Find our more about The Shepherd Centre’s Board of Directors.
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.
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.
Miles is an experienced company chairman, former CEO and entrepreneur with more than 38 years of leadership experience across listed companies, technology businesses and the not-for-profit sector. He has held board positions for more than 26 years and currently chairs archTIS Limited, Dentroid Pty Ltd and The Wildlife Bank Trust.
Miles brings extensive expertise in corporate strategy, governance, organisational transformation, risk management and financial sustainability. His career spans healthcare, technology, national security and environmental conservation, with a particular focus on helping organisations navigate growth, manage complexity and deliver sustainable long-term outcomes. In 2020, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, national security and the community.
Miles previously served on The Shepherd Centre Board from 2018 to 2022 and has a deeply personal connection to its mission. His youngest daughter participated in The Shepherd Centre’s early intervention programs from the age of four, following medically acquired hearing loss that resulted in her using bilateral hearing aids. Combining extensive governance and commercial experience with a personal understanding of the transformative impact of early intervention, Miles is committed to helping The Shepherd Centre extend its reach, strengthen its sustainability and improve outcomes for children and their families dealing with hearing loss.
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.
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 Shepherd Centre’s Marketing Advisory Committee since 2000 and became Committee Chair in 2021. Adrian and his wife are the proud parents of two children including Eden, who has been a Shepherd Centre participant.
Chris is a corporate development and investment professional based in Sydney. He has spent more than 15 years in banking and funds management, working with ANZ, Macquarie, and 360 Capital Group. Before joining the Board, Chris contributed his expertise as a member of The Shepherd Centre’s Finance Advisory Committee.
Chris and his wife are the proud parents of Milla, Zoe and Flynn. Their daughter Milla has bilateral cochlear implants, giving Chris a deeply personal connection to The Shepherd Centre’s mission and a strong appreciation of the life-changing impact of early intervention and world-class hearing services for children and their families.
Recipient of multiple national and international awards recognising contributions to audiology, hearing sciences, and clinical innovation
Professor Robert (Bob) Cowan is an internationally recognised leader in audiology and hearing sciences, with more than four decades of innovation, research and clinical leadership. He is Director of HEARnet Clinical Studies, Principal Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne and holds honorary appointments at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. He has also held senior roles with Audiology Australia and the International Society of Audiology, shaping hearing healthcare in Australia and worldwide.
Professor Cowan has advanced hearing technology, clinical practice, and patient outcomes. He has been honoured with numerous awards and fellowships, including being elected a Fellow of the International Society of Audiology, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the field. His expertise spans audiology, clinical research, governance, industry collaboration and education.
With his lifelong commitment to improving the lives of people with hearing loss, Professor Cowan brings outstanding knowledge and vision to The Shepherd Centre Board as we expand our impact for children and families across Australia.
Cosmas Kapsanis brings more than 35 years of international experience across banking, finance, advisory and higher education, with deep expertise in financial risk, capital strategy and governance. His career has included senior roles with Standard Chartered Bank and Boston Consulting Group, as well as teaching corporate finance at Macquarie University.
Cosmas has served on The Shepherd Centre’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee since 2021, contributing his expertise to financial stewardship, risk oversight and the organisation’s long-term sustainability. His connection to The Shepherd Centre is also deeply personal, with one of his sons being born deaf and having experienced The Shepherd Centre’s early intervention services firsthand.
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