Ageing and Disability Advisory Board

Purpose of the Board

The purpose of the Ageing and Disability Advisory Board (Board) is to advise the Commissioner on issues relating to abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people and adults with disability, and can explore any topic that can improve the lives and outcomes of older people, adults with disability, their families and informal carers.

Members of the Board include the Commissioner and people appointed by the Commissioner who have knowledge and experience in relevant matters, and also reflect the diversity of the community.

Strategic Plan

The Board has endorsed a strategic plan that aims to shape their strategic thinking of the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission and engagement with contemporary social issues. The Board's strategic plan is available for review here. (PDF, 60.9 KB)

Statement of support for the Voice

Read the Ageing and Disability Advisory Board statement of support for the Voice to Parliament.

Board members

Prof. Eileen Baldry AO – Chair

• Professor of Criminology, UNSW
• Former Deputy Chair, Disability Council NSW
• Awarded NSW Justice Medal for improving access to justice for vulnerable people.

Joan Hughes - Deputy Chair

• Chair, Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing (MACA)
• Former  President (COTA), CEO, Australian Veterans Children's Assistance Trust
  
• Extensive experience in policy and research in the areas of ageing and for carers, including ageing parents of children with disabilities. Joan also volunteers for various community organisations.

Brian-John Attard

• Solicitor with the Seniors Rights Service
• Board member of Community Legal Centres NSW and the Law Society of NSW Indigenous Issues Committee
• A proud Kamilaroi man, with extensive experience in both government and private legal sectors with a particular focus on indigenous rights.

Corinne Henderson

• Director, Policy and Systems Reform with the NSW Mental Health Coordinating Council and a member of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal
• Former psychotherapist with experience working in community and private settings, specialising in trauma and the impact on mental health and psychosocial outcomes. 

Declan Lee

• Student completing Juris Doctor at UNSW, previously acquired Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice
• Student champoin for people with disability
• Lived experience with multiple disabilities.
  

Elena Katrakis

• CEO, Carers NSW
• Member, NSW Carers Advisory Council
• Previously a social worker with a particular focus on people with mental health and people experiencing homelessness.

Giancarlo De Vera

• Senior Manager, Policy, People with Disability.
• Lived experience of disability and iss the inaugural Secretary of the Disabled Australian Lawyers Association, Treasurer of the Australian Centre for Disability Law and sits on the Australian Government National Disability Data Asset Council.

Jan Primrose

• Head of Professional Standards and Safety, Australian Services Union, representing workers in the aged, disability and community services workforce
• Former social worker with a particular focus on working with vulnerable people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, and domestic violence victims including children and adults with disability.

Justine O'Neill

• Previously CEO, Council for Intellectual Disability and acting NSW Public Guardian helping people with dementia, intellectual disability, brain injury and mental illness, assisting individuals make significant decisions about their life.
  

Dr Rosemary Sheehy

• Community Geriatrician and Endocrinologist with Sydney Local Health District.
• Interested in aged care diabetes, boarding house resident health needs, HIV and transgender aged care. 

Suzanne Naden

• A proud Yuin (South Coast) Woman raised on Darkinjung country.
• CEO, Bungree Aboriginal Association LTD.
• Previous experience working with State and Federal government agencies.

Tony Jones

• Policy Officer, Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority.
• Experience working in disability policy and advocacy.

Violet Roumeliotis AO

• CEO of Settlement Services International, which supports multicultural, CALD and refugee communities
• Community Fellow with Western Sydney University
• Deputy President, Australian Council of Social Services
• Deputy Chair, SBS Community Advisory Committee.

Yumi Lee

• CEO, Older Womens Network.
• Awarded Advocacy and Reform Bright Spark Award, 2021 of the NSW Women's Legal Service for her work in advocating for the safety of older women.