Strategic Governance Group
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Members of SGG
Terms of Reference
Final SGG Annual Report October 2010-September 2011[Word 7.3MB] [PDF 627KB] [designer PDF 1.3KB]
Summary Annual Report 2009-2010 [designer PDF 1.4MB]
Detailed Annual Report 2009-2010 [designer PDF 1MB]
Quarterly Report (January-March 2011) [RTF 904KB] [PDF 250KB]
Quarterly Report (April-June 2011) [RTF 937KB] [PDF 314KB]
Disability ACT has a unique governance arrangement through the work of the Strategic Governance Group.
The SGG provides advice and strategic direction on the outcomes of government funded services and supports.
This group oversees the implementation of the ACT Government’s key policy on disability Future Directions: Towards Challenge 2014.
Contact: SGG Secretariat in Disability ACT on (02) 6205 4617
Email: disability.sgg@act.gov.au
Members of SGG
The current members of the Strategic Governance Group are:
Natalie Howson, government co-chair
Natalie is the deputy director-general of the Community Services Directorate in the ACT Government. Natalie has held senior executive positions within the Commonwealth Government, including Centrelink and the Department of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency. She brings to the SGG a wealth of experience in human service delivery and policy development, taskforce operationg, strengthening relationships with stakeholders and knowledge of governance at state and federal levels. In 2000 Natalie was recognised as the Telstra ACT Business Woman of the Year.
Simon Rosenberg, community co-chair
Simon has a long history in policy development, program management and delivery in human services, at all levels of government and the community sector. His experience includes mental health, alcohol and other drugs, disability, criminal justice, community housing and homelessness, and remote Aboriginal services. Simon has a strong commitment to social justice, citizen-centred services, and enhancing the capacity of the community sector. He is CEO of Northside Community Service.
Simon’s current community involvement includes: Mental Health Community Coalition of the ACT (President), ACT Council of Social Service General Committee, Alexander Maconochie Centre Taskforce, Ministerial Advisory Council on Mental Health, Domestic Violence Prevention Council.
Richard Bialkowski, community member
Richard was appointed to the Strategic Governance Group in May 2010 as a Community Member. Richard has extensive senior executive and governance experience in community based, not for profit organisations both in Canberra and at a national level.
He has undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in business management and corporate governance. Richard continues to be actively involved with a number of organisations that provide a broad range of community services. He is currently the CEO of Home Help Service ACT which provides services to older people and people with disabilities to enable them to continue living independently in their own homes.
Bryan Box, community member
Since his family was impacted by the birth of a son with multiple disabilities nearly 30 years ago, Bryan Box has been active in pursuing the cause of people with disabilities and their families. Bryan is striving to see a society where the needs of those with disabilities are catered for as a matter of course. He sees flaws in the current approach where services, equipment, facilities and support are provided (or not as the case may be) on a piecemeal basis primarily as a result of lengthy lobbying or by personal funding.
Bryan retired from the paid workforce 4 years ago after a lengthy career as a senior executive in the Australian public service and a stint in the private sector, also at a senior level. As a Community Representative on the Strategic Governance Group, Bryan is happy to discuss concerns and issues which members of the community may wish to have raised with the SGG. He can be contacted via email at bryan@ozemail.com.au or on 0413 302 748.
Lois Ford, ex-officio member
Lois is the executive director of Disability ACT. She has an extensive background in human service reform in New Zealand and Australia.
Lois is also the Chair of BLITS (Business Leaders Innovative Thoughts and Solutions). This group, comprising business and community seek to increase the participation, presence and respect for people with a disability in the ACT community by promoting initiatives that value and engage people with a disability as customers, supplier employees and employers
Kerrie Langford, community member
Kerrie is the Chief Executive Officer of Advance Personnel (Canberra) Inc, which provides employment services to people with disability.
Kerrie also wears many ‘hats’. She is the Chair of National Disability Services, ACT Branch, Chair of the National Committee Open Employment and Chair of NETA (Network of Employment and Training Agency's). Kerrie also participates in a range of committees aimed at enhancing the employment opportunities for people with disability.
She brings a wealth of experience gained through working in the disability sector for more than 25 years. Her experience covers a range of areas such as disability employment placement and support, advocacy, volunteer management, supported accommodation management and Nursing.
David Long, chair Disability Advisory Council
David has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Communication and Public Relations with a Masters in Business Administration.
He is passionate about improving all aspects of social integration for people with disability through the educational system, workplaces and the wider community.
He is a Churchill fellow and undertook his fellowship in the United Kingdom where he investigated how support services are provided to people with vision disabilities at universities within England, Scotland and Ireland. David has a visual impairment.
Ross O’Donoughue, government representative
Ross has held senior health executive roles across state, territory and the Australian governments. His population health and policy experience has spanned both health improvement and health protection. Ross has also had extensive experience in working in and with the non government and community based sectors. His policy analysis and development experience includes HIV/AIDS, infection control, mental health, drugs and alcohol and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Ross has also been involved in major reviews of public health legislation, including national and state food regulation and emergency response.
Ross is currently executive director, Policy and Government Relations in ACT Health Directorate.
Catherina O’Leary, community member
Catherina is a senior manager with KPMG. She has a considerable amount of experience in strategic communication, change and project management, human resource management and training across a number of sectors. In previous roles, she has worked with executive teams to develop and deliver organisational strategies and to support their communication activities.
Catherina has been instrumental in the implementation of many transformational change initiatives incorporating technological, structural and behavioural changes. She has also been nominated for a number of awards, including Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 2009. Catherina fulfils the role of Community Representative on the SGG.
