The Care for Africa Board provides effective governance, leadership and strategic direction for our organisation.
Our board members bring deep expertise across international development, law, agriculture, and public policy; all in service of Care for Africa’s mission in Tanzania.
To learn more about our work, annual reports and project updates, visit our [Resources] page.
In 2016, Diana Butler was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her work as the CEO of the organisation and her service to the people of Tarime. Diana founded Care for Africa in 2006. Since this time Diana has led the organisation from strength to strength driving innovation and change and being at the cusp of international development initiatives. Diana is also employed by the Launceston General Hospital as the After Hours Nurse Manager. Diana is also a Director of St Giles Society Inc. Diana is married with 3 boys and 4 grandchildren and lives in Launceston.
Sophie Folder is an agricultural facilitator with over 25 years’ experience working in agricultural extension and industry development roles across a range of agricultural industries and not-for-profit organisations. She is passionate about connecting people and fostering collaboration to address the practical needs of farmers and their communities. Sophie is deeply committed to helping people learn, grow, and embrace change and making a meaningful difference in the rural communities with which she works.
Until December 2022, Trudy Witbreuk was a senior government official with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Ms Witbreuk has extensive experience in public policy and international diplomacy/negotiations, with a particular strength in trade policy and negotiations and pursuing Australia’s economic and commercial interests in overseas markets.
She successfully led negotiation of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with Indonesia and was Australia’s senior official for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (2017-2019).
Ross Hart resides in Launceston where he has been practising as a lawyer since 1985. He was a partner of the firm Rae and Partners until 2016 when he was elected to Federal Parliament. He is currently practising in his own legal practice with an emphasis upon commercial and litigious areas including commercial litigation. He is a past President of the Law Society of Tasmania, and as a parliamentarian served as a member of the Joint Parliamentary Public Accounts and Audit Committee, was Deputy Chair of the Joint Committee on Trade and Investment Growth and served on the Parliamentary ICT Advisory Board.
Mark has been a Principal of Camerons Accountants and Advisors for 25 years with over 40 years experience in Public Practice in Australia and overseas. Mark graduated from the Tasmanian State Institute of Technology in 1988 before travelling and working in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong before returning to Tasmania to complete his professional studies to become a Chartered Accountant. Mark has previously acted as a board member for Epilepsy Tasmania and on several industry advisory boards.
Harriet Baillie comes to Care for Africa with over 20 years’ experience in Australia’s diplomatic service.
Following 10 years as a research scientist including work for an environmental consulting company in Japan, Harriet made a big career change to join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2002. She soon fell in love with the Pacific islands, with stints working in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, when she gained experience in overseas development work.
Alice Herbon is an experienced executive, lawyer and non-executive director with more than 20 years’ experience across governance, legal strategy, risk management and complex stakeholder environments. She is currently General Counsel and Head of Commercial Strategy at SFM Agribusiness, where she oversees legal compliance, governance frameworks and strategic commercial initiatives across large-scale natural asset operations.
Ms Witbreuk served in senior roles in Australian diplomatic missions, including as Charge d’affaires at the Australian Mission in Brussels (2021). In that role she led Australia’s diplomatic engagement with the European Union, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg. She was also a Director in the Trade and Agriculture Directorate of the OECD in Paris (2012 – 2015) and Deputy Permanent Representative at the Australian Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva (2009-2012).
Ms Witbreuk serves on the Tasmanian Women’s Council and is on the Board of the Australia Indonesia Business Council. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum Australia and of Chief Executive Women.
Harriet’s other overseas posting was to Paris for four years, working on various aspects of Australia’s relationship with France. Her second role while in Paris was Australia’s Deputy representative to UNESCO.
Drawing on her scientific background, Harriet also worked on Australia’s nuclear non-proliferation and anti-whaling policies. Some in the Tasmanian community may have met her during her time running the DFAT Hobart office during the period 2017-2019.
Harriet’s other varied work experience also includes time working in Parliament House, CSIRO and a chocolate shop. She is currently Manager of the International Section of the Australian Antarctic Division based in Hobart – a role which brings together her love of wild places, science and international relations.
Alice has held senior legal and governance roles advising on major infrastructure, commercial and public sector projects. Alice brings particular expertise in governance, strategic risk management, legal compliance and navigating complex government and community stakeholder relationships.
Alice holds degrees in Law and Arts (Honours) from the University of Tasmania, a Master of Laws in International Arbitration, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Together we can make a difference.
Join us on our journey to break the cycle of poverty, walking alongside rural communities in the Tarime District of Tanzania.
