We're all about doing good – and having a good time doing it. We’re a group of avid tea drinkers (and some coffee connoisseurs too), each with a strong case of wanderlust. We balance our weekly team gatherings with a healthy love of chocolate – and the occasional choreographed dance session. But above all, we're united in our commitment to making sure great social enterprises can thrive well into the future. Won't you join us?
About Team Board Financials
Hanna Ebeling
Chief Executive Officer
Hanna has done far too much to cram into this bio — perhaps it’s her German efficiency. From traditional banking with HSBC to impact investment in the Philippines, Hanna brings a global practice lens to Sefa as Chief Executive Officer. She is on the board of disability service provider Woodville Alliance and social enterprise Vanguard Laundry, and as a member of government and sector reference groups contributes to improving collaboration between government, private sector and philanthropy.
At home you’ll find Hanna preparing dehydrated meals for her next bushwalk or (long-term) planning her first overseas adventure with her newly acquired Australian passport. Hanna lives and works on unceded Gadigal land.
Linda Carseldine
Chief Operating Officer
Linda’s previous role may have been Asia Pacific VP Finance and CFO for a global tech firm (CGI group) but she is also the kindest powerhouse of a human being. With a commerce-law degree, CPA and AICD qualifications – Linda is perfectly placed to tackle Sefa's operations. She started the social justice group at her local parish, with a focus on supporting refugees and the homeless.
In her (small windows of) spare time, Linda loves to read and is partial to the odd karaoke night out with friends. Linda lives and works on unceded Cammeraygal land.
Manfred Bauer
Head of Portfolio Management
To say Manfred is well travelled is an understatement. He has led projects in the US, Mexico, Central America, Brazil and Australia, developing internal capacity in hybrid organisations, nurturing regional networks, and fostering cross-sector partnerships. With over 10 years in the industry and a long list of qualifications, Manfred brings a deep understanding of the global impact investment landscape to Sefa.
As proud dad of two, Manfred values a good cup of coffee. In fact, he has come up with six ways to make the perfect brew. When he’s not helping organisations accelerate their business, you can find him on the golf course, on his motorbike or hiking. Manfred lives and works on unceded Wonnarua land.
Kate Webster
Relationship Manager
Kate, an advocate for honesty, fairness, and equality, joins Sefa with a diverse background in finance, sustainability, and impact research. Holding a Masters of Sustainability from Sydney University, an MBA from Melbourne Business School, and a BSc (Hons) from Manchester University, her first formal role in the not-for-profit sector at Sefa is backed by impactful research experience at Sydney University. Kate's commitment to aligning her professional work with her values brings a unique and enriching perspective to the team.
Outside of work, Kate's adventurous spirit has taken her from sailing to Antarctica to exploring new cultures across continents. A lover of the outdoors, she enjoys hiking and kayaking, often accompanied by her teenagers. Her passion for reading and treasure hunting in second-hand clothing shops reflects her curious and tenacious nature. Kate lives and works on Gadigal Land.
Alisha Twohill
Engagement Manager
Alisha, with a Master's in Business Administration (Social Impact) from UNSW and a rich three-year tenure in the social impact sector, is the dynamic force behind Sefa's strategic consulting and operational efficiency. Her journey, transitioning from 20 years in travel to social finance, illustrates her adaptability and commitment to driving positive change.
In her role, Alisha infuses creativity and passion, known for her engaging, fun approach. Outside work, she dedicates her skills to supporting social enterprises through pro bono brand strategy work. Her free time is spent expanding her knowledge in innovation and mindfulness, reflecting her personal and professional ethos of empowerment and growth. Alisha lives and works on unceded Gadigal land.
Pavel Staněk
Portfolio Analyst
Along with a hunger for positive change, Pavel brings a wealth of real-world experience to our team. His work over the past decade spans small business, startups, incubator programs, entrepreneurship, NGOs and venture capital. Pavel connects with determination, resilience and curiosity and he’s never afraid to ask tough questions or tackle complex problems.
Hailing from the Czech Republic, and now an Australian Permanent Resident, Pavel is a nature lover who recharges in the great outdoors, usually with his two dogs, Zahlie and Aarayah in tow. Pavel lives and works on unceded Cammeraygal land.
Tanya Wong
Senior Relationship Manager
Tanya spent over 14 years at Macquarie Group, primarily working with leading alternatives managers on specialist financing transactions. During her time in New York and Sydney, she volunteered with various community organisations - including museums, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and her local Toastmasters club. Wanting to use her financial skills for public good, she became intrigued by the world of impact investing and signed up with UNSW to do an MBA (Social Impact) degree.
Outside of social finance, Tanya enjoys spending time at swing dancing events, choir rehearsals and ideas festivals. Tanya lives and works on unceded Cammeraygal land.
Renee Martin
Head of Engagement
Renee’s path to Sefa has taken her overseas, around Australia and spanned the not-for-profit, public and private sectors. Her passion is public health and she has worked in service provision for vulnerable communities in Asia and the Pacific, and as a policy advisor with the Australian Government. More recently, she has been engaged as a Director in PwC’s Economics and Policy team and she brings this experience, and her commitment to social impact, to Sefa.
Renee loves nothing more than sharing delicious food, great wine and rowdy conversation with friends and family. Renee lives and works on unceded Cammeraygal land.
Sophie O'Sullivan
Engagement Manager
Sophie has a background in the health sector and worked for PwC's health consulting practice for seven years, both in Australia and the UK. Her interest in the social impact sector was sparked when she took a global role for a women's health social enterprise, supporting several Asian country programs transition to a more financially sustainable operating model.
Sophie has a Masters in Public Health from the University of London. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, leisurely bike rides and ocean dips (anything active outdoors really…). Sophie lives and works on unceded Gadigal land.
Gabrielle King
Engagement Manager
Pragmatic and organised, Gabrielle is passionate about developing innovative and sustainable ways to create impact. She brings years of experience in building capability in social impact organisations and a deep understanding of the barriers and opportunities they face. Before joining Sefa, Gabrielle was the General Manager at Inspiring Rare Birds, a social enterprise supporting gender equality in business. She is also currently on the Partnerships Committee of the Social Enterprise Council of NSW/ACT (SECNA).
When she’s not collaborating or building strong relationships, you’ll find Gabrielle cooking up a storm – or joining her fellow ‘trivia-tragics’ in a weekly round of trivia. Gabrielle lives and works on Gadigal Land.
Lise Genzo
Engagement Manager
Lise’s work experience has taken her from the public sector (working at the Affirmative Action Agency) to the private sector – working in Financial Services in the USA and Australia.
More recently at Westpac Lise worked in Innovation, challenging people to reframe their thinking about business and social problems. She is a keen mentor for social enterprises and on the Board of a NFP supporting people from a refugee background. Lise has completed her MBA, holds a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact and is a GAICD.
Lise loves to hike, camp and travel to far off destinations; at home she chills out by reading and gardening…oh and going to local wine bars! Lise lives and works on unceded Wangal land.
Lucy Martin
Engagement Analyst
Lucy, an ambitious and spirited member of our team, is dedicated to making a significant impact in the sector. Originally from Perth, Lucy moved to Sydney at 18, cultivating a diverse career across both the private and nonprofit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Sydney and plans to pursue postgraduate studies soon.
Starting at Sefa in an essential executive support role, Lucy quickly progressed to an Analyst within our Engagement team. Beyond Sefa, she has been instrumental in combatting trafficking among adolescent girls in Cambodia with the AusCam Freedom Project and honed her business acumen during a graduate program with the consulting firm Escient. On weekends, you might find Lucy dog watching, a nod to her time working in doggy daycares during university. Lucy is proud to live and work on unceded Gadigal land.
Myrna Machuca-Sierra
Engagement Manager
Myrna brings great balance to the team at Sefa – she’s a doer and a thinker, equally comfortable leading or collaborating. She’s in her element when she’s supporting governments and community organisations in reaching their goals. Myrna has been doing just that for the past 12 years, 10 of those as an Economist with the World Bank, across 17 countries in Latin America, Central and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. During this time, she’s built her expertise in education, youth and community development, research and impact management and measurement.
Empathetic and curious, with a great sense of humour, Myrna has another calling beyond community impact. A connoisseur of Mexican liquors, she is renowned for her solid tasting sessions of and endless knowledge of various Mexican beverages. Myrna lives and works on unceded Gadigal Land.
Anna Robertson
Engagement Manager
A champion for women's economic empowerment. Advocate for fairer public policy. Award-winning social enterprise founder and director. We could go on…
Anna has been on the social enterprise frontline for over 10 years, both as a founder and a leader – and she now shares her insights and learnings with other founders and their teams as part of our team. Dedicated to creating sustainable change for people who are marginalised because of structural inequalities, Anna brings a practitioner’s lens to our team, supporting social enterprises with strategic and operational direction. And when she’s not plotting the change the world, Anna loves hanging out with family and friends over a delicious meal – and playing hide and seek with her energetic toddler. Anna lives and works on Gadigal land.
Sefa Partnerships supports disadvantaged communities, working with purpose-driven ventures on blended finance and capacity building.
Alice Brennan
Head of Innovation, Sefa Partnerships
Alice brings a rich tapestry of experience to her role as Head of Innovation. With a BA in Anthropology and Archaeology from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Psychosocial Interventions, she has spent 13 impactful years in the social sector. Her multidisciplinary skills range from product innovation at companies like OurHerd by batyr and Spriggy Schools to humanitarian work with organizations such as CARE Australia.
Described by colleagues as both empathetic and innovative, Alice excels in creating community-driven solutions. She is passionate about empowering social enterprises and enjoys working with teams to tackle complex challenges. In her current role, Alice leverages this diverse background to help nurture and grow emerging social enterprises, making her a pivotal part of the Sefa team. Alice lives and works on unceded Gadigal land.
Jennifer Jones
Program Lead, Sefa Partnerships
Jennifer has spent over two decades weaving her multidisciplinary expertise into impactful initiatives across Australia and beyond. From co-designing projects in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos to pioneering the first grant-backed SME loans for female entrepreneurs in Myanmar, she brings a deep understanding of community development and social innovation to her role as Program Lead at Sefa Partnerships.
Jennifer is not just a connector of ideas but also of people, thriving in collaborative environments where co-designing solutions is key. Her passion for making a difference is evident in her work and in her personal achievements, such as co-founding Room to Grow Children’s Foundation, which served children on the Thai-Burma border for 15 years.
In her downtime, you’ll find Jennifer immersed in speculative fiction, exploring the underwater world through scuba diving, or taking on the great outdoors with hiking and ocean swimming. Jennifer lives and works on unceded Gadigal land.
Shari Lawrence
Social Finance
Shari has worked for not-for-profit and for-profit finance and fund management companies in both Australia and the UK utilising her skills to help grow the impact investment and social enterprise sector.
Shari’s industry experience has included enterprise and NFP diagnostics and evaluation for sustainability and growth, impact investment structuring and settlement, business model development and marketing and implementation.
She works in partnership primarily with the Social Finance team on technical engagements relating to capital solutions for purpose-driven organisations.
