Brett Osler

In my early twenties, I worked in the racing industry, mostly for a racing newspaper as its Advertising Manager where I was responsible for over $500,000 in annual advertising sales, research and design. In my mid-twenties, I moved into recreation planning and leisure services in what was then Australia’s third-largest and fastest growing municipality, the City of Casey. This role required developing and delivering new infrastructure along with redeveloping existing facilities to meet the needs of a changing demographic and new building standards.

I also ran my own business delivering work for the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports and Sports Medicine Australia’s Smartplay programmes amongst others. I then moved into state government to work on state/national-level facilities, international events, legislation and the regulation in both Victoria and Western Australia. I have been involved in numerous working groups (local, state and commonwealth) including Warragul Greyhound Racing Club where I was the youngest committee member and half the age of the next youngest committee member, Logan Park Committee of Management where I represented the interests of the Warragul Greyhound Racing Club and Doveton Eagles Football Club where I took on the role of Vice President and Treasurer after joining the club 6 months earlier to resurrect the club’s finances from an ongoing debt to having significant cash reserves within the season.

The aged care sector is in a period of growth and development, providing an opportunity to shape the future of organisations in this sector as well as myself and others. With legislation being amended for corporations, infrastructure and service delivery, this will provide a relative challenge personally and collectively with any organisation that I am engaged with.

Shonelle Duthie

Since graduating from the University of Western Australia in 2007, I have worked in a number of interesting roles. These include working as an Associate to a Judge of the Supreme Court, a criminal defence lawyer for Legal Aid WA, and a commercial litigation solicitor for a medium size firm in the city. I have also been lucky enough to volunteer for the Subiaco Community Legal Centre, and at an orphanage in Banda Aceh following the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Like many people, I have a number of very important elderly people in my life and am concerned about their welfare and the welfare of their generation.

I am looking forward to participating in the program and hope that subsequently I will be able to volunteer on an aged care board.

Christelle Gibson

I am a 28 year old Registered Nurse currently working as Clinical Risk Manager at a private hospital in Perth. Previously I held a similar role in New Zealand as Incident Manager of a public hospital and was privileged to be a member of their Clinical Board advising on actual and potential clinical risk, and informing the board on progress made to address areas of concern. Aged care has always been part of my working life which is primarily due to approximately 80% of hospital admissions being those considered elderly.

Due to our aging population and increased rates of chronic conditions, I have a strong desire to be a part of a new approach to delivering care to the elderly which is holistic, puts the individual first, supports functional independence and encourages freedom of choice.

Ambreen Beg

I currently volunteer with a multicultural community centre in the wanneroo area. I am Vice-President of the organisation and have worked with them for the past 5 years. I also work with the Department Of Health as a Recruitment Officer. My upbringing has taught me to always value, respect and learn from the elderly. Being an active member of society has taught me that there is a real need to understand aged care.

I am interested in the aged care sector to gain the knowledge that I need to assist my growing community, myself and to gather the information to create awareness in areas of most need. I believe that we, the Australian community need to look after our elderly just as we do our children, not only because we too will be in their shoes some day, but also because most of these precious people have given their lives to the betterment of society so that we could be where we are. I would like to help them now, when the need is the most.

Elizabeth Oliver

I have worked in the aged care sector for the past 9 years as an occupational therapist (OT). My roles have included clinical provision, management, and project management. I am passionate about making a difference in aged care, and improving the quality of life and wellbeing of older adults.

I have been the convenor of the OT aged care interest group for six years, this has been my major Board experience. I have also helped the Board of another not for profit aged care provider with their funding applications. I am really excited about meeting like minded people and the personal and professional development this program will facilitate.

Emma McCormack

I’ve had diverse experiences on committees, my first taste was in 2010 when I joined a committee tasked with conducting a national survey of Australian girl guides. I have an Honours degree in Actuarial Science and was the Vice-President of the Student Actuarial Society (SAS) in 2012, the same year I completed a project with the John Curtin Leadership Academy (JCLA).

I am currently the Secretary of the Young UN Women Australia Perth committee and an intern with Useful Inc, a Perth-based non-profit, where I work on the Big Help Mob project. In high school I volunteered at a nursing home once a week for a semester, playing board games and talking with the residents. I believe that this century is one in which Aged Care will face significant challenges including ageing populations, staffing crises and funding shifts. This not an issue for my future, it is part of my present. I would like to be more involved and to know that the actions I contribute to will lead to a healthy and sustainable industry.

Orla Hill

I have worked in the Research Department at Silver Chain, a large a provider of community health and aged care services, for three years. During this time I have been involved in many projects focused on improving care outcomes for older people. I have been lucky enough to spend time with many older people living in Perth and I am committed to being as involved as possible in strategies to maximize the health and wellbeing of this population group.

Through my work with Silver Chain I have become involved with the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG), Australia’s largest multidisciplinary professional association of people who work in, or have an interest in, ageing. I am a member of the WA State Committee and I am the current Newsletter Representative for the WA section of the AAG National newsletter. Outside of work I am an active member of Subiaco Rotaract, a group committed to leadership and community involvement. I am looking forward to developing my leadership skills and potentially having the opportunity to work with boards of aged care organisations.

Ann Nyaga

I have extensive experience in Aged Care having held various positions in ranging from Personal Care Assistant, Supervisor to my current position as a Registered Nurse.

In my 6 years of working in aged care I have developed an interest in involvement in governance and being part of the decision making team that oversees the effective workplace policies in order to be of more support at the grass roots and also if the opportunity ever arises to have be knowledge ready to take up a position on a board.

Kanyanta Chipanta

I am from originally from Zambia and have lived in Perth for 10years. I am currently a practicing Architect working on various Western Australian building projects including Aged Care and Independent Living Facilities. My current projects include designing alterations and additions to existing Aged care facilities to bring them in line with the current Building Code of Australia and relevant Australian standards such as Design for Access and Mobility.

Coming from a culture where families look after their ageing family members in the family home where they can be as comfortable and remain connected to the family as much as possible, I am always interested in learning different models of the provision of Aged Care in Aged Care Facilities. I believe that with greater understanding of different lifestyles and a fusion of cultural values we can greatly improve the standard of living our Elderly population.

Louise Forster

Louise is currently the Training and Workforce Development Team Leader at CommunityWest Inc. She has been involved in community services since childhood, as her family offered respite to children with disabilities in the UK. She graduated with a degree in Anthropology from the University of London and has worked in community services and aged care since moving to Australia in 2001.

Louise has a passion for training and particularly developing others to achieve their goals. She has sat on a National Education and Training Advisory Committee in the aged care sector as well as other advisory committees and is the secretary of the Parents and Friends Association at Peter Moyes Anglican Community School (where her daughter attends). Louise is keen to use her knowledge of community services, consumer-directed care, training and leadership to contribute to the aged care sector, to see it move forward and thrive.

Brooke Jones

Brooke has worked as a Board Secretary for identitywa, one of Western Australia’s leading organisations supporting people with disability. 12 months ago, she joined Carpets for Communities’ Development Committee which makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on development related policies and programs in Poipet, Cambodia.

Brooke has a keen interest in the not-for-profit and community services sector and is passionate about providing older Australians with more choice and control. Currently working for a disability organisation that provides services to an increasingly older population, Brooke is concerned about the ‘grey areas’ in service provision in the border territory between the disability and aged service systems.

Thomas Wood

My name is Thomas Wood, I have worked in the Aged Care sector for over 6 years in a voluntary and employed capacity. Roles that I have held in this industry include working as a carer, activities officer in various organisations. I am currently employed with the City of Belmont as an Activities Officer at Ascot Park adult day centre. My interest in the aged care sector stems from supporting aged people help maintain their independence and quality of life.

Erika Toth

I am a final year Master of Occupational Therapy student studying at Curtin University. I have developed a strong interest in the aged-care sector through my limited but very positive experience working with older individuals and my grandmother being my biggest inspiration. I believe the elderly population has very diverse life experiences which they love to share with youngsters and as a young population, we can learn a lot from them through conversations, active listening and interactions.

I am looking forward to participate in the Young Leaders Program and hoping to contribute to a better overall health and wellbeing of older individuals through learning from the experts in this field and sharing my values and ideas for developing a better future for the elderly and helping to overcome some of the challenges this industry faces with.

Ashley Dawson

My name is Ashley Dawson, and I am a qualified CPA working in the public practice sector for GeersSullivan, a boutique business services firm that offers consulting and tax advice for SME’s. In the past 7 years that I have worked here – first as a graduate accountant, then as a senior and now a manager of one of our business services teams, I have been passionate about both helping my client’s businesses grow, as well as pursuing my interest in the non-for-profit sector.

Throughout my university days I worked in several aged care facilities, which is where my interest has stemmed from, and now wish to make a contribution back to this industry by applying the knowledge and business acumen I have obtained over the past 7 years in a non-executive board position with the aged care sector. I am excited about the Young Leaders initiative and am looking forward to starting what should be a very rewarding and fulfilling program.

David Pereira

For the past 4 years I’ve been working for Crown Wealth Management as a Financial Planner, working in the industry in total for the last 6 and half years. I currently manage the day to day running of the Perth office, and meet with key stakeholders in making and implementing decisions that impact the medium to long term outcomes of the company. I provide advice in areas of pre and post retirement strategies, which includes taking into consideration the financial aspects and options as older Australians find they may no longer be able to live independently and will need some level of assistance.

My interest in aged care stems from seeing people face negative outcomes as a result of decisions being made without seeking proper advice as well as believing that those who wish to remain at home have the option and ability to for as long as feasibly possible; through the wide range of services available to them such as Community Aged Care Packages and the Extended Aged Care at Home Program.

Shameema Kolia

Shameema Kolia is a successful young entrepreneur and leader who has experience in running her own business as well as holding leadership positions in community organisations. She has worked extensively with young people and women from diverse backgrounds. She has been on the Board of leading organisations in the Muslim Community and currently sits on the board of the Islamic Council of Western Australia and Muslim Youth WA. She has been on the Board of the Ethnic Communities Council as both Women’s and Youth Vice President as well as on the Ethnic Youth Advisory Group through the Office of Multicultural Interests.

She has been part of the Women’s Advisory Council to the Minister for Women’s Affairs and on the Board of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network for two years. She is a Director of the Al Imdaad Foundation Australia, an International Aid Organisation. She is also a Designer and Marketing Director at Rayannes Design Australia.

Joshua Hawes

Josh has a professional background in performance enhancement, organisational psychology and critical incident response. He has also been involved with forensic and military psychology throughout his professional career. Josh’s time in the military has seen him serve in multiple units and go overseas on more than ten deployments; to places such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Whilst deployed with the military he was responsible for the delivery of vital psychological support to troops both in building resilience and assisting after trauma. Josh has served as Regimental Psychologist with the (SAS) and currently continues to consult to the SAS. Josh has considerable experience in dealing with Critical Incidents locally, regionally, nationally and internationally and is able to assist organisations and personnel in how to develop psychological resilience within the work environment. Josh has assisted many organisations in managing the impact of mental health issues in the workplace and guiding managers in implementing strategic processes with a solution focus. Currently, Josh is the Principal Psychologist at Critical Components and is an avid Free-diver in his spare time.

Kuda Mangwe

Kuda Mangwe is an ambitious leader and public speaker and a graduate of Curtin University. Arriving in Australia on June 29 2009, Kuda soon took a liking to the Aussie people and culture and quickly settled in. However it wasn’t until 2011 that he really took a bite into the Aussie apple. Kuda was given an opportunity to undertake an internship with United Way and after three short weeks with the organisation, he found an opportunity to start a youth body for the organisation called Student United Way. The following year after working a few more jobs an opportunity to work with another not for profit (Days of Change) came alight.

After a short while working with them he was approached to become a board member and has been since May 2012. Kuda’s dream job is to become a CSP and influence the world using his greatest asset: his voice. He currently works part time as a speaker and fulltime as an Innovator @ Large for a large not for profit.

Samantha Bushell

Samantha Bushell, during her 27 years of life, has worked in customer service whilst studying at Perth Modern and throughout her first degree in Exercise and Sports Science at Notre Dame University. Feeling the need to give back to the community she enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy as a Communications and Informations Systems Sailor. After receiving the Maritime Warfare Community Medallion, Samantha completed her service and returned home to Perth to enrol in Curtin University’s Postgraduate Master of Occupational Therapy. While she finishes her study she volunteers her time with the Western Australian Occupational Therapy Association on the marketing and student committees, as a Spark of Life Facilitator at Brightwater (Inglewood), and is currently a student mentor at Curtin. She hopes to use the experience at the Young Leaders Program to facilitate change and promote aged care careers to her peers.

Alice Newport

I have been involved in volunteering since a young age and over the past two years have sat on two boards; the Association for Competitive Employment WA (ACEWA) and Pride WA Inc. taking on Secretary and Media, Marketing, Event Management and President roles respectively. My career has spanned across variety of community focused sectors starting working with refugees, moving to education and disability and now moving to a role within an organisation with an overarching community focus; Lotterywest.

My interest in the aged care sector sparks from a love of community, individual focused approaches, and equality, respect and ensuring people have the care and assistance they need throughout all aspects of their lives.