Our People

Acknowledged as one of Labor’s great reformers, Jim helped achieve the “one vote one value” for the Legislative Assembly, Gay, and Lesbian equality in the laws of WA and provision for surrogacy parenting. He established new institutions including the Corruptions and Crime Commission, the State Administrative Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

Miriam has advised on a wide range of major projects in the infrastructure, mining, waste and water sectors, working for both the private and public sectors. Miriam is particularly passionate about working on Western Australian government projects, having advised the State government on the Fiona Stanley Hospital project, the Perth Children’s hospital project, the development of Elizabeth Quay, the development of the Old Treasury Building and redevelopment of the Perth Museum.

Prior to joining the Communicare board, Miriam had been a long term volunteer of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), forming part of the founding chapter council in WA and sitting on the board of NAWIC for 4 years. Miriam is also a board member of Ruah Legal Services (formerly the Mental Health Law Centre).

Jacqueline is currently serving as CFO for Proteomics International and has held numerous senior management positions with Healthcare of Australia, The Economist Group, BBC Worldwide and Arthur Andersen. Most recently, Jacqueline has been working with several emerging ASX listed companies in the medical technology, SaaS, digital marketing, Ecommerce, retail and renewables sectors. Jacqueline’s list of qualifications qualifications include a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Edith Cowan University, Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia, and Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Kieran has over 20 years of private practice experience delivering award-winning urban design and architectural projects across commercial, public, urban design, interiors, education and residential categories, as well as winning the Australian Award for Urban Design and an International Award for Public Participation. His career is grounded in the challenge of bringing equity, social justice, and inclusion to the built environment across Australia.

He is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash University, and an Industry Partner for the University of Sydney’s Health Habitat Incubator, with both roles focused on housing policy, indigenous housing and settlement planning.

Kieran was the National President of the Association of Consulting Architects and is currently Chair of Shelter WA, the peak body in Western Australia for the community housing and homelessness sectors. Kieran’s work is underpinned by his belief that design matters and the ability of good design to influence positive outcomes, not just for individuals, but for the wider community.

Brendan is a qualified coach, for ambitious school leaders and operates his own coaching business.

Brendan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education and holds a Graduate Diploma in Business and a Master of Business Administration from Curtin University.

Before these non-executive appointments, Tony was a Managing Director at HSBC, where he led the organisation’s Natural Resources business, and a Group Executive at SouthGobi Resources, based in Hong Kong.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and has been admitted as a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jade has served in many public service roles across Human Services and Community Services, both state and federal, and is currently employed by the Western Australia Department of Communities as a Project Manager.

With experience in Project Management, Strategic Development, Organisation Structural Review, Business Analysis, Policy and frontline Service Delivery, Jade brings to the Communicare Board extensive experience across Community Services, particularly in Housing and Aboriginal outcomes.

As one of Western Australia’s most highly regarded politicians, Ben successfully transitioned to a new career in the top-tier of business on his retirement as State Treasurer and Member for Victoria Park at the 2021 state election. Prior to his retirement, he held a number of ministerial positions and became the first person of Aboriginal heritage to become Treasurer of an Australian Parliament. Ben’s extensive knowledge of public policy, finance, international trade and Indigenous affairs brings valuable insight to his role as Communicare’s Patron.

Prior to politics, Ben was an officer in the Australian Army Reserves and went on to have a career in the legal profession as a barrister and solicitor. In recent years, Ben has taken up roles at Rio Tinto, Woodside Petroleum, the Telethon Kids Institute, the West Coast Eagles and Perth Festival. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee of Australian Capital Equity.

He has worked in senior positions in government and the community sector and understands the context of both, giving him a unique understanding of how best to shape relationships and outcomes for the community. Before joining Communicare in 2016, David was Executive Manager at Uniting where he led a range of transformational change programs. He also worked in major system change as part of the child protection reform agenda in many roles at the Department for Child Protection. In addition to his role as Communicare’s Executive Director Operations, David is the State Co-chair for Anti-Poverty Week and is on the Board of WACOSS.

David has qualifications in Social Work, Public Sector Management and is a Company Directors Graduate. He has also completed the Cranlanna Executive Colloquium.

Tim is passionate about delivering corporate strategies and assisting business operations achieve sustainable commercial success. Before joining Communicare, Tim was the Director of Finance and Secretary of Guildford Grammar School. He also worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, ABN Group, Gull Group and CBH Group in various management positions. In his current role, he is responsible for all financial, property and risk matters to ensure programs and operations are delivered in line with Communicare’s strategic objectives. He is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia a Member of the Finance and Treasury Association and Taxation Institute of Australia.

Throughout her career, she has thrived on developing high performing teams and programmes, with a focus on continuous improvement to deliver better education and training outcomes for all.

In her current role, Stacey is responsible for the service delivery and development of education, employment and training programmes and services provided by Communicare, both in the Perth metropolitan area and the Mid-West. This includes the Communicare Academy, a Curriculum and Reengagement in Education (CARE) School, providing students with a unique approach to re-engagement in their education journey, focusing on wellbeing and education support. Stacey also oversees a team of Youth Mentors and an Alternative Education Pathways team who are experts in connecting children and young people with specialist support services.

Most recently he was the Senior Manager Mental Health and AOD for Sonder and prior to that he was the Executive Manager Regional with Palmerston.

Ben is passionate about supporting and inspiring workplace teams to make positive impacts in the lives of clients and communities.

He has a proven ability to deliver organisational growth in not-for-profit health services, along with advanced governance and executive management skills.

Ben’s ability to develop and leverage strategic relationships, complement his outstanding aptitude in driving culture and reform in organisations.

Outside of work, his hobbies include woodworking, furniture making, restoring old motorcycles and cars and solo adventure motorcycle touring and camping.

Leah’s role at Ability WA took a very client-centred approach, focused on providing people with a disability and their carers with greater choice and flexibility in service delivery, as aligned with the new NDIS model. She has extensive experience in people and brand, strategy and culture transformations within a diversity of workplaces, including the Community and Public Sector Union, NSW Department of Education and Training, BGC Contracting and the City of Wanneroo. Leah is passionate about human resources business partnering and helping customers to achieve their objectives through tailored people strategies.

Vince has been with Communicare since July 2019, starting as ICT Services Manager. He has 30 years’ experience in ICT in Western Australia, workings as a system administrator, account manager, project manager and ICT manager, most recently spending 12 years with Sealanes, now Superior Food Group. He was appointed to the role of Director ICT and Data Integrity in July 2023.

Vince believes that providing seamless support to the Communicare team is the priority for him and his team; to implement solutions to improve the outcomes delivered by staff at Communicare’s front line. ICT is like a good wicket keeper, Vince said. You only notice them if they are not doing a good job. He said his team keeps a low profile, while providing excellent service and identifying opportunities for improved processes to utilise technology to its full potential.

Vince has a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University, with a double major in Political Science and completed post graduate studies again in Political Science at the University of Western Australia. Away from work, he is the coach of the WA State Blind and Low Vision Cricket Team and a life member of the Applecross Cricket Club and the Brentwood-Booragoon Football Club. He is also a baker extraordinaire, having won prizes for his much-heralded macarons.

Donna thrives when drawing on ideation for problem solving, design thinking and using sharp analytical skills. She brings demonstrated experience in leading within a range of frameworks including Gallup Strengths, Adaptive Leadership, Leader/Member Exchange and Agile Scrum applied to operational transformation within complex programs of work.

Donna have a proven track record in facilitating results in the areas of Business Improvement, Leadership Development, Process Transformation, Change Management, Marketing and Communications, and building healthy, resilient not-for-profit organisations. Or equally, Donna is quite happy discussing artistic achievements as an active member of the Glass Artists in Western Australia community and fused glass artist.

Jayson is a genuine, authentic, engaging leader who started his career as an Elementary School Counsellor in the Hawaiian Islands, while completing a Bachelor of Social Work. He went on to undertake post graduate studies in Public Policy and Administration in New Zealand, before moving to Queensland to pursue further leadership opportunities.

An experienced grass roots practitioner at heart, and change advocate in practice, Jayson embraces the call to action for positive male role modelling, as a commitment to the protection, safety and wellbeing of woman and children.

Toni has worked with children, young people, and families for over 30 years, both in statutory child protection and the non-government sector. Specifically, she has held senior leadership roles in several not-for-profit organisations in NSW and WA, leading Out of Home Care programs, Family Support, and Intensive Family Support Services. Prior to joining Communicare, Toni worked for Barnardos NSW/ACT, where she led the development of the organisation’s Practice Framework. She has also worked in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO), supporting accreditation and capacity building.

Toni holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology and Community Work) and a Graduate Diploma in Therapeutic Life Story Work. She has lived overseas, volunteered in women’s and girls’ refuges, and worked in intercountry adoption for a US-based organisation. Toni is a fierce advocate for children, young people, and families, believing that healthy, flourishing children and young people need a ‘village’ of safe and trusted adults around them.

Outside of work, Toni enjoys swimming, bushwalking, perfecting the ultimate loaf of sourdough, and travelling.