The forum was established in 2013 and is facilitated by the not for profit organisation ‘Kingdomworks’ in conjunction with Newcastle City Council’s Lord Mayor’s Office. Each year the panel has included the Newcastle Lord Mayor and guests that are leaders in their field of sports, business, services or education. Panelists present to the students their experience as a leader and life principles that have guided their success.
2019 Panelists
PANELIST 1. LORD MAYOR OF NEWCASTLE: Cr. Nuatali Nelmes
Nuatali Nelmes was first elected as a Councillor with the City of Newcastle in 2008 and was elected Lord Mayor in 2014. Nuatali works openly and cooperatively with the community to position Newcastle as Australia’s most sustainable city. Nuatali is passionate about delivering a shared vision to renew Newcastle – building the healthy, vibrant and smart city that we deserve.
“I am committed to compassion, respect, tolerance, justice and equality inour city – values that enhance the social fabric of our community and that, as Lord Mayor, I will strive to protect for all citizens.”
She is married to Stuart and they have three children.
PANELIST 2. CHARITY CEO (RUSH YOUTH MENTORING, CITYSERVE & SOUL CAFE): Rick Prosser
Rick Prosser has had 20 plus years experience in leadership of charities and was awarded the 2014 Newcastle City Council Citizen of the Year for his work. He was the founder of RUSH Youth Mentoring and CityServe. Rick is the CEO of Soul Cafe that provides hundreds of free meals and services every week to some of the most vulnerable people in the Newcastle region.
Rick is passionate about Newcastle’s uniqueness, people and beauty. He is a relational leader who inspires collaborative partnerships between charities, civic leaders, businesses, churches and community groups.
“Understanding and accepting our differences along with recognising and celebrating the impact they can create. Unity can exist with difference.”
Rick and his wife Sue are the pastors of Life Church Newcastle.
PANELIST 3. CEO & FOUNDER NFP CONNECT: Grace McLean
Mention the word not-for-profit in the Hunter region and the name Grace McLean will soon follow it. For over ten years Grace has worked as a fundraiser for three major national organisations in the Hunter and Lake Macquarie. Her role was to help put the organisations that she worked for on the local map, by building relationships with the community. She is a connector.
In 2012, Grace saw a need for those working in the not-for-profit sector, to learn from each other and to support each other. What started as a coffee group of six, quickly grew to what is now known as NFP Connect which supports over 300 local organisations throughout the region. Having successfully raised over $6+ million for the charities she worked for, Grace left her full-time role as a fundraiser to focus solely on NFP Connect.
NFP Connect exists to Support those working for and with local not for profits, through education, networking and shared experiences. Connect businesses with charities/not for profits for meaningful, strategic alliances. Grow the local community.
Since 2014, Grace has created a local NFP ecosystem that supports charities, through educational resources such has her planner, monthly networking events, and help to bridge the gap that builds strategic collaborations for charities and local businesses for long-term impact.
Grace was named Lake Macquarie Young Business Person of the Year in 2014, Lake Macquarie Citizen of the Year in 2015 and Lake Macquarie Local Woman of the Year in 2016.
2019 Student Leadership Forum Flyer
2018 Panelists
LORD MAYOR OF NEWCASTLE: Cr. Nuatali Nelmes
IPROWD FOUNDER & NCC AMBASSADOR: Peter Gibbs
ZARA’S HOUSE FOUNDER: sister Di Santelben
2017 Panelists
LORD MAYOR OF NEWCASTLE: Cr. Nuatali Nelmes
NSW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: Hon. Paul Green MLC
CEO BURN BRIGHT: Andy Skidmore
2016 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr,Nuatali Nelmes
Hunters Surf Life Saving Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Scruton
Group Captain David ‘Budgie’ Hombsch, CSC
2015 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr,Nuatali Nelmes
CEO Tim Pickles
Air Commodore Steve ‘ZED’ Roberton AM
Chief Inspector Dean Olsen.
2014 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr Jeff McCloy
Tennis Legend Margaret Court
St Philips Senior School Head Teacher Jamie Fahey
2013 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr Jeff McCloy
State MP Tim Owen
Olympian Duncan Armstrong
