Our People

Our volunteers drive our organisation. From our board to our helpers in the warehouse, we're almost entirely volunteer-run, and we're endlessly grateful for what they allow us to do. They pack hampers, make deliveries, talk to clients, organise fundraisers, and most of all, they make our community stronger by helping out those in it who are most in need. Our volunteers are too numerous to name, but thank you to everyone past and present who has played a part in making West Welcome Wagon what it is today.

"Life’s Most Persistent and Urgent Question Is, 'What Are You Doing for Others?'"

Martin Luther King, Jr

If you would like to become a volunteer, click here.

 

Chris Scerri - Board Chair

Chris Scerri grew up in West Sunshine after migrating here from Malta in 1963. He graduated from University of Melbourne as an Electrical Engineer and enjoyed careers with Telstra (20 years) and Siemens/Nokia/Coriant (16 years) in a variety of Engineering, Sales and Management roles. Together with his wife Anne, they have three daughters, two grandsons and a granddaughter. Chris loves spending time with his family, growing a large variety of orchids and finds his volunteering activities fulfilling and rewarding. He hopes to engender a strong team culture within the Board and the broader West Welcome Wagon community. His greatest wish in volunteering is to provide hope to the many people that we support.

 

Suzette Sherazee - Treasurer 

Suzette Sherazee is an experienced Finance professional with experience in resouces, retail, and agribusiness. As an adopted "westie", she is committed to supporting and building the community. As a migrant herself, she is passionate about welcoming and sustaining new communities in the west.

 

 

 

Kerry Free - Secretary

Kerry Free brings with her extensive Alternative Dispute Resolution experience and enhanced negotiation, problem solving and communication skills. She has experience in policy development and has a strong commitment to improving the plight of asylum seekers.

 

Anna Nguyen - Board Member

Anna is a proactive professional with experience in audit and accounting advisory. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant, passionate about supporting not-for-profit organisations within in her local community.

 

Roland Wahlquist - Board Member

Roland Wahlquist retired to Melbourne after a career in the wine industry. A passionate believer in multiculturalism and the rights of asylum seekers, Roland has had a number of roles in West Welcome Wagon including Human Resources Manager, Warehouse Coordinator and Policy and Compliance Manager. As well as his board role at West Welcome Wagon he is also the Sustainable Supply Manager and assists the volunteer team with large goods deliveries.

Michael Lim - Board Member

Michael Lim is currently working as Social Enterprise Manager (YLab) at the Foundation for Young Australians. Michael's work focuses on putting young people at the centre of designing and developing solutions to complex social challenges related to education and employment in Melbourne's west. Michael is a board member of West Welcome Wagon and also a member of the Western Metropolitan Partnership, Brimbank Collection Action Committee and Brimbank Community Fund. From 2016 - 2018 he served as CEO of CHASE, a small non-for-profit aimed to improve health literacy. CHASE works with 5 schools and over 250 students across Melbourne's west. Under Michael's leadership CHASE was awarded the inaugural We Are Brimbank Learning Excellence Award in 2018. 

 

David Redmond - Board Member

David migrated to Australia from England and lived in Preston hostel before buying his first home in Werribee. He has an extensive career in senior management in retail, as well as having been an advisory board member for the Salvation Army Family Stores. David has a desire to influence both the Australian and local government to provide better support for disadvantaged new arrivals to Australia.

 

Phuong Dang- Board Member

 

 

Candice McGregor - CEO

Candice McGregor is an IT specialist with over 10 years experience in designing, developing and implementing IT solutions. Born a Westie, she is passionate about supporting local initiatives, sustainability and social justice. She joined West Welcome Wagon in August 2014 and has been heavily involved in the operations ever since, across a number of roles within the organisation.

Candice was appointed our inaugural CEO in May 2017.

 

Michelle Cooper - Human Resources Manager

Michelle was born in Footscray and raised in the inner West. With a career in quality, safety and environment, and the development of management systems, Michelle is excited to get involved in all aspects of the organisation's continued growth.

 

Roland Wahlquist - Sustainable Supply Manager

Roland Wahlquist retired to Melbourne after a career in the wine industry. A passionate believer in multiculturalism and the rights of asylum seekers, Roland has had a number of roles in West Welcome Wagon including Human Resources Manager, Warehouse Coordinator and Policy and Compliance Manager. As well as his role of Sustainable Supply Manager he also sits on the Board and assists the volunteer team with large goods deliveries.

 

Sarah Salter - Media & Communications Manager

We acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable assistance and relationships that we have with a
number of other organisations.

In addition to the Case Management agencies - Life Without Barriers, AMES and Red Cross - that provide our referrals and with whom we work with on a regular basis we also have special, ongoing relationships with other community groups and organisations.

community connections
Photo: Vicky Palmieri

Our Community Relationships include:

  • Bendigo Bank Seddon Community Branch
  • The Department of Justice and Regulation
  • Friends of Refugees
  • Friends of Refugees Melbourne (FORM)
  • Hobsons Bay Refugee Network (HBRN)
  • Village Real Estate Newport

For all of these organisations, and for all of our valued friends, supporters and colleagues, we are deeply grateful.