Our people

Ian holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology and a Master’s in Management from The University of Queensland. He was CEO of Queensland Museum Network for 13 years and prior to that Deputy CEO at Museum Victoria and Director of Land Protection at the Queensland Department of Lands. He also worked with the Department of Primary Industries as an entomologist. He is Chairman of the National Trust of Australia (Qld) and in 2019 received a Member of The Order of Australia for significant service to the museums sector, to historical preservation, and to the environment.

Cherrell graduated from The University of Queensland in medicine and practiced for 30 years, predominantly as Director of the Wesley Breast Clinic.

She was Chancellor of QUT from 1994 to 2004 and since 2000 has been a Non-Executive Director and/or Chair of a wide variety of corporate entities across education, health biotechnology and insurance sectors.  She is currently on the Board of Bolton Clarke Group.  Cherrell recently stepped down from her directorship of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service and also as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Molecular Biosciences at the university of Queensland.

Cherrell has been awarded five honorary doctorates, a Centenary Medal (2003) and the title of Officer of the Order of Australia (1998). She was named Queenslander of the Year in 1995 and awarded the Queensland AICD Gold Medal in 2015.

Ashley holds Commerce and Economics degrees from The University of Queensland, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. Ashley is a Private Client Adviser at Shadforth Financial Group and was part of Shadforth’s Investment Committee for 10 years.

In 2023, Ashley was ranked 35th in Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisers in Australia. He has a wealth of experience, having played a key advisory role in the financial sector for over 23 years, managing a portfolio of over $1 billion dollars in funds.

Ashley remains active in the ongoing development of the Group’s investment philosophy. His expertise lies in portfolio construction and developing highly effective wealth accumulation and retirement planning strategies.

Persephone emigrated to Australia from the UK 35 years ago having developed her advertising and marketing career in the UK, Europe and the US.She was a Director at Clemenger BBDO Brisbane before establishing the Queensland based creative branding, marketing and digital agency NOUS in 1999 and retired as Managing Director in 2018. With 30 years of working across all industry sectors both public and private throughout Queensland, Persephone has a deep understanding of its social, economic and geographic challenges. As a Director of SJL Agribusiness she has further substantiated her knowledge of rural Queensland.
Persephone has a Joint Honours degree in Philosophy and Politics from the University of Durham and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a keen Francophile and is currently a Director at Alliance Francaise de Brisbane.

Tony has degrees in Economics and Marketing together with a Masters in Advanced Finance and is the Director of Regional Development for Regional Development Australia Fitzroy and Central West. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, CPA Australia, Governance Institute of Australia and the Institute of Managers and Leaders.  Tony has spent much of his career working for large corporations including National Australia Bank and IBM within Australia and the Middle-East, as well as in his own small businesses in the retail franchise sector. He was the General Manager of Mango 4 Office Technology and has had a great deal of experience working with companies within the emerging technologies sector. He was a founding member of the Central Queensland Committee of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Queensland Small Medium Enterprise Committee of CPA Australia. Tony joined The John Villiers Board in February 2020 and is a non-executive Director of RACQ.

Lea-Anne Bradley joined the John Villiers Trust as CEO in September 2020. She is a highly experienced philanthropic professional who has over 18 years’ experience establishing and managing charitable trusts and fundraising initiatives.  Lea-Anne has worked extensively across areas of fundraising, capital campaigns, major gifts programs and strategy for the charitable sector within youth, education, health, conservation and international development. Her experience working for State Trustees, the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and Equity Trustees enables her to brings a depth of knowledge in the successful implementation, management and process improvement in the philanthropic and grantmaking space to the John Villiers Trust.
She holds a Master’s degree in Social Investment and Philanthropy and has served as a committee and board member for charities within the cultural, education and disabilities sectors.

Fiona Maxwell is an experienced CEO, board Chair, and director with 20 years’ experience in social-sector leadership and governance. 

She is the Queensland Executive Director for FareShare, Australia’s largest charity kitchen, and Deputy Chair of DVConnect, a statewide domestic violence crisis service for Queenslanders. 

Fiona was the CEO of Brisbane Powerhouse, the Queensland Manager for Philanthropy Australia, and the Executive Director of the Next Wave Festival for youth arts.

She holds a master’s degree in arts administration and has shared her deep expertise in philanthropic strategy and governance by serving on industry peak bodies and grant-making committees throughout her career.

Fiona was born in Townsville, and grew up in Winton, Brisbane, Mt Isa and Cairns. She is passionate about opportunities for young people in regional Queensland. 

Douglas Bates is a legal practitioner and company director with over 35 years’ experience in legal services. 

Douglas is a Director of FIIG Holdings Limited, a public unlisted company specialising in corporate bonds, and a senior consultant at Hamilton Locke.

Douglas was the Executive Chairman of FIIG for 20 years, a barrister at the Queensland Bar for 18 years, and a solicitor in Brisbane, London and Hong Kong. 

Born and raised in Roma, Douglas is attuned to country people and their experiences. He has a Bachelor and Master of Laws and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.