Criterion Conferences

Drew is a qualified social worker with post graduate qualifications in management and governance. He has worked across a range of human service settings in Australia and the United Kingdom, including extensive experience in providing, supervising and directing services and interventions. Prior to taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Possability in January 2016, Drew was Chief Operating Officer for four years providing operational and strategic leadership during a time of considerable change and growth with the commencement of the NDIS trial in 2013. He became Chief Executive Officer of OAK Possability when the two organisations merged in July 2016 to become Tasmania’s largest disability services provider with a combined 90 years’ experience in the sector and over 650 employees. He is currently leading significant cultural change within the combined organisation to integrate the unique skills and capabilities of both organisations to adapt and respond to the dynamic NDIS environment.

Previously, Drew led Early Intervention Services at Relationships Australia, Tasmania with responsibility for clinical governance and supervision. Drew has also held senior roles in the area of Health and Social Public Policy, Aged Care Policy and regulation and was the State Manager for the Federal Department of Health and Ageing during a significant period of health reform. Drew has also held various board positions with community sector organisations and the Australian Institute of Public Administration, Tasmania. He is currently the public officer of a small Tasmanian Association involved in the promotion of men’s health issues and on the state committee of NDS.

Dr Clare Allen is the CEO of VisAbility LTD – Guide Dogs WA. Clare has more than 20 years of senior management experience, developing and implementing strategies with clear direction for organisations to increase effectiveness and promote growth. Clare is an experienced practitioner of the Australian Business Excellence Framework.

Clare has a Masters of Leadership and Management and a Doctor of Business Administration and other Human Resource qualifications and is accredited in a number of psychometric testing practices.

Clare has won numerous awards, and some of these include: Winner Enterprising Woman Award –Chamber of Commerce and Industries 2009, Winner WA IBM Community and Government Telstra Business Woman of the year 2007, Winner 2007 Organisational Excellence Services Industry Award, Winner 1999 Organisational Excellence Services Industry Awards, Two Local Government awards for Innovation 2001 and 2003.

Richard as Chief Executive Officer of the Intellectual Disability Services Council (IDSC) a position he held from 1984 until 2006. On retirement from IDSC, he was appointed as Professorial Fellow in the Disability and Community Inclusion Unit of Flinders University where he developed and ran the Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies (Leadership). He also undertook a number of consultancies for the Commonwealth, South Australian and Victorian Governments including a review of the implementation of the Victorian Disability Act.

In 2013, he was appointed as the Senior Practitioner in the South Australian Department of Communities and Social Inclusion. In 2015 he was appointed to the Intellectual Reference Group of the National Disability Insurance agency.

Richard was for 5 years the President of the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect of SA (NAPCAN SA).

In 2007 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability.

Richard is also the Patron of “Our Voice” a self-advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities.

He has also served on a number of boards of disability organisations.

Chris has a 10 year career in the NFP sector in leading enabling functions with a particular interest in People & Culture across mental health, multicultural health, aged, community and disability care. He has enjoyed success in bringing a commercially astute mindset to the people and broad enabling functions of community organisations as they adapt to new funding models and client needs. Passionate about the ‘people experience’ within organisations and its critical link to the customer experience and therefore business performance leads to the desire to deeply understand our customer and our people through insight.

Mark trained as a psychologist at the University of Tasmania and concentrated his early work in employment and selection – with the Commonwealth Employment Service, disability employment provider Project Employment (WA) and the Australian Army.

While in WA he worked with the Disability Services Commission (DSC) and later the Department of Justice in evaluation, planning, policy and youth services roles. While in WA he worked with unit based funding, Local Area Coordination and intergovernmental issues – attending the National Disability Administrators meetings and taking on their research portfolio.

Mark has also been a management consultant providing services in market research, marketing strategy and business planning.

In 2007 he took up the role of Southern Tasmanian manager of Youth Justice and in 2010 Manager for Child Protection Intake and Response – both roles exposed him to the many interface issues for youth and parents with more limited capacity.

He became CEO of Nexus in 2013 taking up the mantel to grow the business and make it NDIS ready. Nexus has experienced +20% growth over the past two years. Underpinning this has been effective staff selection, fully utilising existing staff and creating a culture where client outcomes come first.

Kerri McFarlane, People and Culture Manager. Kerri has worked across both Corporate and not-for-profit sectors for over 20 years with a diverse background in Operations and HR.

Kerri holds a Bachelor of Business (Human Resources Major) from Southern Cross University, Lismore and is currently completing a Masters in Social Work (Professional Qualifying) through Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga.

Kerri’s areas of expertise include Employee Engagement, Change Management, Strategic Planning and Industrial Relations.

About me: I am passionate about helping people to achieve their personal and professional goals and develop valuable relationships.

As a keen hockey player and umpire, I have focused my passion for developing others through coaching hockey teams, sporting administration, training junior umpires and mentoring managers in the workplace.

Annabelle is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Human Resources and has worked in the field of health and community services. With more than 20 years’ experience as a HR practitioner, practicing in industries as diverse as retail, manufacturing, government and health with a strong governance and risk background, Annabelle is known as a change management and organisational development specialist.

Annabelle’s role at Mind Australia provides organisational and business development advice to the Chief Executive and Executive team on how to develop and implement key initiatives related to the significant growth and changes for Mind Australia as a National organisation.

With over 30 years of supporting people with a disability, Janet began her career as a disability

support worker with Minda Incorporated and has since worked in various roles and types of service

provisions including large accommodation setting, community accommodation, outreach and

respite.

Janet is now the Manager Disability Support Services at AnglicareSA, which provides

accommodation, outreach, respite and NDIS services to approximately 150 South Australians.

Through her work at AnglicareSA Janet has overseen the introduction the Disability Outreach service

to assist people with a disability to remain in their own home. She has also assisted in the design

development and implementation of Bridge View Connected Housing, which provides regular

planned and short to long-term respite with the emphasis on developing peoples skills to enable

them to move into community housing independently.

Janet has a strong belief that customer service training for all staff provides positive experiences for

people with a disability. This can be enhanced by ensuring that people with a disability are involved

in the recruitment and choice of staff and by the service provider not just focussing on potential

employee qualifications. Interests, beliefs, culture and community participation may all be guiding

factors for the person with the disability choosing a staff member.

Lisa is NSW State Coordinator at CREATE Foundation. Lisa has ten years experience in the education and international development sectors both in Australia and internationally. Her focus on human rights, child protection and social inclusion brings a unique perspective to the Australian out-of-home care and disability sector. Lisa led the development and implementation of CREATE’s first disability-specific program, The Ability Project and was involved in the filming of CREATE’s first professional training video, Voice Your Choice, for support workers, case workers and carers working with young people in care with a disability. Lisa is a passionate advocate for children’s rights and is committed to improving the care system for all children and young people in NSW.

David has been in the Human Services sector for 20 years, working in Aged Care – commissioning a 90 bed facility, Disabilities – General Manager Operations and Out of Home Care – COO of a new division that provided support to over 500 children in Out of Home care in two years, which won an International business award. Currently David is CEO of ConnectAbility Australia that has been in the Newcastle NSW trial site since 2013.

BA (Hons- Psych), Grad Dip Psych Prac, Grad Cert HRM, MAICD

A skilled and experienced Chief Executive with specialisation in the not-for-profit sector, Jon established his own consulting business and private practice in April 2016. His current focus and specialisation relates to assisting organisations to transform business models and strategies under the NDIS to enhance viability, sustainability and an excellent customer experience.

Jon has been actively involved in the NDIS Trial Site in South Australia and has specific knowledge of the children’s sector and has led an organisation that specialises in models of individualised funding.

Jon was the Chief Executive Officer of Community Support Incorporated (CSI) from August 2014 and was previously the CEO at Autism SA from 2003 to 2014. He has also held senior management positions with 30 years of experience in the community services sector, including several years with one of the largest and leading community welfare organisations in South Australia.

Jon is a registered psychologist and has been involved in both research and the delivery of clinical services. He also holds post graduate qualifications in human resource management and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jon was Chair of National Disability Services (NDS) State Committee for South Australia and a Director on the NDS Board from 2010 to 2014. He was previously a Director of the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders from 2003 to 2014 and Chair of that Board from 2009 to 2012. He is currently a Board member of Northern Futures Inc – a community-based not for profit organisation whose key role is to develop and progress education, training and workforce development in Adelaide, South Australia.

Graham Bargwanna is a highly regarded and respected senior executive with over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles (including 12 years as a Chief Executive) making a significant contribution to strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the Australian not-for-profit sector through providing motivated, compassionate, user-focused and accountable leadership within organizations he has worked with and for. He is very well known for his transformation leadership qualities, commercial acumen and strong focus on client service and delivery.

Graham recognises that the not-for-profit sector is undergoing dramatic structural changes, increased government oversight, growing public demands for accountability and transparency, and service delivery complexity. Driven by a clear sense of mission and purpose, the challenge is to not lose sight of the reason for which organisations exist, while at the same time taking a strategic approach to addressing the challenges that present themselves.

In 2014 Graham was invited to become a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

Leanne Peipman has worked in the Community Services field for over 35 years, working predominantly in the Disability Sector. She has worked in both government and Not For Profit organisations across various parts of Australia including rural and remote areas. Her experience includes roles in leadership, governance, operational management, quality and business across the disability sector. She maintains a component of hands on support to ensure a grounded approach to management.

Tassia Michaleas is the General Manager of Family & Community Support Services at Merri Health in Victoria. Merri Health is the 3rd largest community health service in the state and is in the midst of navigating multiple reforms including transitioning a considerable chunk of its services to the NDIS.

Tassia has worked in community health for 20 years and is a strong advocate for the rights of the marginalised and disadvantaged communities and access to health services. The NDIS transition brings unique and unprecedented challenges to the sector and to Merri Health and Tassia has internally lead this transition and will discuss this path and in particular the workforce changes that they have had to consider, prepare for and adapt to.

Tassia holds qualifications in Economics, is a Social Worker, has a Master’s of Business Administration and has worked with socially disadvantaged communities for over 25 years.