BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In May 2011, The Anganwadi Project was officially incorporated as a Registered Not-For-Profit Association in Australia (INC9895089). We have assembled a dynamic and dedicated group of Board Members, all professionals from various disciplines who give their time and expertise pro-bono to further the management and sustainability of the project.
Emma Leckie
President
Emma has a special interest in the power of Architecture to create positive social change. Emma embarked on her journey with TAP in 2019 as a volunteer on Bholu 17 with Manav Sadhna in Ahmedabad, India.
Emma is a registered architect with professional experience working across cultural, education, residential and public community sectors in Australia. She has a particular passion for projects that contribute to the fabric of society, are enduring, inclusive and engage people. Emma has co-tutored an Architecture Design Studio founded on an ethical approach to social housing at The University of Sydney, where she enjoyed sharing this passion with her students.
Experiencing first-hand how the process of building a preschool can touch so many people, Emma cannot wait to be a part of TAP’s future.
Sarah Schoffel
Vice-President
Sarah is an architect with more than 25 year’s experience. She has worked for architectural practices in Sydney, Melbourne and London and is a director of Sandberg Schoffel Architects in Sydney. Sarah has also been a school operations manager and has a strong interest in school and preschool education and the impact education makes on children’s lives in disadvantaged communities.
Sarah has recently completed an interdisciplinary Master’s program in Disaster, Design and Development at RMIT, focusing on the use of design thinking as a strategic tool in the resolution of wicked problems like poverty, natural disasters, civil conflict and climate change.
Sarah joined TAP in 2018 as a volunteer on its first RDT project in Andhra Pradesh, India. Since completing that project (Harivillu 1) she has continued to assist TAP with fund raising, administration and recruiting and now as a Board Member.
Felice Burrows
Secretary
Felice is a passionate advocate for the principle of paying it forward, driven by her commitment to making a positive impact on others. With a diverse skillset and experience, she actively fosters connections among individuals, seeking to instigate transformative change in their lives. With her architectural expertise and connective mindset, she strives to create meaningful spaces that embrace diverse voices and cultures, extending the spirit of paying it forward throughout the community.
Felice is a registered Architect and Director of Architects&Co., a small female-led architectural and interior design practice based in Perth, Western Australia, she is also a keen adventurer – often seeking the thrill of a remote hike or mountain to ground her. Central to her practice's focus is ‘hands-on’ Education Architecture, an area that resonates deeply with Felice due to her upbringing in rural New Zealand, which instilled in her an inherent understanding of the value of small communities and the significance of remote settings.
Motivated by her desire to make a greater difference, in 2019, Felice volunteered with TAP in Andhra Pradesh, building Harivillu 2. This immersive experience proved to be profoundly transformative, shaping her life's trajectory. Since then, Felice has nurtured a steadfast connection with the Anantapur community and remains passionately involved in the upcoming anganwadi projects within the region.
Neshevida (Nesha) Balasubramanian
Board Member
Nesha is a Senior Associate and Australian Pro Bono Manager at the global law firm DLA Piper. Nesha also has experience managing the Asia Pacific practice. Nesha has been involved in the pro bono and social justice sector for over 5 years and prior to that worked as a commercial litigator.
Nesha has a strong interest in using her legal skills to improve the lives of those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable both in Australia and around the world. Nesha is proud of her Sri Lankan heritage as well as her connection to India through her paternal grandmother.
Paul Barrett
Treasurer
Paul is a Co-Founder, Director and Wealth Advisor at Absolute Wealth Advisors, a Sydney based firm providing personal financial strategy and investment advice to executives, business owners, dual citizens and high net wealth families. Paul and Absolute Wealth Advisors have a history of financial and personal support for a variety of charities. Paul has 27 years of experience in banking, investment management and financial planning. Paul holds a Bachelor of Economics, Master’s in Business – Finance and a Diploma of Financial Planning. He is also a Fellow Chartered Financial Planner with the Association of Financial Advisors and a Registered Tax (Financial) Adviser with the Tax Practitioners Board.
Thank You | Past Board Members
The board are extremely grateful for the significant contribution of our Board members.
Thank You to our recent Board members for their generosity and time, which they have volunteered towards The Anganwadi Project:
Jane Rothschild
President & Co-Founder (2007 to 2023)
Helen Lochhead
Board member (2017 to 2023)
Peter Arthur
Secretary (2019 to 2023)
Caroline Kite
Vice-President (2019 to 2022)
Board member (2017 to 2022)
Jane Johnson
Vice-President (2017 to 2019)
Board member (2011 to 2017)
Delwyn Everard
Secretary (2017 to 2019)