Patricia leads the peak body for older Australians, taking a constructive approach to building an inclusive and bright future for older people. Her goal is to eliminate ageism, which should be as socially unacceptable as sexism and racism.

Committed to building a more inclusive Australia that appreciates and welcomes the contribution of older people, Patricia’s career spans community, disability, and aged care, health, and advocacy roles. She has experience from the perspective of not-for-profit, public service, advocacy, Ministerial office, and most importantly, as a support to her own ageing family members.

Patricia centres her work on the value of older people. Everyone deserves the benefit of older people we love in our lives. She has worked consistently to improve the choice and control older people have in their own lives, working to reform aged care to fund the individual’s care, rather than the provider. She sees real aged care reform, housing, the full recognition of First Nations peoples, and workplace ageism as the next big challenges.

Patricia leads the peak body for older Australians, taking a constructive approach to building an inclusive and bright future for older people. Her goal is to eliminate ageism, which should be as socially unacceptable as sexism and racism.

Committed to building a more inclusive Australia that appreciates and welcomes the contribution of older people, Patricia’s career spans community, disability, and aged care, health, and advocacy roles. She has experience from the perspective of not-for-profit, public service, advocacy, Ministerial office, and most importantly, as a support to her own ageing family members.

Patricia centres her work on the value of older people. Everyone deserves the benefit of older people we love in our lives. She has worked consistently to improve the choice and control older people have in their own lives, working to reform aged care to fund the individual’s care, rather than the provider. She sees real aged care reform, housing, the full recognition of First Nations peoples, and workplace ageism as the next big challenges.

Gwenda has had a varied career working for almost 50 years in many Government Departments and Non Government organisations. These included Child Protection and childrens and adult mental health, (in both NSW and Northern Territory) Corrective Services and Juvenile Justice along with Centrelink And Housing NSW.

Gwenda is a Palawa woman and has proactively served her Aboriginal Communities, in which she has lived and worked, as CEO of Anaiwan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Chairperson of Gandangarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, Director of Hunter Aboriginal Childrens services and various other NGO positions.

This experience led her to discover her passion for justice for children in child protection system and elders within the aged care system, advocating for many, not only with My Aged Care but also with home care providers. After being diagnosed with younger onset FTD at 59, and being determined to not allow the diagnosis to define her Gwenda,has been outspoken and passionate about equity for those from diverse communities who are “slipping though the nets”. The rights of older people to live with dignity of choice and educating communities about their rights is another passion of Gwendas. Gwenda is also very aware of the difficulties many carers and loved ones face while trying to balance their quality of life with their commitment to caring for those they love whether children or adults.

Born and raised in South Australia, John lives in Wangaratta north east Victoria. He has a background as a teacher, historian, author, builder of community and Anglican priest for over 45 years. He recently completed his term on the Aged Care Council of Elders. He is chair of the ARIIA Aged Care Collaborative Advisory Group.

John was full time carer for his late partner as he was dying from aesophageal cancer. Now he self manages his own personal involvement in Support at Home, classification 2.

Since his husband’s death in August 2023 John has been active as a strong advocate for positive change in all aspects of Aged Care. Now for the reality to match the aspirations.

Lived experience has made him a champion for better Palliative Care across the country. More specifically he highlights the gap between assessed need and the actual timely provision of support and care for older people. The particular challenges for people in regional, rural and remote communities are always in focus.

Val has been involved in aged care and dementia advocacy for many years, beginning as an observer of dementia on the family in the 1960’s, a carer for her husband (2006-2013), becoming a dementia advocate in 2006, leading a support group for carers (2011-present) as a former carer and now becoming a participant in the system for herself.

Along the way she has become a member of COTA and OPAN, served with the Federal Government’s Council of Elders (2021-2025). Val received the OAM in 2022 and more recently was awarded the Local Woman of the year for the Keira electorate in NSW.

Sharyn Broer understands the operational realities and challenges of high-volume in-home service provision that supports older Australians and people with disabilities to flourish.

Starting out as an occupational therapist, she held leadership roles at Domiciliary Care SA before becoming CEO of Meals on Wheels SA in 2010. Through her clinical, leadership and governance roles over the past 30 years, she has transformed service delivery in changing policy, funding and regulatory contexts. From HACC to CHSP, HCP and NDIS, and now to Support at Home, she holds system-level, provider and family carer perspectives, and champions improved outcomes and social impact across her organisation’s metropolitan, regional, rural and remote locations.

Sharyn is an active member, leader and initiator of advisory groups, industry alliances and peak bodies, past President of Meals on Wheels Australia, Deputy Chair of the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board and is on the ACCPA Member Council.

Liz has led social policy initiatives across the Commonwealth for almost 30 years, and currently serves as the Commissioner for Aged Care Quality and Safety, with responsibility for national regulation of Commonwealth funded aged care services.

Prior to taking up the Commissioner role in January 2025, Liz was the Deputy Secretary (Social Policy) in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet where she drove reforms to major social policy systems such as aged and disability care, Medicare, and education. She was previously the Deputy Secretary (Families and Communities) in the Department of Social Services where she had responsibility for policy and programs to support disadvantaged communities, families and children and promote family safety, as well as the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

Liz has also served as the First Assistant Secretary in the former Indigenous Affairs Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with responsibility for education, community safety, health and wellbeing programs and policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Liz has also held senior executive positions in the former Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Liz started her career as a graduate in the former Department of Social Security.

David has over 40 years’ experience in professional practice with a background in audit (internal and external), insolvency and a wide range of consulting assignments within the aged care, disability and community services sectors. David has been providing policy advice to Ageing Australia in respect to the new Aged Care Act and has been integral to the development of the benchmark service provided by StewartBrown to the Aged Care sector for 30 years.

David has had numerous secondments with aged care providers acting in a variety of financial accounting positions including as CFO. David was Board member of an aged care provider for over 15 years including 10 years as chairperson.

Patricia leads the peak body for older Australians, taking a constructive approach to building an inclusive and bright future for older people. Her goal is to eliminate ageism, which should be as socially unacceptable as sexism and racism.

Committed to building a more inclusive Australia that appreciates and welcomes the contribution of older people, Patricia’s career spans community, disability, and aged care, health, and advocacy roles. She has experience from the perspective of not-for-profit, public service, advocacy, Ministerial office, and most importantly, as a support to her own ageing family members.

Patricia centres her work on the value of older people. Everyone deserves the benefit of older people we love in our lives. She has worked consistently to improve the choice and control older people have in their own lives, working to reform aged care to fund the individual’s care, rather than the provider. She sees real aged care reform, housing, the full recognition of First Nations peoples, and workplace ageism as the next big challenges.

As CEO of Access Care Network Australia, an organisation dedicated to the delivery of high-quality independent assessments for older people, people with disabilities, and those requiring assistance to discharge from hospital, Ricki leads a team of 300+ people across the country. 

She believes that independent assessment with a strong focus on reablement is a valuable intervention in its own right, resulting in better outcomes for clients and supporting a sustainable aged care system.  This belief was reinforced as a Churchill Fellow when, in 2017 she studied the implementation of reablement in the UK, Denmark and New Zealand and reached the conclusion that Australia has the policy, systems and value set to enable it to offer its older citizens the best ageing experience in the world.  The Royal Commission report creates the impetus to see that come to fruition.

Ricki’s professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Business, Masters of Business Administration and a Doctor of Business Administration.

Danielle has held a variety of senior positions in human/health services across not for profit and corporate sectors, leading the development of client services spanning aged, disability, employment, vocational training, Indigenous and mental health.

As the leader of not-for-profit, Your Side, Danielle has led the increase in its turnover by over 450% in 7 years. She has established innovative business models and expanded services to four key client groups, positioning Your Side as a leader in quality care through early adoption and transformation.

Danielle is passionate about customer service and quality. Her goal is that the Your Side team works alongside our clients, empowering them to make choices, that creates independence and positive life change.

In 2025, Danielle co- launched The NFP CEO. A podcast for the new & aspiring CEO in the for-purpose sector.

Danielle has low vision and uses her lived experience of impairment to promote accessibility.

Lorraine is the Managing Director of Lorraine Poulos and Associates (LPA), which specialises in supporting aged care and NDIS providers. LPA has provided consultancy and training for government bodies, industry peak bodies, and mentored aged care providers since 2009.

Lorraine is additionally involved with not-for-profit aged care boards, has served on the NSW Medical Board for 10 years, and has been active in various advisory roles related to aged care.