All of our staff and management are dedicated to Umbrella Inc.’s ethos of respect, passion and commitment. We believe there is no greater joy or greater reward to make a fundamental difference to people’s lives. Our diversity is our strength. The more than 140 staff members and 86 volunteers represent 40 different nations and speak more than 40 different languages.
Chief Executive Officer
Languages: Polish, English
Chief Executive Officer
Anna Harrison was born and raised in Poland and after some time in the UK she migrated to Australia in 1978.
In the early 1980’s Anna commenced her career providing services to the diverse communities of WA and was instrumental in organising activities that led to a significant reduction in the isolation of older members of the community. She also assisted the WA Association of Polish Women to obtain Commonwealth funding to provide aged care services. In 2000, Anna established the Umbrella Inc HACC program and in 2004 became the CEO of Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services Inc.
Anna has an Advanced Diploma – Community Sector Management, Diploma of Community Services Management, Justice of the Peace – School of Law, Murdoch University. She has received certificates for the Seniors Ministerial Advisory Committee (3 Years), Active Ageing Task Force-Ministerial Committee (1.5 years), WA Association of Polish Women Inc (20 years of service to the Community), and First Polish Senior Citizens Club (15 years of service for Polish Seniors).
Anna has received an Award of Excellence from the Minister for Seniors in 2000 and a Multicultural Services Award from the WA Government in 2003. In addition a Silver Cross for service to the WA Polish Community from the Polish Government awarded by the President and a Centenary Medal for services to migrants and refugees awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. Anna is also a Commissioner for Declarations, Justice of the Peace.
Manager Communications & Community Engagement
Languages: English, Hungarian
Coordinator Community Visitors Scheme (CVS)
Languages: English, Spanish, Italian
Umbrella’s current Board is a very supportive group of committed, emphatic, knowledgeable professionals who, for a number of years, have volunteered at our organisation to support its mission. Our Board includes professionals with extensive experience in key areas such as aged care, public health, advocacy, medical care, government relations, information and communication technology, law and legal services and public policy.
President
After obtaining a qualification as a Geographer in Macedonia, Marika undertook qualifications in Academic and Professional English in Australia followed by Paraprofessional… ...read full profile
President
After obtaining a qualification as a Geographer in Macedonia, Marika undertook qualifications in Academic and Professional English in Australia followed by Paraprofessional Interpreting qualifications in Serbian and Polish. With these qualifications, Marika has spent her career in the multicultural community sector in a variety of roles including as a family violence worker and a number of programs helping new migrants settle in Australia. She also works as an interpreter for Macedonian, Serbian and Polish languages. In addition to her paid work, Marika has been involved in in committees and as a volunteer language teacher over many years. Marika speaks Polish, Greek, Macedonian, Serbian and English.
Vice President
After obtaining qualifications in nursing and working in this industry for a number of years, she changed careers with a newly obtained Associate Diploma of ...read full profile
Vice President
After obtaining qualifications in nursing and working in this industry for a number of years, she changed careers with a newly obtained Associate Diploma of Applied Science and became a Library Technician in the education sector. Her engagement with people from diverse backgrounds during her career has left her with a keen interest in other cultures, languages and history. She is also interested in aged care issues. In addition to her involvement on the Umbrella Board, Ann has been involved in other committees with disparate fields of interest.
Treasurer
With over 25- years of experience in financial management and cooperative governance, Othmar brings the skills and knowledge which are ...read full profile
Treasurer
With over 25- years of experience in financial management and cooperative governance, Othmar brings the skills and knowledge which are instrumental in the delivery of better outcomes relating to the operational management and human resources. Since May 2019 Othmar has been the Director Finance (CFO) of North Metro TAFE (NMT), the largest State Government provider of vocational education and training. He has the overall responsibility for all Finance, Budgeting, Procurement and Risk/Contract management related matters at NMT.
Prior to his current role Othmar held a similar position at the Rottnest Island Authority for almost 11 years.
He also has extensive experience in managing a internal and external audits and risk management assignments for a range of clients, both in the private sector and in state government.
Professional Qualifications
Professional work experience
Previous board / committee / volunteer work:
Language Spoken: English, German, Swiss German and French
Secretary
With a background in policy and research, Rita has worked for the Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) since 2011 and is currently a Senior Strategy, ...read full profile
Secretary
With a background in policy and research, Rita has worked for the Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) since 2011 and is currently a Senior Strategy, Planning and Research Officer. She has expertise in policy and action research in the areas of ageing, migration, gender, social development, poverty, inequality and multiculturalism. Since 2011 she has led OMI’s work on ageing in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities in Western Australia and has produced several reports identifying issues impacting on CALD seniors.
Board Member
After procuring a Bachelor of Psychology from Edith Cowan University, Nihal has been an advocate of disability engagement within the community since 2003. ...read full profile
Board Member
After procuring a Bachelor of Psychology from Edith Cowan University, Nihal has been an advocate of disability engagement within the community since 2003. She is passionate about helping different multicultural communities in Perth.
An active volunteer, Nihal is currently a board member at the People with Disability WA Inc. and served as a board member (also serving as the President and Vice-President) at the Turkish Australian Cultural House Inc. from 1999 to 2020.
Board Member
Grazyna has many years’ experience in social work, including working as senior social worker in mental health services ...read full profile
Board Member
Grazyna has many years’ experience in social work, including working as senior social worker in mental health services. She has a particular interest in mental health and the elderly. Grazyna speaks Polish and has previous experience as a Board member for a community -based not-for-profit organisation.
Board Member
A qualification in Hotel Management led Maria to 32 years of managing human resources and customer services through the reception desk of a hotel in ...read full profile
Board Member
A qualification in Hotel Management led Maria to 32 years of managing human resources and customer services through the reception desk of a hotel in the heart of Warsaw. An early life of involvement with the Polish Scouting movement and a period of involvement in the Solidarity Movement established an interest in being involved in the community. Upon her arrival in Australia, Maria immediately joined local Polish organisations as a volunteer and has been involved with Umbrella since it was established. Maria, a carer in addition to being a volunteer, represents volunteers and clients on the Umbrella Board. She speaks Polish, English and Russian.
Board Member
With considerable experience working in the medical and health care fields in Australia, England and New Zealand, Shirley worked for many years for St Johns ...read full profile
Board Member
With considerable experience working in the medical and health care fields in Australia, England and New Zealand, Shirley worked for many years for St Johns Ambulance, including working remotely. She has also worked as a physiotherapy assistant and while living in England worked as a disability support carer. Her volunteering work with the scouting movement and disabled youth was recognised when she was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in the late 1990’s.
Board Member
With academic qualifications in science and engineering and workplace safety, Milos has spent 35 years in senior university positions in Europe and Australia, 5 years ...read full profile
Board Member
With academic qualifications in science and engineering and workplace safety, Milos has spent 35 years in senior university positions in Europe and Australia, 5 years as a United Nations Expert in Occupational Safety and Health and Chief Technical Advisor, in parallel Consultant in Occupational Safety and Health, and over the last 30 years has been engaged by a number of WA law firms as an Expert Witness in around 500 cases of occupational accidents. He is currently Adjunct A/Professor at Edith Cowen University. Milos has committee and volunteer experience in a number of workplace safety organisations. Milos speaks English and Czech.
Board Member
With qualifications in the areas of Finance and Mortgage Brokerage Management, Mariusz has worked with telecommunications companies and ...read full profile
Board Member
With qualifications in the areas of Finance and Mortgage Brokerage Management, Mariusz has worked with telecommunications companies and in the financial sector in addition to establishing his own business. Mariusz volunteers as a Pranic Healer with a meditation and healing centre and speaks both English and Polish.
Board Member
Julie graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Economics Degree. Julie is a human resources professional with over 30 years’ experience ...read full profile
Board Member
Julie graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Economics Degree. Julie is a human resources professional with over 30 years’ experience working across a variety of agencies within the WA Public Sector at corporate level positions, and also as a self-employed consultant, providing a specialist human resource consultancy service.
Julie’s strength lies in her ability to partner and work with senior management teams to implement change and integrate human resource functions within the overall business operating strategy. She is currently specialising in organisational design and restructuring, working as a Senior Organisational Design Consultant within a highly complex large central Public Sector Agency.
Julie is an active volunteer both within the community and in her Church, having served in a variety of volunteer roles. She is currently the Vice President and Treasurer of the Wattle Grove Residents Association and has previously served in the capacity of Association President for 6 years. For the past 3 years her her service to her Church has included the responsibility of overseeing the Children’s Primaries as well as 7 other Church units.
Julie has a fascination and passion for cultural diversity and is an avid foodie, traveller, reader and KDrama watcher.
Board Member
Following a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science and Records Management, Dorota worked as an academic and librarian in both Poland and Australia. After ...read full profile
Board Member
Following a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science and Records Management, Dorota worked as an academic and librarian in both Poland and Australia. After completing a further qualification in International Trade, Dorota established her own wine export business, eventually leaving the world of academia to focus on this. Dorota has been involved with Umbrella at a Board level for 10 years and taken on a number of executive positions during this time. Dorota speaks English, Polish, French and Russian.
