Coast Shelter has been delivering specialist homelessness services and support programs to people across the Central Coast for decades. At the heart of Coast Shelter is our people. Those who work for us, partner with us and those we support.

This week, as part of Coast Shelter’s ongoing commitment to its people and the community a new Board was appointed by our Company Members.

The Board is committed to the legacy and continued growth of Coast Shelter and is made up of local businessman, Paul Murnane AM who will act as Chair, CEO of Coast Shelter Lee Shearer APM, and Lyndelle Taylor GAICD who also serves as Company Secretary.

Paul, a Central Coast local, is a corporate adviser and company director with more than 35 years’ experience in investment banking and financial services, consulting and general management in Australia and overseas. He has worked for Citibank and Goldman Sachs and is currently a director of several companies and an advisor to a number of listed, public, and government boards and CEOs on strategy, governance, business development strategies, and leadership assessment.

Paul also has extensive not-for-profit experience across many sectors, having started NFPs, revitalised and merged NFPs, helped build social enterprises to more than $100million in size, and advised many NFP boards and CEOs on strategy, governance, and performance.

Paul said he was thrilled to be appointed as Board Chair for Coast Shelter and was excited for what’s ahead.

“Coast Shelter has been a constant in our community for more than 30 years delivering services to our most vulnerable who need them most. Having had the opportunity to meet with some of the staff already, I have been amazed by their stories and their commitment to our services and clients. I am looking forward to working with the senior leadership team to ensure the growth and longevity of Coast Shelter in our community.”

Lee Shearer, CEO of Coast Shelter, has been with the not-for-profit since late-2023 and has more than 25 years’ experience working in senior leadership positions. Lee was Chief Operating Officer of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council and played pivotal roles in NSW Government departments including as Deputy Secretary/Resources Regulator at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Chief Compliance Officer at the NSW Department of Industry and was the Administrator for NSW Cemeteries. In addition to these roles she also had a career as a lawyer and police officer, where she was awarded the Australian Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

Lee said she has enjoyed becoming a part of Coast Shelter and is energised by the next period of renewal for the not-for-profit.

“I have been in awe of the role Coast Shelter plays in the lives of so many here on the Central Coast. We have seen a great deal of growth over the last 30 years of operation and I have been working with our teams to ensure that continues,” she said.

“The appointment of our new Board is a significant step towards that goal. This new period of leadership will only strengthen and solidify the future of Coast Shelter in the Central Coast community.”

Lyndelle Taylor has been a lawyer since her admission to the Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia in 2008. For more than 15 years she has consulted to not-for-profit boards in the areas of governance, compliance, regulatory, policy and legal research and has been the Company Secretary of Coast Shelter since May 2023. Lyndelle is also a Member of NSW Law Society, Graduate member of Governance Institute of Australia and Graduate member of the AICD Company Directors Course.

The Board’s appointment is effective immediately.