Executive Team
Neil Curnow
Chief Executive Officer
GDBA, MBA, FAICD, FAIM
Neil Curnow has more than 17 years experience in senior management within the not-for-profit sector. His experience includes Chief Financial Officer and Trustee with board responsibilities for the broad array of social and evangelical services delivered across The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory. Within the employment industry Mr Curnow has been General Manager Corporate Services and General Manager Network Operations of The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus.
Chief Executive Officer
GDBA, MBA, FAICD, FAIM
Neil Curnow has more than 17 years experience in senior management within the not-for-profit sector. His experience includes Chief Financial Officer and Trustee with board responsibilities for the broad array of social and evangelical services delivered across The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory. Within the employment industry Mr Curnow has been General Manager Corporate Services and General Manager Network Operations of The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus.
Neil has a strategic perspective to management. This perspective is focused upon adding value to the customer experience, and has been demonstrated in repositioning organisations for growth, through the successful implementation of major programs.
As CEO, Neil is accountable to the Board and responsible for the management of the organisation.
Eileen AllisonExecutive Manager Community Services
Eileen Allison joined Community First in 2006. Her previous career in the United Kingdom was within the Finance, IT and Local Government sectors. Since migrating to Australia she has worked for Federal Government departments and in the not for profit sector in Senior Management positions.
Her roles at Community First have involved all aspects of Community First’s operations, including the successful development and expansion of the Home and Community Care program (HACC); expansion of Employment Services; and the implementation of the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program (PHAMS).During the past 12 months Community Services have experience growth across services including the expansion of PHaMS into the Bunbury /Vasse region and the transition of HACC services within the City of Melville. Other opportunities have included funding from DEEWR under the Innovation Fund to provide support to homeless men in Albany.Currently Eileen is responsible for the delivery of Community Services contracts across South Western WA. She believes in strong leadership, building teams that have a high performance culture, and in developing and empowering staff to achieve their full potential.
Andries PretoriusExecutive Manager, Human Resources
Andries was appointed as Executive Manager Human Resources in May 2012. Andries has extensive Human Resources Management and Consulting experience in government (Defence) and private enterprise. His previous role was as Group Human Resources Manager for South Australia’s largest employment services provider which also has nine sites in Victoria. Andries has completed a Bachelors Degree in Management Sciences and an Honours Degree in Organisational Psychology. Prior to his relocation to Western Australia, Andries was an active member of the Organisational Design and Development Forum of the Australian Human Resources Institute in South Australia where he used his knowledge to develop other practitioners.
Jason BurgessExecutive Manager Quality and Learning
With more than 12 years senior management experience in private and not-for-profit employment services organisations in both the UK and Australia, Community First’s Executive Manager Quality and Learning Jason Burgess, possesses extensive knowledge of the job services industry. Jason’s work with the British Heart Foundation and Action for Employment demonstrated his exceptional expertise in aiding the strategic direction and outcome for businesses. Jason’s focus at Community First is to oversee and maintain a high standard of
compliance, and to enhance quality and learning within Community First. He believes staff development and retention are vital to organisational success, and hopes his “can do” attitude and willingness to learn from others will inspire people.
