Directors and Secretary Profiles

• Kamala Alister

Kamala Alister was appointed a director in early 2002. Her interest in joining the Board was a combination of two influences: she had just completed Jill Jordan's facilitation course, which inspired her about the possibility of dynamic work in groups; and her husband, Paul Narada Alister, had been working on a video about Maleny cooperatives.

In the 1980s Kamala worked as a full-time volunteer for PROUT (the Progressive Utilisation Theory), a socio-economic vision based on universal spirituality, regional economics and world government. It embraces co-operatives as the major vehicle for most medium-sized businesses. Kamala believes co-ops provide a solution for local sustainability. She also strongly supports whole foods, locally produced items and organic produce.

In 1990, Kamala started a music distribution company, InnerSong, which has grown into an international network. These days she runs the Australian branch and distributes her own CDs of spiritual music. She has run her own graphic design business and taught classes in the Artist's Way, the Feminine Sanctuary and Astrology. Kamala is also on the management committee of the Ananda Marga River School and is a member of the Prout Settlement Co-op in Maleny. She has practised vegetarianism, meditation and yoga for over 25 years. She is mum/stepmum to four vegetarian boys and feels fortunate to live on one of Maleny's beautiful land cooperatives.

Kamala is a long-term member of – and frequent shopper at – Maple Street Co-op and really appreciates all that it offers. Her hope is to be helpful in the Co-op's future positive growth. During 2005 she worked together with fellow director Dawn Goddard to formulate the Co-op's new Policy Governance guidelines.




• Douglas Gillies

Elected as a director at the Co-op's AGM on 26 October 2004, Douglas Gillies has supported Maple Street Co-op as a member and customer since arriving in Maleny in 1995. Since 2002 he's worked here as a practitioner, specialising in iridology, and has had the opportunity to witness day-to-day operations of the Co-op.

He supports the Co-op and its ethics as well as small businesses generally, particularly local growers as opposed to national and multinational conglomerates which impact severely on local economies and the environment.

Douglas has had many years' experience as an organic grower, as an owner/builder of two homes and in business. He hopes to add some of his expertise to the Board in the stewardship of the Co-op and also gain valuable experience in being part of a co-operative movement.

• Marc Kalifa

Marc Kalifa was born in Paris in 1951 and settled in Australia in 1977 after many years' travelling around the world. In 1979 he came to live in Crystal Waters, where he began constructing the first rammed earth house in southeast Queensland, completing it in 1981. In more recent times, he has been moving/recycling a couple of traditional Queenslanders.

Marc has been self-employed as a glass artist for 25 years and has been an active participant in the Peace of Green artists' co-operative in Maleny since its inception.

He has been on the Co-op's Board since 1995, and in more recent times has directed his focus towards the building's renovations/extensions in order to move the Co-op into its next phase of development.

Marc's vision for the Co-op is to expand beyond health foods: "We have nearly won that battle, with health and even some organic foods present in a lot of the mainstream supermarkets." Marc would like to see an expansion into green and fair trade products as he sees that "fair trade is the next challenge to be presented to mainstream business".



• Peter Pamment

Peter Pamment, BSc (Hons) joined the Maple Street Co-op Board in January 2007, filling a casual vacancy. He has been a Co-op member since 1984 and in those early days was on the subcommittee that negotiated the lease for the Co-op in its current premises.

He is a founding member of The UpFront Club and Wastebusters, and is heavily involved in the Hinterland Business Centre. Peter has over 30 years' experience in computer science and statistics and works as a computer and micro-finance consultant. His focus is in the use of technology and in networking within our community.

Peter was a great help to the Co-op Board in developing its current corporate governance policies that were modelled on those adopted by Maleny Credit Union (MCU). He believes that as organisations grow, issues such as risk management and good corporate governance become critical. He is committed to contributing to the development of Maple Street Co-operative.

After volunteering to do ledger and systems work when Maleny Credit Union started operations in the early 1980s, Peter went on to be one of the team that developed the original MCU computer system. He was also a Director of MCU for 16 years and is currently the Systems and Development Manager.

Peter's other recent work-related interests are in helping to develop grassroots micro-finance systems for the people of Bougainville, and in improving community resources in Conondale where he lives with partner Rosemary Cox. He's also had a long-time involvement with the Conondale Bush Fire Brigade and is currently its First Officer as well as Group Leader for the Caloundra Rural Fire Brigade Group of the seven brigades within Caloundra City.



• Tony Woodhouse

Tony Woodhouse is a long-time resident and director of the Cedarton Foresters Cooperative at Booroobin, as well as a keen photographer.

A director of the UpFront Club until its transfer to Maple Street Co-op in October–November 2005, Tony has been a key figure in Club operations in recent times. Indeed, he's put his heart and soul into the Club.

Voted in as a director at the Co-op's AGM on 23 November 2005, Tony sees he can provide a key bridging role between Co-op and Club activities and would like to maintain some input into the Club's future and fulfil his long-term dreams for the Club.

• Mary Meadows – Secretary

Mary Meadows was unanimously elected by directors to the (non-Board) position of Secretary in September 2000. A popular identity around the Co-op and the Maleny and Conondale areas, Mary has expertise as a qualified accountant and is the proprietor of Books & Balances (Hinterland). She has gained much experience from many years of running her own businesses in art and craft supply (together with husband Alan Harrington), in artist representation and in management consultancy.

After her migration from Canberra in 1994 with husband Alan and purchasing land in Conondale, she established her new business growing medicinal and culinary herbs, obtaining organic certification in 1995. Mary has been one of the Co-op's organic herb consignors ever since.

Mary is a certification officer for and Treasurer of Organic Growers of Australia. She is also President of the Conondale Bush Fire Brigade, and somehow finds time in her busy schedule to contribute a Cultivating News column and other articles to the Maple Street Co-op's newsletter.