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Board

Our board members are more than just dedicated and passionate – they bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, allowing us to continually improve and innovate. They are committed to advancing our cause and ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources.

Jim McGinty

Hon. Jim McGinty

Chairperson

Jim commenced as our Chairperson in April 2018. James (Jim) McGinty was a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1990 to 2009, representing the district of Fremantle. He was also the Labor Party leader and Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1996. He served as Attorney-General, in the governments of Carmen Lawrence, Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter.

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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 D’Souza

Board Member

Miriam D’Souza is a projects and infrastructure lawyer based in Western Australia with over 20 years’ experience advising on major projects. Miriam is a partner at Ashurst.

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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 Gray

Board Member

Jacqueline is a Senior Finance Executive with over 25 years of experience in multiple industries and managing companies with a global turnover in excess of £500M. She has a successful track record with developing & implementing corporate strategy, building high performance management teams, M&A and post-merger integration.

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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.

Brendan Hodge

Brendan Hodge

Board Member

Brendan joined the Communicare Board in September 2015. Brendan has over 20 years’ experience in public education and is the Associate Principal of Winterfold Primary School in Beaconsfield Western Australia.

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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.

Tony Pearson

Tony Pearson

Board Member

Tony joined Communicare’s board in June 2020. Tony is an experienced international executive and Company Director. He is currently a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Garden & Domain Trust, a Commissioner at the Independent Planning Commission, and a non-executive director of ASX listed Cellnet and Peak Resources.

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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 Adams

Jade Adams

Board Member

Jade joined Communicare’s board in January 2020. Jade was born and raised in Darwin. Her people are the Yadhiagana/Wuthathi people of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Jade also is of Filipino, Chinese, Malayan and English background. The diversity of her background is something of which Jade is very proud.

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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.

Ben Wyatt

Ben Wyatt MLA

Patron

Ben Wyatt, a proud Yamatji man, joined Communicare as our Patron in 2007. He has a Law Degree from the University of Western Australia and attended the London School of Economics and Political Science on a Scholarship where he completed a Master’s Degree.

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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.

Executive Leadership

As strong advocates for inclusion and equality, our leadership team champions the cause of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Merinda March

Chief Executive Officer

Merinda is a highly experienced CEO with extensive management history within the health care, community and not-for-profit sectors. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and has dedicated the latter part of her career to family domestic violence, youth justice, alcohol and other drugs, counselling and mental health services.

With a strong focus on business development and a passion for collective leadership and social impact, she is committed to the growth of Communicare programs and services, which will ensure that the organisation is embedded in the communities it serves.

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Throughout her career, Merinda has aligned herself with purpose-driven organisations who demonstrate a strong commitment to reconciliation. Merinda describes herself as reconciliation ally. She is a social justice, mental health and lived/living experience advocate.

Merinda is a Board Member and Secretary of Western Australian Network of Alcohol & Other Drug Agencies (WANADA). Board Member of Community Employers WA (CEWA).

She has a Bachelor of Counselling and Bachelor of Applied Psychology from The University of Notre Dame Australia.

Helen Mitchell

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Helen joined Communicare in 2025 as our inaugural Deputy Chief Executive Officer, a pivotal role created to support the organisation’s continued growth, evolving service offering and long-term community impact.

With more than 30 years of leadership experience across the health and community services sectors, Helen brings extensive expertise in inclusion, social impact and business development. Her work spans government, academia, private enterprise and the not-for-profit sector. She is nationally recognised for her leadership in co-design for impact, evidence-based practice and meaningful partnerships with First Nations communities.

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Helen’s values-led approach and strong commitment to reconciliation align closely with Communicare’s purpose and aspiration to create a nation where every person is safe, included and connected and systems are designed to support the community to thrive. As Deputy CEO, she plays a key role in strengthening leadership across programs, building a future-ready structure, advocating for systems change and supporting sustainable growth and stability across the organisation.

Outside of work, Helen is a keen traveller with a love of wildlife and nature, though she now prefers comfort over camping. A self-described “curator of hobbies,” she’s always creating something, from sewing and soap making to preserving and photography. Raised on a farm and handy with any vehicle, she’s recently added “Granty” (great aunty) to her list of proud titles.

 

 

Mark Bow

Chief Financial Officer

Mark is an experienced finance and operations leader, passionate about driving sustainable growth and improving financial performance through data-driven strategies. Before joining Communicare, Mark held senior executive roles at RAAFA, where he led key business initiatives including acquisitions, major capital projects, and governance reforms. He has worked across the community services, aged care, manufacturing, and financial services sectors in Western Australia.

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Mark is responsible for all financial, property, and risk matters, ensuring the delivery of Communicare’s programs and operations align with our strategic objectives. He brings extensive expertise in corporate strategy and mergers & acquisitions and is committed to delivering long-term value to the organisation and the communities we support.

Mark is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA). He has completed the Chartered Director Programme with the Institute of Directors in the UK & Ireland, and the General Managers Programme through UNSW Business School. He has also undertaken the Foundations of Directorship course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and holds a Certificate in Company Secretarial Essentials from the Governance Institute of Australia, reflecting his strong commitment to good governance and strategic leadership.

Outside of work, Mark is a keen adventurer and lover of the outdoors. He has reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, trekked to Everest Base Camp, completed the UK’s Three Peaks Challenge, and most recently hiked the Cape-to-Cape Track. He enjoys exploring remote parts of Australia, having driven from Perth to Uluru via the unsealed Great Central Road, and regularly camps in off-grid locations like Wooroora and Ningaloo Stations.

Kelly Gray

Chief Services Officer

Kelly brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across Australia and the UK, spanning domestic violence, mental health, youth, disability, aged care and homelessness.

Known for her collaborative and transformational leadership style, Kelly is passionate about delivering quality, people-centred outcomes and building strong, values-driven teams.

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Kelly most recently served as Head of Care Services at Staffordshire County Council, where she led over 300 staff across nine services, ensuring safe, effective care for more than 200 vulnerable individuals. She championed major service reforms, co-production, and operational excellence, all anchored in real-world outcomes for clients and communities.

Her return to Communicare is a meaningful one. Earlier in her career, Kelly played a key role in growing the organisation’s RTO services and worked directly with clients in the Breathing Space program for men using violence.

Outside of work, Kelly recharges by the coast, whether it’s walking her dog along the beach or soaking up the WA sun. She enjoys home improvement projects and values quality time with friends and family.

Donna Di Bartolomeo

Chief Strategy Officer

Donna is a not-for-profit business leader, acknowledged for a focus on strategic performance growth, business development, high performing team development, innovation and project management.

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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.

Stacey Jobson-Hunter

Chief of Education Services

Stacey joined Communicare in 2019, bringing to the role over 20 years of experience she gained while working in senior leadership positions in the UK.

Stacey has held senior leadership positions in local government and the not for profit sector working in education, employment, and place-based community organisations, driving service excellence and organisational growth.

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Working extensively across the community sector Stacey’s extensive knowledge and drive to enable people to have choices in life is what gets her up in the morning.

Stacey is passionate about building high performing team and fostering genuine partnerships that deliver real community impact

In her current role, Stacey is responsible for steering organisational strategy and operations with a keen eye for sustainable growth opportunities and risk management. Stacey has developed strong commercial acumen over the last 20 years with deep community program expertise across a range of our services to include youth/family safety services/education and FDV.

Stacey brings to the table her high level of experience in leading cross functional teams across multiple sites enabling successful outcomes that change lives of people in our communities

Ben Headlam

Director Family and Community Safety Services

Ben Headlam has experience spanning 20-plus years in the health care and community services sectors.

Since 2010, he has held management and executive roles in child and family mental health, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) and community services organisations.

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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.

Ciara Lowe

Director of Marketing and Communications

Ciara is a dynamic marketing leader with a passion for values-driven storytelling and brand building. With a wealth of experience spanning not-for-profits, entrepreneurial ventures, resources, corporate management, and education, she thrives on creating impactful campaigns and communications that not only drive engagement but also align with strategic objectives.

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A firm believer that branding and reputation are at the heart of any organisation’s success, her approach blends insight-driven strategy with a deep commitment to authenticity—ensuring brands connect meaningfully with their audiences. Latterly, her work has reached audiences including Marie Claire, the BBC and The Project.

Ciara is committed to being an ally in reconciliation for Australia’s First Nations people. As a proud Irish Catholic woman, whose own community has felt the lasting impacts of colonialism and occupation, she is dedicated to advocacy through both her work and personal values.

Ciara has a Masters in Languages and Business (German and Spanish) and a Post Grad in Education. She has lived and worked in North America, the UK and Europe. Ciara is a fierce advocate for women and young people and as a qualified image consultant, is often found passionately speaking about the power of style as a communication and confidence power tool.

Outside the office, you’ll find her in op shops, spending time with her groodle Blue, or unashamedly fan-girling her two sons from the sidelines of a rugby field.

 

Tim Cocks

Director Finance and Procurement

Tim is a senior finance and management professional, with more than 25 years’ executive experience as a Chartered Accountant in the not-for-profit, education, mining, property, construction, retail and investment sectors.

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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.

Vince Stackpole

Director ICT and Digital Capability

As the Director Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Data Integrity, Vince says his motivation to come to work each day is the positive impact Communicare has for the people it supports. Despite his work in ICT not being a front-line service, he is deeply passionate about justice, equality, and equity. Vince said Communicare provides him with the freedom to explore other opportunities within the organisation, including the support of First Nations Australians under its Reconciliation Action Plan.

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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.

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