Our Team

As the CEO of The National Trust of South Australia, Simon leads a small but mighty team of professionals. With a seven years experience as CEO for National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Simon has comprehensive knowlege of heritage and conservation. With a BA in Arts Management and a background in tourism and destination marketing, Simon has a passion for preserving and promoting the natural, cultural, and Indigenous heritage that creates our national identity.

Leanne has a passion for the inner-workings of business and has been fortunate to deep-dive into the National Trust. Leanne oversees the State Office which includes human resources, the tri-annual magazine, legal queries, policies and procedures and works in conjunction with the team to develop strategic initiatives that benefit the organisation and its members. She has had experience working in a diverse range of industries such as human services, marketing and government spanning regions including London, Melbourne and Sydney. Leanne is obsessed with her cavoodle, Bonnie, who you can find in the office weekly and in her spare time loves painting, reading, pilates and yoga.

Laura's career has had many chapters, including history, tourism, hospitality, sports, and marketing. She has a deep passion for South Australia, having grown up in Kybybolite and moved throughout country SA. Laura was most recently at the Royal Flying Doctor Service, coordinating corporate partnerships at a state and national level however she's xcited to be back in the heritage sector, particularly as the National Trust of South Australia embarks on new strategies for significant properties. On a personal note - Laura is an avid reader, Crows fan and chardonnay enthusiast.

Victoria holds a Master of Arts Degree, majoring in Spanish and French, a Bachelor in Economics, and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration. She has worked as a translator, teacher, and finance manager, with the latter role spanning the last 16 years. Victoria works with numbers, accounting systems, and people at different business levels, handling every aspect of financial sustainability, financial record keeping, reporting, and compliance. She aims to make financial matters easier to understand and manage, improve and innovate business systems where necessary, and ensure the business remains safe and sound. She hopes to see the National Trust of South Australia sustain its historic sites and preserve them for future generations, knowing she has contributed to this goal. Her hobbies have evolved over time, and she is passionate about languages, world literature, history, and music. She adores spending time with her grandkids and their puppy, Eve. She still hopes to one day own white skate boots and test her skills on the skating rink.

Alex manages the Nature Reserves across South Australia. She leads passionate and dedicated volunteers to undertake conservation efforts which include weed control, pest animal control, track and trail maintenance, bushfire prevention, visitor experiences, managing buildings on these reserves and liaising with community groups. Alex has worked and volunteered in the environmental field all her life, with experience in non-government organisations including local action planning and landcare, government roles in National Parks and Wildlife, Natural Resource Management, and education. Additionally, she has worked in out of home care, on mining sites, in veterinary surgeries, ecotourism, farming, and more. Outside of work, Alex spends time on her 75-acre property, undertaking similar tasks to her role at work, as the property was recently put under a heritage agreement. She shares this place with lots of wildlife, including Diamond Firetails and Restless Flycatchers. She also helps her partner with shearing on weekends. Many may already know she is a big softy and will never say no to an animal in need—these days it’s mostly dogs and lambs/sheep, and although exhausting, this is another of her true passions.

Debbie is an experienced qualified accountant - she joins the National Trust after working across a variety of industries in several countries. She was born and grew up in Fiji, moving to Sydney for higher education where she completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of NSW. She has recently returned to Australia after 10 years overseas and now calls Adelaide home together with her husband and dog Poppy. Debbie is a keen artisan and also holds qualifications in Visual Arts and Vocational Training.

Louise's role at the National Trust of South Australia involves creating, organising, and delivering events and activations at properties across South Australia. To date, the largest event she has conducted is the annual Women's Pioneer Trail Walk. She also manages venue hire and oversees public and private tours at the properties. Louise began her career in administration but soon discovered a passion for events. This led her to complete a Certificate III in Events Management, pursuing a career as an Events Coordinator. With over 10 years of experience in the events industry, she has owned and operated a photobooth business and worked at various wedding and event venues in South Australia. Her love for heritage properties began at Ayers House and continues to grow in her current role at the National Trust of South Australia. Louise loves ice skating, painting, baking delicious treats, and playing the piano/bass.

Michelle’s career so far has been filled with a number of diverse experiences across SA industry and business, including a couple of her own start-ups! Bringing to the National Trust is a focus on governance and the customer/membership journey. After quite a few years in the tech sector, cyber is one area that is definitely the most interesting. Michelle is also a keen advocate in promoting healthy lifestyles and general well-being, and enjoys lots of travelling and exploring different places.