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 a director of the Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local, Chair of the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Independent Director Isis Central Sugar Mill Co Limited, a Director for Rural and Remote Mental Health Queensland, 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.
Edward Stewart (Ted) – Director
Ted has served as a Director since November 1986 and was Chair of Open Minds from 1989 – 2009.
For more than 10 years until the mid 90′s he was a partner in the law firm Flower and Hart Lawyers and has recently returned to the firm as Sepcial Counsel heading up the Hospitality, Liquor and Gaming Practice.
Prior to returning to Flower and Hart he took over the helm of his large family hotel business and retail liquor operations, Stewarts Hotels. Ted is currently the managing director of Moonstruck Group, a retail and investment business which operates Stewarts Wine Co in South East Queensland.
For over 30 years he has acted as a business consultant and as a director of a number of businesses in the equity investment, real property investment, health, medical and leisure industries.
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 specialised support services.
Claude has been a Director of Open Minds since September 1994.
Dr Madonna Tucker – Director
PhD, MPsychEd, BA Psychology
Dr Madonna Tucker is a Lecturer, Behavioural Consultant and Project Manager at the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Development Disability (QCIDD) at the University of Queensland, specialising in the area of challenging behaviour in 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. In her role at the University of Queensland, Dr Tucker runs forums, undertakes research and teaches health and disability professionals, carers and family members of people with intellectual disability.
To compliment her knowledge and teachings, Madonna has been the writer and reviewer of journal publications with disability specific journals, and holds a range of professional memberships, both disability and psychology related.
Madonna was appointed as a Director of the Open Minds Board in May 2010.
Melanie Nicholson – Director
Melanie Nicholson is the principle of “Consensus Enterprises” an Alternative Dispute Resolution practice specialising in Mediation, Conflict Coaching and Dispute Resolution training.
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 also been employed in customer service and management within the Defence Forces and private enterprise accordingly. Melanie has also travelled extensively in the last ten years particularly through schools and orphanages in developing countries.
Melanie has experienced the challenges of an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and brings this personal perspective to the board. Melanie is currently a lead volunteer with the Saint Vincent De Paul’s Society.
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. As either employee or consultant Lynn has worked with SME’s, multinationals, private and public companies across broad industry segments such as construction, mining services, web hosting, energy, heavy industry and food manufacturing, assembly, FMCG, franchise, and transport.
Previous roles have included senior commercial and accounting positions as well as a business improvement focus which means Lynn has a results oriented and outcome based approach linking strategic goals to real operational performance while understanding the implications for compliance, governance and risk.
Lynn is a director of The Smarter Bottom Line Pty Ltd providing consulting services to the commercial sector since 1998 and is also a director of the Anywhere Theatre Festival
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Open Minds’ senior management team are a strong group whom bring expertise and professionalism to each of their relevant areas.
Bernard Wilson – Chief Executive Officer
MBA
Bernard has more than 25 years’ leadership and management experience and has held various senior roles and consultancies within not-for-profit organisations, including more than ten years specialising in disability services and the community sector.
Bernard commenced with Open Minds in early 2007. His qualifications include a Masters of Business Administration and he declares a passion for communications, team building and advocacy for and alongside people living with mental illness or disability.
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.
Julie Williams – Client Services Manager
Dip AppSc (HRCS) Dip Community Services Management
Julie brings a wealth of experience and passion for quality service delivery to the role of client services manager.
With 11 years’ service at Open Minds, Julie has worked across many service divisions, including the Acquired Brain Injury Support Service and Lifestyle Support Service and now leads a professional team of skilled staff in delivering support services within the Client Services department.
Moving into the disability sector following tertiary studies in applied science, human services and community services management, Julie has extensive knowledge and experience in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery-orientated practices in mental health.
Suzanne Desailly – Service Development Manager
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.
Darren Birt – Employment Services Manager
Rae Corbin – Human Resources Manager
Grad. Cert. (Prof. Mgt.), Dip Bus (HR), Dip AppSci
Rae’s background includes a variety of roles – human resources, office management and management of her own business in the medical industry.
Before joining Open Minds, Rae held the role of manager and HR generalist in the development of a start-up company in the health field and has previous experience with Chandler Macleod (Recruitment). Rae has also worked for the Leukaemia Foundation in an Executive Assistant and HR capacity.
Her qualifications include successfully completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Management in 2010 from the Australian Institute of Management as well as previously achieving a Diploma in Human Resources and Diploma in Applied Science. She also holds certificates in marketing and recruitment and selection and is a member of Australian Human Resources Institute.
Josie Cole – Fundraising Manager
BBus (Mkg), MFIA, AMAMI
Commencing in February 2010, Josie’s role with Open Minds is to increase awareness of the organisation and to call on the community, corporate and philanthropic businesses to support the vital services provided by Open Minds.
Josie has a strong background in marketing, communications and fundraising activities, and has a passion for the not-for-profit sector and helping to better peoples’ lives.
She previously worked for DRUG ARM Australasia as the National Marketing & Communications Manager. Josie holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and is a member of the Fundraising Institute Australia and the Australian Marketing Institute.