Meet Our Board

Sunday, 05 April 2009 02:26

Our Board of Directors meet once a month.  These positions are currently held by the following people.

Justin Le Couteur - President

Academic Qualifications: Bachelor Business (Tourism Management and Marketing), Cert. IV in Government (Project Management, Cert. IV in Workplace Training and Assessment

Career: Positions include but are not limited to the following - Office manager in Motel/Hotels including the HYATT, Office Manager for the ACT Hepatitis C Council, Consumer Representatives Coordinator for Consumers' Health Forum (CHF), Hospitality Teacher at TAFE, Business Development Officer and Telephone Counsellor For Lifeline, Customer Services Officer for the Student to Industry Program, Public Servant - Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations

Awards Received:

• Branch Manager’s Award 2007

Committee/Boards Member of:

• Currently just PWD ACT
• I was a Board member of the Campbell High School Board for two years, including one year as deputy Chair.

Disability Sector Experience:

• MC at the Post School Options EXPO for disabled students, last three years 2006, 2007, 2008.  

Own Disability: Cerebral Palsy

 

 

 

Ian Trewhella AM - Vice President

Career: has owned and operated a small business in the ACT called The Wheelchair Factory.  Ian has also held many positions within the Federal public service in the areas of policy, IT and financial accounting.

Awards Received: Among his many awards is an Order of Australia Medal which he received in 1992 for volunteer service to people with disabilities in the fields of sport, recreation and welfare.

Committee/Boards Member of: Extensive past membership of committees, advisory and management boards including the Chair of the ACT Disability Services Advisory Committee and the Deputy Chair of the ACT Paralympic Committee.

Disability Sector Experience:  Has been heavily involved in disability issues over many years.  Ian was a successful Paralympic athlete in 1980 and 1984 together with many other national and world disability sporting successes.

Own Disability:  Has had quadriplegia since a sporting accident in 1961

 

 

Margo Hodge -  Secretary

Academic Qualifications: Bachelor of Education

Career: School teacher, Factory Worker, Shop assistant, Mother

Awards Received: Order of Australia Medal, NRMA Volunteer of the Year in Education, HREOC Merit of Recognition, 2008 ACT Volunteer of the Year

Committee/Boards Member of:

• Disability Council of Australia (DACA)
• Chair of Disability State Council of Australia (DSAC)
• ACT Housing
• Guardianship and Management Board
• Physical Disability Council of Australia (PDCA)
• Accessible Public Transport National Advisory Council of Australia (APTNAC)

Disability Sector Experience:

• Chair of the local advisory council for 5 years
• Represented people with disabilities in the development of accessible public transport for 15 years
• Been a board member of sports, employment, advocacy and national disability organizations for 25 years
• Has given speeches at an International Transport Conference and commonwealth and local departments
• Have written many submissions in all areas of disability issues

Own Disability: Paraplegic

 

Alison Chinn - Treasurer

Academic Qualifications: Bachelor of Commerce, Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA)

Career: Auditor for 20 years at the Australian National Audit Office – now works part time

Awards Received: Life member of Canberra Rowing Club, Volunteer Award 2001 – for Excellence in the Sport and Recreation Community, Sports Star of the Year Tweed Shire 1984, Won a number of Australian and State sculling championships

Committee/Boards Member of:  Sports related only

Disability Sector Experience: New to this sector with PWD

Own Disability: Degenerative spinal injury

 

 

Sarah Ferguson - Board Member

Academic Qualifications: Bachelor of Applied Science in Health Education, CIT Business Administration Certificate

Career:Clerical/Administrative Office Work with Department of Defence, Administration Assistant SHOUT office, Department of General Practice

 

Disability Sector Experience:

• Royal Blind Society/Vision Australia vo
• Women’s Centre for Health Matters volunteer
• Cancer Society/Council volunteer
• People With Disabilities ACT Office volunteer
• Citizen’s Advice Bureau volunteer

Own Disability: Acquired Brain Injury due to Brain Tumour and treatment resulting in vision impairment, memory difficulties and epilepsy

 

 

Nicole O’Callaghan – Board Member

Academic Qualifications:  Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) University of New England
 
 
Career:

• Previously Physical Disability Australia Ltd Communications Officer
• Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations employee
• Participation Analysis
• Evaluation and Program Performance
• Economic Strategy -- Canberra ACT

 
Committee/Boards Member of:

• Currently PWD ACT
• Currently ACT Council of Social Service (Women with Disabilities ACT Delegate)
• Women with Disabilities ACT
• Previously Clarence Valley Council Access Committee

 
Disability Sector Experience:

Before moving to Canberra I had volunteered for Ability Incorporated Advocacy Services for approximately 2 years.  I have also represented people with disabilities at a number of forums from local inter-agency meetings to federal government initiatives.

 
Own Disability: Sensory Motor Neuropathy