For 30 years, ConnectAbility Australia has been supporting people throughout the Hunter and Central Coast, focusing on the strengths and abilities of individuals and connecting people with their communities.
We recognise the importance of choice and control over decision making in ensuring your life is your own, and promote and respect your wishes, aspirations and goals.
ConnectAbility Australia has a strong focus on governance. We are led by a Board made up of volunteer members from the community who each bring a particular skill set and breadth of experience to the Board. Meeting bi-monthly, the Board work to ensure that not only does ConnectAbility Australia remain a vibrant, viable organisation delivering quality disability services, but that the organisation looks at continuously improving all aspects of the service so that we stay abreast of current trends and community expectations.
The board is further supported by a series of sub committees where subcommittee members provide specialist advice in the areas of Finance and Risk, People and Culture, Fundraising and Marketing.
Nathan joined the CoM in 2015 to support ConnectAbility through sharing his ICT skills. He has expertise in cloud computing, information technology and managed disability services, aged care support, family counselling. Nathan is constantly seeking new ways to bring the future of ICT to ConnectAbility. Nathan has a strong commitment to the community and has been integral in developing strategic measures to allow advances in the way that ConnectAbility works as an organisation.
Bernie has a love for family, a zest for life and a passion for leadership with his goal to have a positive influence in people’s lives by adding value to leaders who can add value to many. He has over 36 years of corporate leadership and sales management roles in Australia and in China.
Bernie grew up in Newcastle where he worked at BHP. He continued in his trade as a Fitter/Machinist till he joined Sandvik, a Swedish International Tooling Company as a sales rep. Within 6-years he was awarded the International Sales Achiever and moved his wife and children to head up the sales organisation in Shanghai China.
Over the next 10-years whilst living in China, he became the Asian Pacific Business Development Manager and travelled and worked in 25 countries around the world developing sales and leadership teams before returning home to Newcastle Australia in 2006.
Upon his return, he was given the role as national Business Manager for underground mining Australia with Sandvik, focusing on sales, business development and leadership. Within 16-months of returning home, he was head-hunted to join a Mining sub-contractor as the general manager where he stayed 5 years until being retrenched in the mining crash in 2013.
He started his own company that same year as “Foundation Leadership” focusing on Leadership, Business Sales and Personal Growth.
He currently works within the mining sector and understands the pressures of change and scale to ensure viability. He also advocates for the “right person in the right job” to achieve strategic goals.
Sue has a clinical background, having worked in the Public Health space over many years. Sue has also specialised in strategy and planning. She joined the ConnectAbility Board in 2022 with an aim to improve outcomes for customers.
Sue said that working in the field of disability is relatively new for her, and as the most recent appointment to the Board of Connectability, she has found herself on a steep learning curve which thus far, has found it to be both challenging and highly satisfying.
Sue is now retired, having worked for almost 40 years in the public health system. Sue started as a trainee nurse at Royal Newcastle Hospital in 1979 and ended her career working for NSW Health Pathology leading their statewide planning and performance services.
Sue said of her reason for applying to be a Board member;
“I applied to be on the Board of Connectability as I felt it was time for me to give something back to the community. I was interested in working for an organisation that is making a real difference in people’s lives. Connectability supports people with a disability to live as independently as possible – positively impacting the lives of our clients and their families.
I hope to continue to serve on the Board and be a strong advocate for people living with a disability.”
Elechia Jones is a seasoned executive leader with over 15 years of experience in managing business finances and operations. She currently serves as Regional Director for CFO Centre Australia, where she has successfully expanded the regional team and driven significant revenue growth. Elechia is also pursuing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Newcastle and is currently a CPA member. With a strong background in financial consulting, strategic planning, and process improvement, Elechia brings a wealth of expertise to her role on the ConnectAbility board.
Driven by a passion for inclusivity and community support, Elechia is committed to making a meaningful impact on ConnectAbility. Her motivation to join the board stems from a desire to contribute to an organisation that champions the rights and opportunities of individuals with disabilities. By using her extensive experience and skills, Elechia aims to help ConnectAbility achieve its mission of creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
David brings over 30 years of experience in disability services, aged care, family counselling, and children’s services. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Management, is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is an enrolled nurse.
David successfully led a consortium bid for the Hunter Ageing, Disability and Home Care group homes, managing 400 staff and 200 participants. Reflecting on his 9 years leading ConnectAbility as CEO, David believes: “The most valuable resource of any organisation is its people—whether customers, families, or staff—each individual presents a unique opportunity to achieve a goal either personally or professionally that together support ConnectAbility to remain a leader within the sector.”
With over 20 years of experience in the disability sector, Margaret has worked across a range of prominent organisations, including the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Catholic Care, and Uniting Care. For more than a decade, Margaret has been an integral part of ConnectAbility, contributing to its growth and development across NSW.
Margaret says of her role, “Everyone deserves to lead their best lives and feel valued and included in their communities. What I love about my role is being able to support and educate the community and our supporters about the abilities and achievements of people with disabilities leading to improved opportunities and positive impacts in the region.”
Margaret played a pivotal role in facilitating the successful transition of new services to ConnectAbility, including Hunter Valley Disability Services, Catholic Care, and the Central Coast Disability Network. Her commitment to improving outcomes for individuals with disabilities has been central to the organisation’s impact in the region.
Leigh is a strategic CFO, who navigates changes to government funding and policy by implementing effective operational strategies to achieve cost savings and identify growth opportunities. Holding a Bachelor of Commerce and a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in management accounting, she has worked with prominent companies such as Coca-Cola Amatil and Bureau Veritas, where she gained extensive expertise in financial strategy and operations.
Leigh has over 15 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector and was the Financial Lead for the Merger of a non-governmental organisation in administration into ConnectAbility. “Working in the disability sector is extremely rewarding, as it allows me to see the direct impact of my work on the people in our community. Regular interactions with customs remind me of the deeper purpose behind what I do.” Leigh’s proactive approach ensures sustainable success for ConnectAbility.
With over a decade of experience in the disability sector, Samantha specialises in developing and implementing human resource strategies while providing expert advice to executive management. Samantha leads the creation of corporate plans focused on compensation, benefits, health, and safety, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
Samantha plays a key role in enhancing the company’s workforce by designing strategies for performance evaluation, staffing, training, and development. Samantha oversees all human resource initiatives, systems, and tactics, driving efficiency and fostering a supportive work environment for both leadership and staff.
Donna is a skilled professional with over 20 years of experience in Quality, Risk, and Compliance within the Aged Care and Disability sectors. She holds a Diploma in Quality Management Systems (Lead Auditor), Lean Process Improvement Training, and an advanced qualification in Conducting Workplace Investigations.
Throughout her career, Donna has driven improvements across various programs, including her role as the National Quality Manager for a prominent Disability and Child Services Provider. As an experienced quality improvement practitioner, she understands the importance of governance, quality, business improvement, and risk management to ensure organisational agility and responsiveness to changing environments while meeting business objectives.
Donna has implemented change management across multiple organisations, ensuring operations meet stakeholder needs and statutory requirements. Recently, she has focused on transitioning Specialist Disability Accommodation houses in the Ageing, Disability, and Home Care sectors to non-governmental providers throughout the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions of NSW.
Passionate about safeguarding customers and aligning organisational objectives with this commitment, Donna lives by the principle: “Do the right thing while no one is watching.”
Scott has been instrumental in the successful transition of ConnectAbility to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, while driving the growth and diversification of services. With nearly 30 years of experience in the Disability Sector, Scott began as a volunteer and has since held various roles, currently Executive Leader. Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and certifications in Workplace Training & Assessment and Frontline Management.
Scott continually asks himself, “what have I done to improve the quality of someone’s life today?”
Passionate about focusing on individuals’ abilities rather than limitations, Scott ensures that ConnectAbility’s skilled workforce provides the best possible outcomes in disability services, aged care, and family counselling. A strong advocate for human rights and equity, Scott strives to maximise independence and social participation for those served by ConnectAbility.
Karla is a passionate advocate for supporting people with disabilities and the ageing population, ensuring they thrive in the community. With a Bachelor of Pharmacy, a Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology, and a PhD in Pharmacoepidemiology, Karla is a distinguished researcher who has extensively explored the implications of policy reforms on health service delivery and health outcomes, which is pivotal in the evolving NDIS sphere.
With over 20 years of experience across the health sector, Karla focuses on improving care in the disability and aged care sectors through evidence-based practices. Currently leading the Supported Independent Living division at ConnectAbility, Karla is dedicated to meeting the needs of customers by delivering high-quality support services, creating environments for customers to thrive and staff to flourish. She achieves this through inclusive decision-making, continually asking staff and customers for their perspectives: “What is important to you and what does quality support look like to you?” Karla then uses these insights to shape the services provided.
Gen holds a Bachelor of Accounting, is a Certified Public Accountant, and brings over 20 years of experience in the public sector, primarily with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. In 2018, Gen was appointed Executive Director, overseeing both the operational and financial management of the Strategic Services Directorate. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In 2021, Gen was appointed General Manager of a National Disability Insurance Scheme provider in Newcastle. Most recently, in November 2023, she joined ConnectAbility to lead the operational priorities for Early Links, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong track record in both public and private sector leadership. Gen is reminded, “The altruistic domain of disability with the formidable skills of the Allied Health workforce, incremental daily progress for the clients we are privileged to care for can lead to positive, life-changing benefits.”
Natalie is a dedicated and experienced strategic manager, specialising in cultivating stakeholder partnerships to drive business growth and excellence. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing which fuels her passion for health and wellbeing outcomes. With 16 years of experience in stakeholder management across the government, not-for-profit, and private sectors, she has collaborated with some of the largest businesses and corporations across Australia and New Zealand. Her expertise spans various industries, including health, state government, compensation, and wellbeing/fitness.
In mid-2024, Natalie joined ConnectAbility to lead its business growth and marketing. Making a return to the for-purpose sector was intentional for Natalie. “Authenticity and connection motivate me every day. I feel genuinely privileged to engage with stakeholders at all levels to make a positive impact. From the patient bedside to influencing executives, it brings me great joy to make meaningful connections and drive change!”
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