We take pride in the diverse backgrounds of our team which reflect the communities in which we work.
We operate ethically and are guided by a volunteer Board of Directors who ensure strong and transparent governance.
Senior Management Team
Elias Lebbos
Chief Executive Officer
Elias joined Travellers Aid as Operations Manager in 2007 and took on the role of CEO in 2014. Prior to this, over a period of 18 years, he held a number of different roles at state level within the Australian Red Cross. This included overseeing Business Development, Volunteer Development and Community Development.
Elias uses his expert knowledge of the transport sector together with innovative thinking and a real understanding of community needs to lead the organisation into its second century of operation.
Elias is particularly adept at strategic planning, identifying new opportunities and focusing on the big picture as Travellers Aid continues to experience significant growth in response to customer and service user needs in an ever changing marketplace.
Maria Groner
Operations Manager
Maria joined Travellers Aid as the Emergency Relief Coordinator in 2007. She was the organisation’s Social Policy Advisor for two years before taking on the role of Operations Manager in 2013, a significant role during a time of rapid change within the organisation.
A social worker by training, Maria has more than 20 years experience in the not-for-profit sector, both in Australia and in her home country of Germany. Maria’s experience gained in frontline roles through to senior management positions have benefited from her deep commitment to social justice and her passion for improving the lives of those most disadvantaged in our society.
Maria is a conceptual thinker with strong analytical skills and a creative approach to problem solving that ensures Travellers Aids services are of the highest standard and delivered with dignity and respect.
Arnie Bax
Business Development Manager
Arnie brings a broad range of skills and experience to his role in Travellers Aid. He holds a Master of International and Community Development and Master of Business Administration, and he has worked in the not-for-profit/community development sector including disability service providers, and the corporate sector for many years.
A true professional and an innovative thinker with a can-do attitude, he thrives on seeing a project through from design to implementation. Arnie works hard to lead engaged teams who are aligned to organisational purpose, ensuring the best possible outcomes for clients and service users.
Darren O’Beirne
Finance and Corporate Services Manager
Darren joined Travellers Aid in 2024. He has over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector. He holds a Master of Business Administration, is a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Darren has experience across various sectors including law, accounting, education, arts, and board directorship roles and CEO duties. He has successfully guided companies through strategic transformations while maintaining a focus on sustainable growth, employee well-being and corporate social responsibility.
Darren’s leadership style is collaborative and inclusive, empowering teams to achieve their full potential. He has a passion for missions that positively affect communities, the environment, or social issues.
Sara McDonald
Service Development Manager
Sara joined Travellers Aid in 2019 as Operations Coordinator and took on the role of Service Innovation Manager in 2020. After a short break, Sara returned to Travellers Aid in the role of Service Development Manager in 2023.
Sara holds a Bachelor of Business Management and held a range of positions in the banking and finance sector before a secondment with a disability services organisation saw her experience and skills transferred into the not-for-profit sector. Committed to understanding the sector from the ground up, she has held roles in frontline care and case management.
Sara is a critical thinker with an eye for improving productivity and efficiency. Inspired by the success of others, she looks forward to building on Travellers Aid’s foundations of dignity and respect to deliver real outcomes for people facing mobility challenges.
Our Board of Directors
Travellers Aid Australia is governed by a Board of five to nine elected directors. Directors bring expertise and experience from the financial, commercial, corporate, marketing and legal sectors.
Each director contributes their time to Travellers Aid Australia in a voluntary capacity without remuneration. The Board provides strategic guidance and commercial oversight of Travellers Aid Australia’s business, operations and services.
Directors are mindful of the needs and interests of our clients and stakeholders.
Our Current Board Members
Melita Ryan
MBA BSc OT FACHSM CHE GAICD
Chair of Board
Chair of People and Services Committee
Member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
Melita Ryan joined the board in 2023, having participated on the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee since 2022. Melita has over 20 years experience in the healthcare and disability sector and is a practicing Occupational Therapist.
Melita brings her extensive experience in management consulting, currently working as a Senior Manager at EY. She is also a Board Director of a rural Victorian health service. Melita is passionate about improving the community’s access to and participation in the vibrant City of Melbourne.
Peter Gluskie
BEng MBA CPPD GAICD
Member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
Peter joined the Board of Travellers Aid in October 2014. He is a senior executive with wide ranging experience in implementing major business transformation programs across many industries.
Peter is also an experienced non-executive director with a long history of providing governance and strategic insight to organisations across the Not-for-Profit, health and sports sectors.
Arunesh Choubey
BEng, MEng MBA
Member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
Arunesh joined the TAA board in 2022, having been on the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee since 2019. Arunesh is a seasoned board member and business leader with capability honed from decades of corporate leadership, enterprise scale-up, and management consulting in global markets.
He has partnered with energy, technology and manufacturing businesses transforming their business operations in line with board-mandated objectives. Currently, he serves on two other boards and has previously served on boards of disability support services, arts, media and refugee integration NFPs. He is a published author and blogger.
Bruce Heron
B.Comm, CA ANZ, F Fin, GAICD
Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
Bruce joined the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee (“FARM”) of Travellers Aid in April 2018. On the retirement of Sandy Bell, Bruce was appointed to the Board as the organisation’s Treasurer and Chair of the FARM sub-committee, effective from 30th April 2023.
Currently as Treasurer and Head of Credit of ASX-listed McMillan Shakespeare Limited, and with prior global experience across over 15 countries as Regional Finance Director for one of the world’s largest vehicle leasing companies, Bruce brings deep financial and commercial insights to Travellers Aid.
Bruce is a Chartered Accountant by qualification, a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Nicola Edwards
Grad Dip PR, BA Arts
Member of the Business Development Committee
Member of People and Services Committee
Nicola joined the Board of Travellers Aid in February 2018. She is an experienced marketing and communications professional with over 20 years experience in senior marketing and communications roles in not-for-profit and government organisations.
Nicola has a strong background in reputation, brand management and strategic communications and her experience in the not-for-profit sector has included leading communications functions at the Stroke Foundation and The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. She is currently Executive Manager, Communications at Amaze. She served as a Board Director of the Dear Dyslexic Foundation since its inception until May 2018 and brings to Travellers Aid her passion for clear communications and skills in building awareness of causes and issues.
Emma Olivier
B.Bus CA ANZ, GCertDisInc,GAICD
Emma is the founder and CEO of Twenty Percent Disability Inclusion Advisory and brings more than 30 years of consulting experience. Born without a left hand, she understands the challenges and opportunities of disability. Emma has worked with in functional and executive roles in Australia and overseas. As founder of Twenty Percent, her vision is to work with organisations to help unlock the powers of disability in their workforces, customer bases and how they engage in their communities. She is deeply passionate about driving further representation of disability in all governance settings.
Emma serves on various committees and boards, including Housing Hub, Northern Victorian Institute of TAFE (formerly Go TAFE), Wannon Water, Wellways and the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. In 2021, she was a nominee for Bayside Council’s Citizen of the Year.
Sandy Ross
BA(Hons) MA PhD GAICD
Sandy is currently CEO of Rights Information and Advocacy Centre (RIAC), and Treasurer of Disability Advocacy Victoria.
Prior to working for RIAC, Sandy spent 5 years as Executive Officer of Financial Counselling Victoria, also serving on the Executive Committee of Consumers Federation Australia. His career has included stints at the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, as an academic at the University of Melbourne School of Social and Political Sciences, and as Secretary of the CSIRO Staff Association/CPSU Science Division.
Sandy’s Community Board involvements include service as Chair of the Boards of Fitzroy Learning Network and Uniting ReGen (formerly Moreland Hall, an Alcohol and Other Drugs organisation now part of Uniting Vic/Tas).
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