Meet Our Board

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Advocare’s Board provides strategic policy direction, overseeing the organisations planning, management and performance.

Our highly skilled Board brings diverse experiences from various industries, as well as expertise in Risk Management, Marketing, Occupational Health and Safety and Community Services.

As well as strategic governance, the Board works closely with the team at Advocare to facilitate special projects and events, and actively engages team members in strategic planning.

Susan Barrera
Board Chair

Susan is a highly experienced senior executive, director, and chair. Susan chairs the South Regional TAFE’s Governing Council, MyLeave (formerly the Construction Industry Portable Long Service Leave Board), and recently completed her term as Deputy Chair of the Mid West Ports Authority. Susan is a former Director General of Communities, Executive Director of Labour Relations, and has lectured on industrial relations at Murdoch University. She understands the challenges in the aged care sector and looks forward to supporting Advocare’s mission.

Lina Barbato
Board Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

With a career spanning over 25 years, Lina brings extensive senior executive, governance, commercial and chief financial officer experience across key public sector agencies including the Department of Treasury and the former Anti-Corruption Commission.

Lina has a Bachelor of Business Degree (Accounting) from Curtin University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), diplomas in project management and human resources and has been a Director with Bentley & Districts Community Bendigo Bank from 2017 for three years.

Lina currently holds the position of Director of Business and Corporate Services at the Chemistry Centre of Western Australia.  Across these roles Lina provides strategic corporate advice, is leading  innovation and digital transformation, has a key role in advising on governance and risk matters and oversees financial, procurement, information services and human resources functions.

Brian O’Keefe
Director

Brian is an experienced senior executive who has worked in different business environments across a number of financial services organisations, building and managing successful teams to achieve desired outcomes.

He has experience in business development (sales), client relationship and change management, strategy development and implementation, and risk management. Brian has qualifications in commerce, finance, investment and mortgage broking management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Brian is currently working as a finance broker with a large diversified broking firm, with a team of specialized brokers in Western Australia.

Christine Moro
Director

Christine is a respected communication consultant, who has worked in Western Australia for over 40 years.  Her experience encompasses the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and a wide range of industries, services, organisations and institutions.

Until her retirement at the end of 2018 she ran a successful consultancy for 15 years in which she provided high-level strategic communications and project management advice to private and public sector clients concentrating on the planning and construction of large infrastructure projects.  These included the Mandurah Rail, Optus Stadium and Station, Matagarup Bridge and the Forrestfield Airport Rail Link.

Her expertise encompasses the development of complex, strategic community and stakeholder engagement plans, project management, facilitation and training.  She holds certification with IAP2 (International Association for Public Participation), RABQSA Lead Auditor Safety Management Systems, and internal auditor and project manager accreditation with SAI Global.

She holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing & Industrial Relations) and a Graduate Diploma (Human Services) both from Curtin University of Technology.

Christine has shared her knowledge and skills by serving on academic and not-for-profit boards and advisory committees, and by providing pro bono services, public lectures and mentoring. She has served on the boards of Curtin University, Palmerston, Perth City Mission, Women’s Health Care House, Sonshine FM radio and World Vision (Perth).  She spent five years as a councillor for the Public Relations Industry of Australia and served on the state committee for IAP2. 

Karen Whittle-Herbert
Director

Karen Whittle-Herbert is a non-executive director, human resources practitioner, and author based in Perth, Western Australia. She has executive and non-executive director experience in the disability services, aged care, higher education, indigenous land management, social housing and general government sectors.

Karen’s achievements encompass governance reform, organisational change, procurement and capital works reform, and operational and financial restructuring.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource Management) with First Class Honours and a Master of Science (Applied Psychology) and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Society of Authors. Karen is published through Fremantle Press.

Arnold Wong
Director

 

Arnold has enjoyed a long and successful professional career in the ever-evolving ICT services industry for over 30 years. He has developed extensive strategic leadership, governance, general management, customer service and business development skills in diverse industries, including technology, education, healthcare, and resources in public and private sectors across Australia, Asia, Europe and Americas. A Fellow of ACS, he currently serves as National Treasurer on the ACS Management Committee and is a member of the Branch Executive Committee in Western Australia.

As a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Arnold continues to actively lead and serve in a number of not-for-profit organisations and boards.  Arnold is honoured to join the Board of Advocare and is looking forward to contributing to achieving its vision of ensuring “Power, respect and informed choice for older people.

 

Dr Garrick Stanley
Director

Garrick brings to his role more than 40 years’ experience in the Western Australian public sector. Initially a teacher for two decades, he went on to work later in a diverse range of agencies leading strategic planning and change management functions.

Garrick attained a PhD in 2001 with his research focusing on CEO’s leadership of organisational culture in public sector organisations. He has held the position of adjunct associate professor at Curtin University and served as an elected Council Member at the Institute of Public Administration Australia for seven years.

Prior to retirement in 2016, Garrick was Principal Consultant Organisational Change with the Corruption and Crime Commission. His last responsibilities were to review the Commission’s business model and work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to facilitate reform.

Over the past 15 years he and his wife were intimately involved in supporting their four parents in the ‘sunset years’ of their lives. This encompassed residential and home-based palliative care. Garrick has first-hand knowledge and experience of aged care modus operandi, structures and processes.

 

Moira Aynsley

Moira brings to us experience working across brand, communications, stakeholder engagement and philanthropy areas in the ASX and not-for-profit sectors. She’s already accrued five years’ experience as a non-executive director and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Advocare will benefit from her enthusiasm to further develop stronger, strategic and governance outcomes backed by her qualifications of an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, and other qualifications in project management and digital marketing.

Moira was attracted to Advocare through her work in the aged care sector, impressed by our advocacy role in ensuring older persons have the right to age with dignity and in raising awareness of elder abuse and offering support to those experiencing it. Her goal is to support us to make a continuing positive difference in the lives of older people in WA.

 

Chris Burton
Director

Chris is a chartered accountant with more than 26 years of finance and commercial experience with roles in both public practice and private consulting. Chris brings valuable experience in governance through previous roles as a non-executive director of an ASX-listed company, an assurance partner at a mid-tier accounting firm and in his current consulting roles in risk and compliance for a diverse range of clients. He provides knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector through his time auditing organisations as an external audit partner.

Chris was drawn to Advocare’s Board as he not only appreciates the work not-for-profit organisations contribute to the community but also through a personal family connection. Observing the daily challenges faced by older Australians in accessing appropriate services and navigating our complex society, while staying connected to the community means Advocare’s services are more crucial than ever.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a registered company auditor.