A community organiser for four decades; working in Australia and in Latin America in a range of social, community, human rights & environmental organisations. I came to Australia exiled from Chile and became active as a teenager, working as a community organiser in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth & Melbourne, and in recent years as a City of Maribyrnong councillor.

Joining Footscray Community Arts in 2019, Daniel is currently leading the organisation through a significant transformation following an $8.7m precinct redevelopment investment from State Government. Daniel was Program Manager at Midsumma Festival (2016 – 2019), and previously a producer at Next Wave (2012 – 2016). Daniel was Chair for Outer Urban Projects from 2019 to 2022, a performing arts company working with young people in Melbourne’s Northern Suburbs – having been a board member for 8 years.

Lynda Ford OAM has more than 30 years’ experience in direct service and executive roles across community and government sectors. Having worked as a grant maker, grant recipient and grant manager, she brings practical insights into the opportunities, tensions and realities of collaboration, partnerships and collective impact.

Karyn has worked on social and climate justice through place-based, community-led work as an academic, in State Government, and now, community philanthropy.

She has been at the Greater Melbourne Foundation since 2020, where she remains immensely grateful to still work with diverse communities and community organisations.

Andy is an experienced small business owner with a background in accounting, recruitment, sales and management.

Andy’s key objective at Local Impact is to help develop new community enterprises for the organisation. Andy is a passionate supporter of sustainable and equitable community development.