Our People

CHAIRPERSON’S WELCOME

The Goldfields Women’s Refuge has long been the sole provider of crisis services, specifically an accommodation provider for women and children in the Goldfields, providing a secure and safe haven. The women and children coming to Finlayson House have generally suffered from the effects of family and domestic violence or face homelessness or other life challenges that often find them destitute and in need of immediate help.

Based at Finlayson House, a team of dedicated professionals take a holistic approach to individual needs, working alongside women to plan their way forward. Finlayson house provides support, including Outreach Services, and Mobile Family and Domestic Violence Services to enable individuals to achieve their goals in a way that is suitable to their specific requirements.

As a not-for-profit run organisation, the GWR has a board of volunteers to oversee the business performance of the organisation, guaranteeing long term viability and ensuring it abides to the objectives in the GWR’s constitution.  The Board also ensures adherence to all regulatory and reporting requirements as outlined by the Department of Communities for NHHA Family and Domestic Violence Accommodation and Support Services.  

The board maintains diversity in its members to ensure it represents the culturally and linguistically diverse community who take up all the unique services provided by the GWR.  This ensures that as a group of professionals, the combined applicable skills and knowledge are at the decision making, governing level of the organisation. Developing and implementing systems that enable it to comply with all the legal and policy obligations and providing the guidance to the Chief Executive for consistent quality assurance.

As Chair, I’m thrilled to launch this website as evidence of the good governance our organisation adheres to and thank my fellow board members for coming on this journey with me.

  Sheryl Liddicoat, Chairperson

OUR BOARD

Sheryl Liddicoat

Chairperson

Kalgoorlie Boulder is my home and I’ve lived here all my life and raised my wonderful family here. For the last few years I’ve worked for Life Without Barriers as the Operations Manager  for the  Goldfields region  overseeing both the Kalgoorlie and Esperance offices. Our services include working with people funded by the NDIS, Department of Health (Aged Care) and the Mental Health Commission.

I feel truly blessed to be a part of the Goldfields Women’s Refuge and to watch it develop under the guidance of such dedicated staff. 

Lucciano Vechio

Deputy Chairperson

Just when you think you know it all, you visit Kalgoorlie. December 2021 will make it 2 years since I arrived in Kalgoorlie; never in my wildest dreams would I have predicted what I found here.

Probably working harder than ever in running De Bernales, but I have never experienced a location where your customers become your friends.  Hospitality was my first ever job and will definitely be my last, right here in Kalgoorlie.

Melissa McGowan

Secretary

I was born in Kalgoorlie and have lived here almost all my life (apart from my university years). I have a Bachelor of Social Work and work as a Contract Foster Carer Assessor for the Goldfields-Esperance region and Administrator for my husband’s business. I have previously worked in mental health and disability employment services.

Suzie Williams

Chief Executive

Bio Coming Soon

Committee Members

Committee Member

Tracey McCartney

I’ve lived in Kalgoorlie for 40 years and am married with 2 children and 4 grandchildren; I love life here!
After being the Administrator at the Church of Christ Kalgoorlie for over 20 years, I recently made the change to Coordinator of our local Missions Program called M25 (from Matthew 25 in the Bible), which provides services and care for the homeless in our community. I was involved in coordinating Christmas in the Park for many years but am now involved through being a member of the Golden Community Mile Inc. Committee, which has taken on organising it.
I love getting involved in the community whenever and however I can.

Treasurer

Kayleen King

I am an accountant, a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants and registered tax agent. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting and Taxation and additionally a Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting. I am also a business owner, having started my own practice, Miller & King Accounting in 2011.
Driving into Kalgoorlie has always felt like coming home, even before I moved here in 1987 and that is because of the strong sense of community, the open and welcoming feeling from the people that make up the region. Now that my children have grown, I have a little more time to give back to the Community that has given my family so much opportunity.
I hope to use my skills and experience to contribute to the continuation and improvement of Goldfields Women’s Refuge which provides such important services to the women of the Goldfields.

Committee Member

Mo Baqir

Baqir, the Co-founder and COO of Unilakes Technologies Pty Ltd and the Founder of iGrocers Pty Ltd. Unilakes is a digital transformation company that offers online and on-cloud IT solutions, as well as on-premises solutions.
Over the course of 24 years, Mo has successfully conducted many multimillion-dollar IT and infrastructure design projects in countries like Pakistan, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Australia.

Apart from all these skill sets, he is always open to helping the community. A few cases are APPS Middle East and some charity NGOs. He provides them with free webinars, free digital signage design, and free content design. Mo also helps people with disabilities by hiring them, teaching them skills, and providing them with a good work environment.