Our Ambassadors
Peter Shergold • Chancellor of Western Sydney University
“The ZEST Awards are an annual reminder of the positive impact that community organisations have had in Western Sydney throughout the year. I am proud to be an Ambassador- Peter Shergold
Professor Peter Shergold has been the Chancellor of Western Sydney University since January 2011; his term was extended to December 2022.
Peter’s career is preceded by his distinguished academic path. In the Australian Public Service, Peter was a CEO for two decades, establishing the Office of Multicultural Affairs; he later served for five years as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
In the not-for-profit field, Peter is Chair of the Crescent Institute and the AMP Foundation He was CEO of the Centre for Social Impact from 2008-2011 and is now its chair.
He is Chair of Opal Healthcare and Joblife. In 2014 Peter was appointed as Coordinator General for Refugee Settlement in NSW. He is also the Chair of the NSW Standards Authority
Aunty Carol Cooper • Outstanding Community Leader ZEST Award Winner, 2012
“ZEST showcases ordinary people that do work from the grass roots. I was so excited to be awarded the trophy for Community Volunteer in 2012 – it meant a lot to me to be recognised. That’s what ZEST is all about – letting people know that someone notices their work. I’m pleased to be part of ZEST Ambassadors Program” – Aunty Carol Cooper
Aunty Carol Cooper has been the backbone of the reconciliation movement in the Blue Mountains for the past 20 years. She is a descendant of both the Gundungura people and the Darug people and generously shares her culture and understandings with a wide range of people from schools, community organisations and communities. She is a founding member of Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre (ACRC) and long term member of Blue Mountains People for Reconciliation.
Aunty Carol’s contribution is extensive and not limited to her own people. As well as volunteering for the ACRC, she also assists at Great Community Transport, Katoomba North School Koori Club, Upper Mountains Basketball Association and the Katoomba Winter Magic Festival. Aunty Carol is part of the Blue Mountains East Timor Sister’s project and was an invited delegate to the second International Women for Peace Conference in Dili, Timor-Leste in 2009.
David Borger • Western Sydney Director, Sydney Business Chamber
“I am delighted to be representing the Sydney Business Chamber Western Sydney as Ambassador for the 2014 ZEST Awards. There are many champions working in the community sector; champions who work with passion and with commitment, achieving outstanding results. These people should be recognised. The diversity of nominations received from all areas of Western Sydney is a fantastic acknowledgement and will help to enhance the positive image of our region. I congratulate the Western Sydney Community Forum, WESTIR and TRI Community Exchange for this initiative.” – David Borger
David Borger is the Executive Director of Business Western Sydney.
A passionate advocate for the growth of Western Sydney, David has been at the forefront of many high-profile advocacy efforts dedicated to bringing jobs to the region, keeping Western Sydney a competitive market for business, and championing the cultural, amenity and infrastructure investments required to provide our residents with a world-class place to work, live and entertain.
During his tenure at Business Western Sydney, David has been a key advocate for transformational projects including the approval of Western Sydney International Nancy Bird-Walton Airport, Powerhouse Parramatta, the Westmead and Liverpool Innovation Districts, the rejuvenation of Sydney Olympic Park, Parramatta Light Rail and West Metro.
Prior to this, David served as the Minister for Western Sydney, Minister for Housing, Minister for Roads, and Minister assisting the Minister for Transport and Roads in NSW Labor Governments. At 30 years of age, he was also the youngest person to hold the office of Lord Mayor of Parramatta where he served 3 separate terms.
David is currently a Director of Think Planners, Independent Chair of the Liverpool Innovation Precinct, a non-executive director on the boards of the NRMA and Evolve Housing, a Trustee of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, and a member of the Placemaking NSW Advisory Committee.
Jen Armstrong • The Beauty Bank
“You don’t need money to make real change, just passion, resilience and a healthy amount of willpower! As a previous ZEST award winner, it is a true honour to now be an ambassador for an organisation that actively celebrates the wonderful achievements of the Western Sydney community.” – Jen Armstrong
As the 2016 NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year, Jen Armstrong was recognised for her advocacy work for victims of domestic violence and now works as an Operations Manager for a leading disability not-for-profit organisation, promoting inclusion and equality for all.
A survivor of domestic violence, Jen founded The Beauty Bank charity, inspired by the kindness expressed to her by her local community. Jen is a passionate advocate, motivating and educating others on the effects of domestic violence, the power of resilience and how everyone can change someone else’s world with a little effort.
Graduating from Western Sydney University in 2018, Jen understands the transformational power of an education at all stages of life.
Jen is committed to promoting and building relationships between government, business, and the community in her newly elected role of Sutherland Shire Councillor.
Jim Taggart • Business and Community Leader
“The ZEST Awards allows organisations and our community to celebrate success in every sense of the word. The values of the human spirit and helping people achieve their goals with dignity exemplify the real meaning of these prestigious awards. Congratulations and may they always continue.” – Jim Taggart
Jim’s career began as a teacher and Deputy Principal of a Catholic High School. Subsequently, he entered the financial services industry, now providing financial adviser soft-skill training and education and regularly speaking at conferences and seminars, in Australia and internationally.
In 2012 and 2013 respectively, Jim was appointed Adjunct Professor with Notre Dame University, Australia and Western Sydney University. He is actively involved in community activities, including the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal and Local Chambers of Commerce. Currently, Jim is Chairman of Mentor Education, and Chairman of APIC, a leading international educational organization. He is Deputy Chairman of Regional Development Australia for Sydney and sits on three separate council bodies in Western Sydney.
Matilda Harry •
“The ZEST Awards promote Western Sydney’s assets, diversity, passion, creativity and innovation. As a previous ZEST award winner, I am truly honoured to have developed strong networks and now be an ambassador for an organisation that actively supports and celebrates our community’s excellence, achievements and stories.” – Matilda Harry
Matilda, a proud Wiradjuri woman, is devoted to increasing the educational opportunities and independence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities across health, employment, policy and reform sectors. She is a high achieving PhD student at Western Sydney University whose research aims to make meaningful change for all Australians, particularly First Nations communities. Matilda’s ongoing involvement with communities has led her to work in grassroots and peak body initiatives and institutions across local, state and national platforms.
Lyall Gorman • Business Leader
“I am delighted to be involved in an Awards ceremony that celebrates one of the most diverse and dynamic regions in Australia. I congratulate all ZEST Awards nominees for the role that they play in making Western Sydney a thriving, progressive community. I congratulate all of those involved in staging this initiative and look forward to being a part of the celebrations.” – Lyall Gorman
Lyall Gorman is the President of Business NSW, having served as a Board Director for the past seven years and Deputy President for the past two. He is also a Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and currently is CEO of Evolve Housing, who is one of Australia’s largest community housing providers.
He has over 35 years’ experience in senior management, project management and administration, in both the Public and Private sectors. He holds a Master’s Degree in Administration (UNSW) with majors in Finance, Organizational Culture and Change, Organisational Behavior, Statistics and Marketing.
Lyall was born in Griffith, NSW and has a passion for small business, mentoring emerging business leaders and aspirational youth while also figuring on the public speaking circuit in areas including Leadership, Building a Winning Culture, High Performance, Brand, Development, Consumer Engagement.
Irene Ross • Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women
“I am very proud to be an Ambassador of the ZEST Awards and look forward to promoting the great work that is being done by the community sector and all who work in it. I commend the ZEST Awards for providing a platform where our people and community groups can be celebrated.” – Irene Ross
Irene Ross is a consultant with many years of experience, working in both the community and private sectors and specialising in business growth, coaching, leadership development and events.
Irene is the BPW Australia NSW Representative, BPW Coordinator Global Compact Network Australia, Member of TAFE NSW- Western Sydney Institute Advisory Council, Facilitator Asian Australian Alliance and a member of the Western Sydney Collective Leadership Group, supporting collaboration between business, government, community organisations and academia to achieve better social and economic outcomes for people in Western Sydney.
Prior to establishing Irene Ross & Associates, Irene managed services targeting migrants; previously she sat on key committees, including Minister for Immigration Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC) and International Organisation for Migration.