
Tara comes with a wealth of experience in management and project work in Children’s Services and is hoping to have the opportunity to meet all our parents in the near future.
Phone: 9533 0136
Email: Tara.H@riverwoodcommunity.org.au
Salma Taleb
Manager Community, Youth and Family Support
NDIS NUMBER: 4050039491
Salma joined Riverwood Community Centre as a Counsellor and NDIS Support Coordinator in April 2021. Salma has a Bachelor Degree in Applied Social Science Counselling.
Salma’s primary role consists of ensuring the safety and well-being of others. She has always maintained and considered her professional.
Phone: 9533 0126
Mobile: 0481 962 695
Email: Salma.t@riverwoodcommunity.org.au
Ram Nishant Alajangi
Finance and Administration 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, with 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 time with his two kids helping them to pursue their interests in mechanics and aviation.
Phone: 9533 0143
Email: RamNishant.A@riverwoodcommunity.org.au
