Tender Funerals Perth Board of Directors

The board of directors for Tender Funerals Perth have a range of management and leadership skills along with significant experience in funeral celebrancy and community activation. We are about to launch our intentions to the broader community and we will be seeking funding and donations needed to set up the business.

Helen Tuck

Chair 

Helen is committed to social justice and equity. helen has held various roles within the ATO, after 30 years working. She hasa particular interest in the challenges to make funerals affordable for all, and to improve access for all to a process that is both environmentally friendly, easy to access and suitable for all people. 

Helen has varied skilled including computer, communications, networking and social media. 

Franco Guazzelli

Director

Franco brings a wealth of experience both as a Director and volunteer, most recently in the mental health sector. His professional background includes project management, building renovation, construction and fit-outs. Franco is passionate about offering communities choice, support and authentic involvement in end-of-life and after-death care practices

Dr Bernadette Wright

Director

Dr Bernadette Wright is a Clinical Psychologist specialising in transcultural mental health.  She worked for over 20 years with the WA Transcultural Mental Health Service in WA, and now works in both private practice and the not-for-profit sector as well as holding an adjunct academic position at Curtin University. Her work focuses on understanding the inter-relationship of resettlement, mental health and ethnocultural issues for migrants and refugees and the barriers to successful acculturation and engagement. 

Bernadette is on the Boards and Committees of government and key non-government agencies.  Her career encompasses work with individuals and families from ethnoculturally and linguistically diverse (ELD) backgrounds and advice to government and community groups.  Bernadette has developed and delivered numerous culturally responsive training seminars and workshops that underscore the interface between ethnicity,  culture and mental health. 

Bernadette’s work has been recognised by awards from the State Department of Health, Office of Multicultural Interests, and the Health Consumers’ Council.

Kedy Kristal 

Director

Kedy has worked in the field of domestic violence since1983 with 24 years as the Chief Executive Officer at the Patricia Giles Centre (1992- 2016). Currently she is the Executive Officer for GLBTI Rights in Ageing, (2021) a not-for-profit community-based organisation, working to ensure that older GLBTI people are safe and respected. Her services have been publicly recognised as the 2006 WA Citizen of the Year (community services), the 2007 Western Australian 100 Local Champions award and in 2011 she was elected to the International Women’s Day Hall of Fame. Kedy became a Justice of the Peace in 1999 and her voluntary work includes: independent prison visitor (2008) to Boronia Pre-release Centre, a Court Welfare worker (2017) and Standing Shoulder to Shoulder, (2017) a charity that assists people who have experienced Domestic and Family violence.

 Kedy is Deputy Chair of the Women’s Hall of Fame board (2019), the

Chair of Standing Shoulder to Shoulder Inc (2017), a member of the SHQ GLBTIQ advisory group (2017) and a member of City of Perth LGBTIQA+ Advisory group (2021). 

Joanna Joesephs

Director

Joanna has a background in Social Work and Community Development and is an experienced manager within the not-for-profit sector. Joanna was the inaugural General Manager of CARAD – Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees, and worked with staff, members, volunteers, and supporters to provide essential services, and advocate for the rights of people seeking safety in our community.

Joanna currently works with Australian Red Cross, developing and implementing state-wide mobilisation strategies to inspire people to take voluntary action within their communities. Joanna is passionate about volunteerism and has personally volunteered with a range of organisations, most recently to provide social support to older people. Joanna holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Master of International Development and Master of Business Administration. She is also a qualified Marriage Celebrant, supporting people to meaningfully experience important life and end-of-life events.

Sophie Papas

Director

Sophie has a background in Grief and Bereavement Counselling. Her passion for
this work stems from a keen interest in learning all that Thanatology and its
related fields have to offer. It is this passion that has influenced her engagement
with Tender Funerals Perth.

Sophie holds a Bachelor of Counselling from the University of Notre Dame, and
several other accreditations in professional development and varying modalities
such as; Criminology, Forensic Psychology and Family and Domestic Violence.
Sophie’s Counselling experience so far has revolved largely around group
planning and community engagement, with a special interest in working
alongside youth and adolescents. Sophie is a passionate advocate for
accessibility in all areas of life and death, she understands the deep impacts of
accessible, well-informed end-of-life and after death care.

Brooke O’Donnell

Director

Brooke O’Donnell is a proud Palyku Aboriginal woman from Yandeyarra in the Pilbara region who has lived on Perth, Boorloo Wadjuk Noongar land for the past 40 years, Perth and describes herself as a problem-solver who is undeterred by obstacles when pursuing her goals and dreams, and someone who likes to lead by example. For the past eight years, Brooke has been the first Aboriginal Deputy Mayor and Councillor to effectively govern the City of Kalamunda. Brooke previously worked as a Social Worker in the Department of Justice and Communities, striving for Social Justice. 

Brooke is a qualified Social Worker and has a master’s in business administration with specialist work in Law/Environment. She has worked for Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation as Heritage Manager to ensure that all proponents work on Yamatji country do not comprise on Cultural Heritage and the free, prior and informed consent is paramount. Brooke is passionate about ensuring Aboriginal engagement and partnerships are built through all areas of Western Australia.

In Brooke’s downtime, she performs weddings as a Celebrant, but she prefers spending time with her two children and husband, particularly in their caravan on their block in Mount Barker.

Sam Gibb

Director

Sam is the Global Sales Director at Chronicle, an innovative Australian technology
company revolutionising cemetery management. Chronicle partners with cemetery
operators providing management solutions to enhance community experience and
streamline operations. Sam’s role provides him with a unique perspective on the
death care industry.
With over 14 years of experience in general management, sales, and engineering,
Sam complements his professional expertise with over a decade of service on
various not-for-profit boards and committees, bringing a diverse range of technical,
managerial, and governance skills.
He holds a qualification in Mechatronics Engineering, is the past National President
and Chair of JCI Australia (formerly Jaycees), and most recently has served as the
Finance Lead at 10×10 Philanthropy Perth.