Kyle Tyrrell, Chair Expand Kyle Tyrrell is the Chair of Carry On having joined the Board in May 2018. Kyle is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with 24 years’ service including multiple overseas deployments. He has extensive experience as a leader in global security risk management and is the former CEO of Vanguard Global Security Risk Management and was the Director of Counter-Terrorism and Vice President of Middle East and North Africa at the National Safety Agency. He is a highly sought-after consultant in High Performance and Leadership with a global client list. Kyle is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), holds a Masters of Business Administration (International Management), a Graduate Diploma of Strategy and is currently studying Psychology. He enjoys time in the outdoors, travelling, Australian Rules Football and serving the Veteran community.
Zoe Karkas, Deputy Chair Expand Over the last 25 years, Zoe Karkas has helped non-profit organisations build relevant and meaningful relationships between good causes and the people who can support them. Throughout her career in fundraising, Zoe has developed, and implemented numerous successful fundraising campaigns – locally, nationally, and internationally – by blending insight, ideas, and innovation to get the best results. She has been recognised for her efforts with the bestowment of numerous Awards from Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) including being awarded the Fellow of the Fundraising Institute Australia for her years of service to the sector. Zoe has served on the Board of the Fundraising Institute Australia, including tenures as Treasurer and Deputy Chair. Today, Zoe is a Director of Carry On having joined its Board in May 2018. She looks forward to developing a robust fundraising program that raises awareness and much-needed funds for Veterans and their loved ones.
David McNamara, CEO Expand David spent his early working years in the Army serving from 1979 until 1992, initially as a soldier before graduating as an Officer from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea in June of 1985. After leaving the Army, David has held many Senior roles in the Retail, Franchising and Security sectors as a National Franchise Manager, General Manager, CEO and Managing Director. David holds a Bachelor of Social Science, Diploma of Business (Administration) and a Diploma of Security and Risk Management. Married with 4 adult Sons and 5 Grand Children, David prefers to spend his leisure time with his family and at his farm in Gippsland. David is a Life Member and former President of Belgrave Cricket Club in the Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association and spent many years coaching Australian Rules Football in the outer eastern suburbs and Dandenong Ranges
Tony Kofkin, Director Expand Tony has been a financial planner and is the managing partner at Kofkin Bond & Co. One area of expertise for Tony is providing financial support to current and former members of the ADF through wealth management and estate planning.
Lindsay Kotzman, Director Expand Lindsay is the founder and senior partner of P&B Law (Property and Business Lawyers) and brings a wealth of legal experience and contacts to the organisation. Lindsay was appointed to the board 2020 and will play a vital role in assisting Carry On to roll out the strategic plan. The plan will increase the organisations reach, and relevance to those who have Served and Lindsay is particularly enthusiastic about being part of this project. In his spare time, Lindsay likes keeping active with activities such as cycling, skiing and football. He also enjoys family time with his wife and two teenage children.
Shamsa Lea, Director Expand Shamsa Lea is a currently serving Air Force Logistics Officer, and a veteran of Afghanistan, Middle East Region and Papua New Guinea. She has 10+ years of proven complex change management (strategy, operations, workforce and culture) and project delivery in the ADF, leading diverse multinational teams around the world. She is a trained leadership coach and a sessional academic at the University of Southern Queensland (Project Management). Her husband is a currently serving Air Force Chaplain, together they are passionately involved in the wellbeing of serving ADF members and their families.
Tamara Sloper-Harding, OAM, Director Expand As the daughter of a Royal Australian Naval Officer and being one herself, Tamara has lived at many different places and travelled extensively. She was born at Liss in England but also lived overseas in Hawaii and again in the United Kingdom during postings for her father. She commenced her education at St Kevin’s, Dee Why, continued at Haslemere in England before returning to St. Kevin’s and then Mater Maria, Warriewood. Tamara completed secondary schooling at St. Clare’s in Canberra before commencing a BA at Canberra University and then joining the RAN in January 1987 at the Australian Defence Force Academy, completing her training at HMAS CRESWELL, Jervis Bay in 1988. Her initial postings in the Navy were as an Administration Officer, generally in personnel management and community support areas, including Public Relations and media. This included time at sea onboard HMAS STALWART and HMAS TOBRUK. After qualifying as an Intelligence Officer, Tamara had operational postings in Maritime Headquarters, Headquarters Australia Theatre, at sea in USS CORONADO, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, and finally as a member of the Interfet peacekeeping force under General Cosgrove in September 1999 in Timor Leste (East Timor). Her exposure to the sufferings of the civilian population following the atrocities during the Timorese struggle for independence, lead to her passionate involvement and desire to provide assistance. She became involved with orphanages and schools, organising food and aid packages to be sent to her for distribution while there and has continued this since then. She married Adrian Harding, an Army officer, in September 1999, again keeping the Northern Beaches association, at St. Patrick’s, Manly. (She received the phone call about the deployment to Timor Leste during the wedding reception.) They have four children and, on settling in Avalon, Tamara transferred to the RAN Reserve (Inactive) as a Lieutenant Commander after almost 19 years in the RAN. Adrian working in a civilian defence support capacity, remains an active Army Reservist Lieutenant Colonel. Tamara and Adrian have four children. Vaughan aged 18, Isabeau 17, Xavier 15 and Armelle 14. In March, 2011 she was honoured with the award of Pittwater Woman of the Year. She also received The Rotary International Service Award in recognition of outstanding human endeavour contributing to international peace and goodwill. On Australia Day 2016 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her work for the communities of Timor Leste and Pittwater.
Nick White, Director Expand Nick is a Non-Executive Director of Carry On (Victoria) and is Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee. Nick has extensive business, finance and executive leadership experience and has contributed to the development of financial services sectors in a number of countries including India, Vietnam & Indonesia while working for UK listed Prudential PLC. Nick is a Chartered Accountant and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Nick has held a number of senior executive roles, including his current role as Chief Financial Officer of AXA XL Australia, which is part of AXA SA, one of the largest financial services groups in the world. Nick also serves on Boards in the Mining, Investment Management & not-for-profit sectors including Peckys Disability Services which assists amazing people to live their best life. Nick is married with 2 children and is an avid Rugby supporter.
Brad Robertson CSC, Director Expand Brad Robertson is a serving Army senior officer and is currently the Commander of Joint Logistics Unit (Victoria). Brad's strategic, values-driven approach to leadership has brought transformational change, innovation, and improvement within the Defence Department. Having been deployed to East Timor, Afghanistan, and Aceh and commanded Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia, Brad has 28 years of exemplary military service. When Brad is off duty from keeping our nation safe, he enjoys spending time with his three children and his wife, Kate.
Andrew Fernbach BA, LLB (Hons) (Melb), Director Expand Andrew Fernbach is a Lawyer and the founder of GOVLAW, which works with corporates and Not-For-Profits to assist with legal compliance, including Clubs across Victoria and their peak body,Community Clubs Victoria. Prior to this, Andrew worked for the Australian government as a legislative draftsperson with AUSTRAC (the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre). AUSTRAC regulates the financialand gambling sectors against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. When Andrew is not hard at work, he is obsessed with all things coffee and industrial design. He enjoys nothing more than watching Netflix shows about working on classic and custom cars while drinking coffee from beans he roasted himself. Having been a ‘cataholic’ his whole life, he was finally introduced to the wonderful world of dogs with the help of his partner’s and friend’s rescue dogs. Django’ and ‘Atticus’ areaccustomed to taking Andrew for a walk each day.