Senior Management
Don Perlgut
Chief Executive Officer
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BA, MCP (City & Regional Planning) University of California, Berkeley.
Originally trained as a town planner, Don has extensive experience in adult education, management, marketing, educational television and new media. His experience includes working for the Australian Institute of Management, ABC Television, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and as a Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of New England, where he also was a Project Manager at the Rural Development Centre.
As the Foundation’s CEO, Don is responsible for all of the Foundation’s strategic development. He has particularly focused on developing the Foundation’s marketing strategy, extending program distribution, enhancing corporate governance and expanding the Foundation’s capabilities to deliver health and medical education services.
Don is currently enrolled in a PhD program in the Department of Media, Macquarie University, with a thesis on film and television distribution, and where he is an Associate Member of the Centre for Media History. He is also a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia and the Film Critics Circle of Australia.
Clair North
Communications Manager
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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.
Lesley Peters
Finance and Administration Manager
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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.
Maurie O’Connor
Education Manager
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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.
Maurie has a substantial background in mental health policy and service delivery, most recently as the Assistant Director in the Mental Health Policy section of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. He previously worked in the alcohol and other drug sector for a number of years as a practitioner and educator (in the ACT Community Care Alcohol and Drug Program) and has worked 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 education team that develops and organises the program content and production of specific Rural Health Education Foundation broadcasts.
Education Team
Deborah McIntyre
Senior Program Associate
Doctorate and Masters in Education, University of Massachusetts, USA; Bachelor of Social Studies (Honours), University of Sydney; Bachelor of Arts, University of New England
Deborah has worked as a social worker in a variety of health and hospital settings, and has maintained a long-term practice as a psychotherapist. She also has extensive experience as an educator at tertiary level (at University of Melbourne and Monash University), both in direct teaching and distance education. Most recently she has worked as the Mental Health Policy Officer for the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Jill Pierce
Education Project Officer
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.
Jane Hoogesteger
Education Project Officer
Bachelor of Nursing, University of Wollongong (2000); Graduate Certificate Critical Care Nursing, College of Nursing (2008)
Jane completed a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Wollongong in 2000. Since then, her experience has ranged from Emergency Departments in rural and metropolitan NSW to working as a Remote Area Nurse throughout the Northern Territory.
She has worked in Education over recent years, first in a successful medical company and as a University of Wollongong tutor and clinical facilitator within the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health teaching both clinical subjects cultural awareness subjects to undergraduate Nursing students
Jane is currently enrolled in a Masters of Communications through Deakin University.
Jane joined the Foundation’s Education team in March 2010.
Pru Glasson
Research & Program Assistant
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Administration and Operations Team
Michelle Lindsay
Operations Coordinator
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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.
Sabina Jackman
Operations & Data Assistant
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Ann Stafford
Administration Assistant
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Sommer Sherwood
Distribution Support
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The Foundation is supported by a number of administrative, clerical and part-time staff based in the head office in Canberra.