Our Board
The Governance Board at Rhema FM is committed to ensuring the financial accountability of our station. They play a vital role in maintaining the alignment of our broadcasting and community outreach with our mission of “speaking life.” By providing oversight and guidance, the Board ensures that our programs and services faithfully reflect our vision, enabling us to continue delivering uplifting Christian content to our listeners with integrity and transparency.
Chris Gleeson
Chris Gleeson is the ultimate multi-tasker. He’s a loving husband & father of four, local business owner and pastor of Hope Unlimited Church Newcastle. Chris is also the co-founder of well-loved coffee supply company, Glee Coffee Roasters, based in Wyong NSW. Chris’ unique blend of people skills and strategic thinking has served him well as he has navigated bi-vocational ministry. Serving with Hope UC under Ps Mark and Darlene Zschech, Chris has learned about the breadth of multi-site church & building healthy faith communities. Chris has a prophetic anointing and a profound gift of wisdom and abstract thinking which has given him an ability to bring clarity to complexity. A lifelong & avid learner, Chris picks up new skills quickly and enjoys thinking for sport. In his spare time, Chris is playing guitar, smoking meat, supporting Manchester United and thrashing his children in Mario Kart.
Rachel Reva
Rachel Reva De Giorgio is an award-winning publicity strategist, consultant, author, and radio host and podcast host – with a career spanning 18 years in the media and marketing industry. Rachel has led national and global publicity campaigns at SBS TV, ABC News and BBC News. Her expertise has traversed international borders, enabling her to contribute significantly to: television programming, health policy and election campaigns in both Australia and the UK. She founded the consulting and coaching company ‘Life On Her Terms Media’ in 2016 to help women in business confidently promote their expertise to media and stand out online. She hosts the weekly series ‘Coffee and Faith’ on Rhema FM radio and sits on the board of Rhema FM Media in Newcastle, Australia.
Skye West
Skye began at Rhema as an announcer in 1999, when she co-hosted the weekly youth program with Aaron Brown. Since then, she has worked for many years as a Lawyer, Mother of 4 gorgeous children and Practice Manager of a local family psychology clinic, which she has run with her husband for over 10 years. Skye has served in her local church for the last 25 years (since moving to Newcastle) as well as in other volunteer roles in the community.
David Stephenson
Was appointed to the Board of Director’s under Rhema FM’s Constitution during the month of October 2011 to fill a casual vacancy. David is the Director of YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Newcastle and his wealth of experience and managerial skills in the region & his Godly leadership in our city is invaluable to his ministry role with Rhema FM. David is highly respected in the community. David is excited at the prospects of now being re- elected at this year’s AGM.
Donna Politarhis
Owner and Creative Director of Hunter Design School & Owner of Liquid Colour Design Studio; she enjoys her work as a trainer, designer and project manager. Donna is passionate about her faith, serving with her local church and being involved in ministries that reach into our communities. Donna has dedicated a large portion of her life as a pastor to our young people and families, serving as a leader across Western NSW and the Hunter, ministering in High Schools, running huge gatherings and events down to one-on-one mentoring and discipleship. As part of Rhema’s start-up in Dubbo, Donna’s journey for radio started on the team as music director and announcer and is now honoured to serve on the board of Rhema in Newcastle. Donna was elected to the board in 2017 and is excited to stand again for election.
Ben Kiujian
Is Rhema’s CEO and also the current Chairman of the Board of Rhema FM. Ben is married to Rachel and they have 3 children (Ruby, Bayley and Asher). They live in Lake Macquarie and attend Lake Mac Evangelical Church in Morisset. Before moving to the region and arriving at Rhema in 2019, Ben lived in Sydney and held roles in Corporate Sales, Café Management and Church Ministry. Ben is passionate about the Gospel and the future, thinking about how God can use Rhema FM in our local Hunter community and beyond to draw people to Himself. His Bachelor of Business from UTS and MDiv from SMBC have prepared him uniquely to lead the ministry of Rhema FM.