Board of Directors
Rosy Sullivan
Chair
Board Member since 2010
Rosy’s been an educational professional since 1987. Her career began in the public sector, in disability and welfare, where she held management and senior operational positions. In 2000, Rosy moved into the private sector, establishing a vocational training college for professionals in the property, finance and business sectors.
Rosy’s a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Training and Development. Over the years, Rosy has held various board positions in charitable organisations and been a member of numerous government advisory committees.
PhD (Ed.); BA Hons (Ed. & Psych); J.P.
Lisbeth (Beth) Lawsen
Co-Chair
Board Member since June 2018
Beth joins Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter as a Board member after recently retiring from a senior role in local government. Over the past 28 years, she has worked across Manly and the Northern Beaches, managing council services and delivering outcomes for the community.
Beth has a strong personal commitment to supporting community wellbeing, particularly in roles that care for, support and contribute to the future development of women. As a recently retired woman, mother of three adult daughters, grandmother of four and a Northern Beaches resident for more than 50 years, she is deeply aware of the challenges many women in this community face.
Beth is keen to contribute to NBWS by drawing on her extensive professional and life experience, supported by qualifications in social work, management, leadership, dispute resolution, law and community practice.
She sees the achievements of the former Manly Community Centre, now Community Northern Beaches, and the establishment of the Shelter as an important part of the fabric of the wider community. Beth is proud to support a service so highly regarded for the work of its staff and volunteers, and is eager to help strengthen its impact even further.
Sarah Falzarano
NBWS Treasurer
Board Member since late 2021
Sarah Falzarano is Director of Finance and Company Secretary of Sydney Symphony Orchestra and was formerly Chief Financial Officer with Musica Viva Australia. After over 25 years in business, she has extensive experience in financial and risk management, strategic planning and leadership in both the for-profit and for-purpose sectors. She specialises in translating complex financial information and strategic planning frameworks for diverse audiences and assists companies to achieve outcomes within sustainable financial parameters.
Sarah Falzarano holds a Bachelor of Science (Economics) from the London School of Economics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the CEMD program at AGSM. She attended Session 446 of the Salzburg Global Seminars and received a scholarship to attend a short course at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Business School.
Órla Keane
Board Member since late 2021
Órla is passionate about giving back, sustainability and diversity & inclusion.
Órla is active in leading IWD (International Women’s Day) events, Clean up Australia days, Cancer council biggest morning teas and the Salvation Army Christmas Appeals. In the community she supports Meals on Wheels, the Smith Family and volunteers at the North Steyne SLSC fundraising events.
Órla is a corporate leader in the IT industry with extensive experience in strategy development, people leadership, stakeholder management & revenue generation. She is an advocate for women in technology & in leadership. Órla holds a Bachelor of Commerce (International) from the University College of Dublin (Ireland). She lives in the Northern Beaches with her husband and two children.
Eloise Matthews
Board Member since early 2023
Eloise is an Employment Relations Business Partner at a local HR Consultancy Firm, HumanX HR, with extensive knowledge and passion for employment relations and human resources. She graduated with first class honours from her Bachelor of Laws in 2020 from Macquarie University and is an admitted lawyer. She grew up in Goulburn, but is now a proud resident of the Northern Beaches.
Eloise has a personal purpose of empowering women to find their freedom. As a young female growing up in rural Australia, she was acutely aware of the gendered power imbalances which permeated the community. She became interested in women’s rights advocacy, and a career in law appealed to this desire to make a tangible difference in this space.
Eloise uses her position as Board Member at the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter to utilise her professional skills and experiences for the benefit of an organisation that supports her personal purpose.
Margie O'Neill
Board Member since 2025
Margie, along with her business partner have owned and run their own family law practice called De Saxe O’Neill Family lawyers on Sydney’s Northern Beaches for the past seven years.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Margie spent around 20 years working as a social worker across a broad range of settings and which all involved working with families. She has a deep knowledge of intimate partner violence; systems abuse and coercive control and the intersection with family law.
Margie draws on this knowledge and her previous experience to assist clients navigate the family law system and keep women and children safe through what is often the worst time of their life. Margie is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and has volunteered at the Manly Community Legal Service for the past 5 years. She also provides legal advice and services to NBWC including pro bono when required.
Louisa Warr
Board Member since early 2026
Louisa Warr is a senior commercial leader with more than 20 years’ experience in sales strategy, operations, and distribution across the Australian and international aviation industry. She has spent much of her career at Qantas Airways, holding a series of senior roles spanning global corporate and agency partnerships, distribution strategy, before serving as Head of Sales Operations & Planning — leading cross-functional teams across multiple countries and delivering material revenue growth.
Louisa brings to the NBWS Board expertise in commercial negotiation, governance, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.
A committed volunteer, Louisa spent three years in Bangkok with Urban Neighbours of Hope, helping establish a community cooking school that achieved the number one TripAdvisor ranking in Bangkok and produced two internationally acclaimed cookbooks.
Panagioti Tsolakis
Board Member since early 2026
Panagioti Tsolakis is a Director within Deloitte Australia’s Audit & Assurance division, with more than 14 years’ experience across the financial services sector.
Panagioti brings to the NBWS Board strong expertise in financial reporting, risk management, internal controls, and governance. A long-time supporter of the Shelter since its inception, Panagioti is committed to applying his professional experience to strengthen the financial sustainability and resilience of an organisation providing vital support to women across the Northern Beaches.
Panagioti holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.