Carolyn Gilpin (BrainLink), Nina Smith (Peers Inspiring Peers), Sharon Strugnall (CEO BrainLink), Sally Green (ABI Compass Clubhouse)

Left to right: Florence Kingsley-Matthews (Peers Inspiring Peers),
Jacky Douglas (Stroke Association Victoria-SAV),
Clare Gray (SAV), Nina Smith (Peers Inspiring Peers)
and Emily Mercer (SAV)

Left to right: Wendy Muller (Vision Australia),
Nina Smith (Peers Inspiring Peers),
Jo-Anne Tamlyn (Chronic Illness Alliance),
Cameron Algie (Vision Australia)

Nina Smith (Peers Inspiring Peers) and Gayle Homann (MS Australia)

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Working with our peers as equals

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Modelling hope for the future

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Encouraging our peers to set and reach their own goals

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Celebrating successes and achievements

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Actively listening to everyone’s ideas, thoughts and opinions

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Sharing our experience where it may assist others

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Encouraging others to explore new possibilities

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Acknowledging that life is a journey

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Looking after ourselves and seeking help when we need it

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Respecting each other and embracing diversity

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Being open and honest in all our dealings

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Working collaboratively to achieve common goals

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Recommending professional expertise where appropriate

Director – Operations: Greg Quinn

For the past 7 years, Greg has held management positions in the not for profit sector in regional Victoria, focusing on support services for disadvantaged young people.

Prior to this, Greg worked in technical and marketing management positions in the Biotechnology industry and more recently enjoyed 10 years as Export Manager for a major Australian wine producer.

Alongside formal positions, Greg has undertaken consultancy work in Export and has had direct involvement in projects in the horticultural industry.

Director and Chair: GAYLE HARDIE

Gayle Hardie is the Co-Founder of Global Leadership Foundation - established in 2003 to provide leadership pathways and build leadership capability for people from all walks of life. Her work challenges and inspires leaders to rethink the way in which they and their businesses relate to others, the communities in which they operate and world around them.

Gayle brings over 30 years of business experience in corporate, private, not for profit and government sectors. She has specialist skills in leadership transformation and development, strategic planning and implementation, Board and Executive mentoring and coaching and leading and implementing organisation change. She is a member and recommended Executive Coach with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow and former Council member of Leadership Victoria and an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

FOUNDER AND Director

Nina has been a leadership consultant and executive coach to both Government and business sectors for seven years. Prior to this, Nina was Asian Regional Manager for a major Australian exporter, which included a posting to Tokyo for three years.

In 2005 Nina underwent major brain surgery and participated in the LifeMoves programme as part of her rehabilitation. Nina subsequently became the LifeMoves Programme Coordinator at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and the inaugural Executive Director of Peers Inspiring Peers.

Nina remains a Director and continues to provide valuable advice and support around the LifeMoves programme.

Director: CHRISTINE KOTUR

Christine Kotur is an experienced consultant specialising in strategy and change management for public, private and community organisations. She works extensively with boards, CEOs, senior executives and leadership groups. Christine draws on experience as a former CEO, senior executive and Pro Vice Chancellor. She is an alumnus of the Cranlana program, a Fellow of Leadership Victoria and a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne. She has undertaken leadership and management development at Harvard University and has held numerous appointments to councils, boards and government advisory bodies.

Christine is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Director: LUCY SMITH

Lucy Smith is a Psychologist with extensive experience working within the healthcare sector, in a variety of roles. Lucy worked for more than a decade as Clinical Neuropsychologist in a range of acute, aged care, rehabilitation and community services, specialising in neurological rehabilitation and dementia care. Subsequently, Lucy made a transition into change management, service and strategy development roles within the public healthcare system. She is currently the Leader of Service Development and Innovation for Allied Health at Melbourne Health, and a facilitator of the Enhancing Practice Program in partnership with Northern Health and Council on the Ageing. She is involved in Program development, implementation and evaluation, supporting quality improvement activities, clinical teaching and research.

Director: JANE HEPENSTALL

Jane Hepenstall is a speech pathologist who currently works in her own private practice. Jane has more than 25 years experience at providing specialist services in hospital, school and community settings. Her primary expertise is with the acquired brain injury population with a particular interest in the management of the long-term consequences of acquired cognitive-communication impairments of neurological origin. She is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and Victorian Brain Injury Recovery Association (VBIRA). Jane also worked as a public relations consultant for nine years and, after completing post-graduate studies in Public Relations at RMIT, taught PR on a sessional basis at Victoria University and Victorian College of the Arts.

Jane Hepenstall developed the LifeMoves programme at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) - Royal Park Campus in 2001. Over its eight years at RMH, her role as coordinator of the programme was nominated twice for the Melbourne Health 'Best of Health' Award.

Director: Paris Brooke

Paris is a science communicator with extensive experience in the life sciences sector. She has been responsible for the strategic communication, management, brand awareness and advocacy development for innovative businesses in the biotechnology, business advisory and agricultural sectors. Her involvement in the life sciences industry has developed vital relationships and networks between industry, government, investment, business and media.

She has been a regular commentator at industry events and has developed workshops, seminars and briefings for all levels of government and industry, as well as educational awareness programs for journalists, students and the community. Paris has held senior management positions in start-up and listed biotechnology companies, as well as in PR and an industry organisation. She currently heads up the science communication consultancy, Scinapse.