We are deeply saddened by the death of Daphne Siva, Finance Director of NCCA since 2011. Daphne was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and had ecumenical experience with a number of other denominations both in her working life, as an inter-church family and local ecumenical involvement. She held a Masters of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management and was a Certified Practising Accountant.

She had more than 20 years’ financial experience, including 10 years working for the Board of Finance and Property of the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT. Her many interests included travel, music, reading and theatre. She was a quiet, gentle woman who continued to find peace in her final months. She will be missed by all involved in NCCA.

Jim Mein AM, Past Uniting Church Synod Moderator and former Executive Director of the Board of Finance and Property, the Trust Association and Uniting Resources, knew Daphne well. He reflects on her life: I first met Daphne at the NSW Synod Board of Finance and Property of the Uniting Church in Australia, about the early 1990s. She was the Synod Insurance Manager. She worked with me for over ten years during which time she became a Certified Practising Accountant. She was promoted to Manager of the Synod’s Trust Association, the Synod’s Treasury and investment banking operations. In that role she earned a MBA from UNSW with her major works built around the operations and structure of her role and the Uniting Church as a whole. I thoroughly enjoyed being interviewed by her on this very revealing, insightful and invaluable task. She was a pleasure to have working with and for me.

Daphne was a very effective manager with incredible energy, insight, collegiality, professionalism and outcomes- one of the best staff I ever had over fifty years of working. It was an immense joy to have known her and I am still coming to terms with her death.

I was delighted when she asked me to be a referee for her application to work for the NCCA. By all accounts, she benefitted the NCCA as she did us”.

Tricia Ryan, Commissioner on Act for Peace, noted “Daphne will be sorely missed and to the commission her quiet assurance will be a great loss”.

Chey Mattner, Executive Secretary, Australian Lutheran World Service, commented “Daphne was a true humble servant at Act for Peace, and it was a pleasure getting to know her at Commission meetings. She has left an indelible impression on us as a courageous, intelligent and compassionate human being.”
May she rest in peace, in the arms of the God of love, as we continue to pray for her family and those grieving.