Board
Hon. Jeff Kennett AC
Jeff Kennett has been Chairman of The Torch since 2016. Jeff’s’ interest in Indigenous Affairs started in 1980 when he was appointed Victorian Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. He is also the Chairman of Equity Trustees Limited and currently the Chairman of the Hawthorn Football Club. Jeff is a Director of Seven West Media and he holds Director roles with several other unlisted companies. He was the Founder and the Chairman of beyondblue from 2000 -2017. Jeff was the Premier of Victoria from 1992-1999.
Meredith Kerr
Debra Lyon
Deb is currently the Finance and Operations Manager for The Torch and also holds the position of Treasurer with Australian Multicultural Community Services Inc (AMCS). Deb has a Bachelor of Business from Edith Cowan University and was also a Founder and Director of WA research and development electronics company RF Innovations Pty Ltd.
Catherine Andrews
Catherine Andrews, wife of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, has been a Director of The Torch since 2015. Catherine is a writer, editor and historian with a Masters in Public History. She has been Victoria’s SunSmart Ambassador since 2012, and in 2015 was appointed an Ambassador for The Stella Prize, which promotes Australian women writers and their work. Catherine is passionate about the arts, education and social justice. She lives with Daniel and their three children in the Premier’s electorate of Mulgrave. She also raises funds for the Monash Children’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital by running in charity events like Run for the Kids and Run Melbourne.
Georgina Downer
Georgina Downer is a public policy expert and commentator. She has extensive experience in foreign policy, most recently as the Principal of Tenjin Consulting and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. Previously, she was a diplomat at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, and occupied various positions at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. Georgina has also worked as a corporate lawyer at Minter Ellison Lawyers in Melbourne, and as a researcher for US Senator Chuck Hagel and the Baroness Howe of Idlicote in the House of Lords, UK. Georgina has degrees in Commerce and Law from the University of Melbourne.