Our Team

Tim Holder: Director and Board Chairman

Tim Holder has worked for 30 years in the media industry in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Tim is the Executive General Manager of Tasmanian Broadcasters who operate 10 commercial radio stations across the state. Tim sits on several other boards including NRM North, NRM State Council and is a foundation Director of Tourism Northern Tasmania. Tim also co-owns Abes Audio, a leading Australian audio production company.

Jo-Anne Fearman: Director, Deputy Chair and Secretary

Dr Jo Fearman has a science background in water quality and marine research, and works in natural resource management as the Chief Executive Officer at NRM North. She has experience in environmental consulting and managing her family business, as well as not-for-profit governance experience. Jo is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently studying for her MBA. Jo enjoys serving at her local church. She is passionate about social justice and the natural environment, and loves to spend time on the water with her family.

George Elkhair: Director and Treasurer

George Elkhair B.Ec, FCPA, MAICD has 30 years experience in Corporate Governance, Commerce, Professional Accountancy and Business. He has acquired a diverse level of experience and exposure in business culture and property management. George currently sits on several boards of private companies and serves on a number of community based NFP organisations including the Migrant Resource Center Tasmania and the Kingborough Community Advisory Group. George has had various leadership roles in the Baptist Church, including as Treasurer, Elder and Committee leader. His passion is to embark/support ways to provide social sustainability and assistance to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our communities by working and partnering with organisations that embrace this same passion.

Belinda Williams: Director

Dr Belinda Williams is currently employed as Head of School of the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, College of Business and Economics at the University of Tasmania. She has been employed in the Higher Education sector for over 20 years and thrives in this continually changing environment. Her research interests are in three main fields being: Public sector reporting including sustainability and integrated reporting; Diversity issues within the workplace and on the corporate board; and Diversity and diversity reporting.

Paul Arnold: Director

Paul Arnold B.Ec; FCPA has over 35 years of experience in public and private enterprise.
He spent eleven years as General Manager of the Burnie City Council, acquiring significant experience in the transformation of the city of Burnie, during this time.
Paul serves on a number of Boards including Tasplan, Tas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Circular Head Christian School. Paul has had various leadership roles in Smithton churches and currently serves on the leadership team at Dreambuilders church, Smithton.

Kristie Misdom: Director

Kristie settled in Launceston in the mid-90s where she trained at the University of Tasmania as a Registered Nurse. Along with her husband, she currently lives and works at Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies as a Team Leader and Operations Manager. She is currently the Lead Minister at Door of Hope Christian Church where she has been attending for almost 30 years. Kristie has experience in health care, vocational training, project and event management, not-for-profit board positions and church ministry leadership.

Nishanthi Gurusinghe: Director

Dr Nishanthi Gurusinghe was born in Sri Lanka but grew up in NZ, she moved to Tasmania in 2014. Nishanthi is a Colorectal and General surgeon at the Launceston General Hospital. She also has a degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Surgical Education. Nishanthi sits on the Board of General Surgeons Australia and is the Tasmanian representative on the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Council. She is sits on the Tasmanian State Surgical Committee and is the Supervisor of Training for General Surgery at the LGH. Nishanthi is Mum to Theo; the most important, marvelous, fulfilling and challenging role of her life.

Bonnie Bonneville: Director

Dr Bonnie Bonneville is Principal Scientist and Director of Bonneville Consulting. She provides environmental studies and advice to the Tasmanian water Industry. Bonnie is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a non-executive director of Reconciliation Tasmania and serves on the statutory Regional Cradle Coast NRM Committee. Bonnie lives in Burnie where she enjoys playing and coaching netball and participating in a micro-church for trail runners.

Stephen Brown: Chief Executive Officer

Stephen Brown has been CEO of Launceston City Mission for almost 12 years. Having grown up in Tasmania, he has always had a heart for the local community. He has tertiary qualifications in accounting and business management and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts in Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Stephen’s career experience has demonstrated his ability to understand business operations, financial management and the community services sector. He is an expert in the development, management and implementation of excellent strategic outcomes for both for profit and not for profit organisations. Stephen serves on several boards in Tasmania and is a leader at Redemption Hills Church in Launceston.

Brian Beswick: General Manager Corporate Services

Brian has many years’ experience in business, information management, ranging from technician to project management, innovation development, strategic planning and general management. His previous positions include Senior Advisor to the Tasmanian Government and several senior management roles in State and Local Government, CIO for Challenger Financial Services and is a past member of several national government ICT advisory groups. He and his family are active in the local church community.

Peter Freak: Manager Projects and Assets

Peter has a diverse range of experience in not for profit operations, banking, finance and governance. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and undertakes several governance roles within the Anglican Church and NFP sector. Peter brings a wide exposure to retail, wholesale, manufacturing and service businesses over three states, to support the leadership team in this new role. Married with two girls, he enjoys golf and bush walking.

Narelle Howell: General Manager Client Services

A Registered Nurse for over twenty years, Narelle has worked in a variety of fields and prior to moving in to Community Services was a senior teacher in the School of Nursing at TasTAFE. Narelle is passionate about developing leaders to support them to meet their full potential and in reducing stigma for those experiencing addiction related issues in the community. Narelle is a Director on the Board of the Alcohol Tobacco and Drug Council of Tasmania.

Belinda Ratnik: General Manager Social Enterprise

Belinda has been in this role since October 2022. Belinda brings over seventeen years of management experience from a vast array of industries in both the Community and Corporate sectors, working with Councils for major sponsorships and events across four states. Her career experience supports strength in business and corporate development, partnerships and relationship building & maintenance and policy & procedure creation and implementation.

Bernadette Jones: Manager People and Culture

Bernadette moved to Launceston from Perth, Western Australia in May 2014 to take up the position of Manager People & Culture. She has a background in Human Resource Management, Training, and Ministry. She has previously served on a variety of Boards and is an accredited coach with CliftonStrengths.