board

Ken Barry, Chairperson

Ken Barry, a corporate and commercial lawyer, chairs the Doxa Youth Foundation and currently holds positions on the boards of several other organisations. He is Chairman of the National Board of Deacons, the philanthropic IOOF Foundation, the Board of Management of Coolmore Australia, and Wallace Absolute Return Limited. In addition, he is President of Newsboys Foundation and a Director of Next Generation Clubs (Pacific) Limited.

Fr Joe Giacobbe

Fr Joe Giacobbe's involvement with inner-suburban Melbourne parishes in the 60s and early 70s made him acutely aware of the difficulties facing families and young people. This was particularly evident on the high rise housing estates, such as Fitzroy and Flemington. Many of the residents had limited financial resources and there was a lack of community support services. Fr Joe wanted to offer these people opportunities and the chance to improve their circumstances. He established Doxa Youth Foundation as a non-denominational organisation in 1972, with the help of friends in the racing industry, business and the professions. Prior to 1990, operating funding for Doxa came from the popular Annual Fun Runs, fundraising in hotels and bingo nights. Fr Joe then founded the Winning Post newspaper (which was sold in 2006, after Doxa received a strong commercial offer) and was instrumental in setting up the Doxa Social Club, both of which give all their profits to Doxa Youth Foundation. Fr Joe maintains an involvement in parish work in the inner and western suburbs and continues to play an active role in Doxa.

Graeme Johnson

Graeme is a lawyer practising in commercial law mainly in the sporting, hospitality and retail industries. He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1972 with BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) degrees.  He was a partner at hedderwick, Fookes & Alston and its successor firms from 1977 until 2004 and remains a Consultant to Allens Arthur Robinson.  Graeme has been involved in the Doxa Cadetship Program as a sponsor and a mentor since the program commenced in 1993.  He is National Chairman of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Limited and a former Director of Starlight Childrens' Foundation."

Anna Kennedy

Anna's interest in young people is reflected in her many years of voluntary work. In the 1980s, she organised discotheques in her local parish which were hugely popular, with up to 400 teenagers attending on some occasions. She then joined the Parish Council with the express purpose of acquiring a part-time youth worker. Her interest in this area led her to write a history of the youth group in the parish. Anna has worked as a volunteer with the students of the Doxa School on a weekly basis for the six years it has been established. She is passionate about the students' welfare and is a strong advocate for the school. She has also supported her husband's medical practice, working in the treatment room counselling patients and their relatives. Anna's compassion and belief in the crucial role of family in an individual's wellbeing have guided her life and the causes she supports. She combines her voluntary interests with an ongoing involvement in the lives of her husband, children and grandchildren.

Dr Stephen Silk

Stephen has a broad range of business skills from his experience as a senior executive in business development, marketing and operations in the pharmaceutical industry, and thoroughbred racing and event management. Stephen is  currently employed at the  Victoria Racing Club.   He was  General Manager Strategic Marketing for 5 years where he was responsible for the strategic and operational  marketing of Australia's largest and most successful racing club. He currently holds the position of General Manager Flemington with responsibility for the tracks, training stables, facilities, grounds and gardens, and event operations and logistics. Prior to this, Stephen held a number of roles over 17 years at CSL Limited, one of Australia's largest publicly listed pharmaceutical companies. These positions included the role of Sales & Marketing Director, Pharmaceuticals. Other employment has included five years in private veterinary practice, the CSL Veterinary Division and Terumo Australia Pty Ltd (hospital medical devices).

Judy Ward

Judy Ward is a former senior partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Judy was a partner from 1982 to 2001 and her roles included head of the tax practice of the firm in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia and various Asian and Global firm management positions. Since retiring from professional practice Judy's roles as a non -executive have included Australian Community Support Organisation, Disability Housing Trust, VicForests and the Transport Accident Commission, Melbourne Girls Grammar School, The Merton Hall Foundation, Falls Creek Alpine Resort and the Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council and government advisory committees.