Our Team

Staff

Rayna Fahey

Executive Director

Rayna has a long history with Prosper Australia as both a volunteer and consultant, and now serves as Executive Director. She leads the organisation’s strategic direction, public advocacy, and operations.

Rayna brings extensive experience across campaigning, policy advocacy, and strategic communications, with a career spanning the political, non-profit, arts, and agricultural sectors. Her background enables her to bridge policy, public debate, and movement-building to drive systemic reform.

Rayna holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences, University of Waikato.

Dr. Michael D’Rosario

Director of Research & Policy

Michael D’Rosario, an economist specialising in innovation economics, with expertise in econometrics and data science, and a focus on public policy, technology, and social impact. Michael has published widely across these areas and holds affiliations with universities, think-tanks, and peak bodies in Australia and overseas.

Michael holds a PhD in Economics and graduate qualifications in Philosophy, International and Community Development, and Adult Education.

Cathal Leslie

Senior Economist

Cathal Leslie has worked across a wide range of policy areas, including taxation, finance, insurance, housing, international trade and inequality. He previously worked as an economist with the Australian Treasury, the Productivity Commission, and the OECD.

Cathal holds a Master’s degree in Specialised Economic Analysis from the Barcelona School of Economics, and First Class Honours in Economics from the University of Western Australia.

Juanita McLaren

Office Manager & Fundraising Lead

Juanita has nearly 3 decades of experience in the NFP sector in Australia and overseas. Much of her career has been in fundraising, and she is also a passionate advocate, writer and researcher in the area of social justice.

Juanita holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)/ Arts (Arabic) from Deakin University and a Master of International Community Development from Victoria University.