AHPA has an important strategic leadership role in the allied health sector. Our work is informed and guided by our experienced Board and supported by a small and dedicated team of staff.
Our Board
AHPA Directors are appointed annually and are nominated by our individual association members. Each member has the right to nominate a Director, with these typically the Chief Executive Officers of that member organisation. AHPA’s Board provides organisational oversight and is supported by individual Finance, Governance and Staffing sub-committees.
AHPA is also supported by a Management Committee, which consists of representatives from each of our member associations. This Committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss issues, work collaboratively, and to determine areas of focus and activity for the organisation.
Chair, Deputy Chair and Chair, Finance, Audit, and Risk
Directors
Our Staff
AHPA’s team of dedicated staff work closely with the Board and Management Committee as well as with staff in the individual allied health member associations in support of the goals of the organisation. AHPA is further supported by the work of volunteers and freelance staff where projects require additional support.
Cris Massis
Chair, AHPA Board and Chief Executive Officer, APA
Australian Physiotherapy Association
Cris is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Cris has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma in Sport Business, an MBA, the AICD Company Directors course and the Executive Program in International Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Cris has had a diverse career in membership associations over 18 years across the disciplines of sales and marketing, business development, policy development and management. He has held positions at the Bob Jane Corporation, St Kilda Football Club, CPA Australia. Cris also serves on the Board sub-committee of Red Nose (formerly SIDS and Kids), is a trustee of two research foundations and provides mentoring services to women in senior management roles.
Gail Mulcair
Deputy Chair, AHPA Board and CEO, SPA
Speech Pathology Australia
Gail Mulcair is the Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary of Speech Pathology Australia. Gail originally trained as a speech pathologist and practised extensively in the field of adult rehabilitation. In her current role with Speech Pathology Australia, Gail combines her commitment to the needs of those with communication and swallowing difficulties, alongside skills in governance, strategic planning, member services, government relations and advocacy, and provides leadership and oversight to all functions of the Association. Gail's qualifications include a Master of Business, Graduate Diploma of Management and Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology). She is also a Director of Professions Australia the National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP). Gail’s previous association management roles include holding executive positions with Breastfeeding Australia and the Podiatry Association (Victoria).
Anita Hobson-Powell
Chair, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and Chief Executive Officer, ESSA
Exercise & Sports Science Australia
Anita is the Chief Executive Officer of Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA). She has been in a leadership role within the organisation since 2006. Anita has had many years of experience as a director sitting on Gymnastics Australia Board and the Gymnastics Queensland Board. She is also the Company Secretary for ESSA and sits on the Nominations Committee for the Brisbane South PHN.
Prof Lyn Littlefield
Executive Director, APS
Australian Psychological Society
Lyn is the Executive Director of the Australian Psychological Society. Lyn was appointed as Executive Director in 2001. She was previously the Head of the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University where she continues to hold a professorial appointment. Lyn was the inaugural director of the Victorian Parenting Centre, and in 2001 received a medal of the Order of Australia for service to the welfare of children and families and the advancement of training in the field of child, adolescent and family psychology. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management.
Tony Coles
Chief Executive Officer
Audiology Australia
Dr Tony Coles is currently Chief Executive Officer of Audiology Australia, a position he has held since June 2015. Tony has worked in association management for close to ten years, including seven years as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Association of Gerontology. Tony is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Graduate of the Australian Public Service, and has served on several Boards, including presently as a Director on the Board of the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions.
Leigh Clarke
Executive Officer
Australian Orthotic/Prosthetic Association
Leigh is the Executive Officer of the Australian Orthotic/Prosthetic Association. Leigh has a Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics (Honours) Masters in Public Health. Leigh has experience in a range of non-government organisation and hospital clinical roles through which she has gained expertise in neuromuscular orthotic management, post-operative prosthetic management and assistive technology more broadly. Since being appointed as the Executive Officer for AOPA, Leigh has worked to extend the presence of orthotist/prosthetists in the allied health space and strengthen AOPA’s self-regulatory role. In 2012 she initiated a project to develop AOPA’s Competency Standards, through a process which has been peer review published and received international awards through the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Nello Marino
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Podiatry Association
Nello has been Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Podiatry Association (formerly Australasian Podiatry Council) since January 2017. He has spent over 25 years in program and senior management roles across the health, sport and fitness industries. This most notably includes seven years as CEO of Sports Medicine Australia. Nello’s academic background is in exercise science and marketing and he has served on numerous not for profit and university Boards and committees.
Sally Kincaid
Chief Executive
Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
Sally is the Chief Executive of the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (ASMIRT). She has had a long and varied career in the health sector, including time spent at the National Heart Foundation (NHF), Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Medical Indemnity Protection Society (MIPS) and most latterly General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA). The vision of ASMIRT 'empowering medical radiation practitioners for the health of all Australians' marries closely with that of AHPA 'delivering the right service by the right practitioner in the right place at the right time' and Sally hopes that by working together across allied health, we can provide a strong and unified voice to fulfil those two visions.
Matthew Fisher
Chief Executive Officer
Chiropractic Association of Australia
Matthew is the CEO of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia. He has extensive experience in the health sector through previous roles in the Australian Dental Association and Mayne Health Corporate Health Management. Matthew holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Health Studies (honoris causa), as well as holding memberships with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Institute of Management, Australian Society for Association Executives and Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Matthew is also a member of the Macquarie University School of Chiropractic Advisory Board and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University.
Neryla Jolly
Council Member
Orthoptics Australia
Neryla is a council member of Orthoptics Australia as well as a Driving Vision Specialist and Consultant Orthoptist at Royal Ryde Hospital’s Brain Injury Unit. Neryla is a highly experienced orthoptist and has been awarded a Fellow of Orthoptics Australia for her contribution to the profession. Neryla has also won a range of research and other awards including the Zoran Georgeski Medal 2012, the Mary Wesson Award 1976 and the Research award of the International Orthoptic Association, Toronto 2012. Neryla has a focus on researching vision defects in patients following a stroke and driving with vision defects.
Rachel Norris
Chief Executive Officer
Occupational Therapy Australia
Rachel Norris has qualifications in occupational therapy, as well as post graduate qualifications in business (MBA and business coaching). She has over 30 years’ experience in the health and non-for-profit sectors, 12 years of which were spent in senior executive positions. In 2005 she established her own coaching and consultancy business. Rachel joined Occupational Therapy Australia in the role of CEO in September 2012 and is based in the Association’s central office in Melbourne. She is responsible for the management of the organisation and the execution and delivery of the Association’s strategic plan as set out by the Board.
Antony Nicholas
Chief Executive
Osteopathy Australia
Antony is Chief Executive of Osteopathy Australia and a current Board Director of the International Osteopathic Alliance. Antony studied Biological Sciences at Curtin University of Technology in WA, with further post graduate studies in Education and Natural Resource Management. Antony has a diverse career background in health, health promotion, health-consumer rights, education and dispute resolution, mainly within the not-for-profit sector.
Lynne Brown
President
Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia
Lynne Brown is President of the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia, a role held since 2013. Lynne completed a Master of Human Services (Rehab Counselling) at Griffith University and has professional expertise in the areas of Occupational Rehabilitation, Injury Management, Workers' Compensation, Vocational Assessments, Rehabilitation Programs, Job Placement, Sickness Absence, Claims/Case and Project Management. Lynne is the Senior Injury Management Advisor for the Queensland Police Service.
Claire Hewat
Chief Executive Officer
Claire recently joined AHPA after previously holding the role of CEO of the Dietitians Association of Australia in addition to roles as a DAA Board Director and on the NSW Branch Executive. Claire has had many years of experience as a practising Dietitian in clinical, food service, community and public health nutrition, diabetes education and private practice and in various aspects of health service management mostly in rural areas.
Melanie Dooley
Manager, Members and Corporate Services
Melanie Dooley holds the role of Manager, Manager, Members and Corporate Services, at Allied Health Professions Australia. Melanie is responsible for managing the governance and financial aspects of the business as well as providing support to our members.
Philipp Herrmann
Manager, Policy and Communications
Philipp Hermann holds the role of Manager, Policy and Communications at Allied Health Professions Australia. Philipp has a background in communications and policy and has worked across a range of health organisations. Philipp is responsible for overseeing all policy and communications activities including the development of advocacy materials and submissions. Philipp also represents the organisation in its work around digital health.
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