Ross Hepburn
Chair
Ross has been involved with the local community in Springvale and Dandenong for more than 35 years in areas including business, local government and sport. He became Chair of Cricket Victoria in 2022 and has served on its board for three years. He is a former general manager, consultant and company director, and holds degrees in Civil Engineering and Business Administration. Ross joined SCAAB as Treasurer in 2007, later becoming the Chairperson of SCAAB and a Life Member. Ross became Chairperson of SECL following the merger of SCAAB, DCAB and SEAAC in 2015.
Mariam Ritchie
Treasurer
Mariam has around 17 years of experience across compliance, risk and governance within the financial services and banking industries. She has worked across the Asia-Pacific region for a combination of start-up companies and multinational corporations including Vanguard Australia, Bank of Queensland and NAB. She has completed industry qualifications in both Australia and Hong Kong to further complement her work. In her spare time, she coaches her son’s Under 8s soccer team.
Madeleine Morris
Director
Madeleine Morris is an award-winning journalist and communications consultant, widely recognised as the former finance presenter and newsreader on ABC’s News Breakfast. During her tenure, she reported on key challenges affecting communities SECL serves, including housing, financial counselling, and cost-of-living pressures. Her extensive media career spans roles such as presenter of ABC/RMIT Fact Check, senior reporter for 7.30 and AM, host on ABC Radio, and 11 years as a reporter and presenter with the BBC in London. Madeleine holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland and postgraduate qualifications from the London School of Economics and UTS.
Luke Donnellan
Director
Luke Anthony Donnellan (born 26 March 1966) is a former Australian politician. He was a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly between 2002 and his retirement in 2022, representing Narre Warren North. He was the Minister for Child Protection and the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers in the Second Andrews Ministry from December 2018 until October 2021. He also served as the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and Minister for Ports in the First Andrews Ministry from December 2014 to December 2018.
Knowles Tivendale
Secretary
Knowles runs a boutique transport planning consultancy based in Dandenong, working with stakeholders and clients to achieve a vision of more integrated, efficient and sustainable transport solutions. He was previously Strategic Planner at City of Greater Dandenong responsible for the initial stages of what became the Revitalising Central Dandenong project. He later became the Team Leader of Social Planning overseeing several projects related to the City’s diverse community. Knowles joined the SECL Board in March 2021.
Associate Professor Leanne Ngo
Director
Leanne Ngo, an Associate Professor at La Trobe University and Honorary Fellow at Deakin University, brings over 20 years of educational leadership experience across research, teaching, and industry partnerships in higher education. With a strong passion for enhancing digital literacy and cybersecurity resilience, she leads curriculum transformations and digital learning initiatives, earning national recognition for her innovative contributions to student learning and digital education. Leanne also mentors, supporting career growth in CALD, cybersecurity, STEM, and technology communities.
Dara Tang
Director
Dara holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Diploma in Financial Planning. He has had an extensive career in Brand Management for more than 20 years in various roles across marketing, communications, product development and sales. Dara migrated to Australia in 1983 at the age of six from Vietnam and moved to Springvale. His strong ties with the local community include prior Board roles as Secretary of the Cambodian Association of Victoria and as Director of SCAAB from 2010 to 2013.