Janet was appointed as our inaugural Commissioner in January 2019 having held leadership positions in Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies for more than 20 years, working in the areas of health and aged care policy, strategy and planning.

After stints in the NSW Department of Health, the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Commonwealth Department of Health, Janet took up the position of Deputy CEO, and then acting CEO, of the Northern Territory Department of Health. While in the Northern Territory, she led the government’s response to the Royal Commission into child protection and youth justice.

In 2009, Janet was awarded a Public Service Medal for her significant contributions to health policy development and reform – contributions she has continued to build on here at the Commission through the current program of aged care sector reforms.

The Commissioner is supported by an experienced Executive Leadership team and a diverse, highly skilled and experienced staff.

Mark Ashby has gained extensive leadership experience within the professional and financial services sectors. Prior to joining ACCPA, Mark was a Partnership Manager with HESTA Super Fund as well as Client Relationship Manager NSW/ACT developing strategic and deep partnerships with stakeholders in the health, community services, and aged care sectors. Mark served on the Health Services Association NSW board, a peak body for third schedule and specialist hospitals in NSW providing unique service delivery to the NSW community. Mark has significant mentoring experience working with emerging leaders through the ACWA programme. Mark understands that collaboration and communication is key to success in the care industries.

In Mark’s HESTA roles he gained a true insight into the impacts that members are facing and the critical role that ACCPA plays. Now Mark focuses on ensuring that ACCPA delivers an exceptional member experience which can be adapted to meet those member needs. Mark is responsible for the Member Relations portfolio in NSW/ACT overseeing State Forums and the State Member Council, various other regional forums and member engagement. Mark is focused on assisting members to develop solutions to address workforce shortages, workforce planning and building talented teams, and ensuring ACCPA members have a genuine understanding of the full range of advocacy, support and capacity building that ACCPA providers to our members, to ensure best outcomes for older Australians.

Claire Bailey started working in aged care in January 2020 and played an important role supporting members through COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic. She has worked in employment relations since 2002 in both the public and private sectors, gaining experience in a range of industries. She has an honours degree in industrial relations and human resource management from the University of Sydney. Claire enjoys working with ACCPA members to assist them to successfully manage their workplace relations matters. She is also passionate about strategic planning and advocating on behalf of members on significant workplace issues in our sector.

Carla has a passion for supporting aged care organisations to innovate and deliver change. With more than 15 years in senior management roles (both private and not-for-profit), Carla has worked with organisations to identify opportunities and turn strategic initiatives into action.

She has led a variety of special projects, including the implementation of electronic care systems across 11 aged care homes, developing and delivering New Grad Programs, as well as driving internal clinical and operational audits for achievement of Accreditation and Business Excellence.

Carla’s highly influential change management skills, strong leadership and direct approach allow her to create, lead and work with teams across all business functions, no matter the complexity. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing and Graduate Certificate in Strategic Business, and is an experienced Advisor for Compliance Transformation.

Erik is responsible for all activities within Goodwin’s Retirement Living division. Erik has more than 25 years’ experience in aged care and seniors’ living. After 13 years in the industry in The Netherlands, Erik moved to Australia in 2003, joining Hindmarsh in Canberra 2007 where he was National Retirement Manager from 2013 until joining Goodwin in 2017. Erik is Chair of the ACT Retirement Living Committee of the Property Council of Australia, and Co-chair of the Joint ACT Retirement Villages Residents Association/Aged and Community Services NSW/ACT Committee.

With over 20 years’ nursing experience, Mathew Brincat is an expert clinician who has spent the last 14 years in the Aged Care Industry. Mathew is the General Manager of Clinical & Quality at Provider Assist where he advises on critical issues of Aged Care management including AN-ACC, clinical assessment & documentation and accreditation needs. Mathew is passionate that quality care and entitled funding all begin with proactive & holistic comprehensive assessment and believes that AN-ACC provides a unique opportunity to take advantage of synergistic opportunities in the way Facilities manage both funding and quality Mathew has a passion for Aged Care education and regularly delivers training to the Aged Care Industry. He thoroughly enjoys empowering others to affect the changes through the impossible to the rewarding and enriching environment that is Aged Care.

Lee directs all aspects of the business at the corporate level and at the residences. This includes strategic planning, financial management, property development, executive and residence management. Lee is a Registered Nurse and has worked in the aged care industry for over 30 years. Lee is passionate in ensuring Cranbrook Care is recognised and respected as a premier provider of quality residences in both care and lifestyle services.

Experienced Relationship Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the superannuation & financial services industry. Skilled in technical aspects of superannuation, employer and client servicing, life insurance, and employee training and coaching. Strong sales professional graduated from Kaplan Business School Pty Limited.

With a focus on aged care and over 15 years expertise in the insurance industry, Alfie has successfully worked with various companies across different sectors, including health and aged care, disability and community services. Alfie’s technical background and specialisation in large and complex insurance programs make him a valuable asset in the placement and management of insurance policies specific to the aged care sector. His extensive knowledge in navigating multinational insurance programs and ensuring compliance with global governance and compliance requirements, contribute to the development of effective and compliant global insurance programs. Additionally, Alfie’s strong relationships with key decision makers in the insurance market enable him to excel in strategic program management and market management.

In his role at Gow Gates, Alfie is committed to supporting aged care facilities and organisations by providing comprehensive insurance solutions and leveraging his expertise to address their unique needs and challenges.

With over 25 years of corporate, commercial and regulatory experience, Alison has specialised in advising clients in the health, aged care, disability, life sciences and community sectors. Alison leads the firm’s Health & Community industry group.

Her clients include public and private hospital operators and health care providers, private health insurers, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and aged care/retirement living, NDIS and not-for-profit and government clients.

Alison appreciates that issues for health care providers often require urgent attention and she makes herself available to her clients whenever needed. Alison has a passion and dedication to the sector which goes way beyond just being a lawyer in private practice – she strives to become the trusted advisor of her clients. As a result, Alison has nurtured long-term client relationships, some over 17 years. She also provides ongoing support for various industry associations and has enthusiastically taken positions within the Industry.

She is the Company Secretary for the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation. Alison is Publication and Newsletter Officer, Healthcare and Life Sciences Committee, International Bar Association. She is also on the Australia Chinese Business Council (NSW) Health & Ageing Subcommittee.

Alison was previously General Counsel for Ramsay Health Care Limited and was awarded the ACHSM President’s Award for her contribution to and support of the Australian College of Health Service Management.  She was formerly Company Secretary of Research Australia and on the risk committee of St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, as well as on the Institutional Ethics Committees of Northern Sydney Local Health District and South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.

Alison is a market leader, having been listed in The Best Lawyers in Australia (and the Australian Financial Review) for Health & Aged Care and Biotechnology every year since 2008. She has been recognised in the Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession as a Leading Health and Aged Care Lawyer every year since 2017. Alison has been a finalist for the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year in Health every year since 2016 and won this prestigious award in 2019, 2020 and 2021. In 2022, Alison was bestowed an honorary fellowship with the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM), which is the peak professional body for health managers in Australasia.

Margaret is the Manager of Advocacy and Regional Services at Seniors Rights Service. Margaret started working life as a high school teacher, teaching mainly modern and ancient history. She loved teaching and still has a love for history. Margaret ran her own small business for a number of years, before taking up a position as an advocate in 2006, with what was then The Aged Care Rights Service, which later rebranded as Seniors Rights Service. Margaret now has the privilege of leading the fast-growing team of advocates who play a very important role in supporting and defending the rights of people accessing aged care.

Geraldine Ellis-Maguire has gained extensive executive leadership experience within the professional services, recruitment, and peak body sectors. Prior to joining ACCPA, she led a Tasmanian Peak Body which successfully advocated for Tasmania to be the first state to raise the age of out-of-home care from 18-21 years old. Geraldine was previously a State Manager with the peak body for aged care, and through this role she gained a true insight into the impacts that members are facing and the critical role that ACCPA plays. It is for this reason that Geraldine focuses on ensuring that ACCPA delivers an exceptional member experience which can be adapted to meet the needs and feedback from members. At ACCPA, Geraldine is responsible for the Member Relations portfolio including State
Managers, Member Administration, Member Advisory and Support and Communications, as well as overseeing the National and State Forums and the National Member Council. Geraldine possesses global expertise in addressing workforce shortages, workforce planning and building talented teams, which is knowledge that she looks forward to sharing with ACCPA members.

The current Commissioner of the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission is Robert Fitzgerald, AM.

Mr Fitzgerald, a lawyer by profession, brings a significant amount of experience to this role, having been previously appointed as a Productivity Commissioner, Community and Disability Services Commissioner and Deputy Ombudsman in NSW.

The Australian Government appointed Mr Fitzgerald as a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, from 2013 to 2017. Mr Fitzgerald was also appointed to Chair the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Advisory Board for three years from 2012.

Importantly, Mr Fitzgerald was the convenor of the Indigenous Disadvantage Working Group of the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision for over 9 years.

Jane Floyd is community relations professional based in Sydney and holds post graduate qualifications in Commerce, Marketing, Management, Public Relations, Communication

Management and Government Administration. Jane is a certified Internal Auditor with more than 20 years’ experience in government, health, home and community care arenas. Jane has held senior management roles in government, non-government, private and not for profit sectors, and is also an experienced non-executive director on health and aged care boards.

Jane has been employed by ACCPA for almost five years, providing specialist advice and consultation services to home and community care providers. Jane has expertise in organisational and clinical governance, customer experience reviews, marketing and communication strategy, change management, quality performance reviews, training and development, risk and compliance, strategic planning, business performance, and assisting providers to respond to non-compliance audits and sanctions. Jane conducts workshops on care management for non-clinicians, preparing for your quality audit, understanding home care package expenditure rules, along with other topics.

The aged care sector is committing to person-centred, values-based care. Australia can lead the world in providing individualised, cost effective care based on the core values of each and every person in the later stages of life.

This is an amazing opportunity we have in front of us- one where we can take the stigma away from aged care and show it for the nimble, compassionate and innovative we can be.

That’s why I co-foundered Exsitu.

Designed to provide a much-needed roadmap of a person’s values, wishes and core beliefs, Exsitu makes decision-making easier. Exsitu is built with both the individual and the organisations that support people during ageing and end-of-life easier in mind. By exploring the core values a person’s holds, you can understand what quality of life and acceptable risk means to the individual. It’s about creating care plans that reflect a person’s personality and their goals.

It’s about taking the guess work out of the relationship between care provider and person in care so that you can work together to make every ageing Australian feel valued and respected.

Exsitu is currently helping aged care facilities meet and exceed the requirements of the Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations. We can help you co-design care like never before. We understand all facets of care provision including palliative care and end-of-life and the sensitivities within. And our documents are compliance ready.

Graham Hooper was recruited to the role of Vasey CEO in December 2017. He brings significant experience in leading aged care organisations as well as expertise in development and construction.

After many years in local government he joined the retirement village sector as Development Manager for Anglican Retirement Villages in 2005. Prior to joining Vasey, he was COO of the Arts Health Institute, a lead not-for-profit aged care organisation, General Managers at Leigh Place Aged Care, and General Manager at Arton Group Aged Care and Retirement.

Tané is a cancer researcher, bio-informatician, and science communicator. He is a co-founder at Future Crunch. He has a Masters in Bioinformatics from the University of Melbourne, and has worked for the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital diagnosing rare genetic diseases. He is currently completing his PhD at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, using molecular biomarkers in DNA and analysing them with artificial intelligence to improve treatments for people suffering from cancer. He’s also a former United States mountain biking champion and an avid sailor.

Managing Director – Advantaged Care

Director – The Kresner Group

Michael has been involved in both Property Development and Aged Care since 2001.

He has formal qualifications in Finance, Information Systems, Construction and Property Development, and was responsible for the formation of Advantaged Care in 2001 and management of their 5 residential aged care facilities ever since.

Heather has over 15 years of experience in the not for profit sector including key strategic leadership, innovation and business transformation roles within the Aged Care and Disability sectors. Heather co-authored a research paper on ageing people with disability and presented this research internationally resulting in the development of Kemira, a purpose built community which has received local, national and international awards as the first model of its kind in Australia. Heather’s experience includes executive roles in Human Resources, Strategic Planning, Operations Management, Media, Marketing and Communications, and Stakeholder Engagement.

Helen has over 25 years experience in senior leadership roles within the health and aged care sectors. She holds a Juris Doctor (UTS), Bachelor of Health Management  (UNE), and Associate Diploma Applied Health Sciences (Gerontology). With highly developed strategic and operational management skills, Helen is passionate about  delivering positive outcomes for people who recieve aged and disability services in regional Australia

An experienced leader and clinical advisor to the Aged and Community sectors. My experience across this sector is in Governance (Operational and Clinical), Recommissioning services in distress and advisory assistance in remediating regulatory breaches.

Cynthia Payne has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience and over 20 years as a Director in both NFP and FP boards. Cynthia founded Anchor Excellence in 2018 and in 5 short years has impacted over 40% of the Australian aged care market via its programs, solutions and education.

Passionate about leaders, supporting and enabling them, defined by consumers’ lived experience, Cynthia and the twenty strong AE team together have a formidable level of expertise and commitment to the entire aged care ecosystem.

Cynthia holds an MBA, Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing, Cert IV qualified Yoga teacher (800HrRYT), Certified Practitioner of Balanced Scorecard, Certified Aged Care Board Advisory Chair and Certified Practitioner with Team Management Systems. She is a seasoned public speaker and MC.

She is Member of AICD, Fellow of the Governance Institute Australia and long term member of the Australian College of Nursing and Fellow of the Manager and Leaders Institute. She is current NED for listed entity Painchek (2022-Current), Board Adviser to Total Construction (2019- current) and past NED for the National Heart Foundation (2017-2021) and Current Independent Review Panel member for Business Excellence Australia.

* An experienced Home Care leader with a track record of building operations that deliver strategic plans, leading change using entrepreneurial and industry techniques to deliver growth and provide outstanding customer experiences that make a lasting impression.

* Highly developed communication and presentation skills with a flair for building rapport and trust with colleagues / executives / business partners.

* A strategic and lateral thinker with experience developing services that meet the needs to local communities in a dynamic highly regulated environment

* A respected leader (style is inclusive and empowering) of successful teams who takes a keen interest in people and career development. This includes promoting a culture that embraces new ideas, challenges the status quo and promotes innovation (including a ‘test and learn’ mindset).

* 13+ years of health and aged care management experience with a track record of delivering high profile and often complex projects.

Troy is a clinical psychologist, having worked across private and public mental health and aged care during the last 20 years as manager, clinician, and educator. He has been actively involved in home care operations and dementia care with experience in service planning, program development and implementation, policy, quality review, education and training and service evaluation.

Gordana Spirovska, Consumer Engagement Officer has been working with MCCI since 2006. Gordana came to Australia in 1997 from Former Yugoslavia and decided to gain carer in aged care sector where she has been working more than 20 years. Gordana has been very dedicated in supporting older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. She holds qualifications in Community Management and Development and extensive knowledge of the Home Care Aged care sector. Apart from roles at MCCI, Gordana works as a qualified Trainer/Assessor at RTO, Aging, Home and Community Care.

Eliza Strapp is the First Assistant Secretary for the Market and Workforce Division within the Ageing and Aged Care Group at the Department of Health and Aged Care. The Division covers aged care workforce, dementia policies and programs, aged care programs targeted at thin markets, including services for First Nations elders. The Division is also developing the market stewardship function of the department, and implements policies and programs aimed at building the long-term financial sustainability of the aged care sector.

Eliza joined the Department of Health and Aged Care in July 2020 to lead the Aged Care COVID-19 Taskforce. Eliza has held senior roles at the Department of Social Services, working on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and policies and programs focused on families and children, including the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children, the National Plan to Protect Women and their Children, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, working on the National Redress Scheme.

Eliza has a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts from Monash University. Prior to joining the public service she worked as a Social Worker and Disability Support Worker.

Before joining ACCPA on 26 September, Tom was the CEO of the Victorian Healthcare
Association, the peak body for the public health, aged care and community health sector in
Victoria, since 2015 after serving for two years as Director of Policy and Strategy. Before
moving to Australia in 2011, he had a career in local government most recently serving as a
political advisor in Southwark Council in London, one of the UK’s largest local authorities.
Tom sits on the board of Aware Super, one of the largest superannuation funds in the
country, with members across the health, aged care, education and public service sectors.
He has served on a range of government boards and taskforces including the Victorian
Ministerial Advisory Committee for Mental Health, The Victorian Quality and Safety Council
and the Public Sector Residential Aged Care Expert Advisory Group. He was also chair of
the International Federation of Community Health Centres.

Annastacia Wainaina is an experienced clinical consultant and coach focusing on optimising leadership capability to achieve great outcomes. She is also a professional speaker, leadership strategist, podcast host of Freedom Fire, and the author of Ignite – Blazing The Fires Inside of You.

Having worked across different senior roles in residential aged care, JC has first-hand experience in the complexities and challenges operators face.

JC has substantial experience in clinical practice and in optimising care revenue funding to reshape the way in which care and services are delivered. As a Registered Nurse with postgraduate qualifications in clinical care, JC is well versed with contemporary evidence based models in delivering safe and quality care outcomes to residents.

JC holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, a Diploma in Dementia Care, a Masters in Medical Surgical Nursing, a Masters in Clinical Nursing Gerontology and a Certificate in Governance and Risk Management.