NDISLINK Sponsors
18th July 2024

Mark has a Bachelors’ degree in Psychology and Law, a Masters in Law and is currently completing his Doctorate in Corporate Leadership in the NDIS. He is a Practicing Solicitor with over 23 years in governance and compliance within the corporate, government and NGO sectors.

Within these, he specialises in governance systems, risk mitigation and imbedding high quality systems within policy and procedure. Mark’s passion is upskilling others to build their capacity as corporate leaders, resulting in high quality services, lower risk and increasing profit margins.

Michael is an experience senior leader with a range of commercial, not-for-profit and Directorship experience in SA over the past 30 years.

As the Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Disability Services, he is passionate about provide safe and secure accommodation for people living with disability and ensuring that the NDIS remains sustainable and provides quality outcomes for participants and the organisations that support them.

Prior to commencing as the Lutheran Disability Services CEO, Michael was the Chief Operating Officer at LDS responsible for quality & safeguarding, people and culture, marketing and strategy.  Michael joined the sector in 2018 with a short stint at Bedford before commencing at LDS. Prior to joining the sector Michael had a very successful commercial career at RAA with roles leading the Marketing, Sales and Business Development teams. Prior to RAA Michael worked in a number of industries in sales and marketing roles.

The desire to join the disability sector was to bring commercial outcomes that combine heart and sustainability to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.  Having found this purpose at Lutheran Disability Services he has been able to combine commercial acumen with not-for-profit heart to help grow the impact of the brand for clients.

Michael’s undergraduate degree is in Theology (Flinders) and he has undertaken further study at UniSA with a Masters of Business Administration and an Emerging Leaders short course at ESADE University in Barcelona.

In 2020 Michael graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and sits on the following Boards:
•    CareWorks SA: non-Executive Chair
•    SPELD SA: non-Executive Deputy Chair
•    Catalyst Foundation: non-Executive Director

Kirsty is RSM’s NDIS Subject Matter Expert, providing Business Advisory support to disability service providers, community, aged care, regional hospitals, and healthcare services operating under NDIS and aged care fee for service funding.

 Kirsty is experienced in developing activity-based costing, financial modelling, market analysis, demand and supply analysis and business process mapping.  

Kirsty also works with a range of different industries on economic development and change projects having recently undertaken a detailed consultation and financial viability and funding model analysis of the Lawn Bowls industry and arts organisations in the ACT.  Kirsty also has experience in providing NFP governance and restructure reviews and change management projects.    Kirsty is an active community member and is the elected Vice President of the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Association. Kirsty was awarded Corporate Volunteer of the Year in 2019 for her RSM probono work with the Marymead Autism Centre. Kirsty holds a BA (Communications).

Vera has over 30 years’ experience in acting for numerous charities, religious and not-for-profit
organisations.
Vera provides a full suite of commercial services to not-for-profit clients, including protecting commercial arrangements through drafting services agreements, privacy policies, internal policies and procedures, and reviewing grant and other government agreements.
Vera is a sought-after speaker throughout Australia. In the last year she has presented at the Better Boards Conference, and Legalwise and TENS seminars on not-for-profits. She has also authored a chapter within Charity Global Guide (2018), published by Thomson Reuters, and has authored a paper on lessons not-for-profits should learn from the recent Royal Commissions, published by Pro Bono Australia

As co-founder and CEO of Specialist Disability Accommodation provider Everhomes, Dan Acfield is passionate about helping people living with disability to live with as much independence
and dignity as possible.
He strongly believes in the capacity of Specialist Disability Accommodation to improve the lives of people needing accessible or special housing, and is passionate about its capacity to help
deinstitutionalise accommodation for people living with disabilities in Australia.
Prior to Everhomes, Dan worked for many years advocating for the rights and wellbeing of children in care and adults with impaired capacity, and this background has been foundational in
bringing a strong human rights focus to Everhomes’ approach. Dan holds a Bachelor of Education and will be delivering the Introduction to SDA and partake in a session in the SDA Intermediate session

Lorraine is a values driven executive leader who is passionate about making a positive impact on vulnerable communities and social outcomes. She has displayed a strong commitment to service-system linkages, collaboration, and working proactively to prevent and address disadvantage throughout her career.

With extensive experience in the social services sector, Lorraine has supported vulnerable communities in the government sector (central and service delivery agencies), Not for Profit, and For-Purpose, For Profit companies as well as community.

Sharon is Director of Engels Floyd Quality Consulting - a leading  NDIS consulting company with a reputation for integrity and professionalism.  Engels Floyd has trained all of the (1100+) NDIS auditors on behalf of the NDIS Commission, which means they know the NDIS registration requirements back to front.  

Sharon has over 30 years experience with specialist expertise in all things quality and compliance - particularly NDIS.  Sharon's career also  includes being  awarded an Australia Day award for excellence in audit processes, and management of a leadership program for people with disability.  

As a Director of Management Governance Australia and Workforce Plus Inc, David brings more than 30 years of experience working across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. 

MGA and its NFP arm, Workforce Plus, work across Australia to provide innovative solutions for industry, communities, and government. Both companies support a diverse range of clients to develop and grow their organisational or community cultures, structures, and processes.

As a former CEO and Victorian State Manager of National Disability Services, and before this as the leader of the central agency team which coordinated the Victorian Government’s contribution to developing the NDIS, David has a detailed understanding of the Scheme and the challenges and issues faced by young people with disability, their families and supporters. 

Having started his working life as a lawyer, David has also worked as an executive in the Victorian Public Service, leading teams responsible for national health and safety reform, strategic WHS policy, WHS legislation and regulations and regulatory framework development, departmental budget strategy and corporate planning

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