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.

Michael Lye joined the Department of Health in December 2019 as Deputy Secretary responsible for Ageing and Aged Care.

Prior to joining Health, Michael was the Deputy Secretary responsible for disability and carers policy at the Department of Social Services, where his responsibilities included disability and carers policy and programs, the National Disability Strategy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Disability Employment Services.

Michael has a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and a Master of Social Welfare Administration and Planning, both of which are from the University of Queensland.

Liam Mayo is an experienced non-executive director, executive leader, and Board Chair. He is an accomplished futurist and transformational change speciality, having worked globally with marginalized communities and vulnerable people in complex environments to achieve sustainable, just, and desired futures.

Liam is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Comlink Australia, a large Australian not-for-profit that supports aging, vulnerable and disabled people to live independently in their homes. He is also a guest researcher with the Department of Environment, Planning and Geography, at the Radboud University in the Netherlands, a lecturer in Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, and a Senior Fellow with the Centre for Postnormal Policy and Futures Studies, in the UK.

Liam has a PhD in sociology and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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.

Josh was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Catholic Healthcare in October 2023, following his notable leadership as the Chief Operating Officer overseeing 41 residential homes, 7,000 home and community clients, and 13 retirement living villages. Catholic Healthcare now cares for approximately 11,000 clients and 5,500 employees and 800 volunteers at Catholic Healthcare throughout NSW and Southeast QLD.

A passionate advocate for older people, Josh is committed to tackling issues such as social isolation, the housing crisis, and financial disadvantage for older Australians. He is a fierce champion of ongoing improvements to the aged care system to ensure older people, aged care workers and the broader community can experience compassion, dignity and joy now and into the future.

Josh has over a decade of leadership experience in areas such strategy, M&A, operations and transformation within some of Australia’s largest aged care providers. Josh brings a diverse background into aged care leadership which spans various industries such as mining, manufacturing, finance, and management consulting, including within several ASX listed organisations.

Gwenda joined has been an active advocate for senior Australians for some years. A proud Aboriginal woman, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother who lives in rural NSW. A member of the Council of Elders, National Older Persons Reference Group, Dementia Australia advocate and ADNeT steering committee consumer member. A recipient of a Home Care package herself for many years, which she now self manages, she has seen many changes since 2014 when she started on a CHSP package. Gwenda advocates, as a volunteer, and provides advice and assists others in rural communities in navigating aged care services. Gwenda providing support and advocacy within all areas of the aged care system.

Michael is passionate about ensuring people who require support are given the best service models to remain independent, connected and thriving in the location of their choice.
Being heavily involved in Aged Care reform, he is a strong advocate for the rights of older People in Australia and the implementation of the response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Michael is the Organisational Lead of Aspire4Life, one of Australia’s largest providers of Assessments for Older People and Veterans.

Michael has been involved in Aged Care reform initiatives including involvement in the promoting Independent Living Measure – 2019 Active Assessment Reablement Trial, the 2020 trial of the AN-ACC residential aged care assessment tool, and the trial of the Integrated Assessment Tool refined through the ‘Living Lab’ in 2022.

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.

Janet became the first Commissioner of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in January 2019.

Janet has over 20 years of experience in health and aged care policy, strategy and planning. Her career has encompassed federal, state and territory agencies. Janet has held roles with the NSW Health Department and the Commonwealth Departments of Veterans Affairs and Health.

As CEO of the Northern Territory Health Department, Janet led the government’s response to the Royal Commission into child protection and youth justice.

In 2009, Janet received a Public Service Medal for health policy development and reform contributions.

Janet has built on this work as our Commissioner through her aged care sector reform program.

Louise joined the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in May 2023. Her extensive experience includes policy development, program management and service delivery in:

• administrative law reform
• investigations
• enforcement
• compliance monitoring
• trauma-informed dispute resolution
• restorative justice.

Louise has held senior positions in the Office of the National Data Commissioner and the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

During her time with the Ombudsman, Louise led the Defence Abuse Response program.

Louise worked with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to support the review of the Parliamentary Workplace: Responding to Serious Incidents.

Earlier in her career, Louise was the ACT District Registrar for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Louise started public service as an Australian Army officer and was admitted to practise law in the ACT.

Camilla Rowland (EMBA GAICD, Adjunct Fellow) has been the Chief Executive Officer of Palliative Care Australia (PCA), since 2021. For over 30 years she has worked in the Australian health and community service sectors in CEO, executive, allied health clinical, and educational roles.  Camilla has also followed her passion for quality health and community care through a number of sector Board and national Committee positions.

Camilla brings a wealth of experience to current role with a background in palliative care, aged care, disability, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, child youth and family sectors.  She has previously worked in rural and metro palliative care and served as the National Program Manager of PCA in the early 2000s.

Eliza is a professionally registered Occupational Therapist and an alumna of the University of Queensland with extensive experience in the health, ageing, and community sector. Her career spans clinical care, case management, leadership, and project management, with key areas of interest in aged care and community care. Eliza has worked across healthcare in rehabilitation, disability, and private insurance programs, showcasing her versatile expertise.

Since 2021, Eliza has been a leader in community homecare with Feros Care and currently serves as the General Manager – Community Clinical Services. In this role, she manages teams across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, and is well-versed in the unique opportunities and challenges within each state.

Eliza has collaborated with Government departments during reform consultations about restorative care, as well as with providers and other organisations in the ageing and community care space. Her passion for restorative care drives her commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of clients, having witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of these pathways. Eliza envisions a future where restorative care is a cornerstone of aged and community care, improving the quality of life for all clients.