OUR PATRON
 | Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley ACGovernor of Queensland |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mike Gilmour – Chair
Dip Acctg, MBA, FCPA, FAICD
Mike is an experienced director with a strong commitment to corporate governance and the not-for-profit sector. He is Chair of the Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local, Chair of the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Independent Director Isis Central Sugar Mill Company Limited, and a former President of the Queensland Division of CPA Australia.
Mike has a close involvement with the indigenous community through his role of Company Secretary of the Palm Island Community Company. Mike is a professional accountant and experienced Chief Financial Officer and has particular experience in the health and manufacturing sectors. Previous appointments as a director, company secretary and senior commercial management positions have included the Uniting HealthCare Group, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Boystown Family Care and James Hardie Industries Ltd. Mike has been a Director of Open Minds since May 2005.
Professor Paul Mazerolle – Deputy Chair
Professor Paul Mazerolle is Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts, Education and Law) and Director of the Violence Research and Prevention Program at Griffith University.
Professor Mazerolle’s research examines the processes that shape criminal offending across the life course, the consequences of violent victimisation for criminal offending, youth violence, and intimate partner violence. He is engaged in a series of funded research projects examining juvenile offending behaviour, violent victimisation, and intimate partner homicide.
Paul holds a PhD in Criminology, a Masters in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor in Sociology. Paul has been a Director of Open Minds since June 2009.
Dr Madonna Tucker – Deputy Chair
PhD, MPsychEd, BA Psychology
Dr Madonna Tucker is a psychologist with 20 years’ experience in the areas of learning and intellectual disability. She has worked with various populations including children and adults in government, university and private settings. Her previous positions have included Lecturer, Behavioural Consultant and Project Manager at the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Development Disability (QCIDD) at the University of Queensland.
In her role at the University, Dr Tucker ran forums, undertook research and taught health and disability professionals, carers and family members of people with intellectual disability. She specialises in the area of challenging behaviour and people with intellectual disability. Madonna holds a Doctorate of Philosophy, Master of Educational Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts with a Double Major in Psychology.
Madonna was appointed as a Director of the Open Minds Board in May 2010.
Dr Margaret Steinberg AM – Director
PhD, MPhty (Research), BPhty (Hons), Dip Phty
Margaret is Adjunct Professor at QUT’s Centre for Philanthropy and Non Profit Studies. She has undertaken innovative work on complex, contemporary matters involving health, education, social policy and services intersecting with discrimination, HIV/AIDS, telecommunications, mature-age work, ageing and disability.
She was formerly Deputy-President of the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal and establishment Director of the Healthy Ageing Unit at UQ. She is also a former Commissioner of the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Police Services Review Commission.
Margaret was a made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003 for her work in public health and social justice.
Claude Huddy – Director
Claude Huddy was the national programs and contract manager for Sarina Russo Job Access. For the previous 26 years he was employed by the then Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) as senior contract manager for the Job Network, Commonwealth Employment Service regional manager and the South Brisbane area programs manager.
He was a Director and Chairman of BABI Youth & Family Support from 1982–2002, a Wynnum-based organisation supporting homeless youth through the provision of accommodation and other support services.
Claude has been a Director of Open Minds since September 1994.
Melanie Nicholson – Director
Melanie Nicholson is the owner of Consensus Enterprises, a business which mentors and coaches leaders to successfully manage organisational change or conflict in their workplaces. Melanie holds a Master of Dispute Resolution and has extensive experience in community engagement, project management and leadership positions within the Federal Government.
Melanie has been employed in customer service and management within the Defence Forces and private enterprise and is currently a lead volunteer with the St Vincent De Paul Society. She has also travelled extensively, particularly through schools and orphanages in developing countries. Melanie has experienced the challenges of an Acquired Brain Injury and brings this personal perspective to the Board.
Melanie has been a member of the Open Minds Board since December 2010.
Lynne Smart – Treasurer
B Com, CPA, FAICD, MBA.
Lynn is a CPA with more than 20 years’ experience in the areas of accounting, financial analysis, business improvement, compliance, governance and risk. In previous appointments, Lynn has worked with multinationals, private and public companies in construction, mining services, web hosting, energy, heavy industry and food manufacturing, franchise and transport. Lynn focuses on a business improvement and outcome based approach linking strategic goals to real operational performance, while understanding the implications for compliance, governance and risk.
Lynn is the owner of The Smarter Bottom Line, providing consulting services to the commercial sector and is a director of the Anywhere Theatre Festival. Lynn was appointed Chair of Open Minds Finance Compliance and Risk Committee in November 2011.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Open Minds’ senior management team are a strong group whom bring expertise and professionalism to each of their relevant areas.
Kristine Sargeant – Chief Executive Officer
Kris Sargeant has extensive experience working in the not for profit sector, holding senior positions in community organisations in both mental health and disability organisations in NSW. Before joining Open Minds Kris was General Manager with Macarthur Disability Services and worked as a consultant to the not for profit sector focusing on strategic planning growth strategies and workforce development. Prior to that, Kris was the Deputy CEO with the Richmond Fellowship of NSW. Kris holds a Master of Business Administration , a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Marie Fox – General Manager, Operations
Suzanne Desailly – General Manager Business Development
B.Psych, Postgrad Dip Clinical Psych
Suzanne has a background in clinical psychology and has worked in the mental health sector for the past 13 years, in both not-for-profit and public mental health services in Australia and the United Kingdom. Before joining Open Minds in 2007, Suzanne was Senior Psychologist at Pine Rivers Private Hospital, a specialist mood, anxiety and substance disorders inpatient unit.
Prior to that, Suzanne spent five years working for the National Health Service in the United Kingdom where she managed a Psychiatric Day Service in London and worked as a psychiatric intake officer for a central London Community Mental Health Service.
Before moving overseas, Suzanne worked as a Psychologist with the Townsville District Integrated Mental Health Services.
Janifer Willis – Chief Financial Officer
B.Bus (Acc), CPA
Janifer commenced with Open Minds in September 2008 as a specialist in the not-for-profit sector, where she has worked for more than 14 years.
Prior to Open Minds, Janifer worked as the finance manager at Save the Children Queensland, the Australian Red Cross Queensland and the Ipswich Turf Club.
Janifer has a Bachelor in Business (Acc) and is a qualified CPA.