Leadership & Governance
As the public face of LocalKind, the Chief Executive Officer provides strategic leadership for all operations and major organisational decisions. Accountable to the Board, which oversees governance, compliance, and financial sustainability, the CEO collaborates closely with them to develop and drive the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring the organisation’s vision, mission and values are realised.
Executive Leadership

Craig Stevens – Chief Executive Officer
Leading LocalKind as CEO, Craig Stevens draws on over 17 years of experience in the mental health and community services sector, including nine years guiding complex community mental health services. His pursuit of an MBA further enhances his strategic thinking and leadership capabilities. Driven by a deep commitment to social justice stemming from his lived experience of domestic violence and childhood adversity, Craig actively contributes to systemic change as a member of the Justice Health NSW Human Research Ethics Committee, the Yulung Indigenous Evaluations Sounding Board, and the SANE Australia Board Lived Experience Advisory Group, and as a former member of the Inaugural NSW Government’s Coercive Control Implementation Task Force Reference Group. Complementing this, Craig has contributed to communities through board and committee roles and extensive volunteer work, following a seven-year background in banking, finance, marketing, training, and events.
The Board

Chris Lake – Chair
Joined 2022
Occupation: Investment Banker (retired)
Qualifications: Master Mental Health First Aid Trainer
Awards: The Government of NSW Community Service Award 2024. Only 2 are given out each year and recognises individuals in NSW who have helped improve the quality of life of members of the community.

Sally Cornelius – Deputy Chair
Joined 2018
Occupation: Community Services Trainer & Community Services Leader (retired)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Adult Education (Major in Community Education), Diploma in Community Management, Certificate III in Welfare, Certificate III in Horticulture

Sook Smith – Treasurer
Joined 2023
Occupation: Tax and Business Advisory Partner, Board Member Anchor RE
Qualifications: Bachelor of Economics & Chartered Accountant
Linkedin

Caroline Pearce – Secretary
Joined 2017
Occupation: Independent consultant in payments fraud and security
Qualifications: Master (Honors), Pure Mathematics in Philosophy; Master in International Studies

Clive Bailey – Member
Joined 2022
Occupation:Executive, IT Consultant and Board Director, Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia & Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (UK)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Accounting & Operations Research, Diploma in Management; Accounting, Marketing and IT, Bachelor of Ceramics Technology
Linkedin

Bill Barnes – Member
Joined 2014
Occupation:Senior Business Analyst (retired)
Qualifications: Commerce Certificate – Accounting Procedures
Linkedin

Peter Wood – Member
Joined 2014
Occupation: Lawyer (retired)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts and Law

Phyl Jelinek – Member
Joined 2017
Occupation: CEO (retired) ESL Teacher and Volunteer Coordinator
Qualifications: Bachelor of History and Political Theory (Honors)
For all other enquiries, please use this contact form below.
