Throughout our 40-year history, ABV has relied on our passionate and committed volunteers who use their impressive business skills to build marketplaces, mentor entrepreneurs, strengthen institutions and transform communities.
With our corporate partners we build volunteer programs that address issues that they’re solving with community or providing value for their employees or their business.
Whether working directly in community as part of our bushfire resilience project in Cobargo, or as part of a corporate funded program through companies like NAB, Newcrest Mining, and Woolworths, our volunteers have a passion to make a positive difference across communities.
Evelyn Moolenburgh
‘I love working with the women in the pacific islands; One of my mentee’s has gone from a timid analyst to a confident Financial Manager who has just been promoted, and only in 12 months.’
Evelyn Moolenburgh started working with ABV in 2019. A management consultant and small business owner with more than 40 years professional experience, Evelyn worked as a mentor with ABV’s Bank of South Pacific Leadership Development Project in Tonga and Solomon Islands.
‘Knowing we continue to make a difference in really challenging circumstances and seeing our leaders pivot, continue to achieve excellent outcomes, and set us up to be ready to dive back into more activities as the restrictions ease.’
Jane Anderson is an expert in adult education who has lived and worked in the UK, France, Algeria, USA, Belgium and Canada, among others. Jane began with ABV in 2016 and has made significant contributions to the development of curriculum and course materials, most recently with Family Money Management Program (FMMP).
Jane Anderson
Cameron McFarlane
‘The enjoyment of working co-operatively with a fantastic group of people, all with authentic intentions and a desire to help ABV succeed and being provided with the opportunity to utilise skills in a socially constructive way.’
Cameron McFarlane began sharing his extensive corporate business skills with ABV in 2001. Cameron has lived in Fiji and Indonesia and worked across the Asia Pacific region with ABV on programs including YES, BBG and specialist projects.
‘A passion to help others succeed; a tenacity to make things work –
even when things don't go to plan; and a good sense of humour!’
With a strong corporate background in HRM, Liane Arno started volunteering with ABV in 2006 and has since helped develop curriculum and deliver workshops for the Your Enterprise Scheme (YES) program.
Liane Arno
Peter Barnett
‘Being able to make a real difference to the lives of those I work with.’
Peter Barnett joined ABV in early 2019 and has shared his skills in procurement, logistics and IT during two four week stays in Port Moresby, PNG. He has a reputation as a collaborative partner who achieves positive outcomes and focuses on team development.
‘Interesting projects, mixing with a group of people dedicated to helping others in Australia and our near neighbours.’
Keith Thomas is a retired IT professional and Project Manager who joined ABV four years ago and now works across corporate IT office and communications systems as well as local community needs such as the Regional Connectivity Program.
Keith Thomas
Matt Stone
‘ABV’s ability, as a unique, flexible organisation that can work with corporate partners in areas of disaster to deliver high standard development opportunities in the region.’
With five decades of professional experience in business, banking and finance, Matt Stone He joined ABV in 2006 and has made significant impacts in communities throughout Asia Pacific. Matt has been part of the YES program delivery team for the past 15 years.
'Often the focus is initially on what we want to achieve for other people but the greatest achievement is the personal growth we achieve for ourselves.'
Deborah (Dee) Murdoch initially volunteered with BlazeAid in Cobargo in early 2020 and then went on to accept a volunteering role in 2021 as the Grant Management and Project Planning Mentor volunteering on behalf of ABV with the Cobargo Green Recovery Inc.
Deborah (Dee) Murdoch
Madeleine (Maddie) Barton
'I’ve loved getting to know the community members we’re helping – their stories are always inspiring, and their hearts are very big.'
Madeleine (Maddie) Barton caught the volunteer bug at Australian Catholic University where she is a Senior Research Grants Officer. ACU partnered with ABV to assist Cobargo community groups with the daunting task of navigating and preparing grant applications for government funds. Maddie then joined ABV in a second tranche of grant writing, this time for the Cobargo Preschool.
