Our People
The CLF is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who rely on the leadership and guidance of our executive officers as well as the CLF's Advisory Board.
Cory Bernardi
Founder and Chairman – Conservative Leadership Foundation
Cory Bernardi founded the Conservative Leadership Foundation in 2009 with the aim of fostering and developing future conservative leaders.
Cory has been a Senator for South Australia since 2006.
Before entering parliament he was a member of the Australian Rowing Team, a publican, an investment portfolio manager and a venture capital entrepreneur.
Cory is the author of three books and has presented and spoken in five continents on politics, leadership, motivation business and investment.
Geoffrey Greene
National Director – Conservative Leadership Foundation
Geoffrey Greene was appointed as the National Director of the Conservative Leadership Foundation in 2011.
Geoff’s detailed knowledge and understanding of grassroots campaigning and conservative issues has been built over three decades working in advertising, politics and communications.
These media, political and advertising skills have made Geoff an incredibly effective campaign leader. This experience has been further enhanced by contributions to international democracy training programs representing the US and Australian governments
Dani Keys
National Co-ordinator – Campus Action Plan
Dani Keys completed high school at Stuartholme School in 2006 and currently studies Law at the University of Queensland.
Following her undergraduate studies she hopes to move on to a Master of Laws (Health Law).
Dani has been very active in student politics during her years at university.
She has a passion for advancing the cause of centre-right activism at universities to counter the force of left-wing activist groups such as GetUp!.
As a strong supporter of freedom and the rights of the individual, Dani is working hard to inspire activism at universities around Australia.
Sophie York
Sophie York is a barrister, mediator and academic. She lectures in Jurisprudence (Legal Philosophy) at Sydney and Notre Dame Universities, and is a Red Cross trained instructor in The Law of Armed Conflict (International Humanitarian Law).
She is a Legal Officer in the Royal Australian Naval Reserves, Boardmember of Campion College, and author of "Angels of Aceh - Operation Tsunami Assist", published by Allen and Unwin. She is a freelance writer, mentor and public speaker, who enjoys photography and reading. She is married to an anaesthetist and has four sons.
Jai Martinkovits
Jai brings a mix of academic, business and social interests to the CLF.
With formal training in the Information Technology sector, Jai graduated with a Bachelor of Computing, majoring in e-Business and Business Information Systems.
Jai is a strong supporter of our constitutional system - our crowned republic - and our Australian Flag. He has been appointed National Spokesman for Young Australians for Constitutional Monarchy.
He believes that we must keep those parts of our heritage which have served us well, and only change those which are clearly shown to be in need of change.
Paul Russell
Paul Russell is a father of seven children. Paul has over 15 years of experience lobbying and campaigning on social concerns, both State and Federal.
Paul is the founder and Director of HOPE: an online network devoted to preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide. Until recently, Paul was Chairman of the Board of Management for the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute and a Director of Drug Free Australia. Paul also assisted on the bid committee that secured the World Congress of Families for Sydney in 2013.
Paul enjoys sport with his children, fishing, reading and a good whiskey. He advises the CLF in matters of social policy.
Damian Wyld
Damian Wyld is the South Australian State President of the National Civic Council. After graduating with a BA (Hons) (joint honours in politics and history) from the University of Adelaide, he spent several years as a state and federal political staffer.
Married with two sons, Damian has a keen interest in current affairs and also does some work in the PR field.
Damian is also South Australian State Secretary of the Australian Family Association and is a contributing editor at Menzies House.
