Committee members

Pat O’Neill is the President and CEO

I first came to TH as the Permaculture Designer working initially on all the aspects of the project that fit under the banner of the permaculture plan. Over time, I have taken on a greater role project managing the infrastructural aspect of the Datam project and in 2012 became President and CEO of TH Inc.
I have always been interested in aid and human rights issues, and believe that permaculture provides a great mechanism for dealing with the many problems affecting impoverished communities. I am a great believer in the TH model of sustainable development. Integrating permaculture with holistic health care modalities such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and social enterprise produces truly sustainable community development.
Between my work, and with running TH, planning this and our next project/s, being involved in the lives of my family, cycling to work each day and beekeeping on the Mornington Peninsula, I sometimes manage to fit in my other interests; yoga, reading and surfing.

Juliana Yoon is the Marketing and Fundraising Manager.

The Marketing team sets the overall direction for raising public awareness of TH. The Fundraising team is responsible for generating donations in the form of direct giving, corporate sponsorships and grants as well as organising fundraising events.

My decision to join TH was a combination of its sustainable, holistic approach to providing care to underprivileged communities, and the dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure TH reaches its goals.

I am happiest when travelling, having fun with friends (usually involving food and drinks) and walking in the park to clear my head.

Takeshi Kondo is TH’s resident film maker.

He is a documentary film maker and the director of manofthetree.com. He is involved in Traditional Healthcare as a film maker to support the creation of sustainable healthcare clinics around the world. His focus is to bring awareness about remote communities to improve worldwide standards of living.  His strength is producing documentaries to unfold non-scripted events. He can facilitate the direction, video production and project management of your concept for presentation on a number of media platforms including Film, TV, Web and Media Installations.

Estelle Donse is the Health Program Manger

My role as Health Program Manager involves designing, implementing and monitoring the health programs for the Traditional Healthcare projects.

I’ve always had a strong desire to contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. I think this aspiration developed progressively during years spent growing up in Asia, where I was constantly struck by the disparity in health in different communities. Having been raised with a strong value of equity, I consequently developed the opinion that health is a human right for all.

I hold a Bachelor of Human Nutrition, (with a minor in Community Development), a Diploma of Remedial Massage and am currently completing a Masters in International Health. This obsession with health extends into my leisure time, where I like to learn about all types of healing foods, herbs and medicines (both alternative and conventional).

Supria Singh is the Volunteer Coordinator.

As a key team player of Communications & PR team, I am responsible for recruiting, supporting and retaining Volunteers.

Being from India, I have seen firsthand the lack of health facilities in rural India, which has always pained me deeply. So much so that I always had an intention of supporting a cause to improve the situation from the grass roots level.  TH provides me with the opportunity to fulfil this inner desire and achieve self satisfaction.

I am a HR professional by trade and love my cricket, travelling around the country on road trips and cooking for family and friends.

Christine Hutton is the stakeholder liaison officer.

A belief in holistic, sustainable and equitable healthcare is what drives me academically as a Naturopathy student and so I’m very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the TH team.

I have a background in ecological sciences, environmental management, international development and teaching.

When I am not studying, working with TH, assisting customers at the local health food shop or planning hypothetical adventures to other places, I like to try new things…with varying levels of success. If I could do anything and not fail I would learn ten languages at once but for the moment my attempts at learning Spanish leave me grateful and amazed that I manage to communicate in even one!

I enjoy friends, nice people, music, trees, movement, crochet, street art, picture story books, vegan chocolate cake and it has to be said…a good dad joke.

Lisa Chiba is the Communications & PR Manager. 

The Comms & PR team at TH covers internal and external communications, PR & social media. I remember watching a video back in high school on the healthcare needs of some indigenous Australian communities, and this need so close to home as well as abroad has really stayed with me over the years. The aspirations of TH and its passionate volunteers to develop a presence in India, Melbourne and Alice Springs is something that excites and motivates me, and makes me even more determined to help make this happen. A project manager by trade, I have an Arts (Media & Communications) / Law degree from the University of Melbourne. I’m a keen traveller, love going out for dinner at the many restaurants and bars constantly popping up in Melbourne, and adore puppies and dogs of all shapes and sizes.