St Vincent de Paul Society Australia genetic logo

1800 305 330 Welfare Assistance

DONATE

Scam Alert: Fake Facebook pages using our logos and name are attempting to scam users. We have reported them to Facebook. Please verify you are on our official channels for accurate information.

Scam Alert

<h4>The St Vincent de Paul Society offers services that help people in need.</h4>
<p></p>
<p><a href="/vic/services" title="Services" class="outline-button-white"><span class="text-action-primary-yellow-100">Services in Victoria</span></a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="/vic/find-help" title="Find help" class="outline-button-white">Help options in Victoria</a></p>

Cost of Living

Education

Family Violence

Financial

Food

Housing & Homelessness

Find Help

Fundraising

The Good Works Society

Wills & Bequests

Community Fundraising

Corporate Involvement

Vinnies CEO Sleepout

Donate

Donate Goods

Vinnies Shops

Join us

Employees

Volunteers

Members

Volunteering opportunities

What's your calling?

Dandenong

Heidelberg West

Noble Park

Schools

Mini Vinnies

College Conferences

Vinnies Youth

Kids Day Out & Teens Day Out

Young Vinnies Conferences

Get involved

<h1>Vinnies Shops</h1>
<p>Everything you buy or donate inspires change in your local community. For a full list of shops in Victoria, <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/vic/shops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a></p>

Vinnies Shops VIC

Shops

Advocacy our plan

State Budget Analysis Report

Strategic Advocacy Plan 2026-2030

Pathway to Home scoping review

Research Agenda

Social Justice

Asylum Seekers & Refugees

Education Costs

Energy Costs

Utility Bills

Energy VIC

Tariff Tracking

Concessions

Disconnections

Relative Price Index

Our Good Works

Food Insecurity

Homelessness

Advocacy

About Us

Newsroom

Publications

Contact Us

| Vinnies

Home

ACT & surrounds

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

National Council

SVdP Housing Australia

<h4>The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation made up of 10,000+ members, volunteers and employees. In Victoria, the Society is governed by State Council which consists of members who represent the members and volunteers, and oversee the strategic direction of the Society.</h4>
<p>The members of State Council are made up of eight elected members and up to a further seven appointments that may be made by the State President. The term of office for elected members is for up to four years with retirements occurring at any time during the year.</p>
<p>In addition State Council relies on external expertise for specific roles. Advisers are appointed and attend State Council as required to assist our work in legal, risk management, spiritual and other special areas.</p>

Governance & Management

Vinnies VIC: At the heart of the St Vincent de Paul Society is a profound sense of respect for the people we serve and a desire to learn from them. No work of charity is foreign to us. No person is alien to us.

Our Structure

State President, Brendan Podbury 2026-2030

Image

<h3>BRENDAN PODBURY</h3>
<h4>STATE PRESIDENT</h4>
<p>Brendan Podbury was elected State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria on 14 February 2026 to take effect from 20 February.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Brendan is a long-standing member of the Society since joining as a Conference Support Officer in 1998 and as a Conference Member since 2002. He has held numerous leadership and governance roles, most recently completing a four-year term as Northern Central Council President in 2025. </p>
<p>Brendan brings extensive experience in community and faith-based leadership, with a deep commitment to social justice, pastoral care and volunteer development. His background includes youth work and ministry, and more than two decades of service in charitable and mission-focused settings.</p>
<p>Within the broader Society, he has contributed to strategic planning, leadership development and the Congress and Beyond process, helping to strengthen Vincentian formation and embed Congress outcomes into practical structures, policies and ways of working.</p>
<p>Known for his collaborative and values-driven leadership style, Brendan combines a deep respect for the Vincentian tradition with a practical approach to change management in volunteer-based organisations. <br>He lives in Northcote with his wife Helen, and they have three adult children and three grandchildren.</p>

Rich Text

<h4>Appointees</h4>
<p><strong></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Vice President, Membership Mission &amp; Spirituality - Marian Power</strong><strong></strong></li>
<li><strong>Vice President, Special Works &amp; Projects - Susan Dornom</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vice President, Youth - Natasha Smith</strong></li>
<li><strong>Treasurer - Shane O'Meara</strong></li>
<li><strong>Secretary - Joshua McLeod</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong></strong></p>
<h4>Elected</h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>Eastern Central Council - Margaret Gearon</strong></li>
<li><strong>Northern Central Council - David Forrest</strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></li>
<li><strong>Southern Central Council - CP Singh</strong></li>
<li><strong>Western Central Council - Kerry Thomas (acting)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Gippsland Central Council - Sandra Demagistris</strong></li>
<li><strong>North Eastern Central Council - Anne Kotsiakos&nbsp;</strong></li>
<li><strong>North Western Central Council - Michael Ryan</strong></li>
</ul>

<h3>State Council</h3>

Link List

<h3>CHARLIE SPENDLOVE</h3>
<h4>GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER</h4>
<p>Charlie Spendlove is a respected and proven leader with a strong track record in complex, for-purpose organisations. She brings a focus on high-performing teams and accountability balanced with a deep understanding of St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria’s mission and the opportunities that lie ahead. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Charlie joined the Society in 2024 in the role of as Executive General Manager, Brand &amp; Commercial, overseeing Corporate Affairs including Marketing and Communications, Vinnies Retail and the Philanthropy portfolio.</p>
<p>In April 2026, Charlie was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria. Having served as interim CEO in the three months prior to her permanent appointment, Charlie brings a deep understanding of the mission, vision and work of the Society.</p>
<p>For close to two decades, Charlie has held senior executive roles across the not-for-profit and public sectors, including Guide Dogs Australia, the Victorian Government and Scope Australia, where she led major brand and organisational transformations, scaled income streams and built high-performing teams.</p>
<p>She is recognised as a values-based leader who builds teams grounded in trust, service and shared purpose, bringing an unapologetically optimistic, people-centred approach to leadership.</p>

<p>Working together, our CEO and Senior Leadership Team manage the operations of the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria. Portfolios include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Brand &amp; Commercial</strong></li>
<li><strong>Client Services</strong></li>
<li><strong>Corporate Services</strong></li>
<li><strong>General Counsel</strong></li>
<li><strong>Housing &amp; Property Strategy</strong></li>
<li><strong>Membership &amp; Special Works</strong></li>
<li><strong>People &amp; Culture&nbsp;</strong></li>
<li><strong>Strategy, Technology &amp; Impact&nbsp;</strong></li>
</ul>

<h3>Senior Leadership Team</h3>
<p></p>