Board and committees

Arthritis Australia Board Member since March 2020 and Chair since November 2021.

Kaylene is a Partner in the Enterprise Tax team in KPMG’s GWS office. Kaylene works with corporates, including ASX listed entities, private owners, family groups and their businesses across a wide range of industries to grow, create and protect value.

Her expertise includes developing appropriate business structures and funding arrangements, capital management, mergers and acquisitions, business restructures and assisting clients in their dealings with the Australian Taxation Office.

Kaylene has a particular interest and expertise in the not-for-profit and club sector, working with a number of high profile sporting clubs and charities and assisting a number of charities in compliance, strategy and tax related requirements. Kaylene has a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws, a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce, is a Registered Tax Agent and an Affiliate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.

Arthritis Australia Board Member, Director and member of the Finance and Audit Committee since May 2021. Treasurer since November 2021 .

Paul has over 15 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, bringing a range of skills including financial management, risk & governance and strategic planning. Paul is currently the General Manager at AUSactive, the peak association supporting the active health and exercise industry in Australia. In his earlier career, Paul worked for leading accounting/consulting firms and delivered on high profile and complex projects in the context of turnaround/corporate restructuring.

Paul has a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

David is a rheumatologist and clinical pharmacologist at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne, and also lead the Medicines Optimisation Service there. He is a member of the Drug Utilisation Subcommittee of the Australian Government Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, and is also the International Adviser for Australia for the American College of Rheumatology.

Arthritis Australia Board Member, Director and Consumer Director since December 2022.Having been diagnosed with Ankolysing Spondyloarthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis in 2011 (and having a hip replacement in 2010), Simon has a deep personal as well as professional passion to make a difference. Simon’s professional mission is to “Make the World a Better Place through Better, neuroscience-based Leadership”, piloted through his role as CEO of Southern Cross Coaching & Development, which he founded in 2006. His professional expertise includes organisational Culture Change, Leadership and Team Development, and Executive Coaching for C-Suite Executives and leadership teams at all levels across Federal, State and Local governments, corporates, ASX and globally listed companies and profit-for-purpose organisations throughout Australia and Asia. Outside of work Simon enjoys spending time with his family, hiking and camping, travelling, SCUBA diving, and playing squash when his body allows! He is also an advocate for destigmatising mental health challenges, having himself recovered from deep depression nearly 20 years ago.

Arthritis Australia Board Member, Director since November 2021 and member of the Finance and Audit Committee. Formerly an Arthritis Australia Board member between November 2010 to November 2013. Ian is an experienced Managing Director, Non-Executive Director and Chairman who has helped a portfolio of charities, start-ups, and a major university via his various board roles, including being Arthritis Queensland’s Chair from 2009 to 2012 and again from February 2014 to February 2020. Following his early career as an engineer in global resources corporations, he spent 15 years in project management and business advisory specialising in strategy, operations management and business turnarounds for technology-intensive firms. He re-joined the resources sector as CSIRO’s Minerals Director for Business Development and Commercialisation before helping establish the national METS Industry Growth Centre in 2015. In semi-retirement, he is assisting industry-driven research bids, collaboration of corporations with researchers to increase commercialisation rates, and the processing of Australia’s critical minerals to supply global decarbonisation technologies.

Arthritis Australia Board Member, Director since December 2022. Sonja is Partner in the national health practice at MinterEllison.  Her expertise is in public and private sector regulation of the health and research industries, public funding streams (Medicare and intergovernmental), privacy and the management of data and data breaches, medical research and ethics. Sonja holds a Masters of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania, specialising in health law, policy and bioethics; and a Bachelor of Science in the fields of Neurobiology and Psychology.

A practising rheumatologist, Dr Mona Marabani was president of Arthritis Australia from 2006 to 2010.  Dr Marabani has previously served the Australian Rheumatology Association as vice-president and councillor, the NSW Branch as Honorary Secretary and the NSW Advanced Trainee Selection Committee as Chair. She maintains an active interest in health education, equity and advocacy.

Professor Patrick McNeil served as Chair of Arthritis Australia from 2010-2014.  Patrick is currently Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Macquarie University.

Arthritis Australia Board Member, Director and Consumer Director since December 2022. Having been diagnosed with Ankolysing Spondyloarthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis in 2011 (and having a hip replacement in 2010), Simon has a deep personal as well as professional passion to make a difference. Simon’s professional mission is to “Make the World a Better Place through Better, neuroscience-based Leadership”, piloted through his role as CEO of Southern Cross Coaching & Development, which he founded in 2006. His professional expertise includes organisational Culture Change, Leadership and Team Development, and Executive Coaching for C-Suite Executives and leadership teams at all levels across Federal, State and Local governments, corporates, ASX and globally listed companies and profit-for-purpose organisations throughout Australia and Asia. Outside of work Simon enjoys spending time with his family, hiking and camping, travelling, SCUBA diving, and playing squash when his body allows! He is also an advocate for destigmatising mental health challenges, having himself recovered from deep depression nearly 20 years ago.

Dr Susanne Armstrong holds senior lived experience consultancy, advisory, education and research roles with national, state and regional suicide prevention and mental health organisations. She is an experienced facilitator, grief counsellor, mentor, nurse and adult educator. Susanne’s Doctor of Creative Arts dissertation in 2019 explored the intergenerational transference of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and family violence. She promotes the use of creative writing and the arts to generate healing, recovery and post-traumatic growth (PTG). Susanne has held senior management roles in government, private sector, community-based health and welfare organisations. She has lived with autoimmune conditions since her youth and continues her journey with psoriatic spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gout arthritis and fibromyalgia. She is passionate about people, social justice, holistic health, the arts, and protecting our wildlife and the environment for our future generations.

Brett was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis in 1997 at the age of 19, while studying architecture at the University of Adelaide. He has spent his professional career as an Architect advocating the design of accessible built environments. He runs a small design practice which employs universal design philosophies, providing equitable, dignified access for all different types of disabilities within our community. He spends his free time playing music, and trying to keep fit through Yoga, Cycling, and Walking.

Annique Daran was misdiagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 12. It took 27 years to be correctly diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis at 39. She has journeyed through pain, medical trials, and endured eight major surgeries including full joint replacements and joint fusions. Annique spent over 13 years living abroad in Denmark and America, where she has experienced different medical care available for patients with arthritis. As a member of the Arthritis Australia Consumer Advisory Panel, she is eager to advocate for and improve the experiences of others living with this diagnosis.

Sharyce was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis was she was 4 years old, and the diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis was added a few years later. She has been studying Medical Radiation Science at the University of South Australia for 4 years, and has recently taken a break from study and started her own Social Media Management business. Sharyce is very passionate about raising awareness about Juvenile Arthritis and breaking the stereotype that arthritis is a condition that only impacts older people.

Harpreet has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since 1997 and is passionate about raising the profile of arthritis treatments and education around managing the illness. She has worked in marketing, fundraising, sponsorship, and grant management roles where evidence-based research has been the main driver of funding for programs and in organisations. Harpreet is a strong advocate for equality and hopes by sharing her story to increase opportunities for arthritis sufferers in all walks of life.

Kerry Mace has been living with Arthritis for about 50 years, starting around 10 years old, misdiagnosed at 15 with Lupus, changing to Sero Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 21, her journey has been one of medications and surgery over the years.  Kerry has been involved with support groups with Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA (AOWA) for almost 30 years, her involvement with AOWA lead to becoming a peer leader with Camp Freedom, their camp for kids 7-17 years old with all forms of Musculoskeletal conditions, she has hardly missed a camp in 24 years and for the past 9 years has been the Camp Coordinator, presenting a Consumer paper at the 2016 EULAR Conference in London on “25 years of Camp Freedom”.  Her passion for change in the health system led to involvement with various organisations as a consumer representative, being a member of the inaugural Fiona Stanley Hospital Consumer Advisory Council for 6 years, chairing for the last 4 years of her tenure.  Her consumer representative activities led to a position with the Consumer & Community Involvement Program, a platform for the WA Health Translation Network, connecting Consumers with Lived Experience and Researchers to work together in research projects. Kerry is also a member of the Arthritis Australia Consumer Advisory Panel.

Kevyn is a retired furniture maker, artist and an experienced businessman who was originally diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment in 2015, but was diagnosed with osteoarthritis decades prior. Now living in Wodonga, Victoria, he has always been an active health advocate, having helped established a men’s Indigenous health group in Northern Queensland in the past. He has always tried to just continue to work but as he got older it got too hard. That’s why he decided to join Arthritis Australia, to see if he could help others. Kevyn is an experienced consumer representative with appointments including Dementia Australia’s Advisory Committee Diversity & Inclusion, Older Persons Advocacy Network, Murray Arts (Albury Wodonga), Dental Health Services Victoria Consumer Advisory Committee, Dental Health Services Vic Reconciliation Committee & Vic Health Population Health Committee. He is also a member of Physical Disability Australia and Elder Abuse Action Australia.

Gayle has over twenty years experience as a health and science communicator. With qualifications in science, education and communication, Gayle has advised many research-based organisations on the successful communication of complex scientific concepts to increase awareness, engagement and support. Gayle has considerable experience in the health and medical research sector with comprehensive knowledge of the research process and the translation of research into better health outcomes. She has a specific interest in evidence-based social marketing and the meaningful integration of consumer experiences and perspectives into health programs. Gayle lives with psoriatic arthritis and is proud to support the work of Arthritis Australia as a Consumer Advisory Panel representative.

Fiona lives in Melbourne, VIC and has had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since she was 10 years old, and has already had six joints either replaced or fused. She is a member of YWASG and many online Facebook groups, and has a personal interest in helping children and young adults with arthritis.

Jeanette has 25 years’ experience funding and developing health and medical technologies. She completed her doctorate in medical diagnostics in the UK in 1999, and since relocating to Melbourne in 2006 has led a number of multi-sector medtech programs. Jeanette is currently the CEO of the Passe & Williams Foundation, which funds surgeons and scientists working in the ear, nose & throat medical specialty. Jeanette was diagnosed with seronegative RA in 2019 and is keen to apply her knowledge of health and medical research, clinical translation and relevant funding models, to help make the journey easier for others diagnosed with similar conditions.

Rushed to hospital at the age of 10 for emergency hip surgery, it took another 6 years before Hayley was first diagnosed with JIA, and then ultimately Rheumatoid Arthritis.  When Hayley’s daughter, at the age of 5, awoke with identical symptoms in her hip, Hayley became a strong advocate for her daughter, who was quickly diagnosed with JIA as well as Alopecia Areata.  The journey to diagnosis and treatment was vastly different for her daughter, and this is Hayley’s inspiration in contributing to the consumer care space. Despite having her shoulder replaced twice, multiple surgeries on many joints and a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease at the age of 26, Hayley has gone on to have a successful career in law.  She has worked for a global law firm, a property investment firm and is currently working as the Head of Legal Services at a large not for profit organisation. In her spare time (which isn’t much with 2 kids and work!), Hayley volunteers as a peer mentor for others on their arthritis journey and has been involved in a number of consumer workshops regarding consumer care for JIA. Hayley holds degrees in Law and Biomedical Science from the University of Queensland, and a Certificate in Governance Practice from the Governance Institute of Australia.

Dr Christine Walker lives in Melbourne, Victoria and lives with rheumatoid arthritis  and osteoarthritis. She is researcher in health services and health policy areas, and was formerly CEO of The Chronic Illness Alliance, a peak body for foundations working with people with chronic conditions to provide a better understanding to clinicians and policymakers of the needs of people with chronic and progressive conditions to live their lives as fully as possible. She is now a board member of Epilepsy Foundation and Consumers’ Health Forum as well as sitting on advisory committees in research areas.

Hugh Watson is a consultant and an author. With his wife, he helped look after their son who was struck with ulcerative colitis at the age of eleven and inflammatory arthritis at the age of sixteen. Their son Andrew sadly passed away in February 2023 at the age of 28. Hugh is the Chair of Arthritis ACT. In his professional career he as been a teacher, academic, senior advisor to a Federal Cabinet Minister, partner in an international consulting firm and senior executive for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Shirani is married with two children, and lives in Melbourne.  She has had juvenile arthritis for 42 years, as well as osteoarthritis, and is involved in the Young Women’s Arthritis Support in Melbourne and run our Croydon group.

David is a rheumatologist and clinical pharmacologist at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne, and also lead the Medicines Optimisation Service there. He is a member of the Drug Utilisation Subcommittee of the Australian Government Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, and is also the International Adviser for Australia for the American College of Rheumatology.

Kim Bennell is an academic physiotherapist, a Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor, Dame Kate Campbell Fellow and NHMRC Investigator Fellow in the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne. She leads the Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine. She is also a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on non-drug, non-surgical management of hip and knee osteoarthritis as well as ways to address evidence-practice gaps around uptake of pain management and lifestyle interventions by clinicians and patients. She has a special interest in telehealth interventions.

Rachel is a consultant rheumatologist in South Australia, based at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. She is an active clinician researcher, with an interest in the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases and glucocorticoids.

Rachel is a director of the Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA) and president of the South Australian branch of the ARA.

Ms Bradbury completed her nurse training in London and specialised in rheumatology in 1998.  In 2005, she moved to Brisbane working within the rheumatology department at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and coordinated several research programs at the Queensland University of Technology.  She has over 40 publications.  In 2019, she commenced as a Nurse Practitioner (Rheumatology) at the Gold Coast University Hospital. 

She completed MSc Advanced Health Care Practice in 2006, Nurse Practitioner Masters in 2012, became endorsed as the first Australian Rheumatology NP in May 2013 and is the current chair of the Rheumatology Health Professionals Special Interest Group of the ARA. 

Professor Briggs has combined a career of health policy and systems research; health policy/strategy; health consulting; and clinical practice. He currently works across these domains at a senior level. This unique portfolio mix provides him with skills and real-world insights into health systems strengthening from the clinical coalface through to system-level reform. The focus of Professor Briggs’ research and policy work has centred on health systems strengthening, oriented around the delivery of high-value care for people with musculoskeletal health conditions and persistent pain across the lifecourse. The work aims to bridge the gap between health policy and research by working with Government and non-government partners to evaluate the development and implementation of health policy and health services relevant to musculoskeletal health.

Professor Hunter is a rheumatology clinician researcher whose main research focus is clinical and translational research in osteoarthritis (OA). He is the Florance and Cope Chair of Rheumatology and Professor of Medicine at University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital. He is ranked as the leading expert in the world on osteoarthritis on expertscape.com and is the section editor for UpToDate osteoarthritis. He holds a medical degree and Master of Sports Medicine from the University of New South Wales, a fellowship in Rheumatology at the Royal Australian College of Physicians and earned a Masters of Medical Science (Clinical Epidemiology) from the University of Newcastle and received his PhD from the University of Sydney in 2001. He is an editor for leading international journals in his field, has authored books on osteoarthritis and has over 500 publications in peer reviewed journals.

David has over 35 years’ experience across exercise science, physical activity promotion, primary health and population health initiatives. This has included roles in the clinical rehabilitation and primary care settings like the Active Script program, National Program Manager for COAG Healthy Communities Initiative, and work at individual Divisions of General Practice including the peak body General Practice Victoria. David was involved in the Australian Primary Care Collaboratives where he was engaged in supporting Divisions of General Practice midst state and national health reform processes. David is currently the Manager of Chronic Disease Programs at South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network which includes leading commissioning in the areas of chronic disease ,cancer screening, Out of Home Care, Immunisation, After-Hours Care and leading the Victorian Integrated Care Model on behalf of SEMPHN. David has specific experience in chronic disease self-management, behaviour change theory, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and quality improvement methodologies. He has co-authored in the areas of resistance training for people with diabetes and chronic heart failure, exercise for older adults, telephone health coaching and person centred care. Recently David was a member of the Mitchell Institutes Self-Care Expert Working Group that produced the National Self Care Policy Blueprint.

Mark is Professor of General Practice at Bond University in the Gold Coast, Australia. After training in UK, Professor Morgan has more than 20 years’ Australian experience working in rural, regional, and urban general practice. He is chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Expert Committee for Quality Care where he advises on healthcare policy and the development of guidelines. He was a member of the steering committee for the National Strategic Action Plan for Arthritis. He has leadership role within the National Covid-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, and he is a member of the National Preventative Health Strategy, Health Care Homes Implementation Advisory Group and the Australian Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (ASTAG). Professor Morgan’s research has focused on systems approaches to the improving care of long-term medical conditions.

Paediatric Rheumatologist, Head of Rheumatology Unit, Dept of General Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children’d Research Institute

Director, Pain Education & Pain Management Programs, Pain Management Research Institute, The University of Sydney

Discipline Leader: Pharmacy External Relations, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia

Associate Professor Tasha Stanton leads the Persistent Pain Research Group at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and is co-Director of IIMPACT in Health at The University of South Australia, Adelaide. She is a clinical pain neuroscientist, with original training as a physiotherapist. Her research focusses on pain – why do we have it and why doesn’t it go away? Her research group works closely with consumers and with clinicians to identify real-world problems and devise new solutions to revamp treatment of pain.

Professor in Podiatry, Dean’s Unit – School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University