Who we are

Naomi is a communication and marketing professional with 20 years of experience in digital and content marketing, public speaking, public relations, video production, event management, e-learning, not-for-profit governance, entrepreneurship, stakeholder engagement and community development.

After ten years in Europe, working in fashion and advertising, she returned to Adelaide to join Relationships Australia South Australia, a leading provider of community services and nationally recognised training. Naomi is the previous General Manager Communications and Development, overseeing a multidisciplinary team that provides support to fifty-two diverse services and programs across relationship counselling, post-separation, gambling help, trauma counselling services, children and youth services.

She is the past chairperson of Take 2 Action Ltd that hospice and started the 48 Hour Film Project in Adelaide – a wild and sleepless competition in which teams make a short film in just 48 hours. The winner goes on to compete at Filmapalooza in the US against 160 countries from around the world.

Adrian has been treasurer of the Peace Foundation since 2018. He was born in Alberton, raised with his seven siblings in Pennington and educated in Somerton Park, Adelaide. He is an economic historian, occupying academic positions at the Universities of Oxford, Edinburgh, NSW, Adelaide and Tasmania, followed by senior management roles in higher education in Adelaide, Aberdeen and Manchester.

Adrian was coordinator and treasurer of the SEARCH Foundation, Sydney, between 2014 and 2018, whence he returned to Adelaide.

He has a passion for the arts having been a professional actor early in his career, and later, chairman of the Adelaide Central School of Art. He is a lifelong trade unionist and activist and is the proud father of daughters who live with their partners and children in New York, Melbourne and Adelaide. He is currently researching and writing a history of the Peace Foundation.

Born and bred in South Australia, as a child Ann grew up very aware of the impacts of war. Both of her grandfathers were involved in the First World War, one of whom lost his leg and his brother to the war. As a young teenager she was strongly opposed to the Vietnam War and had strong beliefs in equality and social justice.

Ann spent over 30 years working in strategic policy in government, mostly in the skills and employment portfolio. As a student at Flinders University she completed a Bachelor Degree in Government and Public Management and a Master of Public Administration (Policy).

“My beliefs very much align with those of the Peace Foundation and I am proud to be a member of the Board.”

Marie’s Honours degree is in Psychology, and her PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Adelaide. She has worked in the drug and alcohol field for nearly 25 years. Her current role is the Principal Research Officer in the Analytics and Research Unit within Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia. This Unit integrates clinical data with population-based data sources, including analysing and interpreting various data sources. Marie also provides an expert advisory service about data analysis, research, clinical policy and strategic development and engages and liaises with other agencies.

Marie speaks Italian and French and has experience as a translator and interpreter for the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  As a member of the Molinara Social and Sports Club Cultural Committee, she has been involved in various community projects. She shares her late father, Dr Don Longo’s interest in migrant history. Marie has had extensive experience in public speaking at national and international conferences and presentations at seminars to a broad range of audiences across South Australia.

Marie has also been involved in background research, proofreading, and editing several books written by her father, Dr Don Longo, including Terra Lasci, Terra Trovi: from Molinara to Adelaide: The History of a Southern Italian Community in South Australia, 1927-2007, and Pens and bayonets: letters from the Front by soldiers of Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, during the Great War.

Lisa is an experienced public relations specialist with a 40-year career in the media industry, public sector and non-profit organisations. She is skilled in marketing, corporate communications and stakeholder engagement through strategic and operational planning and execution, including the functions of speech writing, copywriting, media management, event management and digital and social media management.

She is a past member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (SA Branch) and the Media Arts and Entertainment Alliance.

Lisa’s contribution to the Peace Foundation combines her extensive professional expertise with her personal interests and commitment to the arts, social justice and environmental sustainability.

Stephen was an actor and stage manager in the professional theatre in Ireland, Britain and Australia, including for Junction Theatre in Adelaide, before working for over 35 years as a full-time trade union official with Actors Equity, the Australian Theatrical & Amusement Employees Association, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance in Australia, and Prospect, Equity in the UK. He was also heavily involved in the International Federation of Actors.

He’s been President of the SA Unions, an ACTU delegate to the TU World Congress, and a UK Trades Union Congress General Council member. He was also an elected Councillor on Port Adelaide Enfield Council and Surrey County Council, was Chair of the SA Arts Industry Council and a Board member of the SA Film Corporation, and has recently been involved as an Adelaide Fringe Judge, a member of the SA May Day Committee and a campaigner with the Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons, set up by his friend the late Sister Janet Mead.

As a teacher, unionist and peace activist committed to justice, equality, innovation and the power of education, Léonie was amongst the first cohort of women appointed to the position of high school principal.

Léonie was active in the teachers’ union throughout her teaching career, especially in relation to conditions of service, the education of girls, the status of women teachers, Aboriginal education and Aboriginal education workers. She fought for the creation of the position of women’s officer, was founding chair of the Status of Women’s Committee and initiated the training program for union representatives. Léonie was also the first woman president from 1982-3, when teachers initially affiliated with the peak body of trade unions.

Other activities included:

• UNESCO Commissioner in 1983
• the first woman President of the Australian Curriculum Studies Association, pursuing her passion for education at the national level
• Adelaide City Councillor- supporting heritage, Aboriginal and youth ambassadors’ programs and initiating the Migration Museum’s Philosophers Café
• long term active member of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, attending international activities.

She founded The Graham F Smith Peace Foundation after the death of her husband Graham Smith in 1989, to work for peace through the arts and has passionately led it since its inception.