About

Mel has a Psychology degree with Honours and has since gained a Masters of Business Administration. Mel has extensive experience in the disability sector, starting as a support worker 30 years ago. Her experience supporting people has been varied, including those with complex needs, psychosocial disability, those involved in the criminal justice system, personality disorders and significant mental health disorders. Mel has worked as a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner and specialist for most of her career and is now registered with the Quality and Safeguards Commission as a PBS practitioner. Mel has extensive experience in transformational change and organisational development and learning. Mel commenced at CLO in 1999; working in management and leadership roles before being appointed as the CEO in January 2018.

Alan is a practising Solicitor in Strathalbyn and Fleurieu and has been on the Board since 1998. In his time on the board, Alan has seen many changes from the small organisation that started CLO to the huge increase in participants and staff that have occurred over some 20 years. Alan is Chair of the Clinical Governance Subcommittee and a member of the Clinical Governance Subcommittee.

Having started out as a teacher in Switzerland, Chris gained his MBA at Adelaide University in 2006. Now working as a Business Manager, Chris brings with him a great deal of experience in the aged care field. Chris has undertaken the Governor’s Leadership Foundation programme at the Leaders Institute of South Australia. Chris has been on the Board since April 2011; one of our longest-serving members. Chris is Vice Chair of the Clinical Subcommittee and a member of the Clinical Governance Subcommittee.

Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in Geospatial Science (Surveying) from the University of South Australia. With his background in executive and project management, Mike brings a wealth of experience in strategy and risk with in-depth expertise in business drivers and business improvement. Mike is a member of the Clinical Governance Subcommittee.

Kathy comes to the Board with a background in finance, having worked in the education sector as an Accountant and Finance Manager for many years with demonstrated outcomes for financial planning, business proficiency and business administration. Kathy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Accounting and is currently completing her MBA with an accounting specialisation. Kathy joined our Board in May 2018, and Chair of our Finance Audit and Risk Subcommittee.

Robert joined our Board in 2019. Robert’s professional experience includes external auditing, financial reporting and due diligence over various industry sectors, including not for profit. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Finance and is a Chartered Accountant. Robert is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Subcommittee.

Marc is a registered Pharmacist with experience in both hospital and community settings. He brings significant experience in both business management and clinical governance in the healthcare sector. Marc is a member of both the Clinical Governance and the Finance, Risk and Audit Subcommittees.

Associate Professor Christine Dennis has held senior executive roles in government and health services across Australia and, prior to joining Flinders University in July 2019, was the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) and ACHS International based in Sydney, Australia.

Initially training as a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife in the South Australian health system, Christine has over forty years’ experience in health service management, strategic and operational planning, quality and safety systems and, in leading and implementing change in complex health care organisations. She is recognised for a well-developed governance/business acumen, a focus on strategic decision making and, for delivering performance outcomes. Over the past 10 years, Christine has also has demonstrated capacity to draw on her clinical and management experience in the delivery of excellence in teaching and education. This subsequently led to her appointment as a Teaching Specialist and Director of Healthcare Management Programs in the College of Business, Government and Law at Flinders University.

In 2018, Christine was elected as a founding member of the International Academy of Quality and Safety (IAQS), one of only 35 members globally and, also received Life Membership of the Australasian College of Health Service Management.

Christine is a member of both the Clinical Governance and the Finance, Risk and Audit Subcommittees.

Ruth has worked in the intellectual disability services sector since 1970 in a career that has progressed from disability nursing to nurse education, staff training and management.

Ruth is now self-employed and providing training to support workers, developmental educators and organisations in best practice support for people with intellectual disability.

Ruth has a particular interest in supporting people with intellectual disability who demonstrate behaviours of concern and commenced an organisation in the Riverland of South Australia in 1986 supporting individuals in their local area with those needs.

Ruth has a specific interest in support services and staff training in rural regions with the development of best practice models which serve individuals and their communities. Like many people who live in rural areas, Ruth is a member of several community boards ranging from health to hospitality. Ruth is a member of the Clinical Governance Subcommittee.

Prior to retirement, Denice worked in the disability sector for over 45 years, originally as a Registered Nurse working in an institution at a time when community support was not an option for most individuals living with a disability.

Denice qualified as a Developmental Educator in the mid-1980s at a time of great social change and was fortunate enough to be involved in the closure of several institutions in South Australia.

Denice has worked in senior management positions for over 30 years, including the CEO of Cara and Lighthouse.

Denice believes strongly in ensuring supports to individuals with a disability reflect best practice. This is particularly important in support services that offer 24-hour support as service providers have such a significant impact on the lives of those we here to serve. Denice is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Subcommittee.