Page Content
Who We Are
SCAI Committee
Sunrise Children’s Association Incorporated (SCAI) Australia was inspired and founded by Emma Taylor along with Michaela Killips and Sarah Kemp after they worked as volunteers at a locally run orphanage in Kathmandu in early 2004. After experiencing first-hand the poor conditions in which these children lived and the limited future ahead of them, they developed a partnership with Nepalese friends Sangita Bhandari and Tulsi Mainali and team and opened Sunrise Orphanage in July 2005, providing a safe, loving home for orphaned and abandoned children and youth.
Since that time SCAI has appointed some wonderful people to the committee who have each made significant contribution during their terms. We would like to thank them all sincerely for their dedication to SCAI and ongoing support as Members of SCAI.
| Emma Taylor | July 2005 – present |
| Michaela Killips | July 2005 – July 2008 |
| Sarah Kemp | July 2005 – July 2008 |
| Urmila Cuganesan | July 2006 – July 2008 |
| Rajan Bhattachan | January 2008 – July 2008 |
| Angus Sobels | January 2008 – present |
| Anne Davey | March 2008 – July 2008 |
| Lia Jenkins | March 2008 – November 2009 |
| Moira Fogarty | September 2008 – November 2010 |
| Sarah Thom | September 2008 – present |
| Kumaran Yogaranandan | November 2009 – present |
| Joan O’Connor | November 2010 - present |
All work conducted in Australia by the committee is on a volunteer basis.
Emma Taylor
Emma Taylor (President): Emma completed a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) in 1993, then worked in both Australia and overseas in various advertising/media agencies primarily as a Media Strategist for almost 10 years. Emma first went to Nepal in February 2004, volunteering for a period of 3 months in a very poorly run orphanage. She was so inspired by the spirit of the children despite their poor living conditions, she returned shortly after and in partnership with Sangita Bhandari and her team of dedicated Nepali people, established Sunrise Orphanage.
Emma has dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy into the development of Sunrise and has a very close relationship with the children and carers. In March 2007 Emma moved to Nepal full time to be with the children, enabling her to fulfil her role as 'Aamaa' (meaning 'mother'), ‘Didi’ (‘big sister’) and ‘Saathi’ (‘friend’). Emma's Nepali name is "Maya" which means "love", given to her by the local community, representative of her love and dedication to the children.
As well as working hands on with the children at Sunrise, Emma is actively facilitating the development of SCAI's other projects in Nepal.
In July 2008 Emma was the winner of the Marie Claire/Garnier “Take Care/ Taking Care Of The World Around You” competition for her commitment to taking care of the needy children in Nepal.
Kumaran
Kumaran (Treasurer): Kumaran has volunteered at Sunrise Orphanage Nepal every Christmas and New Year period since Christmas 2006. Over this period, he has formed close relationships with the children and staff at Sunrise Orphanage and has a sound understanding of the evolution and intended future direction of the orphanage. Kumaran is a Principal of Mercer (Australia) Pty Ltd and has worked within the Retirement, Risk and Finance department for over ten years. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Melbourne with a first class Honours degree in Commerce. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, qualifying in early 2003. Kumaran migrated to Australia as a refugee.
Joan O'Conner
Joan O’Connor Education Advisor/Equity Consultant (Secretary): Joan has been working in the Education and Training field for over 25yrs educating children and teachers in the sector with curriculum management support, program design and development.
Over the last ten years Joan has worked more specifically in the NGO sector as an Education Adviser/Consultant and State Program Manager supporting the rights of children in Bangladesh, South America and Africa. More recently working with Indigenous families and communities developing sustainable programs in remote Anangu Communities in South Australia.
Joan now works in Community Development as an Equity Consultant, building Global Communities for Peace supporting Values Education and Human Rights Education through the Global Education Centre, and working with the Board of Management in South Australia as an Adviser.
Her advocacy work with refugee families in the community over 10years continues as part of the “Circle of friends” initiated to support refugees in detention centres and more recently to support the planning of new arrival families being placed in detention in Woodside SA later in 2010.
Joan’s visit to Nepal recently enabled her to see the great work being done at Sunrise and a commitment was made to the future development and growth of the children’s village for long term sustainability for the children.
Sarah Thom
Sarah Thom (Volunteer Co-ordinator): Sarah has worked in the advertising industry in Australia and the UK over the last 13 years. During this time she has worked across a wide range of clients in industries ranging from automotive, telecommunications to government. She currently works as a Strategy Director at Australia’s largest media buying agency. In her current role she works across the Victorian Government account, where she enjoys making a difference on social issues. Sarah has been involved with SCAI over the past few years helping with fundraising and has travelled to Nepal in 2005. She has sponsored a child for the last 2 years and is looking forward to visiting again in November 2008
Angus Sobels (Committee Member): Angus Sobels is an Adelaide businessman whose interests span environmental consulting, commercial property development, commercial landscape contracting and property investment. Angus' strengths are in the business management and financial growth sectors of these industries which he has specialised in over the last 10 years. Angus joined the SCAI committee in January 2008.
Independent Advisors to SCAI
Ian Martens (FAC, FAICD): Ian is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Directors. He retired as a Partner of BDO Chartered Accountants in December 1999 having been a partner of the firm for 33 years.
Ian is a Director of a number of ASX listed entities and Chairman of their Audit and Compliance Committee. He is also Chairman of a significant non-listed public company in South Australia and a number of other private entities.
Ian recently retired as a Board Member of the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia after 20 years service including 7 years as Chairman of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and 6 years as Chairman of RAA Insurance Ltd. He also retired last year from the Board of Variety SA -the Children's Charity after 17 years including 4 years as Chairman and 10 years as Chairman of its Appeals Committee.
Ian has been assisting SCAI in organisational matters and will act as the initial Independent Chairman of the SCAI 'Public Fund' on a pro-bono basis. The Public Fund has been established under the rules of SCAI to receive all donations and disburse the monies in accordance with its Rules.
Ben Owens (ICAA, MIIA, B.Comm): Ben is a Chartered Accountant and assurance professional who has over 12 years experience in providing consulting and value added services to client organisations. He specialises in internal audit, risk management, corporate governance and strategy setting. Ben's clients have included charities, not-for-profits, state and federal government agencies and corporations of all sizes. Ben has worked in the UK and across Australia and is presently employed by Oakton, an Australian listed professional services firm who provide IT and business consultancy services. Ben acts as an independent advisor to SCAI, providing advice and assurance around organisational structure, corporate governance and financial controls and reporting, on a pro-bono basis.
Emily Yarwood: Emily has been employed in an accounting position since September 1991. She has completed the Advanced Diploma in Accounting at TAFE and is currently working through a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of South Australia part time while working full time for DFK Gray Perry in Adelaide where she has been employed since 2001.
After visiting Nepal briefly in March 2008 while on her honeymoon, Emily feels honored to be assisting SCAI by volunteering her time by doing the bookkeeping for the organisation. She also looks forward to going to Nepal again one day with her family and to incorporate a visit to meet the children and carers of Sunrise.
