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Our Board

The Board of the Stroke Foundation is responsible for the oversight and review of the management, administration and overall governance of the Foundation. It is made up of professionals including two positions representing the interests of stroke survivors and carers, with a variety of skills and expertise who support the Foundation’s mission to prevent, treat and beat stroke.

  • Professor Linda Kristjanson AO

    BN, MN, PhD, FAICD, FTSE

    President

    Professor Kristjanson is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.  She is Chair of the Board of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Professor Kristjanson is Non-Executive Director of Seek Ltd., Skalata Ventures…

    Professor Kristjanson is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.  She is Chair of the Board of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Professor Kristjanson is Non-Executive Director of Seek Ltd., Skalata Ventures Ltd., Education Australia Ltd., and Global Citizen Ltd.  She is a member of the Australian Council for International Education.

    Professor Kristjanson served as Vice-Chancellor and President of Swinburne University of Technology from 2011, retiring in August 2020. In 2002, Linda was named Australian Telstra Business Women of the Year in recognition of her entrepreneurial work in health and science.  Professor Kristjanson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, acknowledged for her distinguished service to tertiary education through leadership and governance roles, strategic and innovative university reforms, and contributions to cancer research, palliative care and to women.

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  • Ms Shelly Park

    MSc Executive Management, GAICD

    Ms. Shelly Park is an accomplished Non-Executive Director and CEO with over 25 years of experience in leading complex organizations with billion-dollar budgets and extensive workforces, particularly in the healthcare sector. With a strong focus on strategic leadership and governance, she has a proven track…

    Ms. Shelly Park is an accomplished Non-Executive Director and CEO with over 25 years of experience in leading complex organizations with billion-dollar budgets and extensive workforces, particularly in the healthcare sector. With a strong focus on strategic leadership and governance, she has a proven track record on high-performing boards, successfully leading large health and life sciences organizations, focusing on business processes, people leadership and digital transformation.

    Shelly currently sits on three Boards, including Chairing one Board and Chairing a subcommittee on another. Shelly has previously sat on Boards in various organisations, including the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority and the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (as an Executive Director).

    Shelly is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and holds a Master of Science in Management (Distinction), a BA (Business Administration and Management), and a Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing. She is a Fellow: Vincent Fairfax Ethical Leadership and holds a Diploma of Executive Coaching. In 2011, Shelly was honoured as the Telstra Victorian Businesswoman of the Year.

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  • Ms Sally Bateman

    BA (Public Relations), Grad Dip Psych, GAICD

    Non-executive Director and Chair of Philanthropy Committee

    Ms Sally Bateman is the Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Australia, one of the country’s most inspirational charities for children. A former Senior Publishing Executive, Ms Bateman was Penguin Random House’s inaugural Asia Pacific Director of Marketing, Publicity and Digital following the international merger of…

    Ms Sally Bateman is the Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Australia, one of the country’s most inspirational charities for children.

    A former Senior Publishing Executive, Ms Bateman was Penguin Random House’s inaugural Asia Pacific Director of Marketing, Publicity and Digital following the international merger of Penguin and Random House. Previously, she spent 17 years with Penguin Australia where she led marketing and digital strategy during a decade of disruption.

    Ms Bateman is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations and a Graduate Diploma of Psychology.

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  • Professor Coralie English

    Non-executive Director representing interests of Research and Chair of Research Advisory Committee

    Professor Coralie English provides independent advice and expertise in stroke-related research to the Committee. Coralie English is a physiotherapist and an experienced stroke clinical trialist. She leads a team of researchers within the Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, Hunter Medical Research Institute…

    Professor Coralie English provides independent advice and expertise in stroke-related research to the Committee. Coralie English is a physiotherapist and an experienced stroke clinical trialist. She leads a team of researchers within the Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, Hunter Medical Research Institute and teaches into the Physiotherapy Program at the University of Newcastle.

    Coralie's research career began in 2000, when she undertook a PhD at the University of South Australia. Prof English’s professional network extends to national and international collaborations and professional committees.

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  • Mrs Lisa Cook Kleeman

    BBusMgt(Mktg)

    Non-executive Director representing interests of consumers and Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee

    Lisa is the Founder and Managing Director of Get on Board Australia, supporting aspiring, new and existing board members and boards to thrive. She has more than a decade of experience serving on boards from a range of organisations in the private, public, and not-for-profit…

    Lisa is the Founder and Managing Director of Get on Board Australia, supporting aspiring, new and existing board members and boards to thrive. She has more than a decade of experience serving on boards from a range of organisations in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in Adelaide, Sydney, and across Australia.  

    Lisa holds a degree from Charles Sturt University in Business Management and Marketing, has completed the Foundations of Directorship program through the AICD, and is completing a Master of Business Law at the University of Adelaide. 

    Lisa has lived experience with stroke, having personally suffered a stroke in 2015. During her initial recovery period, the Stroke Foundation and its community provided overwhelming support. Since then, Lisa has actively supported the Stroke Foundation and shared her stroke story to raise awareness and donations.  

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  • Ms Janice Thomas

    MAICD

    Non-executive Director

    Ms Janice Thomas is an Executive & Board Member with 20+ years’ success at the forefront of advancement and engagement strategies in Secondary and Higher Education. She pioneered sustainable funding streams and built new collaborative cross-sector partnerships central to delivering the Teaching, Learning and Research…

    Ms Janice Thomas is an Executive & Board Member with 20+ years’ success at the forefront of advancement and engagement strategies in Secondary and Higher Education. She pioneered sustainable funding streams and built new collaborative cross-sector partnerships central to delivering the Teaching, Learning and Research agendas of some of Australia’s most iconic institutions.

    Founding her career in education in fighting for the continued provision of K-12 schooling in the community of Bendigo, she built a reputation for transformational leadership with a succession of appointments to roles involving ground-up functional establishment and key strategic contributions.

    Ms Thomas is the Director of Hamilton’s Consulting Australia Pty Ltd. She has held senior roles in the tertiary education sector including: as Inaugural Director of Development at the University of Western Sydney, Senior Director, Advancement & Communications and Senior Director of Engagement in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

    An active not-for-profit and NGO Board Member & Advisor, she holds expertise across the ecosystem of fundraising, marketing, communications, external relations, community, philanthropic and corporate engagement. In addition, she brings transferable skills in government relations, multi-party stakeholder management and governance. 

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  • Mr Peter Nikoletatos

    BBus, MEdStu, GradDipLaw, FAIPM, MAICD, MAIM, MACS

    Non-executive Director

    Peter Nikoletatos is TechnologyOne’s Industry General Manager, Education, responsible for setting the company’s higher education strategy and driving customer success through digital transformation. Peter holds a concurrent position as Adjunct Professor Computer Sciences and IT at La Trobe University, providing him with a deep understanding…

    Peter Nikoletatos is TechnologyOne’s Industry General Manager, Education, responsible for setting the company’s higher education strategy and driving customer success through digital transformation. Peter holds a concurrent position as Adjunct Professor Computer Sciences and IT at La Trobe University, providing him with a deep understanding of the higher education industry.

    With more than 30 years’ experience in ICT, Peter previously held several C-suite roles across the higher education, telecommunications, radiology and resources sectors, and in 2014, was voted as one of the planet’s Top 100 influential social CIOs, and Top CIOs to follow on Twitter by Huffington Post.  

    Outside his executive roles, Peter has previously chaired the AIIA Digital Skills Special Interest Group in 2019 and is an advisor on several committees. He has previously held various Board Director roles including AARNet Pty Ltd, Research Data Storage (RDS), VERNet Pty Ltd, Intersect Pty Ltd, NUSport Pty Ltd, former Vice President CAUDIT, and the Chair of the Victorian Directors of IT (VDIT) in 2016-17.

    Twitter: @pnikoletatos
    LinkedIn: peternikoletatos

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  • Mr Robert Campbell

    CA, CPA, MSW, BSW (Hons), GAICD, RCA, RTA Non-executive Director representing interests of consumers and Chair of Consumer Council

    Mr Robert Campbell is the managing director of Australian Audit, a specialist audit firm based in Perth. He is a chartered accountant, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a registered company auditor, a registered tax agent and a social worker. He holds…

    Mr Robert Campbell is the managing director of Australian Audit, a specialist audit firm based in Perth. He is a chartered accountant, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a registered company auditor, a registered tax agent and a social worker.

    He holds a BSW with Honours and a MSW from the University of New South Wales School of Social Work. He completed the Graduate Course in Accounting at the University of Technology, Sydney and is a member of the professional advisors’ group for the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission . He advises on complex charity tax matters.

    He had over 25 years leading social welfare and educational organisations in a variety of CEO positions in New South Wales and the Northern Territory before returning to public practice as an auditor. He has served on the boards of charities working in the areas of homelessness, mental health recovery, drug and alcohol addictions and disabilities

    At home, Mr Campbell has supported his wife in her recovery from two strokes and deeply appreciates the need for integrated health solutions for stroke survivors.

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  • Mr Phil Vernon

    BEc, MCom, MBA, FCA, FAICD

    Non-executive Director and Chair of Audit, Finance, Investment & Risk Committee

    Phil is a professional Director and Adviser with a focus on sustainable finance, impact investing and the not-for-profit sector. He was previously CEO and Managing Director of Australian Ethical Investment and a Group Executive with Perpetual Limited and is currently a Director of Futurity Investment…

    Phil is a professional Director and Adviser with a focus on sustainable finance, impact investing and the not-for-profit sector. He was previously CEO and Managing Director of Australian Ethical Investment and a Group Executive with Perpetual Limited and is currently a Director of Futurity Investment Group, Eticore Pty Limited, climate change think tank Beyond Zero Emissions and the Environmental Defender's Office.

    Phil is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

    Phil has lived experience of Stroke having lost his father to it at age 12. 

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  • Mrs Victoria Hepburn

    LLB

    Non-executive Director

    Ms Victoria Hepburn is the Queensland Managing Partner of MinterEllison and part of the Firm's Broader Leadership team. She is also a director of the Firm's services entities.  In addition to her leadership roles in the Firm Victoria continues to actively practice with a range…

    Ms Victoria Hepburn is the Queensland Managing Partner of MinterEllison and part of the Firm's Broader Leadership team. She is also a director of the Firm's services entities. 

    In addition to her leadership roles in the Firm Victoria continues to actively practice with a range of clients in both the public and private sector. Victoria specialises in strategic, complex and sensitive Employment, Industrial Relations and Administrative law matters.  

    She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Canterbury. 

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  • Professor Helen Dewey

    MB BS PhD FRACP FAFRM(RACP) FANZAN GAICD

    Non-executive Director representing interests of clinicians and Chair of Clinical Council

    Professor Dewey is a Consultant Neurologist and clinician researcher, specialising in the area of stroke. Her interests include stroke epidemiology, health service improvement and acute stroke therapies.   She is Clinical Director of Neurosciences at Eastern Health and Professor, Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine,…

    Professor Dewey is a Consultant Neurologist and clinician researcher, specialising in the area of stroke. Her interests include stroke epidemiology, health service improvement and acute stroke therapies.  

    She is Clinical Director of Neurosciences at Eastern Health and Professor, Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne. She is also a past President of the Stroke Society of Australasia, past Honorary Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists and was a previous Chair of the Advanced Training Committee in Neurology, Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She is the current Chair of the Management Committee for the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR). 

    Professor Dewey undertook her undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1985 with the University Medal and later moved to Melbourne to complete her advanced training in neurology. She is trained in both Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine and is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine.  

    She received her PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2000 for research conducted as part of the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study (NEMESIS). She was Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT), the largest international trial ever conducted in the field of stroke rehabilitation.  

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  • Mr Matthew Oakey

    BCom CPA

    Company Secretary

    Mr Matthew Oakey is Partner, in Business and Private Client Advisory of SW Accountants and Advisors and is a member of CPA Australia along with being an affiliate member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand. Matthew is a director or…

    Mr Matthew Oakey is Partner, in Business and Private Client Advisory of SW Accountants and Advisors and is a member of CPA Australia along with being an affiliate member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand. Matthew is a director or company secretary for several charities including The Creswick Foundation, Florence & Melville Hughes Trust, Domov Special Accommodation Fund, Crazy Socks 4 Docs Trust Foundation. Matthew is also a director of several Private Ancillary Funds and for-profit entities. Matthew is the Partner representative on the SW Accountants and Advisors Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.

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Stroke Foundation welcomed Professor Linda Kristjanson AO as our newly elected President on 5 May 2021. Professor James Angus AO retired on 5 May after seven years as a Director, and six years as President. Professor Angus has been formally farewelled and honoured for his tremendous contribution to the Stroke Foundation and to the advancement of our mission.