Our Team
Board of Directors
Campfire in the Heart’s board of directors (known informally as the ‘Companions of Campfire’) is comprised of executive and non-executive directors, who have a passion for contemplative practices and fostering opportunities for spiritual growth in the wider community.
Judi and Paul Taylor
Judi and Paul Taylor are the Secretary and Chair of Campfire in the Heart Ltd. Their backgrounds are in social work/spiritual direction and orthodontics.
They met around the time of the anti-Vietnam moratoriums and over these 50+ years have often had a sense of a thread weaving through, of a hope for freedom and justice and inclusion for all. The practice of meditation over this time little by little leading to a greater sense of connection to all that is. Somehow Campfire in the Heart is now part of the mix.
Susan and Francis Sullivan
Susan and Francis grew up in Perth, WA and moved for professional reasons to Canberra in 1993. They have been seekers of the spiritual path and its meaningful expression in day-to- day life and community since a young age. Beginning work life as high school teachers they each completed post-graduate theology-related degrees at Loyola University of Chicago in 1988.
This study led to leadership and advocacy roles for a range of Catholic health, aged care and social services organisations based in Canberra. They have long shared a commitment to various paths for faith formation and deepening spiritual practice, most recently through the World Community for Christian Meditation.
Learning in late 2021 of the new season coming to birth at Campfire, they were keen to support its emerging vision for a place of belonging, of connection to the beauty and spiritual depth of the desert, and desire for healing and reconciliation.
Francis currently holds a number of board positions including Chair of the Queensland-based Mater Group of hospitals and Catholic Social Services Australia. Susan is a member of the Marymead CatholicCare board in the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese and of the advisory committee for Barnabas Ministries.
Married for over four decades, Susan and Francis have three adult children.
Beate and Derek Steller
Derek is a long-term meditator who is committed to Campfire as a sacred space for healing and renewal. He feels privileged to be on the board and brings a variety of management skills to the role.
Derek works in biodiversity conservation and lives on the edge of Royal National Park with his wife Beate, who is also a supporter on the board.
They have two sons who are currently living and working in Alice Springs.
Michael Kelly
Michael is a monk of St Benedict’s Monastery, Arcadia NSW who has a keen interest in the desert spirituality of early Christian monasticism and its relevance to the Australian desert.
He has pursued this through travels in overseas deserts, especially Egypt, and to the deserts at the centre of Australia. This was interrupted for twelve years by a shift to another centre when he was elected Congregational leader with residence in Rome.
He now continues to pursue the elusive centre within.
Donna Mulhearn
Donna is a Quaker based in the Blue Mountains and active in various peace, human rights and environmental issues.
She is a former journalist, political adviser and completed her Masters at the University of Sydney Centre for Peace of Conflict Studies. She is the author of two books, Ordinary Courage, My Journey to Baghdad as a Human Shield and The Sacking of Fallujah: A People’s History.’
Her initial connection to Campfire in the Heart was based around anti-war activism challenging the Pine Gap military base near Alice Springs.
Donna is a trained Labyrinth facilitator, interested in philosophy and trying to learning to speak Irish.
She is happy to be part of the Companions team and explore ways Campfire can support contemplative practices, reconciliation and social change.
Sarah Bishop
Bio to come…
Staff
Nicola Pitt – Team Manager
Nicola is a meditation teacher trained in both the Kriya Yoga tradition of Paramhansa Yogananda, as well as the Christian meditation tradition recovered by John Main, founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation.
Nicola is captivated by the harmony between the spirituality of the east and the west, and believes that it’s in their similarities that Truth can be perceived.
Nicola has been managing Campfire in the Heart since November 2022.
Mark ‘Huss’ Hussey – Property Manager
Huss is the Property Manager and a local ambassador/resident/custodian for Campfire in the Heart. He has over 20 years experience weaving a deep tapestry with the land and peoples of Central Australia. He is part of the Campfire team that is passionately dedicated to helping visitors to come to a greater appreciation of their Centralian experience.