RDI Network is delighted to announce the appointment of five new Directors to its Board, following a competitive regional recruitment process. Each brings deep expertise, diverse perspectives, and a shared commitment to advancing effective, equitable, and evidence-informed development practice.
These new Directors join RDI at a pivotal moment, as the Network continues to strengthen partnerships between development research, practice, and policy actors in Australia and the region.
They’ll be joining our existing Directors – Matthew French (Chair), Elisabeth Jackson (Secretary), Rochelle Spencer, and Keren Winterford – bringing together a diverse and deeply experienced leadership team to guide RDI’s future governance, strategy, and member engagement initiatives.
“It’s an exciting time for RDI as we welcome a new group of Directors who bring both fresh perspectives and deep sector experience. Together, we’re looking forward to building on RDI’s strong foundations and shaping the next phase of the Network’s impact.” – Matthew French, RDI Network Board Chair
Please join us in warmly welcoming our new Board Directors to the RDI Network community!
Dr Jayne Curnow
Dr Jayne Curnow is a social scientist and non-executive director. She has extensive international experience in organisational governance and applied research for development spanning the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors. She is an ethical leader committed to addressing diversity and inclusion. Throughout her career she has maintained her association with academia through publications, conferences and post-graduate student supervision. She bridges disciplinary boundaries and applied knowledge to innovate with creative, pragmatic approaches that address real world challenges. Fluent in Indonesian/Malay, she holds a PhD in Anthropology from the Australian National University and is a graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Federico Marcon
Federico Marcon is the Associate Director at Deakin University, where he manages the portfolio of large philanthropic institutions, both in Australia and overseas, that fund Deakin’s research and education programs. Prior to Deakin he worked as Director Global Markets and Partnerships for the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, Deputy Director and Global Markets Lead at Monash University and has previously covered leadership positions with the Global EverGreening Alliance, World Vision, Plan International, the Australian Red Cross and WaterAid. Prior to moving to Australia, Federico worked for the European Commission and the United Nations in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, managing multi-country programs on child labour and trafficking, sexual exploitation, primary education and vocational training, labour market policies, economic development and micro-finance, human resources development and public welfare policies.
Jessica Purcell
Dr Purcell is a healthcare and social impact leader with over 15 years of experience spanning scientific research, corporate strategy, and international development. In her most recent role, she was the Global Operations Director for Access to Medicines at Takeda, overseeing health systems strengthening and sustainable access programs, with a particular focus in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Her work integrates multi-sectoral partnerships to enable equitable access to oncology and rare disease medicines, combining commercial innovation with ethical, community-driven development approaches. She has developed and led high-impact partnerships with government, academia, NGOs, and healthcare providers. Dr Purcell has a PhD from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and an executive MBA from Melbourne Business School.
Melissa Phillips
Melissa Phillips is a Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Her research focuses on multiple dimensions of migration and is deeply informed by her experience as a practitioner in the field. She has worked with international organisations in South Sudan, the Horn of Africa, Libya and the Middle East, with asylum seekers in immigration detention in Australia and managed a refugee resettlement project. Formerly a Board Member of Australian Red Cross and International Detention Coalition, Melissa is co-Managing Editor of the Journal of Intercultural Studies.
Dr. Gautam Pingali
Dr. Gautam Pingali is a dynamic executive leader, policy researcher, and evaluation specialist. He brings extensive governance and strategy experience, accumulated over ten years of board service across universities, not-for-profits (NFPs), and community organizations and over fifteen years of cross-sector experience spanning multinational corporations, academia, NFPs, and entrepreneurial ventures. Gautam is known for his ability to lead complex research that informs policy, manage multi-million-dollar funding portfolios, and deliver strategic outcomes for Indigenous businesses and communities. He brings an interdisciplinary skillset, honed through senior roles including Audit and Risk Officer and Senior Financial Officer, which offers a unique, innovative lens for strategic problem-solving. Gautam holds a PhD in Indigenous land rights and is a published author.
