Our Leadership Team brings a vast range of skills and expertise to deliver Hear and Say’s strategic plan and achieve the organisation’s vision and mission.
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The dedication of our staff, volunteers, board directors and committees is at the core of Hear and Say
Meet our Board
Mr Matthew Ames
Chair
Matthew has almost 20 years’ experience in the energy and resources industry, and has found innovative ways to apply his skills after the loss of all four of his limbs and significant hearing loss in 2012. In addition to Hear and Say, Matthew is a board member of Metro South Hospital and Health Board, Bionics Gamechangers Queensland and Xavier Children’s Support Network; a council member for Centacare and a member of a number of steering committees for Queensland Health. Matthew joined the Hear and Say Board in November 2016 and was elected Chair in June 2020.
Professor Helen Chenery
Deputy Chair
Helen is an Emeritus Professor at The University of Queensland (UQ), having graduated from UQ with a bachelor and master’s degrees in speech pathology and a PhD in language neuroscience. She is currently President of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Queensland Eye Institute. She has previously chaired the STARS Hospital Alliance Board and been a Director of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Board and of CPL. Helen has a long history of engagement in human neurobionics, policy and practice reform in dementia care, health workforce innovation, adoption of digital health and education technologies and interprofessional education and practice. Helen joined the Hear and Say Board in October 2022.
Stephen Burmester
Non-executive Director
Stephen is a technology professional in the healthcare sector, with more than 30 years’ experience in architecting, building, operating and supporting some of the largest ICT systems in the country, including having led the design of Australia’s MyHealth Record. He has also previously run Cyber Intelligence and Incident Response for IBM Security helping businesses put strategies in place to deal with constant cyber threats and to manage the recovery from some of the largest cyber-attacks globally. Stephen joined the Hear and Say Board in December 2023.
Dr Dimity Dornan AO
Non-executive Director and Founder
Dimity is a qualified speech pathologist, and Founder and Executive Director of Hear and Say. She is also Founder and Chair of Bionics Queensland and Bionics Gamechangers Australia. Dimity is an Adjunct Professor to The University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Adjunct Professor to the Science and Engineering Faculty, School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology. She is a Fellow of Speech Pathology Australia, the Academy for Technology and Engineering and the Qld College of Arts and Sciences.
Mr Andrew Fraser
Non-executive Director
Mr Fraser is the Chancellor of Griffith University and serves on several boards of major corporations and charities. He is the Chair of the Australian Retirement Trust, President and Chair of Motorsport Australia, and Chair of the charity, Orange Sky Australia. Mr Fraser also serves on the board of major construction firm, BESIX Watpac Ltd, Brisbane Broncos Ltd (ASX: BBL) and Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition Ltd.
Mrs Evelyn Goggin
Non-executive Director
Evelyn has over 34 years’ experience in the energy, infrastructure and retail sectors, holding senior management positions in international companies primarily in accounting and corporate governance. Volunteer roles in the not-for-profit sector have allowed Evelyn the opportunity to leverage her substantial financial and accounting experience to enhance school and charity boards. Evelyn has an enduring passion for the sector and a strong association with Hear and Say, having worked with the organisation in a consulting capacity in 2018. Evelyn joined the Hear and Say Board in September 2020.
Dr Margaret Steinberg AM
Non-executive Director
Margaret has expertise in ethical decisionmaking as a clinician, academic and administrator. A former Commissioner, including of the Criminal Justice and Crime and Misconduct Commissions, Margaret currently sits on several boards and tribunals, and was previously on the Metro North Hospital and Health Service Board. Margaret joined the Hear and Say Board in April 2006.
Mr Darren Sumich
Non-executive Director
Darren is a lawyer of over 20 years’ experience, specialising in structuring and negotiating financial transactions. He is currently a Partner of MinterEllison and leads the firm’s Financial Solutions practice in Queensland. Darren has also led MinterEllison’s community investment and pro bono practice and is driven by his passion for bringing his commercial experience to assist not-for-profit and community welfare sectors. Darren joined the Board of Hear and Say in September 2020.
Tamarin Willmot
Non-executive Director
Tamarin is a Chartered Accountant with over 14 years of experience working with privately owned and not-for-profit businesses across various industries, including healthcare, in both Australia and South Africa. She is currently a Partner at PwC and is passionate about helping businesses grow and establishing strong corporate governance structures and cultures. Tamarin's dedication to her profession is matched by her personal commitment to supporting families facing challenges similar to her own. Since 2017, when her daughter was born with a hearing impairment, her family has experienced firsthand the life-changing support provided by Hear and Say.
Meet our Leadership Team
Sharon Stokell
Acting CEO/Chief Operating Officer
Sharon joined Hear and Say in July 2023, bringing over 35 years experience in administration, operations, support, and leadership roles, across a diverse range of work environments including hospitals, general practice, not for profit, corporate, and allied health. The last 30 years have been within healthcare, education, psychology, mental health, child protection, and business development, combining her experience with studies in these areas. Since 2004 Sharon has worked as a leader in practice, business, and operational management, combining this with the growth of a strong private psychology, mental health, and counselling practice in Toowoomba. Sharon is driven by the incredible teams she is involved with that encourage and support her to excel each day.
Julie Decker
Head of Audiology
Julie is an audiologist specialising in implantable hearing technology. Prior to joining Hear and Say in 2019, Julie worked for 14 years as the Australia/New Zealand Clinical Sales Manager for Cochlear Ltd. She brings a wealth of experience working with families and children enrolled in hearing loss-related early intervention and educational support services. Now as Head of Audiology at Hear and Say, Julie is responsible for overseeing all audiology services including collaborating with the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) to coordinate the Hear and Say Medical Only stream of the QCH hearing implant program. She is driven by a passion for delivering timely, quality services to people of all ages on a hearing implant journey. Julie holds a Master of Science (Audiology) and a Bachelor of Science (Speech Pathology and Audiology).
Lynda Farwell
Head of Listening and Spoken Language
Lynda is a specialist speech pathologist with over 16 years’ experience working with children with hearing loss and their families. She has a passion for family-centred practice and supporting each individual to reach their potential. Having commenced at Hear and Say as a graduate in 2006, Lynda now holds the position of Head of Listening and Spoken Language. This role sees Lynda oversee Hear and Say’s Listening and Spoken Language Therapy program, including ensuring quality clinical outcomes together with mentoring both internally and for external professionals working towards Listening and Spoken Language certification. Lynda has a Bachelor of Speech Pathology and Diploma of Leadership and Management, and is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist (LSLS Cert. AVT) and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (Speech Pathology Australia).
Zôwie Foster
Head of People and Culture
Zowie joined Hear and Say in August 2023 and brings with her more than 17 years’ experience in Human Resources. Zowie is a dynamic and versatile senior HR generalist with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resources and Accounting. Prior to joining Hear and Say she held senior HR operations leadership roles in the performing arts, retail, and distribution industries. Zowie brings a people and commercial lens to strategic HR planning that has led to building collaborative partnerships to improve outcomes and deliver innovative solutions. Zowie is passionate about championing a culture that fosters diversity and inclusion, she is an advocate for equality and building a connected and capable workforce.
Emma Rushbrooke
Director - Clinical Governance, Research and Training
Emma is an audiologist and listening and spoken language specialist (certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist), specialising in implantable hearing technology and listening and spoken language therapy. Emma joined Hear and Say in March 2000 as an audiologist, then Clinical Manager from 2000 to 2006, before transitioning to her current role of Clinical Director in 2007. Emma provides oversight for the clinical programs at Hear and Say, including Listening and Spoken Language Therapy, Audiology, WorldWide Training and Education, Group Social Skills programs and Research. Emma is passionate about providing the best possible family-centric support and delivering programs and services underpinned by evidence-based clinical practice and research.
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