Leadership Team
Professor Pandora Patterson
BSocSci, Hons (Class 1), PhD (Psychology), MAPS, MAICD
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Pandora is a senior executive driven by social justice values with over 30 years of experience in health and social care across government, hospitals, and the for-purpose sector.. She has a PhD in psychology and is a registered psychologist. Pandora holds an adjunct Professor position with the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University and previously held positions as an adjunct A/Prof with the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney and Visiting Professor with the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University in the UK. Pandora is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is Board Member of the Western Sydney University Fairfield Connect Suburban University Study Hub.
Pandora worked in youth and disability before spending 7 years with the Infant, Child, Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS) at South Western Sydney Local Health District. More recently Pandora was Executive General Manager, Research, Policy, and Patient Programs at Canteen where she provided national and international leadership in the area of young people impacted by cancer.
Pandora has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles largely focussed on the health and well-being of young people and has over 300 national and international conference presentations. She is a recipient of the Australian Scholarship Foundation and McKinsey and Company Executive Leadership Program Scholarship (2021) and the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Program Scholarship (2022) funded by the Federal Government.
Pandora’s passion for creating inclusive, resilient communities is grounded in her own story. As the daughter of a Macedonian migrant, she grew up surrounded by the richness and challenges of cultural diversity. Her experience supporting her sister, who has an intellectual disability, has given her a deep, personal understanding of the importance of equity, accessibility, and genuine inclusion. Having called South West Sydney home for over 25 years, Pandora is proud to work alongside and for the communities that have shaped her values and purpose.
Usha Rao
CertIVFrontlnMgt, BCom, MHRM
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Usha is very passionate about creating a safe environment for children and is a strong advocate of enhancing opportunities for newly arrived migrants and refugees through education and employment opportunities. Having experienced first-hand the empowering support of Fair Foundations when she arrived with her family as a new migrant from India, Usha commenced working in the not-for-profit sector following a background in people and culture, including holding a master’s in Human Resource Management.
Now with over 20 years experience in this sector, many of those in senior management including an Acting CEO role, Usha values creating opportunities for others to be empowered and takes great pride in working with culturally diverse communities.
Lily Roberts
BA (Journalism & Law), MSA
EXECUTIVE MANAGER, PEOPLE & CULTURE
Lily brings over 30 years in the not-for-profit and education sectors and 10 years of consulting in corporate and community sectors on community engagement, policies and employment lifecycles to her role at Fair Foundations.
Her professional experiences are underpinned by a BA in Communications (majoring in journalism and law) and a Masters in Social Administration / Policy. She credits her undergraduate for influencing her decision to uphold equity, social justice, inclusion, diversity in all its forms, empowerment, and procedural fairness as a professional; and for crystalising the principles she has actively pursued as a woman who is from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. Lily credits her role at the longest operating Children’s Contact Centre (CCC) in NSW (Harris Park) and the establishment of CCCs in Lismore, Coffs Harbor, Dubbo and Orange as professional highlights that enabled her to fully appreciate the impact of client-focused and person-centred best-practice; values and principles that she now brings to Fair Foundations.
Fair Foundations brings Lily back to the community sector where she started out. She is thrilled to be working alongside colleagues, students and volunteers who all seek to create opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse children, young people, individuals and families in Greater Western Sydney.
Lisa Mastoras
CertPM, DipEMM, BFA
EXECUTIVE MANAGER, FUNDRAISING AND ENGAGEMENT
Lisa is passionate about creating impact, utilising innovation to drive fundraising and likes to think outside the box.
Lisa has over 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector representing Australian charities such as WWF, Amnesty International and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Creating strategies to deliver revenue through fundraising programs that spark the interest of the community and businesses to take action.
With roots in Greater Western Sydney, Lisa brings her lived experience and national-level expertise to grow Fair Foundations’ impact.
Marilene Fernandes
BBA, MSc
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Born in Australia to Portuguese parents, Marilene moved to France at a very young age, where she was raised and received her education, before returning to Australia in 2017. Marilene holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, specialising in Marketing and Management, and pursued her studies with an MSc in Management, Production, and Promotion of Audiovisual Medias.
Marilene has a rich background in film industry marketing, including roles at the Dendy/Icon Group. A pivotal shift then led her to the childcare sector. Fuelled by a passion to support parents in their journey and create nurturing environments for children, she continued her professional journey at Montessori Academy. With her own experiences of migration and a linguistically and culturally diverse background, Marilene is driven by Fair Foundations’ mission to help people find a sense of belonging.
Bringing expertise in managing successful marketing campaigns and creating impactful content, Marilene is dedicated to increasing awareness of the invaluable work Fair Foundations does in creating opportunities for the vibrant community it supports.
Marie Saliba
BSocSc (Hons)
HEAD OF COMMUNITY AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES
Marie has worked in the Community Services sector for over 17 years with roles in service coordination, community capacity building and stakeholder engagement. She graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Social Science, and completed a fourth year Honours degree research project.
Her work supporting migrants and refugees in Fairfield began in 2018, and her desire to advocate for the needs of the local area has grown ever since. In 2021 she was elected onto Fairfield City Council, where she is currently serving as a Councillor and allows her to also represent and engage with the community on a different platform.
Marie brings to Fair Foundations a passion for creating meaningful partnerships and collaboration to deliver impactful programs. She is highly driven to advocate for Greater Western Sydney to ensure the community has access to the services and support systems which enable them to thrive.
Niki Sullivan
BEd, CertEd, DipEd
HEAD OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES
Niki brings over 12 years of leadership experience to her role at Fair Foundations. With a strong background in senior management, she has successfully led large teams and played a key role in strategic growth initiatives and the establishment of new businesses.
Niki is dedicated to continuous professional development and holds a Bachelor of Education. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education with a focus on Leadership at Charles Sturt University.
As the Head of Children’s Services at Fair Foundations, Niki leads a team of qualified educators, ensuring the delivery of high-quality education and care. Raised in the Fairfield LGA, she is passionate about providing exceptional care to all children in our communities.
Nartarn Al Dhalimi
DipLeadMgt, DipProMgt, CertIV Disability
HEAD OF DISABILITY SERVICES
Nartarn brings over 15 years of experience in the disability sector, including more than five years in senior management roles. A recipient of the 2024 Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability – Intellectual Disability Professional Award, she is recognised for her leadership in designing human-centred programs that are impactful, innovative, and inclusive.
With a natural curiosity and a systems-thinking approach, Nartarn encourages her teams to consider the entire ecosystem surrounding individuals, identifying small but meaningful ways to create positive change for the whole community.