Board of Management

Chairperson: Sophie Porter
Sophie is the Head of Department for Nutrition and Dietetic Medicine at the Endeavour College of Natural Health. Sophie has leadership and management experience across higher education, private, government and not-for-profit sectors. Sophie sits on a number of academic advisory committees and boards in her current role. She was previously the President of SANDS South Australia before it merged with Red Nose. She is currently studying a Higher Degree by Research at JBI, the University of Adelaide with a focus on translating clinical evidence into best practice guidelines for clinical care.

​Sophie lives in the Adelaide Hills and is passionate about the local wildlife. She volunteers her time on the local Community Disaster Resilience Group, a collaboration between the Onkaparinga Council and Red Cross, where she is the Communications and Partnership Coordinator. Sophie is a mum of two young children who enjoy camping and they who are wild about everything in the great outdoors! 

Deputy Chairperson: Marian MacLucas
​Marian is a Wildlife Volunteer with SOWFI, and a marketing and business professional with 20+ years of experience, including 12 years working for Not-For-Profit organisations and the last 6 years self-employed. Her strengths lie in project management, strategic planning, marketing planning and networking.  She enjoys working collaboratively with other like-minded professionals and approaches her volunteer work with a high level of professionalism and dedication. 

​After 5 years in the “wildlife rehabilitation” sector in South Australia, Marian has identified many areas for improvement, expansion and collaboration to ensure our wildlife is better protected into the future.  Her belief is that SOWFI’s role will only become more important as we see first-hand the impacts of climate change and continuing habitat loss on our wildlife in this state. One of her priorities as deputy-chairperson is to ensure SOWFI’s volunteers are well supported, trained and recognised for their dedication and service to wildlife and the organisation.

Secretary: Tina Hart
Since a young child, Tina has been fascinated with and surrounded by all sorts of creatures and animals. Having lived in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia, she has developed a strong interest in advocacy and a passion for making impactful changes. When she is not taking care of her family or studying full time at Flinders University in the Bachelor of Public Health course, she is both a carer and Board Secretary for SOWFI and occasionally volunteers as customer service with Foodbank.

She has over 20 years professional experience within the hospitality, business development and education sector. Her interests include spending quality time with her husband, children, and pets, as well as reading, jogging, cycling and hiking in parks whilst looking at the Flora & Fauna.

Treasurer: Angela Korng
Angela is a qualified Chartered Accountant and in her capacity as Finance Manager of more than 10 years she has performed multiple finance functions across a variety of industry including higher education, commercial and residential property and retirement living.  

​Angela joined SOWFI in Sept 2022 to contribute her skills to an organisation that is passionate about the protection of wildlife and she is committed to supporting SOWFI to achieve its strategic objectives.  

Marketing/Fundraising Officer: Alida Parente
Alida joins SOWFI with significant experience in a range of Marketing and Communications roles within Australia and internationally, and has undertaken some exciting projects at Carers SA, Centennial Park, St John Ambulance Australia and the University of Adelaide in recent years. Alida has a passion for animals and protecting wildlife and is very excited to be a part of SOWFI.

Membership Officer: Samantha Wilkinson
Samantha is an Adelaide Hills based Human Resources professional, with a unique blend of expertise, encompassing a broad cross section of Australian and International organisations.  Samantha has great volunteering and committee experience and she currently sits on two curriculum boards with the University of South Australia. 

​Samantha is a degree qualified (Bachelor of Business (HR) and in the final stages of an MBA. With a passion for wildlife, Samantha is committed to supporting SOWFI and our volunteers to achieve it’s purpose in a best practice and values-based way. 

General Member: Jane Kelly
Jane joined SOWFI in 2021, and has enjoyed being part of the vital 24/7 rescue hotline as a phone operator, as well as being a rescuer and a bird carer.  Before SOWFI, Jane has volunteered in other facilities including the Animal Welfare Organisation, where she was an Adoption Assistant, assisting the public with dog adoptions.  Jane works fulltime, managing a private SME, where she has worked in a vast variety of roles for the past 29 years, with the last 17 at the helm. 
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She originally trained as a Registered Nurse and specialised in emergency & trauma nursing, and as such has compassion for people and animals, and loves working in dynamic and changing situations. Jane loves to travel, and enjoys local, interstate and international travel, both for business and pleasure.  Jane is a Company director on her company board and is Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

General Member: Kaila Menz
Kaila is an Adelaide based Operations Manager working in the health sector. Joining SOWFI, first in the capacity of a rescuer, she quickly moved into coordinating the training program for the organisation and thereafter, nominating for board. Kaila has chosen to work with SOWFI to apply her business skills and experience to the benefit of a value lead and skills driven organisation.

​With a passion for wildlife, Kaila intends to contribute, in a variety ways, to SOWFI objectives and protect the wellbeing and preservation of Australian native animals. She will continue to use her platform to promote the broader awareness and conservation that is needed to ensure the longevity of our unique biodiversity.

General Member: Denise Starick
Denise joined SOWFI in February 2023 as a volunteer phone operator and recently was elected to the Board as a General Member. She had been a bookkeeper for over 35 years and in 2019 purchased a Commercial Cleaning Franchise with her daughter. Unfortunately, chronic arthritis forced her retirement. In her youth she was a member of the Army Reserve and served as Treasurer for the RAAME Shooting Club, until parenthood took over. She was the Treasurer for the Tonsley Park Primary School and later Treasurer for the Marion Primary School OHSC.

Denise has always been an animal lover and over the years has had several dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds and a Bearded Dragon. She currently has a tortoise Shell cat named O.C. (18yrs old) and her daughter's 2-year-old Leonberger. She Looks forward to working with the board and all members in the future.