People

SHASA is an incorporated community organisation since February 2015. SHASA’s current Executive has 8 members as approved at our last AGM. Read a little about our current Executive below. Also, see SHASA’s latest Committee Structure here and our Executive Committee position descriptions.

	President – Kathryn Maxwell Kathryn has been a member of SHASA since September 2016 and President for the last 3 years.  Kathryn is passionate about achieving a resilient Eurobodalla where we generate more of our electricity and food and keep the money local.  Kathryn has extensive project management experience from her work for the Australia and New Zealand Governments in the area of community development and sustainability.  A career highlight was her role of Sustainability Manager at the Department of Conservation in New Zealand which included installing the largest off grid solar system and ensuring dozens of conservation islands had solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Kathryn enjoys mountain biking and bushwalking around the region.
	Vice President – Steve Colman Steve is a founding member of SHASA.  After a long career consulting to organisations on leadership and performance he brings a deep commitment to improving environmental and social awareness.  Having been a regular visitor to the region since the early 1960’s he is now helping SHASA develop a long term strategic plan and vision for the region that helps craft an inspiring and achievable future.  In his spare time Steve, who is based at Tuross Head, can often be found exploring  by sea kayak, mountain bike or on foot the region’s many wild and wonderful places.
	Treasurer – Patrick Guinness Patrick has worked on community development projects in East Africa, Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea, including sustainable agriculture, water supply and bio-digester systems, poverty reduction, community organisation, and resettlement programs. Patrick is passionate about tackling climate change and equalising opportunity for the disadvantaged in Australia and overseas . Recently retired from university teaching, Patrick spends his time writing, gardening, bush walking, kayaking, and cycling.
	Secretary – Suzanne Shorrock Suzanne started her working life as an English/French teacher, but after her children started school, she retrained in Horticulture at the School of Horticulture, Canberra Institute of Technology, a move driven by her keen interest in gardening and the environment. Suzanne worked in garden maintenance, was a support teacher at the School of Horticulture, and finally owned and managed a retail nursery and florist shop in Canberra. Soon after her arrival in Moruya five years ago, Suzanne heard about and became a member of SHASA. Suzanne is also a member of her local Rural Fire Service Brigade.
	Committee Member – Tony Lowe Tony has had a love for steam power since growing up near a railway line in the age of steam powered locomotives. He started working life in steam power stations long before they became known as “coal fired”! and went on dealing with that industry and the mining industry specialising in mechanical power transmission. Coal had been a big part of Tony’s career but he realised many years ago that because technologies are now evolving, this has enabled us to leave coal behind. Tony installed his own ground mounted PV Solar system 10 yrs ago and is now very happy to be developing and promoting renewable power solutions in our community.
	Committee Member – Phillip Brown Philip is a highly experienced and passionate social policy practitioner, with over 30 years experience in the Australian Public Service (APS). His experience ranged from policy analysis and development, implementation, research and evaluation, service delivery, audit and compliance, and regulatory and legislative reform. Phil’s expertise encompasses social security; youth affairs; Indigenous community and family safety; early childhood and family policy; disability employment; and women’s economic participation. He also led initiatives around social impact investing and social enterprises.  Since retiring in 2020, Phil has established a new career phase that utilises his skills and experience to design and deliver a range of projects across government and non-government organisations. His overarching ambition is to make a discernible positive impact for vulnerable Australians and his local community.
	Committee Member – Pete Phillips Pete has been involved in SHASA since the first solar PV bulk buy and became more active four years ago after retiring. With a love of fixing things, his working years were spent as a small-scale builder specialising in renovation of old buildings. He lives with his partner on half a hectare on the edge of Narooma where they have pursued their techno-peasant dream, building an energy-efficient house surrounded by beautiful gardens, producing more food and energy than they can use. He now spends his time as an active member of the Rural Fire Service, growing fruit and vegies, reading, doing outdoor activities and working with SHASA to support action on climate change and community resilience.
	Committee Member – Andrea Charlton Andrea is a wordsmith and writer who has retired after decades of working for business and government in communication, customer relations and marketing roles.  A Canberra resident since 1987, her love affair with the South Coast began with family holidays at Bawley Point, Ulladulla and Guerilla Bay in the late nineties and deepened when her father moved to Batemans Bay in 2010 to be closer to his grandchildren.  Her planned retirement move to the Bay was precipitated in 2020 by family needs and her commitment to the region was cemented by the community’s suffering and response to the Black Summer fires. She sees her commitment to SHASA as a way to do something positive to address climate change.
	Committee Member – Frank Ross Gardener, Oz history qualified book collector, politically active on Green issues and former Commonwealth public servant.

Communications Support Team

Newsletter Editor – Kat McCarthy

Facebook Editor – Lynette Smith

Website Administrator – Natalie Barnett

SHASA Sub Committees

Governance – Kathryn Maxwell, Steve Colman, Pete Phillips, Tony Lowe, Patrick Guinness

Grants – Kathryn Maxwell, Frank Ross, Jo Walker, Stuart Absalom, Tony Lowe, Andrea Charlton

Communications – Kathryn Maxwell, Lyn Smith, Lynne Griffiths, Gillian Macnamara, Jo Maclean, Phil Shorten, Simone Thomas

SuRF – Kathryn Maxwell, Phil Shorten, Matthew Thomas, Alasdair Smith

Electric Vehicles – Kathryn Maxwell, Matthew Thomas, Andrea Charlton, Andrew Everard, Jo Maclean, Lyn Smith, Michael Brown, Sonja Skagen, Stewart Needham, Peter Haughton, Richard Barraclough

Enquiries about the Repair Café – contact Deb Stevenson on 0417 835 169

SHASA Members Meetings

SHASA monthly meetings are held via Zoom on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10.30am – 12.00pm.  Send an email to Steve Colman if you would like to attend steve@globallearning.com.au

Meetings are inclusive and informal with all-comers and ideas welcome.

If you have any questions, contact us at SHASA.

You can also join SHASA or donate.

SHASA GOVERNANCE

As an incorporated not for profit organisation with tax deductibility status we have a governance sub committee that ensures that SHASA complies with all legal and accounting requirements.