Governance That Guides Better Decisions
On the radio
Rachel, Darcy, and Emily from the Governance Hub recently spoke with Triple M breakfast radio to discuss who we are and what we offer.
Empowering Tasmanian NFPs through accessible governance information and practical legal support.
Who we are
Law students and legal professionals.
The Governance Hub is a Tasmanian Incorporated Association. We were formed from a vision to help NFPs easily access clear and helpful information on their regulatory obligations and individual committee member or director duties.
The law is complex and NFPs might interact with multiple state and commonwealth regulators. Our purpose is to provide practical governance resources to Tasmanian NFPs which are easy to access and understand.
The Governance Hub committee members are senior undergraduate and postgraduate law students or recently admitted lawyers. They are supported by governance experts as they enhance their own practical corporate governance skills.
About governance
Governance is the framework and processes an organisation has to support sound decision making and to support the execution of those decisions. It helps guide effective strategies and organisational activities and decisions.
Good governance
Good governance avoids being reactive and avoids wasted, time, energy and money.
Poor governance
Poor governance distracts committee members from the NFP's core purpose and can lead to costly problems.
The Governance Hub Team
Dr Rachel Baird (Founder and Executive Director of Governance Hub Inc)
Rachel’s vision for the Governance Hub is provide support to Tasmania’s NFP Committees so they can improve their knowledge of obligations and capacity to deal with governance matters. She has experience in legal practice and corporate roles working to advise boards and committees on complex governance matters. Rachel has also chaired many NFPs across education, sport, natural resources and education in both Queensland and now Tasmania.
When she is not sharing her passion for good governance Rachel enjoys hiking, planning new adventures and watching the mighty Melbourne Storm
Matilda Grant – Committee Member
Matilda is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Laws and Arts (Sociology), currently assisting in the provision of advice on public and administrative law across Government Departments. She has developed knowledge in sport administration and governance developed through work with legal and integrity teams in a National Sporting Organisation and community sporting organisations, where she focuses on member protection, women’s inclusion, and grassroots recruitment. Her leadership roles in community sport and student societies have developed demonstrated skills in stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and driving positive community outcomes.
Matilda is deeply motivated by assisting organisations in leveraging good governance, administration, and strategy to foster inclusion, resilience, and long-term growth.
Emily Heathcote – Committee Member
Emily graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours, and was admitted as a lawyer in 2025. She currently practices in civil litigation for the Tasmanian Government, and has a strong interest in governance, public law and community organisations.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys running. She is the President of Hobart Run Club Inc, a local not-for-profit run club. When setting up the run club with her co-founder, she was shocked by the lack of accessible resources available. She is passionate to provide the resources she wished were available, and ensure local not-for-profits will continue to thrive.
Darcy Heffernan – Committee Member
Darcy graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2024 with a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Laws. He is currently undertaking a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice whilst working at a local law firm, Groom Kennedy. The firm specialises in corporate and commercial law, and Darcy looks forward to developing his skills in these practice areas.
In his spare time Darcy enjoys spending time with friends, exploring all Tasmania has to offer, and getting back to the family beef cattle property in southern New South Wales whenever he can.
Bianca Jones - Committee Member
Bianca is a final-year Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business student at the University of Tasmania. She was jointly awarded an academic prize for achieving the highest mark in Corporations Law in 2025. Beyond her studies, Bianca enjoys spending time with friends, exploring new places, and staying connected to her local community in Northern Tasmania.
Bianca is interested in how effective governance frameworks can support the sustainability and impact of community organisations working to create positive change. She recognises the importance of accessible governance information and is excited to contribute to supporting non-for-profits through the Governance Hub.
Jasper Madsen - Committee Member
Ash Burke - Committee Member
Edward Curtis - Committee Member
Edward graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2025 with a Bachelor of Laws. During his studies, he began working at Abetz Curtis Lawyers & Advisers as a law clerk and paralegal. He recently completed a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and continues in the employment of Abetz Curtis in Workplace Relations, Workers Compensation, Commercial Law, Wills and Estates and General Civil Litigation.
Prior to working in the law, Edward completed his studies in Screen & Media at RMIT and worked for five years on local and international productions.
Edward is a loyal patron of the State Cinema, loves to swim in a pool or the ocean and plays baseball with the Hobart Blue Jays.
Georgie McDermott - Committee Member
Past Members
Donovan Castelyn (Association Member and Director of the Tax Clinic)
Donovan is the Co-Founder of the Curtin Tax Clinic, Australia’s first pro-bono tax clinic and the impetus for the National Tax Clinic Program and a Senior Industry Fellow – Taxation at the University of Tasmania (UTAs) and Director of the UTAs Tax Clinic.
Donovan holds higher degrees and qualifications in law and commerce, is admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and is recognised as a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant.
Donovan has also been recognised as one of Australia’s leading young tax practitioners, having won the Tax Institute’s Tax Adviser of the Year (Emerging Tax Star) category in 2020 and currently serves as a Tasmanian State Councillor with the Tax Institute.
Donovan is also pursuing his PhD in financial and tax literacy with a focus on vulnerable persons.
Professor Gino dal Pont (Association Member and Interim Dean, School of Law)
Gino is Interim Dean of the School of Law. He has been a career academic for almost 35 years, and has studied in both Australia and the United States.
Gino has written multiple books, which are regularly cited in the courts. His interest in governance is apparent, in particular, in his books on associations law and charity law. Gino also taught tax law for some 15 years.
Thomas Jetson – Committee Member
Thomas graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours. He was awarded an academic prize for the top mark in Corporations Law in 2024.
Joe Kelly – Committee Member
Logan Stacey – Committee Member
Logan is a University of Tasmania law graduate with First Class Honours and is currently completing his practical legal training through the Tasmanian Centre for Legal Studies. He has a keen interest in corporate governance, contract management, and intellectual property and was awarded subject prizes in Intellectual Property Law and Corporations Law.
Logan has ‘hands-on’ experience in copy-editing, peer review, administration work and publishing. He is an avid reader of modern philosophy, sociology, ancient societies, and current global politics. Logan loves dogs, talking smack with my dad and dabbling in auctions.
Isabella Memed – Committee Member
Bella is a recent graduate of the University of Tasmania with a double degree in Science and Law, and is currently completing the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course.
While still exploring which area of law to pursue, she particularly enjoyed studying corporations law, taxation law, and intellectual property law, and is eager for her future career to involve court work. Outside of law, Bella enjoys reading, film and television, art, music, and she occasionally even ventures into the great outdoors for hiking or surfing.
She is passionate about making complex topics accessible and is excited to contribute to this goal through the Corporate Governance Hub Committee
What we do
Free governance support for Tasmanian NFPs
We work with and in the community to provide free accessible resources (facts sheets, webinars, clinics) on essential governance for NFP committees (or boards) and staff.
In this way, we support your committees, volunteer and paid staff to make a plan for success and to understand individual and organisational obligations.