Board of Management

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 Chairperson is to ensure SOWFI’s volunteers are well supported, trained and recognised for their dedication and service to wildlife and the organisation.

Secretary: Peter Knapp
As Board Secretary, Peter understands the need for good governance in addition to bringing broad experience to the Board. Starting in the private sector as a rehabilitation counsellor working with injured workers, employers and their doctors, Peter developed a passion for working with people. His passion and ability to think analytically and strategically saw him work his way up to National Business Manager. Peter lead the business to break into new states and expand its services into new markets beyond its traditional injury management roots. It was this experience that embedded the importance of good governance practice for Peter. By establishing a fair and consistent way of operating, supporting open and transparent conduct both internally and externally, responding to customer needs, and developing a culture of accountability within the business, Peter oversaw the business’ survival amidst times of significant legislative and industry reform. Peter has brought this understanding to the government sector. He has worked as Parliamentary committee Executive Officer as well as Secretary of number of national committees. In addition to providing executive secretariat services, Peter has provided project support and policy advice to the highest levels of government. Peter is excited for this opportunity to work with SOWFI and to support it achieving its vision of stopping the decline in South Australian native wildlife.

Treasurer: Linh Dao
Linh is an Adelaide Hills resident for the past 5 years and has naturally drawn closer to the Australian wildlife as a result of this. She lives with her family on their Forreston property with almost 30 animals, more than half of them are rescued. 
Linh is an Associate Director at BDO Adelaide, a chartered accounting firm, with 15 years’ experience gained both domestically and internationally, including Singapore, Vietnam and the UK. Among Linh’s diverse client base are ASX listed, public non-listed and private companies, State Government, local councils and a wide range of not-for-profit organisations. She provides support to senior management and boards, delivering advice on accounting, corporate governance, risk management and business strategy matters.

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. 

Amanda Reader
Amanda is very passionate about Australian wildlife and is an accomplished Artist.  She has travelled to more than 70 countries and lived and worked all over the world including Mexico, USA, London, Spain, Italy, Argentina and Azerbaijan.
She continues to travel the world with a keen focus on destinations that showcase the worlds best wildlife including her most recent trip to Antartica.
Amanda has worked in numerous industries including Finance and Travel and has successfully run her own business having owned and managed a day Spa for over 7 years.  With an extensive background in finance and business management she has taken on the role of SOWFI's Treasurer. She is responsible for managing SOWFI's finances to ensure we are compliant with ATO and ACNC regulations.
Amanda's specific interest is ringtail and brushtail possums. She has rescued, rehabilitated and released many and continues to do so. She is keen to delve into more detailed research into possum rehabilitation and habitat management.

Karen Darling
I became involved with SOWFI following my son discovering a tiny abandoned baby ringtail in Wittunga Botanic Gardens in Blackwood, and falling instantly in love with her, pleading “Can we keep it, pleeease…” We took her to a local vet who passed her onto a wildlife carer, and we subsequently became carers ourselves. I had previous experience in wildlife care as a teenager when my family cared for lizards, and later possums following the bushfires in the 1980s. Now I am sharing the passion for wildlife and conservation with the next generation. Our family values actions we can take that make a difference however big or small, from nurturing our worm farm, getting set up for a new bee hive, and joining SOWFI. We started off with wildlife care undertaking rescues and transporting injured or orphaned animals between vets and other carers while I was getting organised to become a carer. Once I received approval for my set up with the required equipment, and undertook important training, I became a carer for possums. It has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. In locations where their release has been able to be monitored, it is fabulous to know they are fit and doing well following release. It was heart warming to discover one female who reappeared the following season with her own baby on her back! It has also been rewarding to see the work that we are doing contribute to the growing interest in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation from other people. I am also an Occupational Therapist with a background in community development and project management, working in child and adolescent mental health, as well as casual employment with the University of SA Occupational Therapy Program, and also run my own small private practice. I have worked and travelled across Adelaide, regional areas and overseas, and bring a breadth of experience and commitment. I appreciate the opportunity to join the Board of SOWFI and look forward to contributing to the development of our organisation.