Meet the Board
Our Board is made up of leaders of the Australian union movement appointed by the ACTU together with Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA elected members. They contribute their combined skills and experience in trade unionism, governance, international development, financial management, education, and campaigning to guide the strategic direction of Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA as it continues to advance the tradition of Australian solidarity abroad.
Andrew Dettmer – Chairperson
Andrew Dettmer has been an official of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) since 1988, and today serves the union as National President. Andrew started his career as a laboratory technician and acquired a BA (Hons) from Monash University, and today Andrew serves as Chair of the Manufacturing Skills Queensland Advisory Committee and is a member of the Board of QMI Solutions Ltd. Andrew is also a member of the board of Construction Skills Queensland, a member of the Training and Employment Recognition Council (Queensland), Vice-President of the Queensland Council of Unions, and President of the Australian Labor Party Queensland.
Michele O’Neil – Vice Chairperson
Michele O’Neil has been a long-time campaigner for the rights of the low-paid, women, migrant workers, and asylum seekers, and today she serves as President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
Before being elected as ACTU President, Michele was CFMEU Vice President and the National Secretary of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA). Michele represented workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industry for twenty-eight years and held a variety of union positions in her own union and in the broader trade union movement in Australia and globally.
Michele led campaigns to win world leading rights for workers throughout clothing supply chains including for homebased outworkers. A model of supply chain accountability for workers which has increased pay and conditions for some of Australia’s most exploited workers. Michele was a founding member of the Fairwear Campaign and is Secretary of the national joint Union-Industry body, Ethical Clothing Australia
Mark Lennon – Honorary Treasurer
Mark Lennon has been a leading figure in the NSW union movement for the past twenty years.
Mark was Secretary of Unions NSW between 2008-2015 and previously held a number of positions including Assistant Secretary, Training Officer, Industrial Officer and Executive Officer.
Mark is a Director of StatePlus as well as serving on a number of other financial institutions, insurance and superannuation funds. Mark has degrees in Commerce and Law from the University of NSW. Mark was a member of the WorkCover NSW Board, and served as President of the Australian Labor Party NSW Branch from 2014-2020.
Danae Bosler – Honorary Secretary
Danae Bosler is a life-long union member who joined Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA ten years ago. She participated in a Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA study tour to Timor Leste, and returned two years later as part of the Working Women’s Conference. Danae is a member of the Australian Services Union (ASU) and the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA) journalist’s division.
Danae is currently Chief of Staff at Victorian Trades Hall Council, and she also serves as a councillor on the Yarra City Council, and has served the city as Mayor.
Dr Linda Kelly – Appointed Expert
Dr Linda Kelly has over thirty years’ experience in international development with non-government organisations, DFAT, universities, UN agencies and Pacific and Asian Regional organisations, building on earlier work as a social worker and educator in Australian domestic welfare. She is currently a Director of Praxis Consultants and an Adjunct Associate Professor at La Trobe University. Her specialisations include evaluation and program design, especially for complex and large scale programs. She has authored and co-authored numerous research reports, papers and publications, and presented at industry conferences. Throughout her career, Linda has advocated for and integrated gender equality, disability and social inclusion and locally led development in her practice.
Michelle Robertson – Board Member
Michelle Robertson has been an active union member for thirty-seven years and an official for the past thirty. Her background in the social and community service industry, and her experience as an official of the Australian Services Union (ASU), has meant that the core beliefs of dignity, respect and human rights have been fundamental to her values and the work she carries out. Michelle began her union activism in 1982 as a Women’s Rights Organiser at the University of Queensland Student Union, and today Michelle works as an Industrial Officer at the ASU.
She has been a member of Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA since 2011, and was instrumental in reviving the Brisbane Activists Group in 2012. Since its resurgence, the Brisbane Group has raised over $50,000. Michelle was privileged to participate in a study tour to the Thai-Myanmar Border, which contributed to her drive for the Brisbane Group’s activities and membership.
Michael Wright – Board Member
Michael is the National Assistant Secretary and Legal Officer for the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) of Australia. He has worked closely with Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA on its asbestos campaign in Southeast Asia. He travelled with the Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA delegation through Vietnam and Indonesia in 2018. More recently, Michael has led the ETU’s efforts in Fiji, providing technical assistance to the Construction, Energy and Timber Workers’ Union of Fiji.
Michael has a long-term interest in peace building and international development. Prior to working for the ETU, Michael was based in Kampala, Uganda with a human rights defender NGO, working to protect human rights activists throughout East Africa. Michael holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of International Studies, and a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Lori-Anne Sharp – Board Member
Lori-Anne is Federal Assistant Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwives Federation (ANMF) and has held the role since June 2018.
She is a registered nurse who has been nursing for over 22 years. The majority of her career has been in district nursing working for the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), and then took up a coordinating role with the RDNS Homeless Persons Program (HPP), a specialised team of Community Health nurses who provide healthcare to people experiencing homelessness.
Lori-Anne became an ANMF Job Representative in 2001 before joining the Victorian ANMF Branch Council in 2004 through to 2018. During this time Lori-Anne has held positions on Branch Executive, Branch Vice President and Federal Vice President. She became a pivotal cog in the union effort negotiating EBAs on behalf of members and supporting landmark policies such as nurse-to-patient ratios.
Jo-anne Schofield – Board Member
Jo-anne Schofield is National President at United Workers Union (UWU) since 2019. Committed social justice advocate and trade unionist with over 20 years experience working with trade unions, not-for-profit and public sector organisations.
Nicole Calnan – Board Member
Nicole Calnan is the Deputy Federal Secretary of the Australian Education Union (AEU). Before being elected to work fulltime for the union, Nicole taught in public primary schools in regional NSW. She served as an Officer of the NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) from 2005-2020 working in the roles of Organiser, Membership and Training Officer and Deputy Secretary (Communications and Administration). She took up her current role with the AEU in 2020.