This International Women’s Day, we recognise the women whose stories reflect the heart of ABV’s work — women who give their time, skills and experience so that others can gain opportunity, confidence and economic independence. In the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development, their contributions show what Give to Gain truly means.

Across Australia and the Pacific Islands, ABV volunteers bring empathy, cultural awareness and a deep respect for the lived experience of the entrepreneurs they support. They listen first. They build trust. And they help create spaces where people can explore their ideas, strengthen their businesses and step into opportunities with confidence.

The stories of Jennie Connolly, Sally-Ann Lawrence and Kaylene Benson highlight the many ways skilled volunteers make a difference — and the many ways they grow through the experience themselves.

Jennie Connolly: Sharing Skills to Strengthen Communities

Jennie has spent close to a decade volunteering across the Asia‑Pacific, from Vanuatu and Samoa to Laos, Tonga, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. A retired corporate services executive, she brings deep financial and governance expertise to local organisations building stronger, more resilient businesses.

For Jennie, the motivation is simple: “I like to make a difference, and I know that I can. I’ve got skills, so sharing them is a no brainer.” She has seen the impact of skilled volunteering in real time — sometimes in a single breakthrough moment, sometimes in the transformation of an entire enterprise. Her work reflects the essence of Give to Gain: when you give your skills, communities gain capability, and volunteers gain purpose and connection.

Sally‑Ann Lawrence: Meeting People Where They Are

After a decade supporting small businesses in regional Victoria, Sally-Ann discovered ABV almost by accident — and soon found herself on assignment in Fiji, supporting 24 local business owners through workshops and one-on-one coaching.

Her approach is grounded in humility and adaptability. “We met participants where they were at and let them pull what they needed from the program,” she says. The diversity of businesses meant tailoring content to be accessible and relevant, and Sally‑Ann was struck by the willingness of participants to learn, stretch themselves and take risks.

Asked what makes a great volunteer, she returns to openness. “Share what you know in new ways. And be open to learning. I’ve picked up as much as I’ve shared.”

Kaylene Benson: Walking Alongside Entrepreneurs as They Grow

With more than 20 years’ experience leading change initiatives across Australia and the Pacific Islands, Kaylene brings strategic insight, cultural awareness and genuine warmth to her mentoring. Through ABV, she has supported small and medium enterprises in Cambodia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, helping business owners build confidence and uncover pathways that feel authentic and achievable.

“I get so much out of volunteering. I’m constantly learning,” she says. “My heart absolutely sings when I hear that business owners are hitting their targets or finding new markets.” For Kaylene, mentoring is about connection — listening deeply, understanding where each entrepreneur’s energy lies and helping them take the next step.

Continuing the Work of Women Supporting Women

The stories of Jennie, Sally‑Ann and Kaylene reflect what we see every day through ABV’s programs. Skilled volunteers don’t arrive with all the answers. They arrive with curiosity, humility and a willingness to walk alongside entrepreneurs as they shape their own futures. That’s where the real change happens — in the conversations, the breakthroughs, the moments of courage and clarity.

This year’s theme, Give to Gain, captures that beautifully. Volunteers give their expertise, and in return they gain connection, insight and the privilege of witnessing women take bold steps in their businesses and lives.

We invite more women to consider skilled volunteering with ABV. If you have experience to share and an interest in supporting communities across Australia and the Pacific Islands, there is a place for you in this work.

Together, we can continue building supportive, connected communities where people lift each other up and create opportunities that last.

Interested in volunteering?

Contact volunteers@abv.org.au or see the Upcoming Assignments on our website

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Appointed to support Australian Business Volunteers’ Resilient Regions economic disaster resilience program with the fire-affected East Gippsland community of Buchan late last year.
Mike Sewell, who has been extremely generious with his time and expertise, says he’s in for the long haul. 

“One of the first things I do when I get involved in a project is getting an understanding of what is happening, and what is needed,” the Victorian local, and business and banking professional says. This respectful approach is so important as it builds trust with communities to support effective and collaborative projects that strengthens economic and disaster resilience.

“I initially attended a Town Hall meeting with all key groups in the community, where there were some 30 initiatives on the go, and no shortage of enthusiasm and ideas,” Mike adds.

“As an outsider, I can ask, what are the most important things to focus on right now? What are the priorities, and how can we develop a strategic plan that reflects that.” 

While supporting the Buchan Gelatipy and District Renewal Association to drive place-based solutions to build back better following the devastating impact of the 2019/2020 bushfires, this work with fire-affected communities is nothing new to Mike. 

Since 2009, Mike supported accounting accreditation organisation CPA Australia to establish and conduct proactive engagement with bushfire affected communities across Victoria. 

“The Tuesday after the Black Saturday fires, we worked to support communities to reconstruct and put some of the pieces back together,” Mike explains in his then role as President of CPA Victoria.

Within two to three weeks, Mike was supporting this significant accreditation and member organisation to conduct town halls with partners and guide on measures to restore business reporting, backups and make critical business decisions going forward. 

“Business might be faceless at the big end of town, but at the small end of town where I operate, that’s not faceless,” Mike explains describing the hard conversations he had with local business owners navigating the loss of livelihood and when to draw the line at putting people’s wages on personal credit cards.

“It’s hard not to get emotionally engaged when you do this work. Everything was burnt and with the devastation that fires cause, it’s common for people to just close-up shop altogether and move on with their lives.”

The community spirit and local determination in the small town of Buchan to generate new sources of income and revitalise the economic landscape, is something to behold, Mike says. 

“There is so much that the town can achieve. One hour off the main highway on route to Lakes Entrance, there’s a lot that Buchan can offer as a tourist destination.”

Noting the First Nations people’s connection to Country, prehistoric megafauna and environmental sites, historic trade-route from the Snowy Mountains during settlement, Mike details notable historic attractions that the community seeks to celebrate and engage key players like Museum Victoria in. 

“My role is filling in the dots, and providing a sounding board to local groups on what they want to achieve so that everyone wins.”

Growing up in regional Victoria and Alice Springs, and with a long career of supporting the development of successful local businesses, this work is something close to Mike’s heart and comes naturally.

“Unless there’s a bit of heart in it, you won’t look for the best answer,” Mike says. “I’m still active and working, and at some point I won't be. My feeling is, while you can share your skills, do.” 

It might be three to four hours of someone’s time, but he says that can make all the difference.

“I might have two left hands, but I know how money works, I know how to grow successful businesses, and I can help coordinate a large group of people for general agreement.”

ABV is pleased to support communities like Buchan through the Resilient Regions program implemented in collaboration with local government, community groups and organisations, to help Victoria’s Gippsland region prepare for future severe weather events.  

The Resilient Regions program is supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments. 

Raised with an ethos of providing a helping hand to your neighbour, joining Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) in 2023 to volunteer with communities in Nauru was in some ways simply common sense for Sydney local, Vera Pajovic.

“Maxine Wiggs, a wonderful lady I used to work with in the travel industry reached out to me and said she was working with an organisation that I would love,” Vera says.

When a volunteer position came up to support ABV’s work with the Nauru Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Tourism Working Group to support a range of locally-led private sector strengthening initiatives, Vera, who has a longstanding career in marketing in Australia’s tourism and travel industry, didn’t hesitate to apply.

“I have worked in the Pacific for many years with tourism boards and communities in Papua New Guinea when I was working for the Kokoda Track Foundation,” Vera adds. “I feel very connected to the Pacific, and the need to support our region; bringing everyone with us, and not leaving anyone behind.”

An avid traveller and founding director of sustainable tourism consultancy, EcoStory, Vera has come in contact with countless tourist businesses, but when it comes to sharing her expertise for inclusive economic development in Nauru, Vera says ABV’s involvement has been vital.

“It’s essential to work with an organisation who understands the community's needs and can navigate the local complexities that make the work meaningful and impactful,” Vera explains.

“It’s not ABV coming in, it’s really finding the local parties and uncovering opportunities to support micro and small businesses in the ways that they want.”

“The country is beginning to understand the benefits of what tourism could mean for people in Nauru, but it needs to be led by the community and foreign tourists need to meet the locals where they’re at.”

In her two years with ABV, Vera has been in Nauru twice, with a third volunteer visit on its way to help build the country’s tourism industry in a sustainable and empowering way for inclusive economic development.

“I was expecting the workshops (in business mentorship and coaching), but less so the strategic direction piece that I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to with local stakeholders and the Chamber.”

“Nauru’s described as the rough diamond of the Pacific and it has so much to offer,” Vera emphasises through her work on the Nauru Private Sector Development Roadmap, supported by the Australian High Commission in Nauru. “It is a great tourism destination for the adventure tourist.”

“There’s amazing hiking, and incredible opportunities for fishing and snorkelling. Nauruans are also proud of their culture; they’re generous and have so much to share.”

“It’s about finding partnerships on the island and working together to grow the industry.”

Not spoken about is the fact that with her own business, Vera is no doubt incredibly busy and continues to find time for this vocational work in a voluntary capacity.

“I’ve learnt so much from it as well. Along with training, I’ve learnt about a different culture and different ways of how things are done,” Vera says.

“It’s been humbling, and I’m so happy to be just a small piece of the puzzle.”

“Building local tourism is helping people to improve their livelihoods and strengthen their communities. If I can support just five people to build their businesses, I will be so happy!”

Hearing about ABV from a friend in engineering, Geelong local Chris Maddock wasn’t sure that he would have the opportunity to share his skills through the organisation’s humanitarian programs.

It wasn’t until he had retired from his role as Business Manager for Christian College Geelong, that the right opportunity came along. “I saw an advertisement saying that there is a project in PNG, and I thought, oh well, I’ll put my resume in and see where we end up.”

Seven years and five projects later, and Chris hasn’t looked back. From projects in the Pacific to business coaching in the Pilbara, he has worked across rich cultures to support people in realising their business goals.

This work includes providing business coaching to two Martu men living in the Western Desert region of the Pilbara as part of ABV’s Martu Business Development Services program. ABV staff and volunteers work closely with program sponsors, Greatland Gold – owners of the Telfer mine.

“One of the Martu men I was speaking to recently is doing really well,” Chris says referring to his work in the Pilbara. “He’s got his business accredited and he’s started to get contracts with the mining company.

“This is something that he had given up on before we had started working together.”

“We’re in regular contact and throw ideas around: how can I package this, how do I price that?” he continues. “I’ve been able to develop cash-flow projections, a capacity statement and business plans, but it’s about me packaging these up and saying if you’re happy with it, use it. If not, let’s change it.”

“It's all driven by them, and I’d prefer it that way.”

This progress mightn’t happen overnight, but Chris said it’s built on a foundation of trust, and feedback between the facilitator and participants. “I have to give credit to ABV. They’re nurturing relationships, and finding (out) what both the community and individual participant's need.”

He adds that it boils down to respect. “No matter if we have different worldviews, if people are respected and feel listened to and valued, it goes a long way to be able to connect.”

“I’m a facilitator. Nothing more,” Chris says about his work. “I want it to be all about their story. People love to tell you what to do, and I’m not going to do that,” he adds.

“I might ask, have you thought about this as an option? What does this look like for you? It is the person who knows their business and what they want to achieve that must have the decision-making power.”

Wanting to share his skills as part of his Christian values, Chris says volunteering has enabled him to support others who may not have ready access to the training and coaching that he and his fellow volunteers provide.

“I’m not a doctor. I’m not a counsellor, but I look at how I can use the skills that I have to help people in different ways,” Chris says reflecting on his volunteering and charitable work more broadly. “The people that ABV introduces us to, don’t usually get the same exposure and access to the sorts of training that we offer.”

“Being able to share my skills in business management and provide coaching provides me with the greatest level of satisfaction.”

“I guess I'm at the age of doing a lot more reflecting, and when it comes to how you spend your time, what’s the one thing you can look back on and feel content and satisfied in,” Chris says, emphasising the extreme satisfaction he receives from helping at least one person achieve a life goal, let alone many people.

“If you have helped just one person, who would it have been, and why would you do it? Each person has their own “why” that drives them, even if they can’t easily articulate what it is, but they will know what it feels like when they get that deep seated sense of satisfaction,” Chris adds.

Responsible for leading NAB’s first operational teams in India in 2014, Tina gained an appetite for working across cultures to build deep lasting connections and change.

Thinking about it for some five years, Tina says it wasn’t until the stars aligned through NAB’s partnership with the First Nations development organisation, Jawun, that this expression fully took off with place-based volunteering.

“I had the support of my partner, and my manager at the time, to embark on this volunteering opportunity NAB supported with Jawun and dedicate six weeks to work in the Kimberley, and with the local organisation, develop an action plan and roadmap for success,” Tina says.

“I learnt so much professionally and personally through this opportunity, and through it developed a strong desire to be an active ally to First Nations people going forward.”

Through NAB’s partnership with Australian Business Volunteers, Tina was given the opportunity to do just that by drawing on her wide-ranging professional skills to provide transformative social value.

Applying for NAB’s Customer Strategy Challenges Program, Tina joined 11 business experts from NAB to join a nine-day challenge for their customer, Clothing The Gaps.

“On the first day, we went to the office and CEO Laura, a Gunditjmara woman, had tears,” Tina says. “We were the most number of non-Indigenous people to be in the space, and without knowing who we were, we realised the trust and responsibility that Larua and her team were imparting on us.”

Apprehension dissolved to empowerment as the NAB team of expert volunteers came together with the support of Australian Business Volunteers grounded facilitation.

“ABV created a safe space to learn and have creative freedom to operate outside of our comfort zones. We were able to lean into our specific skills, respectfully challenge one-another to grow the strategy, and come together for a shared goal.”

By the end of the nine days, Tina and the NAB team had developed a clear concise three year business strategy detailed across 40 slides, a 68 page report and 11 supporting documents with key insights and observations.

When the team presented the strategy alongside video recordings from customer reflections, the CEO, Deputy CEO and Warehouse Director, were touched. “There were tears once again, but this time from gratitude, capturing the full circle that we had come in such a short time. “

“ABV coordinated post-event debriefs with us all one month and six months after, where they shared how they were using the work and the impact it had made.”

Influencing big decisions from Clothing The Gap’s product range, stock orders through to lifestyle benefits for the team, the strategy had helped inform evidence-based decisions, as well as engage people across the organisation on a shared strategic journey.

Speaking to the skills she gained through this process, Tina says she has become a more engaged colleague and a much stronger leader through this process. “I have worked outside of my comfort zone and been able to walk alongside people from different cultures, expertise and levels in an organisation.”

“I have also learnt to negotiate with colleagues, challenge one another respectfully and grow together towards a shared goal; not to mention the lasting relationships I’ve forged with likeminded people through volunteering who are truly inspiring.” 

For those wanting to connect with the community through volunteering experiences like this, Tina recommends finding an organisation you are passionate about and not underestimating what you can bring to the table. “Your level of investment will be based on the passion you have.”

Find out more about NAB and ABV’s nine-day challenge with Clothing The Gaps and the impact this program has had.

Last week, a group of NAB colleagues volunteered their expertise for a nine-day community strategy challenge for Clothing The Gaps.

Clothing The Gaps is a vibrant community brand celebrating Aboriginal people and culture and is a majority Aboriginal-owned business and social enterprise.

For this Community Strategy Challenge, the NAB skilled volunteer team aims to develop a clear strategic plan to support the future sustainability of Clothing The Gaps over the next three years.

This program is made possible through Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) partnership with NAB, which has developed over the last seven years. Working with First Nations organisations is a crucial part of our collaboration.

Together, we tackle strategic business challenges for community organisations.

The night before virtually interviewing ABV mentor David Campbell and mentee Moana Korikalo, a 6.5-scale earthquake hit Vanuatu. Despite being woken up by her home shaking in the night, Moana showed up on time to chat with us with a positive attitude. "That's who Moana is; she always follows through on her commitments," David remarked. 

As the Retail Head of BSP Financial Group Limited's Vanuatu branch, Moana guides clients through their business growth and steers them towards success. We matched David and Moana in May 2022 under BSP's leadership development program. Moana picked David for his impressive profile that showcased his extensive sales and business development expertise. On David's suggestion, they took a personality test to get to know each other. They found they were both 'protagonists'–the people who get things done. 

Moana has been with BSP Financial Group since 2010 and is now in her 7th year as the retail head of Vanuatu. She manages a team of 59 staff—each day brings something new. Moana's real love is helping people; she initially started as an executive assistant at BSP and, in her downtime, would head downstairs to help customers at the bank. She quickly realised an assistant role wasn't for her; she needed to be with a team. 

Moana embraced the chance to participate in the BSP/ABV mentoring program. Her main goal was to enhance her leadership skills, and with David's help, Moana has improved her confidence in leading her team. Moana's excellent communication skills are crucial to managing her multi-lingual team, who speak French, English, and Bislama. 

David travelled to meet Moana for the first time in September 2023. "It felt like reuniting with an old friend. We have become great buddies over the years, and I felt comfortable immediately. I know our friendship will continue after this program," said Moana. 

David met Moana's team at the bank and got to see the other side of his mentoring at play; "I asked the team for feedback on what was and wasn't working, and the level of candour was pretty refreshing", he said. 

Moana has led her team to great personal and professional achievements. She shared a heartwarming story of how proud she was that one of her branch managers passed her driving test after seven years of her writing it into her 'development plan.' 

Moana's leadership style has transformed throughout the mentoring program. Moana said, "My confidence and how I approach situations is so different, thanks to David's guidance. When people ask me how I've done it, I simply say, 'Meet my friend David.'" 

For an impressive span of more than 30 years, Bevan Sharp has been a dedicated volunteer of ABV.

His commitment has seen him complete over 60 assignments in 16 countries, contributing his time and expertise to invaluable projects across Asia and the Pacific, including in Cambodia, Vietnam, PNG, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Tonga and Fiji.

Bevan's wealth of professional experience and passion for supporting the communities he works with has seen him perform a varying range of roles including hotel management, tourism business development, staff management training, marketing development, business hub establishment, marketing, agri-tourism, and fundraising.

Bevan has let us know that the time has come for him to focus on his other commitments. His unwavering dedication for over 30 years to ABV has been incredibly valued and will be greatly missed. Thank you for your service Bevan.

Marcus Alexander is one of ABV's skilled volunteers working with our Nauru program to build capacity of local small-medium businesses. Marcus has always had a talent for spotting opportunities, making him perfect to help small businesses in Nauru. He discovered his love for retail and business while working at Woolworths, eventually making his way up the ranks in management. From here, he moved into business-to-business sales, selling everything from baked beans, baby food, tools, and homewares. B2B sales led him to work for Kincrome, where he sold hardware to Bunnings, which sparked his obsession for DIY and ultimately led him to start his own business, Codu, a premium textiles company.

Marcus and his blankets in MYER

Marcus’ business beginnings in textiles began when he travelled to Ukraine for a friend's wedding. Knowing his love for all things DIY, his friend told him about the world's largest DIY store in Kyiv. Here, he discovered beautiful woollen blankets tucked into a back corner, and immediately, his brain started ticking over.

Marcus knew that the Australian market had a high demand for woollen products, so he took a risk and had six boxes sent back home to try his hand at selling them. The blankets were a hit. After testing the market more and seeing success, he expanded into cabinetry, still using Ukrainian small businesses as his suppliers, which has become an essential part of his mission.

In 2023, Marcus joined the Nauru Private Sector Development Roadmap program, part of a four-year partnership between ABV and the Nauru Chamber of Commerce (NCC).  He worked closely with NCC Business Hub Manager Jennifer Harris and fellow SBP Susan Goldie to facilitate the Your Enterprise Scheme (YES) workshop series with short-term accommodation providers in Nauru.

Volunteers Liane, Matt, Marcus and Susan delivering workshop virtually

The YES Program, a business skills training program for small businesses, has been tailored into a modular workshop series focusing on a range of business sectors in Nauru, aligning with the private sector development goals of the Roadmap. After the initial workshop training, Marcus and Susan provided one-on-one sessions for the participating short-term accommodation providers. Short-term accommodation is crucial for Nauru to host events like the Miss Pacific Island Pageant, for which Marcus was prepping the businesses. "There is such huge potential there, and I loved meeting such a diverse group of participants," said Marcus.

Marcus is passionate about the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving positive change. Just as his business has opened doors for small suppliers in Ukraine, he constantly seeks new ways to help others.

Marcus has these words of wisdom to leave us with, "Real leadership is when you see those you are mentoring blossom. Be there as that set of safe hands and see how much they flourish."

"Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool. We all, as humans, learn through storytelling," - Susan Goldie.

Susan Goldie has dedicated her life to humanitarian work, including mental health education, better end-of-life care, poverty reduction, and economic empowerment.

Susan joined us as a volunteer in November 2023 and has started working with our Nauru team on capacity building of local small-medium businesses. Susan's work supports the Nauru Private Sector Development Roadmap program, a 4-year partnership between ABV and the Nauru Chamber of Commerce to help foster closer collaboration across private, public and community sectors in support of Nauru's National Sustainable Development Strategy.

A key opportunity for Nauruan small businesses was the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, held in Nauru in January 2024. This important regional pageant celebrating Pacific cultures was a landmark event for Nauru to host, and many small businesses, such as vendors, sole traders, and goods and service providers, stepped up to the challenge. 

The previous year's Miss Pacific Islands winner, Josie Nicholas, advocated for increased youth involvement in sustainable tourism. This youth-led approach to building sustainable tourism resonates with the vision set by the Sustainable Tourism Working Group, established in 2023 as part of the Roadmap's implementation, to support closer collaboration between private sector, government and community stakeholders to achieve shared sustainable tourism goals. 

Susan played a crucial role in conducting workshops for local vendors, volunteers, and hosts in preparation for the Pageant. These hybrid workshops, a highly tailored iteration of ABV's signature YES Program, were co-delivered by Susan with another ABV volunteer, Marcus Alexander, along with Jennifer Harris, the Nauru Chamber of Commerce's Business Hub Manager. The workshops covered essential aspects of customer service, work health and safety, and financial tools to start and grow a business. 

Image: Volunteers Liane, Matt, Susan and Marcus facilitating workshops from online with Jenn Harris (Nauru Business Hub Manager)

One of Susan's unique approaches includes educating through her lived experience. "Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool. We all, as humans, learn through storytelling," she said. In her other community roles, Susan uses storytelling as a way to break down mental health stigma by delivering talks in schools and sharing her lived experience as a carer for someone with a mental health condition.  

Outside of ABV, Susan is a board member of a community-owned mortuary service that supports people who struggle to pay for their loved ones' funerals and connects local organisations to better serve their community's needs in times of grief and loss.

Beyond her humanitarian work, Susan finds solace in Taiko drumming, a mind, body, and soul workout she discovered during her first trip to Japan. "The drums can be so large that you need a crane to bring them in; it's an amazing art form. I leave the studio after drumming feeling so refreshed and clear-headed."

Susan was excited to join ABV and contribute to sustainable change-making. "The theme of all my volunteering is to build capacity and empower people, which very much aligns with ABV's mission, and that's what drew me to the organisation," Susan said. 

When asked what made Susan choose ABV, she said, "ABV is working in such a streamlined way; no one is indispensable, and people are valued. ABV continues momentum but never becomes the destination; they are the wind in the sails of the next community."

We feel privileged to have a volunteer with such diverse and meaningful experience. Thank you, Susan!

Image: Susan and her daughter hosting the Vinnies Community Sleepout in Western Sydney.