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The Board

Find our more about The Shepherd Centre’s Board of Directors.

Mrs Susan Turner-Kapsanis

Chair

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (University of NSW)
  • Bachelor of Laws (University of NSW)
  • Masters of Environmental Law (Sydney University)
  • Admitted to the legal profession in the Supreme Court of NSW (1998)

Experience

Susan began her legal career with leading Wall Street law firm, Milbank. The unexpected arrival of triplets and subsequent diagnosis of her son Alex with a significant hearing loss – the first baby detected under the SWISH program in NSW – led to an association with The Shepherd Centre that continues to this day. Given the comprehensive support her family received and the lifelong friendships forged in those early years, Susan was thrilled to join the Board in 2015, enabling her to make a meaningful contribution to an organisation that gave her and her family so much.

Mrs Colleen L Chapman

Director (Non-executive)

Qualifications

  • Member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
  • Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Experience

Colleen Chapman first became involved with The Shepherd Centre when her son Regan was born with a severe hearing loss in 2004 and has worked closely with the team over the years during his journey. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business and Technology and brings extensive finance experience.

Dan Jarvis

Director (Non-executive)

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Business Studies (Human Resource Management) (Monash University)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) (University of Queensland)

Experience

With over 15 years of experience in public sector organisations and Australian employment law, Dan is an innovative HR Business Partner who adeptly guides clients through complex situations. Despite losing his hearing at 18 months old, his life transformed in 2018 with a Cochlear Implant. He is also bilingual in English and Auslan.

Dr Tony Coles

Director (Non-executive)

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
  • PhD in Sociology
  • Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Graduate Australian Public Service

Experience

Dr Tony Coles is currently Chief Executive Officer of Australasian Sonographers Association, a position he started on the 25th of September 2023. Prior to taking on the role at Australasian Sonographers Association, Tony was the CEO of Audiology Australia and CEO of the Australian Association of Gerontology. In addition to being a Director on the Board of The Shepherd Centre, Tony has also previously held the positions of the Chair of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance, and Vice President of the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions.

Adrian Falk

Director (Non-executive)

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Economics Degree (majoring in Economics and Marketing) at Sydney University

Experience

Adrian is an internationally experienced professional in PR, marketing and advertising, Adrian has extensive expertise in new business development and fostering excellent relationships with Australian and international media. He is the founder and principal of Believe Advertising & PR (www.believeadvertising.com) which was established in 2002. His professional experience includes journalism and advertising agencies. Adrian has served on the Marketing Advisory Committee for the last six years and became Committee Chair in 2021. Adrian and his wife are the proud parents of Eden, who has been a Shepherd Centre participant.

Elise Taylor

Director (Non-executive)

Qualifications

  • 1990 Bachelor of Science (University of Queensland)
  • 1992 Master of Educational Psychology (University of Queensland)
  • 2011 Executive Master of Business Administration (University of Technology Sydney)
  • 2016 ProSci Change Management Certification
  • 2018 AICD Company Directors Course
  • 2019 AICD Applied Risk Governance Course

Experience

Elise has over twenty-five years’ experience in the human services sector working in a range of health, disability and parenting services, Elise is currently General Manager for Strategy, Quality & Risk at Cerebral Palsy Alliance. With more than 15 years’ experience as an educational psychologist, she has been with Cerebral Palsy Alliance since 2001. Elise’s role has broad responsibilities including strategic planning; quality, risk and assurance; & training and development. She previously led the organisation’s NDIS readiness strategy across the initial trial sites in Hunter and ACT. Elise’s experience as a psychologist and in disability services provides her with a valuable perspective on the work of The Shepherd Centre.

Dr David Cullen

Director (Non-executive)

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science (Hons) (Australian National University)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Australian National University)
  • PhD in Mathematics (Australian National University)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health
  • Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
  • Member of the Royal Society for Economics

Experience

David is Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University’s Centre for the Health Economy, having recently retired after over 20 years as a senior executive in the Australian Government advising on health, aged care and disability care. He previously served as Chief Economist of the NDIA and as Chief Economist of the Department of Health. 

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