Driving Change

It all begins with an exceptional team

Meet Ishar's Board and leadership team steering our mission, empowering women, and fostering transformative change in diverse communities.

Guiding Ishar's Vision

Ishar's Board of Directors, an all-female team, is pivotal in shaping our governance and strategy.

Their leadership ensures women's voices are at the heart of decision-making processes for services directly impacting women. By championing gender equity through increased female representation, our board creates a stronger foundation for empowerment and inclusivity. With diverse expertise, they guide Ishar's mission to uplift women from all walks of life.

Our All-Female Board Members

Zainab Zaki

Chair

Zainab Zaki

Zainab is a public health leader with over ten years of experience working across not-for-profit community and health services, government agencies and research institutes.

With a track record in public health program delivery, project management, research and evaluation, and health policy, her passion lies in working collaboratively and strategically with stakeholders, Aboriginal communities and those from culturally diverse backgrounds. She holds a Master of Public Health and a big advocate for community-led solutions that foster empowerment and resilience. With a commitment to improving inequities, she strives to make a positive difference in the wellbeing of women and children locally and at a national level.

A smiling woman with dark hair in a professional setting, wearing a brown blazer over a pink top, with a necklace and small earrings.

Vice-Chair

Nivedita Kelkar

Nivedita is a seasoned finance professional with over 20 years of experience in senior finance roles across corporate and not-for-profit organisations.

Nivedita serves as the Financial Controller for Amana Living, a prominent aged care service provider, where she leads the Finance team. She is deeply passionate about women's empowerment and strives to enable women to become the best versions of themselves.

Skilled Leaders

Ishar's exceptional Board

Meet Ishar's exceptional Board and skilled leaders. Their expertise drives our mission, ensuring impactful services and empowerment for women and families.

Ishar's Leadership Team

At the helm of Ishar's impactful journey stands our dynamic leadership team. Comprising our dedicated CEO and managers, they collaboratively steer our mission forward. Their collective expertise and vision create a harmonious synergy that drives our commitment to empowerment, diversity, and holistic support for women.

Empowering Unity

Partnerships

Ishar thrives through dynamic partnerships with service providers, funders, and pro bono contributors. Together, we amplify our impact, empowering women and enriching communities.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a light blue sweatshirt, is speaking into a microphone and gesturing with her left hand on a stage with pink curtains in the background.