Our Board

Catherine is a qualified physiotherapist with over 30 years’ experience across public, private and community health sectors. She is the former National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and was the APA’s national spokesperson for 7 years.

She has a special interest in policy development in Aged Care and Palliative Care and has served on numerous national committees and advisory boards.

As a Director on a number of Boards including Foodbank Queensland, she has a keen interest in implementing best-practice corporate governance in the not-for-profit sector.

Catherine is also the Director and Founder of Mickel Consulting, a government and community relations consultancy specialising in the health and welfare sectors and KelKel Global Education and Training, a training company specialising in Leadership Development in emerging Asian economies.

Tracey has an extensive background in corporate communications, business development and ICT.

Having worked in executive level roles within the healthcare, life sciences and innovation sectors, Tracey has developed relationships with professionals in Australia and internationally. Business and product development projects are Tracey’s forte as is building connections and strong working relations with channel partners. 

Michael is a medical practitioner with over 50 years’ experience. He has worked clinically in rural general practice, in alcohol and drug dependence services, and in palliative care since 1995. He has also held a number of administrative positions with Queensland Health, such as the Director of Alcohol and Drug Dependence Services, Director of the Rural Health Policy Unit, and Assistant Regional Director (Community and Clinical Services), Brisbane North Regional Health Authority. In this last role, he was involved in the discussions which resulted in the provision of the initial funding support to Karuna by Queensland Health, and its housing at its present location on the “Rosemount Campus”.

In 1991, Michael was awarded Membership of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to public health, particularly in the field of alcohol and drug Dependence.

Michael has worked extensively in a wide range of clinical services in palliative medicine in Australia and New Zealand for more than 22 years. He has had a long-term association with Karuna and, in particular, has been assisting with teaching and clinical supervision since mid-2015.

Hilary was one of a group of people who worked together with Ven Pende Hawter and Margaret Gagen in developing Karuna as a start- up Not For Profit in 1991, having had a long association with Ven. Lama Zopa Rinpoche. She was a staff member for its first 16 years, working as the original Volunteer Coordinator, then as the Family Counsellor and Coordinator of Family Support.

In June 2006 Hilary was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the community through the establishment of hospice and home-based palliative care services and programs to provide emotional support for the families and carers of people with terminal illness.

Hilary joined the Mater Foundation in 2007 as the Donor Liaison Manager, overseeing the Gifts in Wills program. She has also previously served as a Commissioned Officer in the RAAF (Supply).
She hopes that Karuna will always thrive and grow, and be there as a service for all who need compassionate care.

Ian is a retired local government executive and an active community volunteer.

Ian achieved an accomplished career in Local Government in Queensland serving rural and regional communities over forty years. He has gained broad experience in CEO/Executive and Board related roles and in voluntary positions on community organisations. He has developed skills in administration and communication through change management and government reform, interpersonal relations and political interfaces, significant natural disaster events and community development initiatives, and customer and community interactions. His passion for local government and for the local community continues in retirement as he pursues part-time consultancy projects and volunteer community service interests.

Ian has been an avid supporter of Karuna and its services since he became a client for the in-home palliative care of his wife Megan who was a terminally ill cancer patient. He has volunteered as a Board member to be of service to Karuna and to give back to the community it serves in memory of Megan.

Ian hopes that his diverse background together with his client perspective offers a useful contribution to the Board and looks forward to working with the Karuna team to enable its full potential to be reached into the future.

David is an experienced senior executive specialising in strategy development and strategic focus, business growth and new business initiatives, strategic reviews, organisational re-design and major change management initiatives.
Over the last 20 years, David has held senior executive positions such as Executive Manager Strategic Planning and Policy with the Brisbane City Council, Director of Strategy and Business Development with the Ingeus Group of Companies and Head of Strategy at Mission Australia. For the last three years, David has been undertaking freelance consultancy and advisory work for the CEO’s of Goodstart Early Learning, Uniting Care Queensland and St Vincent’s Care Services Australia.
David holds Masters degrees in both Management and also in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Organisational Development.

Michelle is a Chartered Accountant with extensive accounting and taxation experience, specifically with small and medium business clients.

She has a keen interest in the community sector, from both fundraising and Board management perspectives, and is suitably skilled to assist Karuna with financial matters and deliberations after joining the board in mid-2019. Michelle’s connection to Karuna was through the passing of a dear friend a number of years ago, which led to her interest in, and support of, the organisation.

Michelle has Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Taxation degrees from University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Governance Institute.