CEO
Jemma Mead commenced as the CEO at Good Samaritan Inn in October 2025. Jemma brings nearly three decades of experience in the community sector, with a strong background in family violence, housing, youth and family services, and community health.
Board of Directors
Good Samaritan Inn’s Board has the responsibility for the oversight of the Inn to ensure it is faithful to the Good Samaritan Inn mission and abides by the responsibilities assigned by corporation law. The directors are fully committed to the work of the Inn and are generous with their time. They bring a range of skills and experiences that ensure the Inn is well governed.
Board members 2026
Patricia Bergin, Chair
(since February 2019)
Patricia Bergin is an experienced governance consultant and board chair with extensive experience across the not-for-profit, education and Catholic sectors. She brings expertise in governance, strategy, organisational development and board effectiveness, together with a strong commitment to mission-driven organisations. Patricia was drawn to Good Samaritan Inn because of its dedication to supporting women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness. She is passionate about social justice and values the opportunity to help steward the organisation through a significant period of growth, ensuring it remains mission-focused while expanding its impact and support for women and children in need. Patricia was appointed a director in 2017 and has held the position of Board Chair since 2019.
Kate Jackson, Deputy Chair
Kate Jackson is a qualified lawyer with experience in public policy, regulation, governance and higher education quality assurance. Her professional experience includes working as a lawyer in Australia and China, as a public servant, and as a consultant to Australian universities and other higher education providers. Kate first became involved with the Inn as an external member of the Governance and Standards Committee and has been a member of the Board since 2019. Through her involvement in the Inn she hopes to contribute to its core work and Mission to provide support and advocacy, as well as to wider goals of gender equity and social justice.
Donna Hargreaves – Company Secretary
Serving as Company Secretary of the Good Samaritan Inn allows Donna to combine her professional experience with a commitment to community service.
Donna supports the Board in maintaining strong governance and oversight, helping to ensure the Good Samaritan Inn remains well placed to achieve its mission and deliver meaningful outcomes.
In retirement, Donna values the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that has a lasting impact on the lives of women and children, and she is proud to play a small part in its ongoing success.
Helen Scotts, Chair – Development Committee
Helen is a management consultant with more than 30 years of experience helping organisations improve performance, strengthen leadership, and achieve their strategic goals. Her areas of expertise include organisational effectiveness, executive team performance, and CEO development and evaluation.
Helen joined the GSI Board in 2020 and has been proud to contribute to an organisation whose mission and values closely align with her own. She is deeply committed to supporting GSI as it continues to grow and pursue its vision for the future. As Chair of the Development Committee, she oversees the Board’s monitoring of progress against our strategic objectives from a governance perspective. The Committee also serves as a valuable sounding board for management on matters relating to strategy, growth, and organisational development.
Helen is committed to supporting GSI in achieving its strategic objectives and delivering positive outcomes for the communities it serves.
Scott Hartley, Chair – Finance, Audit & Risk Committee
Scott is passionate about using his professional experience to help organisations create meaningful and lasting impact in the communities they serve. His career in governance, risk and internal audit has taught him that strong governance is not simply about accountability and compliance—it is about creating organisations where people feel safe, respected, included and empowered to thrive. This belief has shaped his commitment to community service through his involvement with the Good Samaritan Inn, the Victorian Pride Centre and Wellways, organisations that champion safety, inclusion, dignity and equitable access to opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
Sr Kerin Caldwell, Chair – Governance & Standards Committee
Kerin is a Sister of the Good Samaritan who brings both a personal and congregational commitment to the work of the Sisters and staff in caring for the women and children who have come to The Inn over many years.
Kerin’s personal involvement with Good Samaritan Inn began in 2006 and continued until 2013 as a Board member. The congregational connection extends back to 1857, when the Sisters conducted a Refuge for women and children in the early days of the colony.
She sees the role on the Board as ensuring that the ongoing vision and work of The Inn, The Haven and, soon, The Village remain faithful to the founding vision and values of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, while continuing to respond to the signs of the times.
Kerin’s background is in education, leadership and governance. Holding a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Pastoral Studies and a Doctorate in Spirituality and Ministry, the role in Board formation encourages directors to reflect on why and how they undertake their work, recognising that this shapes the Board’s values, discernment and decision-making.
Kerin is deeply encouraged by the way the Board continues to steward the founding vision of Good Samaritan Inn, ensuring that its mission remains relevant and responsive to the complex social challenges of today.
Kristen Beadle
Kristen is a qualified accountant specialising in insolvency and restructuring, with extensive experience providing commercial advice to businesses navigating financial and operational challenges. Her professional background enables her to bring practical commercial insight and a strong understanding of governance, risk, and organisational performance to the Board.
Kristen joined the Board in 2024 with a strong desire to give back to her local community and contribute to the continued success of the Inn. She is proud to support GSI’s mission and will continue to work to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation.
Manasi Wagh
Manasi Wagh brings over 16 years of experience, she is recognised for her expertise in financial capability, multicultural engagement, and community-led program design. She has led the development of innovative programs, resources, and sector-wide initiatives that improve access, equity, and financial wellbeing for diverse communities.
Having worked extensively in the family violence sector, she brings a deep understanding of the drivers and impacts of family violence, financial abuse, and the intersection between economic insecurity, gender inequality, and wellbeing. She was appointed as a Director at GSI in 2021 and has been a part of the Development Committee since its inception.
As a Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductee, she is a strategic leader, educator, and advocate recognised for designing award-winning programs, building cross-sector partnerships, and translating complex policy into practical, culturally responsive solutions. Her work has driven measurable social change across the health, family violence prevention, and financial capability sectors.
Mike Roberts
Michael has extensive experience in direct service delivery, service design and in implementing change in the health, aged care and disability sectors. He has worked in the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors and retired from full time work in 2022.
He is an experienced Board Director and has the ability to work with people at all levels of an organisation on issues of strategic importance. He has been extensively involved in the Development Committee since its inception.
Ronnie Egan
Dr Ronnie Egan is Professor of Field Education in Social Work at RMIT University. Her relationships with the field span her career as a practitioner and academic and this has enabled the development of innovative ways of understanding and facilitating the nexus between universities and the community. She has specialised in research about supervision and practice for social workers and students, published widely in these areas and has extensive and active networks in the human service sector.
Tuba Boz
Dr Tuba Boz is a lecturer in the Social Work and Human Services Program in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, and co-lead of the Migration, Equity, Security and Humanitarianism (MESH) network at RMIT University. Dr Boz works on interdisciplinary projects with local and international universities, and government and non-government organisations on issues related to migration, social cohesion and intercultural communication.
Our volunteers
Our work would not be possible without the invaluable contribution by our volunteers. Committed to the mission of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, our dedicated volunteers bring a unique energy and passion and a diverse range of skills and experience.
