Don Smarrelli OAM – Chairman
Don was appointed to the board in 2004. He is the principal of Lawcorp Lawyers (which he founded in 1979) and in 2005 Don was appointed as a member of the Council for Multicultural Australia being, an advisory body to the Federal Government for raising awareness and understanding of multiculturalism. He was a founding member and subsequent President of the Toccolan Club (1990), an Italian community organisation focused on fundraising for medical research.
In addition to Assisi, Don also sits on the board for the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY), a not-for-profit organisation supporting young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to build better lives in Australia.
During his time on the Board, Don has been involved in various initiatives and projects for the benefit of the Assisi community and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2007 for services to multiculturalism and the community. Don was recently appointed a Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation.
Sauro Antonelli AM
Sauro was appointed to the Board in 1994. He has been involved with Assisi Aged Care since its inception in 1990 and was the inaugural Secretary of the organisation’s Committee of Management.
Sauro has been President of the Assisi Board over two periods, totalling seven years. During this time he had the honour of hosting the (then) President of the Italian Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, in his visit to Assisi, during the President’s tour of Australia.
In 2008—in recognition of over 40 years’ work in the Italian community—Sauro was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (AM).
Sauro holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and was made Cavaliere Ufficiale by the Italian Government in recognition of his work on behalf of the Italian community.
Sauro is also on the Board of CoAsIt (Italian Welfare organisation), is Chair of the Patronato INAS in Australia and volunteers as a biographer with Eastern Palliative Care.
Don Pasquariello
Don was appointed to the Board in 2013 and is the Chairman of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee. Don is a Senior Partner of Deloitte, and currently the Asia Pacific Leader – Clients & Industries for Audit & Assurance. He has over 35 years’ professional experience, 23 years as a partner, in servicing large multinational organisations.
Don has a strong understanding of public and private company reporting and risk management, including the complexities associated around management of the audit of multinational operations of Australian listed companies.
His significant experience and responsibilities have centred around clients in the construction and property development industry, industrial and consumer markets, and service companies. Don is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Don is also a Board Director of Jesuit Education Australia Limited, and Co.As.It. He was formerly a member of the Finance Audit & Risk Committee of Mercy Education Limited.
Ruth Richardson Clark
Ruth was appointed to the Board in 2020. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology in Sydney, is a Chartered Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ruth is a strategic finance executive with over 20 years experience in branded consumer businesses across education, cosmetics, technology and food. She has lived and worked in Australia and Belgium and has had additional business experience in 6 European countries and New Zealand.
Currently Ruth is the CFO for Campion Education (Aust) Pty Ltd.
Joe Gangi
Joe was appointed to the Board in 2021
Joe has over 30 years experience in business management and corporate governance in both private and public sectors.
Current board roles include:
Non-Executive Chairman of Webcentral Group Ltd (ASX: WCG)
Non-Executive Director of 5G Networks Ltd (ASX: 5GN)
Chair of the Risk & Audit Committee of 5G Networks Ltd
Non-Executive Director of Assisi Aged Care
Member, Industry Advisory Committee – RMIT University, Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
In addition, Joe is the Executive Director of a consulting firm that provides technical consulting and project governance advice to both Private and Government clients with specific technical expertise in project management and delivery of complex engineering projects for the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors.
His corporate experience is focused on risk management, an area that he is particularly passionate about, that enables him to offer advice on risk mitigation and business sustainability.
Joe holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a major in International Business. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Viviana Lazzarini
Appointed: 2023
Viviana has more than 20 years of
leadership experience in the Victorian
health and human services sector
with extensive knowledge of health
service performance, governance, risk
management and resource allocation.
Since February 2022 she has been
Manager, Governance, Department
of Health. Viviana is an experienced
business owner and joined the Board
of Assisi Aged Care in May 2023