Ms. Elaine HENRY

In 1998 Elaine Henry OAM, BSc (Hons 1) became the Chief Executive Officer of The Smith Family which is a national independent social enterprise providing opportunities for disadvantaged children and their families through education support.  The Smith Family also has a Commercial Enterprise which comprises, Recycled Clothing, Retail Stores and Nonwoven Technical Textiles.  The profits from the Commercial Enterprise make a major contribution to the infrastructure costs of the Social Enterprise.  Prior to this she was the Executive Director of the NSW Cancer Council from 1985 – 1997 and her work was recognised in 1994 with a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM).  She was a non-executive Director of AXA Trustees from 1998 – 2001.

Elaine chairs the Australian Government’s Stronger Families & Communities Partnership and is a Member of the Welfare Reform Consultative Forum and The Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership.  The Smith Family is one of the founding members of Social Ventures Australia and Elaine is a Director. She is a Member of the Board of the Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth, the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Board of the University of Wollongong and the The Alcoa Research Centre for Stronger Communities Board, Curtin University of Technology.  She is also Chair of the Interim Board of Nonprofit Australia.

Elaine served on a wealth of committees in various capacities over a 20 year period and was a consultant to the World Health Organisation assisting countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to plan and implement cancer control programs relevant to their countries.  She has been a regular public presenter on various topics and media spokesperson.

Elaine continues as a Trustee of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and is a Member of the Institute of Company Directors.

In August 2001 Elaine was named one of the inaugural Australian Financial Review BOSS 30 True Leaders and was again included as one of the 25 True Leaders in 2004.