July 1, 2026
The Assembly is pleased to announce two new appointments to the Executive Team, both commencing their roles on 1 July.
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Catherine Pepper
Associate General Secretary, Strategy & Governance
Catherine joins the Assembly from Maitland City Council, where she served as Manager, Environment and Sustainability, leading a multidisciplinary team of 70 staff and overseeing significant strategic, governance and organisational change initiatives. Across a career spanning local government, environmental consulting and the technology sector, she has developed extensive expertise in strategy, governance, risk management, organisational effectiveness and leading complex change.
Catherine also brings a deep commitment to the life and mission of the Uniting Church. A lifelong member of the Church, she served for eight years on the Assembly Standing Committee and has made significant contributions to the Act2 process, the Assembly Net Zero Working Group and other national governance bodies. She holds a Graduate Diploma of Theology and is recognised for combining theological reflection with practical leadership, bringing a collaborative, values-based approach to governance, strategy and organisational renewal.
Rev Dr Sunny Chen
Director, Faith & Theology
Sunny joins the Executive Team after serving as National Consultant with the Assembly, where he has supported the Church's national work in a broad range of ministry and mission priorities. An ordained Minister of the Word, Sunny has also served as Presbytery Minister in the Presbytery of Yarra Yarra and as the Synod's equipping Leadership for Mission Presbytery Minister, supporting congregations, ministers and leaders across Victoria and Tasmania. Earlier ministry roles include university chaplaincy at the University of Melbourne and Queen's College, parish ministry, youth ministry, and secondary school teaching in Hong Kong.
Sunny brings extensive experience in theological education, scholarship and governance. He has lectured in New Testament and New Testament Greek at Pilgrim Theological College for more than a decade, serves as an Honorary Researcher at the University of Divinity, and has published widely in biblical studies and Uniting Church theology. He has chaired the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania's Ministerial Education Board and serves as Vice President of Wesley College Council. Sunny combines deep theological scholarship with a passion for helping the Church cultivate a flourishing theological culture, strengthen ministry formation, and equip God's people for faithful witness in contemporary Australia.
We are delighted to welcome Catherine as Associate General Secretary, Strategy & Governance and congratulate Sunny for his appointment as Director, Faith & Theology. Both will commence their new roles on 1 July. Please find attached an updated organisational chart for the months of July and August.
Recruitment continues for the other two roles, Director, Identity & Mission and Director, Advocacy & Justice. We expect to make further announcements in due course for both of these roles.
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