State Council / Trustees

Peter was elected as NSW State Council President of the Society in August 2024. Peter has been an active member of St John the Evangelist Parish Conference Dapto since being posted to Wollongong as a primary teacher in the 1970s, where he raised his family, and later served as a school principal.

Over many years of service to the St Vincent de Paul Society, Peter has served as NSW Vice-President - Membership, President’s Vice-President, Wollongong Central Council President, and Central Illawarra Regional Council President.

Peter holds a Bachelor Degree in Arts / History, Master of Studies, and a Master of Education (Hons).

Beverley has served as Vice President of the NSW State Council, a Company Director, and President of Vinnies Services. Beverley joined the Society 20 years ago and is a member of the Corrimal Conference, as well as previously serving as Regional President for Wollongong. Beverley is the Chair of the Service Quality and Safety Committee, a member of the Audit and Finance Committee, and served as a member of the Governance, Risk and Nominations Committee this FY. She sits on the Coonamble Advisory Committee and was previously Advisory President for Ozanam Industries, Migrants and Refugees, Compeer and established the Rural Task Force. She is also a Director of Amélie Housing and member of the Amelie Housing Audit, Risk and Finance Committee. Beverley has a background in social services and previously worked for the NSW Department of Family and Community Service.

Brian Murnane is a highly esteemed community housing leader with over 50 years' experience as a Vincentian. For more than 40 years, Brian has been a leader in the community housing sector in NSW, including leading advocacy for the establishment of community services in Campbelltown's public housing estates in the 1970s.

Brian is the founder of a number of community housing organisations, including Argyle Community Housing, BlueCHP, a non-profit building company, and Amelie Housing, now St Vincent de Paul Housing Australia. Brian has established hostels, refuges, Alcohol and Other Drug services and disability services. He also served on a number of Ministerial Advisory Committees and brings his deep understanding of community need, property expertise and strong leadership skills to his portfolios.

Marissa has been a dedicated member and volunteer with the St Vincent de Paul Society for over 10 years, contributing to a wide range of services including the Brekky Van, Night Patrol, Buddies Days and Home Visitations. From 2021 to 2025, she served as the Sydney Central Council Youth Representative and President of the Young Adult Conference, mentoring and supporting youth leadership across the Society. In these roles, Marissa has collaborated with members, volunteers, and employees to coordinate events, recruitment campaigns, and community engagement initiatives such as Orientation Week, Sleep Out, and Vinnies Connect. Marissa is passionate about fostering youth involvement and creating meaningful mentorship opportunities that build connection, capability, and social impact.

Mary joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2014 and served as President of St Patrick’s Conference Swansea from 2017-2021. Mary currently serves as Eastlakes Regional Council President and as Chair of the Spirituality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Tom is a long-standing member of Camden and Oran Park St Paul & St Mary MacKillop Conference as well as a long-time serving member of the existing NSW Social Justice Committee. He is the current Wollongong Central Council and Camden / Wollondilly Regional Council Social Justice advisor and was an advisory committee member on Vinnies Services' Disability and Inclusion Community Services committee from 2017-2021. He has also held a Regional President position and is the current Wollongong Central Council Vice President.

John became a member of the Maroubra Junction Conference in October 2006 and remains a member of the Conference to date. He was elected President of the Conference in March 2007 and still holds the position.

John is a qualified accountant and a Fellow of the CPA, with qualifications in Financial Counselling (used for working for the Society) and Financial Planning. He spent six years (1988 to 1994) in two of the large accounting firms and has been a part owner of, and consultant in, a specialist tax consulting business from March 1994 to date. The business has clients across all levels of industry.

Frances joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in the Wilcannia Forbes Central Council after volunteering in the highlands of Papua New Guinea for years, where she saw firsthand how much the Queensland St Vincent de Paul Society overseas assistance helped local communities.  Frances worked in the Wilcannia Forbes office for 10 years whilst also acting as the Central Council’s Twinning Officer. Frances is the NSW Overseas Partnership Committee (OPC) Chairperson and works at spreading the knowledge she has gained about how much their twinning is valued and needed in our South-East Asia and Pacific areas with Society members in NSW.

John Adams is a member of St Patrick’s Conference Glen Innes and serves as Social Justice Representative on the Armidale Diocesan Council and Chair of the Finance Committee of St Patrick’s Parish, Glen Innes. John is a Justice of the Peace (NSW), formerly served as Deputy Chair of the Glen Innes Health Service Board and recently retired from a long career as a Paramedic with NSW Ambulance. John and wife Elaine have celebrated over 45 years of marriage and are proud parents and grandparents. 

Marina Gray was elected as Central Council President for Bathurst in February 2024. With 25 years of experience as a Society member, Marina has held various significant positions, including Conference President in Bourke and Bathurst, as well as Regional President in Cobar Region within the Wilcannia Forbes Central Council. She also previously served as Regional President for Evans.

Marina is actively involved in grassroots work through St Therese Conference in Bathurst. Her dedication to volunteering was recognised with the Rural Women’s Network Hidden Treasure Honour Roll award in 2023, highlighting her outstanding contributions to organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul Society and the State Emergency Service (SES).

Annette was elected as Broken Bay Central Council President in June 2025. Annette has been a Vincentian since the 1990s and is currently a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Conference, Wyoming and Gosford Regional President. Annette has a strong background in community work, including hands-on case management and advocacy. She has supported vulnerable people and families, worked closely with service providers, and helped them navigate complex systems. Annette has taken part in advocacy with Members of Parliament, showing she can influence change and speak up for the community. Her mix of grass roots experience and involvement in policy work makes her exceptionally well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to this role.

Vikram was born in Kolkata, India, the city where Mother Teresa made her home. He lived a few hundred metres from Saint Teresa’s home and was fortunate to have met her on many occasions.

He completed his bachelor’s degree in commerce and an MBA and, shortly thereafter, got recruited internationally on a banking job that turned out to be his chosen profession. Vikram has not returned to India other than on family visits. He moved permanently to Australia in 2008 and started his own finance brokerage company. A passion for law compelled him to complete a graduate degree in immigration law.

Finding himself with time on his hands, he joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2017 with his wife, Debra, to have an outlet for their passion for community work. He was also baptised in 2017 – Debra calls this her prayers of 28 years answered. They have two adult working sons and are blessed to have a happy family.

Paul Edgar was elected as Lismore Central Council President in August 2023. He has been an active member of the Yamba Conference since 2015, serving as Conference Treasurer for four years. Additionally, Paul has contributed to the Lismore State Council as the Social Justice representative on the State Council for three years. His dedication to Society service is further evidenced by his role as Regional President of the Clarence Orara Region, a position he has held for four years.

John was elected as Maitland Newcastle Central Council President in May 2025 and comes to this position as a second-generation Vincentian having been a member since the early 1990s. He currently holds the roles of President, Wallsend Conference, Regional President, Lake Macquarie Region and has also held Secretary and Treasurer positions. John is a former mathematics teacher and head teacher, bringing strong and empathetic leadership skills to this role.

Anthony Foley is currently the President of St Clare’s Conference, North Albury Care and Support Centre, and the Central Council President for Wagga Wagga. Over the past ten years, Anthony has actively contributed to the Society.

In his retirement, Anthony is able to dedicate quality time to the Society, focusing on enhancing the functionality of Regional Conferences.

With a career spanning 35 years as a civil engineer, Anthony has contributed significantly to state and local government entities in the Riverina region and has contributed to other community organisations.

Jim joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2007 and previously served as Wilcannia Forbes Central Council President from 2014-2018. Jim has been a member of Conferences in Parkes, Peak Hill and Condoblin and served as Central West Regional Council President after retirement from a long career in agriculture. Jim is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Peter joined the Society at St Joseph’s Conference, Moorebank in 1995. After moving to the Southern Highlands in 2012, he joined St Michael’s Conference, Mittagong. John became Regional President for the Southern Highlands in 2017 and since then performed many duties for Wollongong Central Council.