Daz Farrell
Executive Ministry Director
Daz Farrell - Executive Ministry Director
Growing up as a 'preachers kid', at 27 Daz was brought from dark to light through an encounter with Jesus in Egypt. Daz has worked in multiple environments from leadership in investment banking, on-camera acting, and serving alongside Sydney's most vulnerable as a welfare worker. In the last decade Daz has served as an itinerant preacher and leader in local church and para church ministries, creating a start-up cafe as a 'third space' in 2014. In February 2021, Daz was appointed Executive Ministry Director and provides the spiritual and cultural leadership of Churches of Christ in NSW and ACT.
Emily Drough
Conference Executive President
Emily Drough - Conference Executive President
For the last 11 years, Emily Drough has been in the leadership community at Mayfield Church of Christ and currently serves as an Elder. She has participated in and led ministry teams in areas such as youth, worship and missions within churches of Christ churches for over 20 years.
During this time, Emily served churches of Christ in NSW & ACT as part of Conference Executive 2021-22, and in previous years served as part of the Fresh Hope Mission & Ministry Board and M&M Grants Committee. In 2023, Emily was elected as the churches of Christ in NSW & ACT Conference Executive President.
Emily is also currently the Executive Director: People, Culture and Enablement at Open Doors Australia & New Zealand. She has also served in a range of HR roles including the Head of People & Culture at Compassion Australia.
At the heart of Emily’s motivation in her role for our network is her passion for seeing the local church thrive as a vibrant expression of God’s kingdom and strengthening the global church to stand firm in faith and mission.
Tom Altobeli
Board Member
Tom Altobeli - Board Member
Tom lives in Sydney with his wife of 39 years. He is father to two adult, married sons. Tom came to know the Lord personally at the 1979 Billy Graham Crusade. God powerfully used the message that night (If it were a crime to be a Christian, would there be evidence to convict?) to draw him by grace to Himself. His life was forever changed.
Tom has a passion for the Church and for pastoral care and chaplaincy and am training for post-retirement ministry in this field. Professionally he has been blessed with an amazingly diverse career within the Law for 41 years. Family law is his passion and calling. For the last 16 years, by the grace of God, he has served as a Judge, currently on the Family Court of Australia.
Jenni Gainer
Board Member
Jenni Gainer - Board Member
Jenni treasures her rich Christian heritage and is a long-standing member at Epping Church of Christ. She has served on our DCE Committee and Women’s Ministry Team helping to organise ANEW day conferences and pastors’ wives retreats. Jenni has taught mathematics in both public and private schools. As a mature-age student, she attained an
M.A. in Pastoral Care at ACOM and was employed by NSW Health for 10 years at RPA Hospital, pioneering the ICU Pastoral Care Worker role. Jenni holds a Ministry Endorsement and in her retirement actively volunteers as a chaplain in the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network. She has trained as a Spiritual Mentor and is enjoying mentoring seven younger women. Jenni values family and is married to Les with three daughters and nine young grandchildren.
“I love that our movement is firmly founded in the life and love of Christ with its mission aligning with God’s heart to see lives transformed and faith enriched. It is my prayer that in our complex and ever-changing world our churches would remain relevant, at the growing edge, bearing kingdom fruit in ministry and mission.”
Mike McGarrity
Board Member
Mike McGarrity - Board Member
Mike has been a passionate follower of Jesus since
coming to faith in Christ in 1989. He has been married
for 30 years with two daughters who are passionate
about their faith. He has been in church leadership for
over 25 years.
Mike has a collaborative approach to leadership, which
included working as a team pastor in a large church,
being part of church-planting teams, and leading a
team to plant a church in Engadine in 2000. In 2015, he
was part of the leadership of a successful merger with
Engadine Church of Christ, rebirthing the church as
Connect Church, and continues to lead the church
today. Mike has a Masters in Missional Leadership
(SCD), B.A Hons in Creative Arts (Reading University).
B.Min (Tabor) and a qualified facilitator for Dynamic
Church Planting International and Evangelism Shift. He
joined the Conference Executive board last year.
“I believe I can continue to contribute positively.
I’d love to see Fresh Hope churches reaching out
and connecting people to Jesus, fostering a culture
that leads to disciples who make disciples.”
Victor Tee
Board Member
Victor Tee - Board Member
Victor is the senior pastor at Kingsford Church of
Christ. He has previously worked as a finance and
banking professional for more than a decade for
Canon Finance Australia, CommBank and HSBC. He
has also held numerous ministry roles including senior
pastor (volunteer) at Harvest Indonesian Church for 15
years and lecturer at the Indonesian Mission Institute.
Victor holds an M.A. in Christian Leadership from
ACOM, a B.Sc from Sydney University, and has
completed a Cert IV in Christian Leadership Coaching.
He was the Conference President between 2020-2023, has been a
member of Conference Executive since 2009 and was a Mission & Ministry board member.
“My desire is to serve the current generation and
prepare the next generation in this movement.”
Vieralisa Tan
Board Member
Vieralisa Tan - Board Member
Vieralisa Tan was born in Indonesia and migrated to Australia in 1999. She has served alongside her husband for 22 years in ministry, currently at Hope & Harvest church in Auburn where her husband is pastor. Vieralisa has been involved in various areas of ministry and church life including the leadership team, discipleship, teaching ministry, preaching, counselling, mentoring, and administrative duties.
Vieralisa has worked at Wesley Mission since 2011. Her current role is as a Workers’ Compensation & Injury Management Specialist. She has a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma of Financial Services, an Advanced Diploma of Theology, and certificates in Human Resources and Organisational Psychology (candidate). Vieralisa has two adult children.
“I’m motivated to glorify God through the gifts, abilities, experiences and unique propositions given to me – a professional in the Workers’ Compensation area and a pastor’s wife serving in the leadership team for 22 years. I believe this role will enable me to serve the wider community of churches at a local and state level.”
Peter Chi
Board Member
Peter Chi - Board Member
Rebecca Lee
Board Member
Rebecca Lee - Board Member
Rebecca Lee is a qualified lawyer and chartered accountant with nearly two decades of compliance experience in the finance industry. As the Chief Compliance Officer for the Australian business of a global investment management company, she navigates complex governance challenges with expertise.
Rebecca’s faith is deeply rooted in her family history—her father founded the first Korean Church of Christ in Sydney. Over the years, she has served in ministries such as Sunday school, youth, choir, and administration. Today, Rebecca and her husband serve as shepherds in house church ministry and actively support Sydney Crystal Church’s All Nations congregation.
Passionate about strengthening church leaders, Rebecca uses her professional skills to empower the Churches of Christ network.
“I want to help all churches in our network be strengthened in Christ so we can keep running this race.”
Steed Leonard
Board Member
Steed Leonard - Board Member
Steed is a compassionate leader with over 30 years of service at Restore Church in Castle Hill, where he has guided transitions, strategic planning, and leadership development as a church elder and chairperson. His professional background includes senior leadership roles in NSW government corporations and directing his own business.
Steed’s passion for ministry stems from his personal faith journey, which began with friendship evangelism and baptism in the mid-90s. He has led young adult ministries, small groups, and mission trips, both locally and abroad. His heart for consulting and mentoring drives his commitment to fostering growth, building community, and supporting churches of Christ communities.
“God has placed a passion in my heart to cultivate growth, deepen community engagement, and strengthen relationships within our network.”
Stephen Smith
Board Member
Stephen Smith - Board Member
Steve is the Dean/CEO of the Australian University College of Divinity and a Partner at The Colloquium Group, specialising in leadership development, not-for-profit governance, and organisational development. Professor Smith holds doctorates in Management, and also Community and Behavioural Health. His career includes roles such as church planter, Director of Ministry Health for churches of Christ in NSW & ACT, CEO of Bedford College, and Principal/CEO of the Australian College of Ministries. He is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is passionate about supporting local churches of Christ to make a positive impact in their communities – in the name of Jesus.
