Orysia Sywak Spinner is a community leader, cultural strategist, and senior marketing executive and board director with more than 20 years of experience spanning financial services, fintech, and cultural and not-for-profit governance. She brings a distinctive combination of commercial accountability, regulated-industry fluency, and long-standing organisational leadership to board environments.
Her governance experience includes chairing and directing multiple organisations, with responsibility for financial oversight, strategic growth, risk-aware decision-making, and stakeholder management. She has a strong track record in funding acquisition, policy advocacy, and building partnerships that deliver sustainable organisational outcomes. Her marketing career has been built within complex, matrixed financial services environments, giving her particular strength in navigating senior stakeholder relationships, brand and reputational risk, and commercial strategy under regulatory scrutiny.
Orysia’s leadership is distinguished by an ability to combine strategic and financial rigour with genuine cultural and community credibility — a combination increasingly valued by organisations serving multicultural and diaspora communities.
Orysia is passionate about empowering communities through cultural identity, youth leadership, and inclusive policy-making. Her collaborative style, coupled with a results-driven mindset, positions her as a valuable contributor to the AFUO board seeking to deepen community impact and long-term vision.
Current Positions
- Director of Cultural Affairs, Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) – leading national cultural strategy, policy advocacy, and partnerships that strengthen the visibility and vibrancy of Ukrainian culture in Australia.
- Founder & Chair, Ukrainian Arts Council of Australia – identified the need, written the charter, and built the organisation from the ground up.
- Director, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organisation of Australia – ensuring board governance, financial oversight, and strategic planning to suppor growth and sustainability of member branches.
Prior Leadership & Executive Roles
- Senior Marketing Executive — Pepper Money ANZ, AMP Capital, Bendigo Bank, Commonwealth Bank, IBM ANZ
- Chair, Plast Ukrainian Youth Association NSW – leading statewide operations, fostering intergenerational leadership development, and championed community-building initiatives.
- Chair, Plast (NSW) Pty Ltd scouting organisation – overseeing commercial and operational strategy, ensuring sustainable growth while upholding its mission-driven values, nurturing generations of young leaders through governance, strategic growth, and youth development programs.
- Artistic Director, Veselka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and School – directing choreography, training and delivering cultural programs, major performances, and national events that celebrate and preserve Ukrainian heritage
Recognition
- Order of St George in Gold, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organisation (highest global honour)
