The Board

CLAIRE BRAUND

President

Claire is a businesswoman based on the NSW Central Coast. She co-founded Women on Boards in Australia in 2006 and in the UK in 2012 following a career in journalism and public relations. An experienced Non-Executive Director on small businesses and large Not-For-Profit organisations, Claire has significant expertise on board governance in many other sectors.

Claire is also a graduate of the Benevolent Society’s Sydney Social Leadership Program which has led to a lifelong interest in affordable housing and related social issues, particularly those impacting women and children. 

Since 2021 she has served on the board of Coast Shelter Emergency Accommodation Ltd, a registered Community Housing Provider operating crisis accommodation refuges across the region for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or experiencing domestic and family violence.

Claire is a lover of the visual and performing arts and the impact they have in the development of children and advancement of society. Elected to the Board in 2016.

KATE MCCALLUM

Secretary & Chair of the Growth & Development Committee

Kate McCallum is a leading Australian financial adviser and co-founder and director of award-winning firm, Multiforte Financial Services. She has an extensive background in Finance, having held executive positions at Westpac, BT Financial Group and Commonwealth Bank. 

For much of her career, Kate has been writing and speaking on money and finance. She is a published author, media commentator, successful business woman and recipient of multiple awards in the Financial Services industry. Kate holds a BA Hons from the University of Sydney, an MComm from the University of New South Wales, and post-graduate qualifications in financial advice and applied finance.

She is a keen swimmer, skier and sailor. Kate has studied piano and fine art, and enjoys live music, and the performing and visual arts. Kate was elected to the Board in 2021.

HILARY DAY

Chair of the Teaching & Music Committee

Hilary graduated as a physiotherapist from Cumberland College of Health Sciences and has worked for the Central Coast Local Health District for 17 years and Residential Aged Care for 17 years. She is committed to providing free public health services to the residents of the Central Coast and brings to the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music (CCCM) Board her skills as a coordinator gained through wide teamwork experience.

In her music profession, Hilary achieved her diploma in cello and was employed as the cello tutor at the Central Coast Grammar School for 18 years, as well as many years teaching privately. 

She believes that giving children and adults the opportunity to play music creates joy and social harmony and benefits all learning areas.

She is Assistant Principal Cello of the Symphony Central Coast (SCC), which has a close association with the CCCM. She has served on the Management Committee of the SCC and its predecessor for 34 years, including 13 years as President. Her experience in managing and maintaining a thriving community orchestra is valuable to the Conservatorium. 

Elected to the Board in 2010.

ROB KITCHEN

Chair of the Premises & Building Committee

Rob is a civil engineer working with deep expertise as a project manager for large scale private, Local and State Government projects. He has a hands-on role as a Project Director on key projects including a new Sydney CBD hotel and SINSW projects.

He previously worked with Pacific Link Housing to increase its housing portfolio through the construction of new housing; and with the NSW State Government at the Department of Land and Property and the Department of Planning where his main project there was the $1 billion mixed use redevelopment of Gosford Waterfront.

Rob was formerly on the Board of the Gosford and Erina Coastal Chamber of Commerce and has extensive international experience in the whole range of construction processes from conception to completion.

Elected to the Board in 2019.

PENNY LEE

Chair of the Legal & Governance Committee

Penny is an experienced legal professional who worked as a legal adviser to the British government in London for 8 years. Prior to this, she provided legal advice to the United Nations in West Africa and currently works for the NSW Government. 

Penny holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Laws and an Arts degree. She specialises in governance and procedures and has developed and implemented significant strategic operational procedures for the NSW Government.

Penny plays the violin and strongly believes in the benefits music can bring to develop and bind the community. Her interest in music extends to a belief that music further enhances and stimulates creativity and has the capacity to inspire people to come together in a magical way.  Elected to the Board in 2019.

PAUL A MURNANE

Member, Finance Committee

Paul A. Murnane is a corporate advisor and company director with over 35 years diversified experience in investment banking/financial services, consulting and general management in Australia and overseas. 

Following a 19 year career as a Director with several banks, including Citibank in Australia, Asia and the USA, focussing on corporate finance, Paul was a Partner and Managing Director in a leading global professional services firm, Russell Reynolds Associates. He was a Director and Senior Adviser in corporate development and advisory roles with Goldman Sachs and then Chair of and Senior Advisor to an independent corporate advisory firm (subsequently part of Lazard Australia).

As a banker, advisor and non executive director, Paul has started businesses and professional practices in Australia, Asia and the USA and advised many boards of companies in the public listed, private unlisted and government sectors.

He is currently a director of several private for-profit companies and an adviser to a number of public and government boards and CEOs, as well as firms in the legal, accounting and strategy consulting sectors, on strategy, governance, business development and leadership assessment.

His governance consulting experience covers for-profit, government and NFP boards over several decades. It is based on lengthy personal non executive chair and director experience, and extensive corporate governance experience, acquired as a non executive director and through advising many ASX 50 and other boards on strategy and governance, chair/director selection and board/CEO performance issues and leadership assessment.

Other governance involvements have included Chair of the AICD’s National Corporate Governance Committee, membership of the Editorial Advisory Council of “International Governance” journal (Oxford), and membership of the AICD’s National Education Advisory Committee. He is an accredited facilitator of the AICD. Paul also has over 25 years extensive not for profit (NFP) experience across many sectors – he has started NFPs, revitalised and merged NFPs, helped build social businesses to over $100m size and advised many NFP boards and CEOs on strategy, governance, and performance. He has particular NFP expertise in strategy and governance, federated governance strategies and structures, and in NFP mergers, the latter building on his investment banking experience.

Currently he serves on the Boards and committees of a number of organisations involved in philanthropy, education and corporate governance. These include Chair of AusSchol Inc (Australian Scholarships Foundation) and Director of Grameen Foundation Australia. He recently retired as a director of the Australian String Quartet after a 13 year term.

BETTINA PIDCOCK

Board member

Bettina is an accomplished executive with a 30-year career spanning retail and wholesale banking, wealth management (including superannuation, investment, financial advice and private banking), life and general insurance. She has held positions at leading Australian Financial Institutions in marketing, communications, product management, corporate affairs and customer experience.

Bettina is a Committee Member of the Tattersall’s Club (and was the first female to hold this position), was the Chairman of the QBE Foundation and a member of the NSW Regional Council of FINSIA from 2014-2020. She holds a BSc (major in Chemistry) from the University of Sydney, an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a Business Management Qualification in Sustainability from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership, is a Senior Fellow of FINSIA and a Graduate Member of the AICD.

Elected to the Board in 2020.