Board of Directors
Roger Langley, Chair
Roger joined the Board in 2003 and was appointed Chairman in 2014.
Roger’s background was in retail management before moving into the area of human resources and recruitment, business management and management consulting in the corporate sector.
He owned a successful recruitment company for 20 years, consulting to major corporates on business process improvement, recruitment and selection of key individuals and teams. The company had offices in Sydney and Melbourne and employed over 50 staff.
Roger currently consults with small businesses on business improvement and holds voluntary positions on several boards.
He is a member of the Board Investment Committee and brings an understanding of the commercial reality of the Foundation’s needs, particularly in relation to fundraising.
Roger aspires to effect positive change in the lives of disadvantaged children. He is committed to raising awareness of the needs of the children the Foundation helps, in comparison with the good fortune we enjoy in Australia. Roger is inspired to see a child return home healthy and full of hope, and able to attend school with good health restored and being given an opportunity.
Don Maloney, Deputy Chair
Don is a solicitor and is currently Corporate Counsel at Property Exchange Australia Limited. Before that, Don worked at the global law firm Ashurst (formerly known as Blake Dawson) where he was a partner for over 22 years and held a number of leadership roles. Don specialises in corporations’ law, mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and corporate governance.
He is also the Honorary Secretary for The Production Company (Australia) Limited.
Don is the Deputy Chair of Children First Foundation, and was appointed to the Board in 2013. Don’s association with the Foundation commenced soon after the Foundation was established, both as a supporter of the Foundation and as a lead member of the team at Ashurst that provided pro-bono legal assistance to the Foundation.
Don places a high value on the work undertaken by the Foundation, and its holistic approach to the care of disadvantaged children. He takes great pride in the English language skills, self-esteem, self-confidence and leadership abilities that they take back with them to their home country.
Rob Wernli, Treasurer
Rob is the managing partner of a Melbourne Chartered Accounting firm DFK Kidsons, a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a Registered Company Auditor, and a Registered Tax Agent. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Rob has specialised in providing audit and assurance services to private corporate, government, not-for-profit, and charity sector clients throughout his professional career.
He is an active supporter of several local charities (including Children First Foundation) that he has supported either personally or through the provision of pro bono or discounted professional services.
Rob first became involved with Children First Foundation in 2006 when he accepted the appointment as auditor of the Foundation. In 2021 he resigned from that position and joined the Board as a Director (Honorary Treasurer). He also chairs the Investment Committee of the Foundation.
Rob is inspired by the objective to enable more disadvantaged children from overseas to have access to life-saving and/or life-changing surgery and medical care.
Jeff Hudson
Jeff Hudson retired from the financial planning industry in 2013, after a 40-year career which included managing his member firm with Genesys Wealth Advisers Ltd for 19 years. During that time, Jeff assisted in developing the strong relationship between Children First Foundation and Genesys resulting in donations of $1m over ten years. Jeff continues to use his connections within this industry to make further presentations resulting in further donations.
After family duties, Jeff is involved with Kiwanis International and is actively involved with other Australian medical providers assisting Filipino children suffering burns and cleft palates. He also volunteers with Anglicare teaching English to migrants.
Jeff is based in Sydney where he focuses on broadening Children First’s base of financial supporters and connections with hospitals and medical providers.
Jeff’s varied humanitarian work takes him to the Philippines where he visits families and children who have returned home after being in Australia with Children First and assists children with continuing education opportunities and general wellbeing. One of Jeff’s goals is to build a more comprehensive follow up program for children after they return to their home countries.
Dr Sue English OAM
Sue is a practising General Practitioner in Bayside Melbourne with special interest in women’s health, adolescents and paediatrics.
Since 2004 Sue has volunteered with Salesian Missions in Timor Leste, supporting young women gain access to education and health resources and is founder of Bayside Friends of Salesian Missions in East Timor.
She is also a founding member of International Women’s Forum Australia and has been awarded an International Women who make a Difference award for her humanitarian work in Timor Leste and Australia.”
Sue has been volunteering with Children First Foundation since 2014, after bringing a young girl to Australia from Timor Leste who had Tuberculosis and a severe back deformity. She now is a Board member, advises on non -surgical medical issues with the children, organises vaccinations, and loves to cook up a storm in the kitchen, at The Retreat every now and then.
In 2021 Sue was recognised in the Australia Day Honors list with an OAM for service to the youth of Timor-Leste, to women, and to medicine.