Our Board and staff

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 20 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 of Early Childhood Intervention Australia (Vic/Tas), is a trustee of two research foundations and provides mentoring services to women in senior management roles.

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, Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) and Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also a Director of Professions Australia and 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 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 National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions, Gymnastics Australia Board and the Gymnastics Queensland Board. She is also the Company Secretary for ESSA.

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.

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 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 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.

Claire  joined AHPA in 2018 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 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 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.

Karen Farrar has a PhD in cardiovascular physiology and worked for 20 years in cardiology services as a cardiac physiologist and accredited sonographer. After leaving the clinical setting, she joined the Australasian Sonographers Association, first as Policy and Advocacy Officer, then as Managing Editor of its communications and publications. More recently, Karen has worked as a consultant and has written and edited health-related material for government and corporate clients as well as individual health professionals.  She has a particular interest in, and has presented on, the concept of professional identity including its role in advocacy.