Meet the Team

The team at the Australian Christian Lobby is a diverse group of individuals who bring a variety of experiences and expertise to the work of the ACL.

Each team member is a committed Christian and fellowships at a local church from a broad range of denominations in the Christian constituency.

The main ACL office is based in Canberra, with staff on the ground around the country.

• Jim Wallace AMJim Wallace AM is the Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Lyle SheltonLyle Shelton is the Chief of Staff of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Ben WilliamsBen Williams is the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• David Hutt David Hutt is the New South Wales Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Wendy FrancisWendy Francis is the Queensland Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.

• Rhys Vallance Rhys Vallance is the Western Australian Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Mark Brown Mark Brown is the Tasmanian Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Nick JensenNick Jensen is the Australian Capital Territory Director of the Australian Christian Lobby and Programme Manager of the Lachlan Macquarie Internship.
• Katherine SpackmanKatherine Spackman is the Media Relations Officer of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Daniel SimonDaniel Simon is the Research Officer of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Jenny HentzschelJenny Hentzschel is the Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, Jim Wallace.

• Miray MakramMiray Makram is the Development Manager of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Ken HorsleyKen Horsley is the Finance Manager of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Peter TomsPeter Toms is the Supporter Relations Officer of the Australian Christian Lobby.
• Paul O’RourkePaul O’Rourke is the Project Manager for the Best Interests of the Child campaign.

 

Jim Wallace AM
Managing Director

Jim Wallace AM is the Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.

Mr Wallace left the Army as a Brigadier in late 2000 after a 32-year career which included command of the SAS Regiment, Special Forces, and the Army’s mechanised Brigade of 3,000 personnel and most of the Army’s fighting vehicles. He is a graduate of Duntroon in Canberra, the British Army Staff College and the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies.

Mr Wallace served as a UN Observer in the Golan Heights and Lebanon with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation.

In 1984 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to counter-terrorism. He has been a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Defence Studies Centre and has served on the Council of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the National Consultative Committee for International Security Issues.

Mr Wallace and his family worship at Hughes Baptist Church in Canberra.

Lyle Shelton
Chief of Staff

Lyle Shelton is the Chief of Staff of the Australian Christian Lobby.

Lyle is a journalist by profession. He worked in rural journalism as a roving reporter for Queensland Country Life before serving as the Melbourne-based Group Commodities Editor for Rural Press Limited, with articles syndicated to the stable’s rural weeklies, including The Land newspaper.

In 1997 he became youth pastor at Toowoomba City Church before being elected to Toowoomba City Council in 2000. He was re-elected to Council in 2004 and unsuccessfully contested the 2006 Queensland state election.

After a short stint as a political adviser, Lyle was appointed National Chief of Staff at the Australian Christian Lobby, based in Canberra.

Ben Williams
Deputy Chief of Staff

Ben Williams joined the ACL as Research Officer in July 2008 before moving to the role of Deputy Chief of Staff in March 2011.

He previously worked with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department in the area of legislative publishing.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Education with First Class Honours from the University of Tasmania.

David Hutt
New South Wales Director

David Hutt is the New South Wales Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.

He has worked for a number of senior Australian politicians including leaders of the Opposition at both the state and federal level and a federal cabinet minister.

David has extensive political campaign experience and has worked on a number of local, state and national campaigns. Prior to his life as a political staffer, David worked as a professional musician.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Western Sydney and is currently undertaking post-graduate studies in International Relations at Macquarie University.

Wendy Francis
Queensland Director

Wendy Francis is the Queensland Director of the ACL.

Wendy is the former Marketing Manager for Queensland Baptists (QB) and Editor of the QB Magazine and is the organiser of the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols which are televised on Channel TEN each year.

Wendy’s political interests before joining ACL in January 2011 included her running as the lead Senate candidate in Queensland for the Family First Party in the 2010 Federal election.

Wendy has also been a strong advocate for the interests and wellbeing of children, having advanced the cause for outdoor advertising to be ‘G-rated’. Wendy is married to Peter Francis, who is Director of Field Education and lecturer at Malyon College, Brisbane.

Peter and Wendy have been in pastoral ministry for over 23 years, the past 7 years as senior pastors at the City Tabernacle Baptist Church in Brisbane.

Rhys Vallance
Western Australia Director

Rhys Vallance is the Western Australian Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.

Before he joined the ACL in October 2011, he was a youth worker for Youth for Christ.

He graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts – Double Major in German and Political Science and International Relations.

Mark Brown
Tasmanian Director

Mark Brown is the Tasmanian Director of the ACL.

Mark began working at the ACL in September 2010.

Mark moved to Tasmania from New Zealand in 1993 to study theology. Other than a few years in pastoral ministry the majority of Mark’s work has been in pharmaceutical related industries

He holds scientific qualifications.

Nick Jensen
Australian Capital Territory Director

Nick Jensen is the Australian Capital Territory Director of the Australian Christian Lobby and Programme Manager of the Lachlan Macquarie Internship.

Nick has been with ACL since before the 2008 ACT election, and has previously worked as a chaplain at the Emmaus Christian School.

Nick has a Bachelor of Theology from Charles Stuart University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University in philosophy, religious studies and politics.

Katherine Spackman
Media Relations Officer

Katherine Spackman is the ACL’s Media Relations Officer.

Before joining the ACL in January 2011 she worked in the ABC as reporter in Queensland in Gladstone, Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Brisbane.

She’s also worked as a journalist for a mining magazine in Central Queensland.

She graduated from Central Queensland University with Distinction in Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Professional Communications.

Daniel Simon
Research Officer

Daniel Simon joined the ACL in March 2011 as the new Research Officer.

This is his first full-time employment since finishing a double degree in Economics/Law at the University of New England.

He has worked part-time in a small country law firm and a Christian school.

Jenny Hentzschel
Personal Assistant to Jim Wallace

Jenny Hentzschel is PA to the Managing Director, Jim Wallace.

Before joining the ACL in July 2011 she worked in Respiratory Research, and was responsible for Clinical Trials Administration.

Prior to this she was practice manager for an accounting firm in Adelaide.

Miray Makram
Development Manager

Before joining the ACL in 2010, Miray was in South Africa volunteering  her time in programs aimed to help troubled youth and children.

Between 2007 and 2009 Miray was the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator of Coptic Orphans Australia, an international child development organisation.

Prior to this Miray worked at the University of Canberra as a Student Ambassador while completing a Bachelor of International Studies and Bachelor of Professional Communications.

Ken Horsley
Finance Manager

Ken Horsley joined ACL as Finance Manager in late 2008.

Along with his Economics degree from the University of Sydney and CPA membership, Ken has a wealth of experience in the not for profit sector, including assignments in Africa, the head office of a large Australian NGO and most recently in Papua New Guinea

Peter Toms
Supporter Relations Officer

Peter Toms is ACL’s supporter relations officer.

Before joining ACL he was a high school teacher, working in Catholic and independent schools. He also worked for several years as an Industrial Chemist in the food industry.

He has a Diploma of Education, Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma in Computing.

Paul O’Rourke
For Kids’ Sake Project Manager

Paul is project manager for the Best Interests of the Child campaign, and editor of ACL’s public policy magazine, Viewpoint.

Before joining the ACL in 2010, he was the CEO of child development and advocacy ministry Compassion Australia.

Paul has a Master’s Degree in holistic child development and completed theological studies through C3 Victory’s School of Ministry.

Paul previously worked in print journalism, including as Editor-in-chief of the Newcastle Herald.

Paul is on the governing board of C3 Victory in Newcastle where he and wife Janine have been worshipping for 15 years.

He speaks, teaches and writes widely on children’s issues, family and leadership through Paul O’Rourke Ministries.