The SSI leadership team includes a group of talented and skilled managers who cover a range of strategic and business development roles across the organisation, from humanitarian to disability services to child and family services.
Violet Roumeliotis is a social entrepreneur with an extensive not-for-profit career characterised by collaboration, growth, adaption and, above all, innovation.
During her seven years as the CEO of SSI, she has overseen prolific growth in revenue, from $9.4m to $115m and staff levels, from a state-based to a national organisation. A passionate believer in lifting up others, Violet takes a non-predatory approach to growth, whereby SSI aims to generate value for its community and peers.
As a leader, Violet’s mixes warmth and compassion with the entrepreneurialism, innovation and curiosity that ensures SSI is constantly adapting in order to maintain a competitive edge. Under her stewardship, SSI has diversified its income streams to ensure its future sustainability. It has also implemented a social business operating model, under which surpluses are reinvested in new initiatives that deliver broader social outcomes for vulnerable communities. In the past five years, SSI has invested more than $5 million in self-funded programs.
Violet is the current Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year ― a unique accolade for a not-for-profit leader as it recognises thriving female leaders who are disrupting the way we do business. Violet was named one of AFR’s Top 100 Women of Influence for 2018 in the category of Diversity & Inclusion and has twice been named on Pro Bono Australia’s list of the 25 most influential people in the not-for-profit sector. She was awarded the title of Community Fellow from Western Sydney University for outstanding service to the community in 2017.
Violet holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with majors in Sociology and History from UNSW, a Masters in Management from UTS and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Violet sits on the Federal Government’s Settlement Services Advisory Council, the board of national migrant and refugee women’s coalition, the Harmony Alliance, and the Leadership Council on Cultural Diversity ― a group of leaders committed to improving the representation of cultural diversity in leadership in Australia.
Violet writes a regular blog here and you can follow her on Twitter @CEO_Roumeliotis.
Peter has provided leadership to SSI across a range of functions within Corporate Services. His experience traverses strategy, business planning, financial management, corporate governance, sales and marketing and service delivery and he has held a number of senior operational and finance roles in the manufacturing, retail, and service sectors. Peter has also been the owner of a women’s fashion business and managed a multi-site retail business.
Peter has a Master of Professional Accounting, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Thomas is a qualified accountant who has negotiated and implemented some of Australia’s largest and most recognised health initiatives. He has directed large (6000+) and geographically diverse (EU, Asian and US based) teams and is a strong advocate for good governance and ethical operations. Most recently he was the Executive Director Corporate Services for Lifeline Australia.
Shannon has a diverse background across education and private sector organisations in public affairs, branding and communications. In her most recent role she was the Acting Chief Marketing Officer at Macquarie University leading a team of more than 50 people.
Prior to that, Shannon was the University’s Director of Communications managing a diversified portfolio and team.
Yamamah joined SSI in 2011 as the Manager of the Humanitarian Settlement Program gaining extensive experience in team leadership, program management and stakeholder engagement.
Yamamah Agha leads all of SSI’s Settlement Programs (HSP), which supports newcomers and other vulnerable Australians to prosper. With over 15 years’ experience assisting new arrivals to settle in Australia, Yamamah has a strong passion for delivering social justice to refugees and vulnerable groups in need. She has a particular interest in women's rights, and supporting and empowering refugee women and their families to reach their potential.
Karen has a strong NFP background. She brings experience as Chief Executive Officer of two organisations, Playgroup NSW and Girl Guides Australia. She has a ten year background in senior leadership roles including Manager, Research and Public Submissions for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and Director of the Social Justice Unit for UnitingCare Children Young People & Families.
Greg has led major reform and transformative change across both government and the non-for-profit sectors. He has 18 years of strategic policy and implementation in the social justice sector.
His specific expertise is in Early Intervention, Child Protection, Out of Home Care, Homelessness, Domestic and Family Violence, Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention.
Gail joined the SSI leadership team in December 2018, when Access Community Services Ltd became a subsidiary of SSI in Queensland. She is the CEO of Access, responsible for managing all aspects of client service delivery, business development and growth in Queensland.
Gail has provided leadership for the Access team since 1992 and has vast industry experience and expertise in the Australian multicultural, humanitarian and community sectors. She is recognised as a leader in needs-based community planning, innovative business models, social cohesion, strategic partnerships, employment pathways, funding opportunities and strategic direction.
Gail has received numerous awards and honours for her contribution to refugees, multiculturalism and diversity. These include an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2010, the Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Award in the category For Purpose and Social Enterprise in 2017, and in 2018, a Queensland Greats Award in recognition for her outstanding contribution to development of the state and her role in strengthening and shaping the community in Queensland.
Learn more about Access Community Services Ltd.
Xavier joined SSI in December 2018 and is passionate about transformative human resources management. He brings to SSI experience in building organisational culture, leadership and staff wellbeing.
French-born Xavier came to Australia as a young man in search of adventure, and began his career in human resources management in the corporate sector, moving to international aid and development in 2005. Xavier was a member of the board of the Mandala Foundation and People and Organisational Development Director at ChildFund Australia. Between 2007 and 2012 Xavier served the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in various roles around the world, notably as the head of its global HR services and Senior HR Advisor.
Xavier has lectured on Forced Migration and has a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict studies from the University of Sydney.