Senior Management
Ms Helen Craig
Chief Executive Officer
email
Helen was previously Senior Policy Manager with MSD Australia where she was responsible for the development of public policy for MSD and the company’s interaction with a broad range of government and healthcare stakeholders. She also has a special focus on the quality use of medicines (QUM) and previously managed a joint venture of three pharmaceutical companies working in this area.
Ms Craig’s background includes experience in external affairs, strategic planning eHealth and business development. Prior to moving to Australia, Ms Craig worked for Reuters Health Information Systems in the UK and led the development and marketing of the UK’s #1 clinical management system for primary care and worked on a number of eHealth initiatives involving clinician educational tools and chronic disease management.
Lesley Peters
Finance and Administration Manager
email
BA (Auckland), Bachelor of Law (Uni QLD), Dip. Case Management, Dip. in Aged Care, Certificate IV Workplace Training & Assessment, Rehabilitation Coordinator.
Lesley has a background in management with an emphasis on Financial Management, including ten years experience in community services for the frail aged and disabled. For the four years she developed and managed Indigenous health services in Eurobodalla and Bega NSW.
Lesley manages the Foundation’s finances including supervising the administration, support and operations functions of the organisation.
Clair North
Communications Manager
email
Bachelor Education (Secondary), Sydney University.
Clair initially worked as a senior teacher of marketing, business management and accounting.
She worked for a number of years with a successful Australian software company where she was responsible for product development, re-branding and marketing.
Clair is responsible for communications about the Foundation, its programs and initiatives to health and medical professionals and organisations, as well as maintaining the Foundation’s website.
Education Team
Maurie O’Connor
Education Manager
email
Masters in Education in Adult Education, University of Technology, Sydney; Bachelor of Social Work, Monash University; BA Behavioural Science, Macquarie University; Grad. Dip. Counselling, University of Canberra; Certificate Psychiatric Nursing
Prior to joining the Foundation in 2007, Maurie was employed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in the Mental Health Policy Section and the Alcohol Management Project. He has a substantial background in the alcohol and drug field and in mental health policy and service delivery. He worked in the alcohol and other drug sector for a number of years as a practitioner and educator and has developed a range of programs in sports drug education. He has experience in both health promotion and the development and delivery of education and training for health professionals.
His role is to lead the program development and production activities of the Foundation and to provide leadership to the Education Team in all education projects.
Deborah McIntyre
Education Project Officer
email
Deborah McIntyre has worked as a social worker for over 30 years since she graduated from the University of Sydney.
Deborah previously worked with the Australian Association of Social Workers, and was responsible for the accreditation of “mental health social workers” – who are then eligible to participate in the Enhanced Primary Care and Better Access to Mental Health programs.
She has worked as a social worker in paediatric hospitals, in neo-natal care units, and Departments of Child and Family Psychiatry, and subsequently spent many years in private practice. She has also taught in several university Social Work Departments.
Deborah has worked with the Foundation for 3 years and currently works on a part-time basis.
Liana Matthews
Education Project Officer
email
Bachelor Education, ACU Canberra; Dip Teach – Primary, Curtin University Perth; Assoc Dip in Performing Arts Brisbane University of Technology.
Liana has had wide-ranging experiences initially as a performer in a dance theatre company then as a Primary School teacher for over 20 years in Western Australia and the ACT. Later she worked as an educational sales consultant.
Liana has substantial experience in arts and theatre production and script writing, working with children, adolescents and adults. She also worked as a Learning and Developmental difficulties practitioner with children and adolescents.
Liana joined the Foundation’s Education Team in November 2010.
Jill Pierce
Education Project Officer
email
BA, Warwick University, UK; Bachelor of Social Work, La Trobe University; Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Jill is a social worker who has worked in both rural and metropolitan community health settings. She has also taught in an Aboriginal Welfare Studies course at the former Preston (VIC) TAFE and at Skillshare.
In recent years Jill has worked with family carers. She has experience in counselling, group work and in delivering training to both health practitioners and the community
Jill joined the Foundation’s Education team in October 2009.
Marketing and Fundraising
Jennifer Hamman
Senior Project Officer
email
BA Psychology & English Literature, University of Michigan, MA Psychology, New York University, Certificate IV Workplace Training and Assessment.
Jennifer has worked in the community and government sectors for the last 15 years in both the US and Australia. With a background in research, assessment, technical writing, and fundraising, Jennifer has worked with a wide variety of not for profit organisations assisting them in grant writing, tender writing, finding their core message, and navigating the philanthropic sector.
Administration and Operations Team
Michelle Lindsay
Operations Coordinator
email
Certificate IV in Business Management.
Michelle started with the Foundation in 1999 and has worked in various roles including office administration, reception and accounts.
In March 2007 she was promoted to Operations Coordinator, a key position within the Foundation, with responsibility for organising the installation of new satellite sites and providing technical assistance and support to satellite viewing site coordinators in rural and remote communities around Australia.
Anito Gayoso
Database Administrator
BS Com Eng, Diploma on Visual C++ Programming, MCSE, Grad Certificate (ITSM) and (ITPM) Australian Computer Society and Certified Professional (CP) and Member of Australian Computer Society since 2005.
Anito has extensive knowledge and practical experience on data analysis, organizing and managing data and application software development. Anito is an ITIL-ITSM practitioner focused on the quality of business process, business continuity strategy and ensuring the Information System is aligned to the business requirement and objective of the organization.
In recent years, Anito has completed diverse IT projects, from building of Data Center, (LAN/WAN) Network installation and maintenance up to implementation of Offsite Backup Facilities.
Janelle Kavanagh
Distribution Officer
email
Janelle Kavanagh has more than 20 years of experience in logistics, administration and customer service, gained through work in health, recreation, retail and wholesale goods industries. She is responsible for managing the Foundation’s DVD and other materials distribution.
Ann Stafford
Administration Assistant
email
Ann Stafford is the Foundation’s receptionist and key administrative support officer, who
also looks after the administration of professional development points.
The Foundation is supported by a number of other administrative, clerical and part-time staff based in the head office in Canberra.