News • 13 May 2019

Open Minds welcomes new Board members

The Open Minds Executive Leadership Team and the existing Open Minds Board members met to welcome the new Board members to the organisation, and to provide them with a briefing about Open Minds.

Last week, the Open Minds Executive Leadership Team and the existing Open Minds Board members met to welcome the new Board members to the organisation, and to provide them with a comprehensive briefing on Open Minds.

The purpose of the briefing was to ensure that the new Board members are best positioned to provide valuable insights from the first Board meeting in June.

The session was well received, with the new Board members gaining valuable insight into the challenges and the business environment.

Open Minds is delighted to have these new Board member join us. Their extensive experience will no doubt bring great benefit to the service users of Open Minds.

Open Minds also recently said farewell to Board members Grant Hawgood, who resigned from the Board in February 2019, and Paul Mazerolle, who resigned as Board Chair in May 2019.

Our Board members

Louise Cox – BBus(Mgt), BBus(Accy), LLB(Hons), GradDipLegalPrac, LLM, MTax, FCPA – Board Chair and Governance Remuneration and Nominations Committee Member

Louise is an experienced Board member serving as Chair, Deputy Chair, Chair of Finance and Risk, and Chair of Governance in commercial, public sector, and not for profit boards across a broad sector group including education, professional services in legal, architecture and accounting, management consultancy and mental health. Louise is a member of the Executive Committee of the Caxton Legal Centre, Chair of Griffith University’s Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics Advisory Board, and a member of QUT’s School of Accountancy – School Advisory Committee. Louise has previously served as a Director of TAFE Queensland, Open Minds (2005 – 2011) and Thomson Adsett Architects and as a member and Chair of the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE Council. Louise was appointed to the Board in November 2016. 

Simon Rumore – BCom, GAICD – Deputy Board Chair and Chair of the Governance Remuneration and Nominations Committee.

Simon is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Executive. Formerly he was deputy chair of a large national charity in the social justice sector. In an executive capacity, he has spent the last decade years as a consultant and interim executive for a range of large companies in sectors such as healthcare and medical research, financial services, information technology, engineering, resources and not for profits. Simon brings skills in the design of operating models, organisational design, program and organisational change management, mergers and acquisitions and the alignment of leadership frameworks to culture. He is Chair of the Governance, Remuneration and Nominations Committee. Simon was appointed to the Board in June 2017.

Claire Davis – BA (Hons) Accy, FCA, GAICD, GradCertExecLead – Non-Executive Director and Audit Risk Committee Member

Claire is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Chairperson having served on not for profit Boards in Australia and UK for over 25 years. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, Claire’s career in commercial and not for profit companies includes 10 years as CFO and Director of Corporate Services in medium to large companies. Claire is now Managing Director of her own business providing leadership development services across Australia. Claire brings skills in executive leadership, finance, governance, risk, strategy, social and affordable housing, property development and community services. Claire is Chair of the ICAEW Queensland State Branch, a director of BlueCHP and Hope Centre Services, and she volunteers with Wesley Medical Research. Initially an external member of the ARC Committee from August 2017, Claire was appointed to the Board of Open Minds in June 2018 and remains a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Rowena McNally – LLB FAICD FAIM FRI – Non-Executive Director.

An experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director with over 20 years’ board level experience and a particular interest in good governance and organisational oversight, Rowena has extensive experience in:

  • chairing and serving on statutory, regional, industry and infrastructure boards, finance, audit, governance and risk oversight committees.
  • member, government liaison and stakeholder management.
  • member/stakeholder engagement and extensive experience serving on and chairing membership bodies and associations.

Rowena is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia (now the Resolution Institute). She facilitates the board and corporate governance modules of the AICD’s Company Directors’ training course. Rowena was appointed to the Board in May 2019.

Elissa Morris – Masters of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology), FAPS, CF – Non-Executive Director and Interim Chair of the Service and Clinical Governance Committee.

Elissa is a Clinical Neuropsychologist who has over 30 years’ experience working in the community in brain injury rehabilitation with adults and their family members. She has worked in Queensland Health in the Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service, and in the School of Psychology, University of Queensland. She has been a Tribunal member with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (formerly the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal. In 2005 Elissa was awarded a Bob and June Prickett Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship. Elissa has been a Psychology representative on the Australian Stroke Coalition Long Term Recovery and Support Working Party (2010-2012). Elissa has held roles within the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (Queensland Section) as Education Officer, Treasurer and Chair (2010-2013). and was elected as Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society in 2013. Elissa has been a member and Chair of Headspace Taringa Clinical Reference Committee since 2016, has been a member of the Open Minds Service and Clinical Governance Committee since 2018, and was appointed to the Board in April 2019.

Rick Dennis – B Comm LLB ACA AICD – Non-Executive Director (as of July 2019) and Audit Risk Committee Member

Rick is an experienced corporate advisor and Non-Executive Director serving on the boards of and chairing the Audit & Risk committees of ASX listed Apiam Animal Health Ltd and Motorcycle Holdings Ltd. Rick is an Advisory Board member of Australian Super and EWM Group, and an independent member of the Audit & Risk Committee of Racing QLD. He is passionate about philanthropic causes and serves on the boards of several charitable organisations. Rick is qualified in accounting and law and held various roles in EY including QLD managing partner and Asia-Pacific CFO/COO during a 30 year career with the firm. Rick was appointed to the Audit Risk Committee in May 2019 and will be appointed to the Board in July 2019.

Peter Maher OAM – WEd, BEd, Grad Cert Mng, Grad Dip RE, Grad Dip RS, Dip Tch, Cert IV Real Estate, FAICD, FAIM, FCEOI – Non-Executive Director

Peter recently retired as the CEO of St Vincent de Paul Queensland and St Vincent de Paul Northern Territory.  He has held senior positions in the federal government including; Welfare reform for Prime Minister and Cabinet, head of HR  for Centrelink (25000 staff) and managed various National Programs including, Parenting, Families and Disabilities for Centrelink.  He has been responsible for Training and Development with the Australian Bureau of Statistics.  Peter has also undertaken various teaching and principal positions. Peter has served on numerous boards including the inaugural chair of Gold Coast Horizon Housing Company, the Catholic Education Commission, Mercy Aged Care and National Emergency Medal Committee.  He is currently on the Queensland Parole Board. In 2011 Peter was awarded an Order of Australia for his work with St Vincent de Paul. Peter has family members with disabilities and mental health issues. Peter was appointed to the Board in May 2019.

Ian Maynard – BSc GAICD – Non-Executive Director

An experienced Non-Executive Director over the last 20 years, Ian is able to advise on governance, company and organisation structure, coaching and mentoring of business leaders in the areas of leadership, process improvement, enabling technology and customer engagement. Ian is currently a director of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Business School Advisory Board, Non-Executive Chair of Australian Christian Churches (ACC) Directorate, ACC Review Directorate (religious organisations), DPN Casa Capace (disability housing owner/operator) and co-founder of Cybermetrix (cyber-security startup). Ian is Principal of Maynards Consulting Group, advising as a business and executive coach, specialising in leadership and organisational development. Previously, as Deputy CEO for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Ian was responsible for rolling out the NDIS from trial sites to a full national scheme. 

Ian has held senior executive positions in public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand, including Director General Queensland Health, CEO Queensland Public Service Commission, CEO Queensland Urban Utilities, COO Brisbane City Council, senior procurement and risk management roles with Fonterra and Fletcher Challenge Group. As a CEO and senior executive, Ian has focused on transforming government service delivery through the use of public private partnerships, technology and developing leadership capability. Ian is also a very experienced leader in the business functions of strategic sourcing, IT system implementation and risk management. A co-founder of two start-up companies (cyber-security and disability housing), Ian has direct experience of the challenges facing business owners and the strategies required to succeed and grow. Ian holds a B.Sc. with first class honours in Chemistry (UQ) and is a graduate of the INSEAD Advancement Management and AICD Company Director programs. Ian was appointed to the Board in May 2019.

Our external Committee Members

Natalie Rando – BPsych(Hons) – Service and Clinical Governance Committee Member

With over 15 years’ experience working with people with disabilities, Natalie is currently a Case Coordinator working with youth and families. Natalie brings expertise from her lived experience as a long-term carer for family members with mental illness, and her own journey of recovery from mental illness. Natalie works within a client-centred, community focused framework that is strengths based, recovery orientated and aimed at integrated care. She has been involved in the development of the ‘National Research Action Plan for Suicide Prevention’ with Suicide Prevention Australia, and has a wide network across Australia. She has also been involved in RACGP approved Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) for General Practitioners through the Medicare Local (now PHN) networks. Natalie was appointed to the Service and Clinical Governance Committee in May 2015.

Tim Allman – FCA, CA, SF Fin – Audit Risk Committee Member

Tim has over 30 years’ experience working for PwC (13 years as Partner) providing professional services and advising clients across a range of industries in Europe, and for the last 16 years in Australia. In Brisbane he was the Leader of PwC Assurance Practice (2009 to 2011) and PwC’s relationship with Audit Committees (2011 to 2017), including holding regular forums to discuss and debate governance and risk related matters. Tim was appointed to the Audit Risk Committee in August 2018.

Luke Hatzipetrou – BA, P/Grad Dip Psych, DCP – Service and Clinical Governance Committee Member

Luke is a clinical and forensic psychologist with expertise in delivering treatment services to people with intellectual disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders and mental illness. Dr Hatzipetrou has published and delivered workshops regarding the psychological treatment of persons with developmental disorders. He provides forensic reports to the Mental Health Court and the Queensland Civil & Administrative Tribunal. His practice offers a statewide clinical outreach service. Luke was appointed to the Service and Clinical Governance Committee in July 2017.

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