Our People

Julian de Meyrick, Director & Acting Chair

Julian de Meyrick spent more than 25 years working as a marketer in major organisations including Unilever, American Express, Bushells and Pacific Film Laboratories. He was a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Macquarie University and also taught at other universities and private providers.

He was Dean of Students at Macquarie University and has been involved in the management of higher education programs at several private providers and Sydney TAFE. He is currently on the board of two not-for-profit organisations and the academic board of a private higher education provider.

He has recently participated in the review of a degree program at a private university. He holds a BCom from University of NSW, an MBA from Cranfield University in the UK, and a PhD from Macquarie University.

Rodney Forrester, Treasurer

Rodney is a partner of Forrester Korfiatis and has worked with business owners and high net worth individuals.

Rodney commenced his career in tax and accounting in 1987 in a second tier accounting firm which gave a solid background in assisting business.

Rodney has a strong interest in assisting business to grow, by meeting business owners at times suitable to them, often at their premises.

Rodney lives in the Sutherland Shire, is married to Judy, and has 3 children. In his spare time, Rodney enjoys golf, table tennis and sports trivia.

Reika Phung Dzupinka, Director

Reika has 15+ years of experience starting her career in top-tier consulting and more recently in high growth tech with expertise in Sales, Operations and Go-to-Market Strategy. Reika is currently the Head of Operations at Domain Housing Group.

Prior to Domain, she held leadership positions at Ceridian as the Head of Revenue Strategy and Execution for the APJ region, the Growth and Strategy General Manager at Ascender and Head of SMB sales at LinkedIn for the ANZ market.

Reika has a BSc/BE from the University of Sydney and an MBA from INSEAD. Reika is an advisor to Triiyo, an employee experience platform and joined the ACN board in February 2022.

Bernardo Vizcaino, Director

Bernardo is an experienced executive with a background in financial services, journalism and academia. He is a father of two boys and has been a member of the Autism Community Network since its inception in 2011, having served on the original board of ACN.

Bernardo previously worked with Citigroup’s Global Corporate and Investment Bank and at a fund management research boutique in Singapore – where he conducted research on investment funds in areas including ethical and socially responsible funds, 130/30 and alternative funds. He has written and presented extensively on the topic of investment funds and also lectured finance and statistics courses in both Singapore and Australia.

Bernardo’s journalist work spans over a decade, including seven years with Reuters News, covering emerging markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Bernardo holds an International Business degree from Mississippi State University and a Masters degree in Applied Finance from Macquarie University.

Vanessa Gauci, Chief Executive

Vanessa Gauci was appointed Chief Executive Officer of ACN in February 2023. Vanessa’s passion for making a difference in communities shines through in her over 15 years of expertise in stakeholder relations, government and non-profit work. Throughout her career, Vanessa has consistently demonstrated her commitment to excellence and her ability to create positive outcomes for stakeholders.

Before joining ACN, she held key positions at a community organization based in Sydney where she was highly regarded for her leadership skills and community outreach initiatives. Her earlier experience in the government sector provided her with a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective on government and non-profit organizations. Vanessa is a highly respected leader, known for her warmth, integrity, and ability to bring people together towards a common goal.

A proud mother of 5, Vanessa has lived experience having a son with a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism. She has been a passionate advocate and voice not only for her son but for others in the community in need of support for over 20 years.