Change The One is the simple vision of its founder and chairperson, Peter Nicholls, that came about when inspecting the devastation of a Tsunami in Papua New Guinea back in 1997.
Our Team
Meet Our Team
Peter Nicholls
“Peter recalls that first encounter: “As I stood on top of the rubble, trees, rocks and silt, 3 stories high that had been cleared off the road and stretched as far as the eye could see, I looked to the heavens in utter frustration and helplessness, cursed for the little I could do – the task was insurmountable.
Peter later found himself on a family holiday to Vietnam, meeting with local people and forming close friendships with people with a similar passion for assisting those in need. As those friendships grew, and it became apparent the limited amount of resources available, Peters’ offer of assistance was warmly welcomed. The raising of funds contributes to assisting those in need in both Papua New Guinea & Vietnam.
Peter Nicholls
Founder and ChairpersonOur Committee
Josie Kearsey
Committee Member - Events, Major Fundraising & Publicity
Josie Kearsey
Committee Member - Events, Major Fundraising & PublicityJosie Kearsey – Klass Events Director – Klass Events Conference and Special Events Management – Beyond Expectation Josie has a vast history of experience in creating and managing all types and styles of events. Her expertise in the event management space incorporates all styles and categories of event management, including charity events, business expos, fundraising ventures, social and community functions. Her passion to see results and positive outcomes for the principal stakeholders is by creating events which are cleverly designed, meticulously managed, distinctive and results-driven, whilst making a lasting impression that inspires and motivates. Josie combines her vast business experience including call centre management, business leadership, staff management and training, team building and project management into the event arena. Josie goes beyond expectation and ensures that any event she manages or creates have the hallmarks of professionalism and class. She looks forward to utilizing her skills to raise awareness & funds for the missions of Change the One. www.klassevents.com josie@klassevents.com M: 0418578339
Chris Tierney
Secretary
Chris Tierney
SecretaryChris Tierney, Chris has over 40 years of experience in large and small businesses, corporate and start-ups, working with senior management and entrepreneurs across all areas of business, Chris has a range and depth of experience and knowledge. He is currently Company Secretary at DCP Company Ltd, a Director at Ecovantage Pty Ltd and Company Secretary at the Australian Musician Network Pty Ltd. Chris is a firm believer in community, protection of the environment & assisting those in need. Change the One was the perfect direction for Chris to devote his time to “give back” & having have been lifelong friends for over 40 years with Peter (the founder of Change the One) it was opportunity he cherished.
Eric De Ravel
Treasurer
Eric De Ravel
TreasurerEric is the managing partner of Teamwork Accounting with offices in Point Cook and Brighton, providing bookkeeping, accounting and tax advice and services to SMEs and SMSFs. Teamwork Accounting also has a joint venture with Partners Wealth Group who provide financial planning advice to their clients. His role in Change the One will be to manage the financial records and ensure that all income and expenditure is correctly accounted for. Eric has been on the board of many sporting clubs, the more recent of which is the Williamstown Bowls Club.
Glenn Ritchie
Committee Member
Will Conyers
AmbassadorTheatre stalwart, Will Conyers has worked extensively in all branches of the entertainment industry since the age of 6. Performing in piano bars, cabaret to opera and rock opera, theatre, film and T.V soap operas. A graduate of the National Theatre Drama School (1980), he returned there to be the founding Director of the Musical Theatre Course (1996-1998). He also studied with esteemed NY Acting and Music Theatre teacher, Carol-Fox Prescott. Will also has an extensive career behind the scenes through directing, choreographing, production management and producing. In addition, Will has lectured at almost all the major tertiary performing arts institutions in Acting, Voice and Musical Theatre. He was Head of Acting at CQU (2000-03) and is regularly asked to adjudicate in Festivals and Eistedfodds. He, along with Nancye Hayes AM OAM, was chosen to take up an Artist-Residence at WAAPA in 1995. He continues to Guest Lecture at almost all the tertiary Music Theatre courses along the eastern seaboard. Will also takes his voice expertise into the corporate sector across several industries, through innovative games and bespoke techniques, facilitating workshops and classes in voice management and production, for leadership, coaching, influencing, and vocal communication and vocal health. Will is very proud of his 20 years volunteer service to The Green Room Awards Assoc Inc. In that time, he served as Music Theatre panel head, Secretary, Vice-President and President. His service was rewarded with a Life Membership to the Association. For 6 years, Will was also the host of the hugely successful Broadway at Bedtime on JOY 94.9 and was the Artistic Director of Downstairs at Alma's.
Zufendy Wu
Committee Member
Zufendy Wu
Insurance Broker SpecialistZufendy Wu is the Managing Director of InsureRisk – an insurance broker specialist helping SME and Corporate businesses with their insurance protection and claims services. Zuf specialises in Risk Management as well as advising Board of Directors with their company risk and protection solution. Zuf always has a passion to help the less fortunate and had in the past assisted many other charities either by donation in kind, time or money or by way of sponsorships. With Peter’s passion and Change The One mission to provide 100% money raised for the needy – it is the perfect opportunity for Zuf to contribute to the Charity.
Keenan Archer
Committee Member
Zufendy Wu
Insurance Broker SpecialistZufendy Wu is the Managing Director of InsureRisk – an insurance broker specialist helping SME and Corporate businesses with their insurance protection and claims services. Zuf specialises in Risk Management as well as advising Board of Directors with their company risk and protection solution. Zuf always has a passion to help the less fortunate and had in the past assisted many other charities either by donation in kind, time or money or by way of sponsorships. With Peter’s passion and Change The One mission to provide 100% money raised for the needy – it is the perfect opportunity for Zuf to contribute to the Charity.
Jonathan Beckett
Committee Member
Will Conyers
AmbassadorTheatre stalwart, Will Conyers has worked extensively in all branches of the entertainment industry since the age of 6. Performing in piano bars, cabaret to opera and rock opera, theatre, film and T.V soap operas. A graduate of the National Theatre Drama School (1980), he returned there to be the founding Director of the Musical Theatre Course (1996-1998). He also studied with esteemed NY Acting and Music Theatre teacher, Carol-Fox Prescott. Will also has an extensive career behind the scenes through directing, choreographing, production management and producing. In addition, Will has lectured at almost all the major tertiary performing arts institutions in Acting, Voice and Musical Theatre. He was Head of Acting at CQU (2000-03) and is regularly asked to adjudicate in Festivals and Eistedfodds. He, along with Nancye Hayes AM OAM, was chosen to take up an Artist-Residence at WAAPA in 1995. He continues to Guest Lecture at almost all the tertiary Music Theatre courses along the eastern seaboard. Will also takes his voice expertise into the corporate sector across several industries, through innovative games and bespoke techniques, facilitating workshops and classes in voice management and production, for leadership, coaching, influencing, and vocal communication and vocal health. Will is very proud of his 20 years volunteer service to The Green Room Awards Assoc Inc. In that time, he served as Music Theatre panel head, Secretary, Vice-President and President. His service was rewarded with a Life Membership to the Association. For 6 years, Will was also the host of the hugely successful Broadway at Bedtime on JOY 94.9 and was the Artistic Director of Downstairs at Alma's.
Our Committee Support Team Members
Tram Nguyen
Vietnam Country Manager
Will Conyers
AmbassadorTheatre stalwart, Will Conyers has worked extensively in all branches of the entertainment industry since the age of 6. Performing in piano bars, cabaret to opera and rock opera, theatre, film and T.V soap operas. A graduate of the National Theatre Drama School (1980), he returned there to be the founding Director of the Musical Theatre Course (1996-1998). He also studied with esteemed NY Acting and Music Theatre teacher, Carol-Fox Prescott. Will also has an extensive career behind the scenes through directing, choreographing, production management and producing. In addition, Will has lectured at almost all the major tertiary performing arts institutions in Acting, Voice and Musical Theatre. He was Head of Acting at CQU (2000-03) and is regularly asked to adjudicate in Festivals and Eistedfodds. He, along with Nancye Hayes AM OAM, was chosen to take up an Artist-Residence at WAAPA in 1995. He continues to Guest Lecture at almost all the tertiary Music Theatre courses along the eastern seaboard. Will also takes his voice expertise into the corporate sector across several industries, through innovative games and bespoke techniques, facilitating workshops and classes in voice management and production, for leadership, coaching, influencing, and vocal communication and vocal health. Will is very proud of his 20 years volunteer service to The Green Room Awards Assoc Inc. In that time, he served as Music Theatre panel head, Secretary, Vice-President and President. His service was rewarded with a Life Membership to the Association. For 6 years, Will was also the host of the hugely successful Broadway at Bedtime on JOY 94.9 and was the Artistic Director of Downstairs at Alma's.
Abigail Quilloy
Philippines Country Manager
Max Hamond
Committee Member - Events/PublicityMax Hamond is a Director of Trident Leasing, alongside the Charity’s Founder Peter Nicholls. Max and Trident Leasing assist Change the One, Charity by creating Fundraising events, which Max has been involved with for many years. An upstanding citizen in the Ballarat community, Max always provides help for Charities by hosting or organising events. Max has a huge connection to the community and continues to get involved with many charities to raise money for much needed causes. Max Hamond knows that the principals and missions of Change the One are of a standard that Max is more than happy & proud to put his name to.
Lhiza Ritchie
Philippines Support
Max Hamond
Committee Member - Events/PublicityMax Hamond is a Director of Trident Leasing, alongside the Charity’s Founder Peter Nicholls. Max and Trident Leasing assist Change the One, Charity by creating Fundraising events, which Max has been involved with for many years. An upstanding citizen in the Ballarat community, Max always provides help for Charities by hosting or organising events. Max has a huge connection to the community and continues to get involved with many charities to raise money for much needed causes. Max Hamond knows that the principals and missions of Change the One are of a standard that Max is more than happy & proud to put his name to.
Marty Fields
Change the One are thrilled and excited to have Marty Fields as its Ambassador, supporting our Charity…
,
Marty has achieved popularity in comedy, radio, acting and music. Marty’s industry credentials are hard to surpass; a bestselling author, newspaper columnist, radio announcer, standup comedian, star of TV & movies. Marty has taken the role to a new level in the corporate market. He combines his unique style of humour with a finely tuned sense of propriety and occasion. Marty has hosted successful functions for most major corporations both in Australia, and overseas. He possesses impressive interview skills and has chaired many lively Q & A sessions. Musically, Marty trained for fifteen years at the Melba Conservatorium in piano, voice and theory. He became a professional at the age of 14, playing all over Australia and around the world as a piano bar performer. Marty also played in a number of successful rock bands and was a session vocalist for the ABC Network As an actor, Marty has appeared in most Australian TV dramas, featured in leading roles in numerous movies & stage musicals. As a supporter / ambassador of Change the One, Marty has been there as a supporter & MC since the inception of our charity. It is an honour to have a person of such standing in the community as our ambassador.
Change The One
Our History
Change The One is a simple vision of its founder, Peter Nicholls, that came about when inspecting the devastation of a Tsunami in Papua New Guinea back in 1997.
Peter recalls that first encounter:
“As I stood on top of the rubble, trees, rocks and silt, 3 stories high that had been cleared off the road and stretched as far as the eye could see, I looked to the heavens in utter frustration and helplessness, cursed for the little I could do – the task was insurmountable.
Our inspection continued further with my guides, a group of locals with a beat up old 4 wheel drive. The dust, humidity and feelings of helplessness were unbearable.
Our descent down a steep hill saw the brakes smoking and on fire. As I stood beside the road watching my local companions pour creek water on the ensuing disaster, the tears of utter despair welled up – what on earth was I trying to do?
A group of children appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. These children had heard of the work we had done in the nearby village of Buna, were so happy and wanted to meet me. It was at that moment I realised I had been trying to change the world and I didn’t need to – I needed to Change The One.
Those children went home happy and shared the story with their families. Each one of those children had taken that happiness to another child, who took it took another and so the happiness grew”
Peter later found himself on a family holiday to Vietnam, meeting with local people and forming close friendships with people with a similar passion for assisting those in need. As those friendships grew, and it became apparent the limited amount of resources available, Peters’ offer of assistance was warmly welcomed. The raising of funds contributes to assisting those in need in both Papua New Guinea & Vietnam.
Peter and local volunteers build classrooms & teachers quarters in remote areas. To assist in development within their community we provide facilities such as, learning materials, school supplies, food and bedding, fresh water, self-sustainable farming by establishing Chicken, Duck and Goat farms. And continued support for those effected by Agent Orange.
100% of monies raised goes towards helping local people in need. All work completed by Peter and local volunteers is 100% voluntary.
In July 2018 Change The One became a registered Charity and since then has grown its number of volunteers and projects. There is more to be done,
Together we can change the world when we Change The One.
Contact Us
Changing the World with one act of kindness at a time
Useful Links
Copyright @ 2019 Change The One.