GENERAL MANAGER

A child of a migrant and raised by a single mother, Yi has seen firsthand the complexities of building a life in a new country. After pursuing a decade-long career in international development, leading gender equality and women's rights programs across East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, she was drawn to bring that work closer to home, and to her heart. Joining the River Nile Learning Centre at the end of 2024 as General Manager, Yi brings expertise in program management, organisational leadership, and community development, with an unwavering commitment to amplifying women's voices and challenging inequality. 

BOARD CHAIR

Ximena Avalos Mendez joined The Ian Potter Foundation in May 2022 as a member of the Research & Evaluation team and, in May 2026, became the Major Grants and Engagement Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey and a Master of Development Studies, with a specialisation in Gender, from the University of Melbourne. 

Originally from Mexico, Ximena began her career in the humanitarian and development sector, bringing experience across a diverse range of organisations, including the United Nations, the Human Rights Office at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Mexican Food Banks Association, and the International Agency of Quality Education.  

Alongside her professional work, Ximena is a certified Clown Doctor and has extensive experience in community-based volunteering. She also facilitates workshops on gender-based violence, trauma-informed approach, and DEI. Ximena is passionate about photography, and the role creativity and laughter play in supporting wellbeing and connection. 

BOARD MEMBER

Rich joined the Board of the River Nile Learning Centre (RNLC) in 2014 and is now its immediate past Chair. He played a key role in the sub-committee that established the River Nile School in 2016 and served as its initial Deputy Chair. 

 Currently, Rich is the General Manager at CIA Services Group, a Melbourne-based commercial cleaning, event services, and facilities management operator. Prior to this, he was Chief Operating Officer at Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA). His earlier career includes managing CPA Australia’s professional programs, such as the CPA Program, and holding a range of policy and planning roles within Federal and State Government Departments. Rich is also a founding committee member for Impact100Melbourne, a group dedicated to providing high-impact grants and increasing philanthropic involvement across Melbourne.  Notably, RNLC was their inaugural grant recipient in 2013. 

TREASURER, SECRETARY & PUBLIC OFFICE

John is a retired teacher and school Principal. He was Formerly Head of Pastoral Care before moving on to become the Principal of Mowbray College.  

John established an English language School in Ningbo, China. He is interested in several business ventures in China.

BOARD MEMBER

Jackie has been actively involved with River Nile Learning Centre since becoming  a volunteer in 2017.  Jackie was drawn to RNLC for its unique work with newly arrived multicultural women who enrolled to study English language classes in a supported environment. 

Strong support for the women was a key focus with childcare, foodbank and wellbeing delivered to each and every student.  Jackie contributes strong skills in community engagement and comes with a lived experience emphasis. 

Jackie believes in multicultural women becoming educated and empowered – this way they can make their own decisions and build independence.

BOARD MEMBER

Georgina holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Master of Arts in English Language and Applied Linguistics from Rhodes University, South Africa. 

Her career spans education, business, strategy and leadership roles across the globe – in Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UK and now Australia. With strong lived experience and understanding of diverse cultures, she is passionate about enabling other migrant women to amplify their voices and achieve personal goals through literacy and community connectedness in all its forms. 

Outside of work, Georgina is a community youth coach, volunteer and active member of her local hockey club. 

BOARD MEMBER

Jane Farrell has a strong background in employment specifically workplace law, job design/training and workplace safety.  For many years she has worked with multicultural women to help them find decent work, partnering with large employers to create jobs for multicultural women.  Jane has also focussed on good governance and compliance in both paid and voluntary work. 

Jane operates her own business delivering her uniquely designed training courses around preparing for work ensuring women have an understanding of expectations, rights and responsibilities, giving them a positive start to employment 

 Jane has advocated for multicultural women's voices to be heard. and actively works with women, on a grassroots level, to help women build a strong voice so they can raise their issues and be heard.