At Spinal Life Australia we are guided by our members. Our Board – a majority of whom live with a disability are elected by members to guide the organisation’s strategic direction, oversee management, and ensure compliance. Both our Board of Directors and our Executive team bring a wealth of experience and expertise, and are dedicated to supporting people with a disability to live more equitable, accessible and empowered lives.
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Chief Executive Officer
Mark has decades of experience working in local government, commercial and not-for-profit industries, including 19 years as Chief Executive Officer of RSPCA Queensland before joining Spinal Life Australia in October 2019.
Mark is skilled in organisational development, process improvement, innovation, strategic planning and implementation of motivated workplace cultures and has been recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and is a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Federation Medal for significant services to the community.
Chief Operating and Finance Officer
Natalie supports the strategic and operational oversight to achieve our service delivery targets and goals. She is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of experience in commercial sectors. Natalie works well in challenging and deadline-driven environments that require high degrees of accuracy.
Executive Manager Commercial Services
Chris Attard comes to Spinal Life Australia with a wealth of commercial experience. He is a fellow of the Certified Practising Accountants of Australia and in his former life, he held many finance executive roles including Chief Financial Officer – as well as significant experience in operations in the Not-For-Profit sector working with disability particularly in the area of mental health.
Chris’ experiences will improve our focus on continuing the provision of high-quality services to our customers. Chris looks forward to working closely with the rest of our executive team to improve supports for our dedicated personal support workforce and strengthen our engagement with our valued customers.
Executive Manager, Business Development
After beginning her nursing career in Princess Alexandra’s Spinal Injuries Unit, Frances decided to move into a community-based job, which is how she began work with Spinal Life Australia in 1988. Frances gained a Masters in Human Services which gave her the grounding to further develop the services of the organisation.
She has led the organisation’s client and member services areas and has been involved in developing new services to meet the needs of members and clients. In recent years Frances has focused her energies on building sustainable commercial businesses to move the organisation into the future.
Chief Human Resources Officer
Victoria brings more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources to Spinal Life Australia, having been in senior leadership positions for the last 14 years in both domestic and international roles.
With a Masters degree in HR coupled with her strong commercial background, Victoria is skilled at putting strategies in place to propel business outcomes through the engagement of our people.
Currently completing her Law degree at QUT, Victoria is passionate about creating diverse and equal workplaces, ensuring all staff have the opportunity, skills, and support to reach their full potential and deliver outstanding services to our customers and ongoing business results.
Executive Manager, Member Services, Marketing and Fundraising
Holding a Master of Business Administration through the University of South Australia, Ross has built his expertise and skills across a broad range of sectors.
He has worked for many organisations both in Australia and internationally, including the CSIRO, RSPCA, the Sunshine Coast Council and the State Library of Queensland.
While employed with Sunshine Coast Council, Ross played a key role in the amalgamation of the library services of three former councils, leading to council being awarded the best public library award in 2008 by the Queensland Public Library Association.
He is passionate about supporting Spinal Life members to live an accessible, equitable and empowered life, particularly through advocacy, working with individuals and all levels of government to achieve positive outcomes.
Chair
Independent Non-Executive Director and Member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Gyl has 35 years’ experience as a senior manager and executive, with extensive experience as a leader in the fast-moving technology sector. Her forte is in developing goal-oriented strategy and achieving results through value-driven governance and programme delivery. She has been recognised for building high value, award winning service capabilities and is passionate about driving innovation to help improve the outcomes that people are able to achieve. She is committed to public service, with several other board roles including the Parole Board Queensland, QCAT and Queensland Health. Gyl has a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Certificate in Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Deputy Chair
Independent Non-Executive Director and Member of the Governance Committee.
Mark has an extensive background in law and is a Principal Lawyer at Macpherson + Kelley Lawyers where he practices primarily in commercial litigation and commercial advisory work. Mark also has experience in advising the not-for-profit sector and in particular, churches, church and community owned hospitals, aged care facilities and the RSL. He has been a member of the Board of the Wesley Hospital, served on its Finance Committee, has been a member of the St Aidan’s School Council including one year as its chair, has been a member of the Board of the Society of the Sacred Advent and has also served on an Ethics Committee for Blue Care.
Board Member
Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Michelle is a Chartered Accountant with extensive accounting and taxation experience, specifically with small and medium business clients. She has a keen interest in the community sector, from both governance and Board management perspectives, and is suitably skilled to assist SLA with financial matters and deliberations after joining the board in April 2019. Michelle has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Taxation degree from University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Governance Institute
Board Member
Independent Non-Executive Director, Member of the Governance Committee and Chair of the Research Advisory Committee.
Phillip has an extensive 45-year history in research, particularly focused on human molecular genetics, with more than 150 publications in international scientific journals. He has more than 25 years’ experience teaching in universities in Queensland and South Australia, and brings expertise in successfully applying for grants, developing new technologies and more.
Phillip is currently a ‘retired’ Adjunct Professor at QUT and the University of Queensland. He continues to mentor students and younger researchers. He is a passionate advocate for improving outcomes and quality of life for people with spinal cord damage, with lived experience having sustained an injury in 2005.
Board member
Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Governance and Remuneration Committee.
Gerard was appointed a Director of SLA in April 2020. He is also the President of Surf Lifesaving Sunshine Coast. Previous Directorships include Colgate Palmolive PNG, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Buderim Ginger Limited, Australian Industry Group and Baking Industry Association of Queensland. He also has extensive experience in the Australian and international consumer goods sectors, including a number of Managing Director roles.
Board member
Carol was appointed to the board to fill a casual vacancy in January 2021. She is a business woman, award-winning artist, designer, advocate, community leader and Principal of law firm Taylor Law & Conveyancing. Carol’s previous board positions included the board of Access Arts Australia and she was also honorary solicitor for the Irish Australia Welfare Bureau. Carol is also a founding member of the QLS diverse abilities network. With 18 years lived experience of spinal cord damage, Carol is passionate about creating positive change and justice to redefine what is possible for all.
Board Member
Dr Dinesh was the first medical intern in Queensland with quadriplegia and is the second person to graduate medical school with quadriplegia in Australia.
He is now a highly accomplished Doctor at the Gold Coast University Hospital, a Senior Advisor to the Disability Royal Commission, co-leads a spinal cord injury research lab, and is the doctor for the Gold Coast Titans disability rugby league team. Most recently, he was voted the 2021 Queenslander of the Year.
Dr Dinesh has joined the board as an Alternate Director and is looking forward to helping Spinal Life build an innovative future, focused on delivering our customers the best services and support.
Board Member
Rebecca has joined the board as an Alternate Director and brings extensive experience, having worked in both the public and private sectors as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist.
Rebecca has worked as a committee member for the Queensland and National Australian Physiotherapy Association and was selected as part of the Paralympic Cycling Medical Team for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Rebecca brings her own experience as a mother of a child with a spinal injury, as well as experience working within Allied Health teams to the board.
