Meet Our Governance Team

Clare was appointed Chief Executive Officer of genU in June 2020 and brings a wealth of leadership experience to the organisation.

Clare joined genU following terms as CEO at both WorkSafe Victoria and Western Region Health Centre in Melbourne. Clare had been serving as an advisor to the Victorian Government’s newly formed Bushfire Recovery Victoria and was also an Executive with the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety after leaving WorkSafe in 2019.

Claire Sime joined genU in December 2023.

Claire is an accomplished executive and non-executive board director, with deep strategy, transformation, and change experience. Her most recent role was as the Group Director Strategy at Epworth HealthCare, where she was responsible for the Group strategy development and delivery, clinical services planning, key transformation projects and change management.

Claire is also a Board Director at Anglicare Victoria and is Chair of the Client Services Committee. Prior to Epworth, Claire was a Director at KPMG in the Management Consulting Practice in the Health, Ageing and Human Services Team. Known for her ability to influence and to focus on strategic priorities, she is an engaging leader who consistently delivers outcomes.    

Brooke Draper was appointed genU Interim Chief Operating Officer in September 2024 following genU’s merger with Western Australian-based Activ.

Prior to this, Booke had been the Activ Chief Operating Officer since November 2023 and Head of Strategic Operations at Activ before that.

Brooke has extensive leadership and management experience in the disability sector, with previous roles at Ability WA, Mission Australia and YMCA, and a wealth of strong associations and relationships across the community services sector.

Michael van Oudtshoorn was appointed genU Chief Marketing and Communications Officer in October 2024 as genU came together with Western Australian-based Activ.

Prior to this, Michael had been the Activ Executive Manager Marketing, Fundraising and Events since February 2022.

With over 20 years’ management experience in commercial and charitable marketing, Michael has a wealth of knowledge in strategic marketing, branding, fundraising, lotteries, philanthropy, donor relations and leadership.

Michael is passionate about the adoption of cutting-edge marketing and management practices in the charitable sector to drive efficiency and profitability leading to a greater purpose-led community impact.

Michael holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Business and is also a WA State Committee Member of the Australian Marketing Institute.

Kelly Smith joined genU’s Executive on 1 July 2024 as genU merged with Western Australian-based Activ.

Prior to commencing at Activ in 2021, Kelly held various roles in financial management within the university sector in Australia and the UK. Most recently, she was the Associate Director for Financial Services at the University of Western Australia.

Kelly is an experienced and analytical senior manager who is passionate about the not-for-profit sector and delivering high quality and culturally aligned business solutions to support Activ’s vision and mission.

Kelly holds bachelor’s degrees in health science and commerce, is a Certified Practicing Accountant, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Tri was appointed General Counsel & Company Secretary in April 2023. 

Tri has spent the last 20 years in various General Counsel and Company Secretary roles in a range of industries: ASX (Telecommunication, Agricultural, Forestry, Manufacturing, Construction, Regulated Investment and Hospitality), Federal Government and recently Member-based. 

He is a Fellow of Governance Institute of Australia.

Background:

• An experienced non-executive director and board chair for nearly 20 years
• Over 30 years’ experience in the health services sector, including senior executive roles in both public and private hospitals
• Former CEO and business owner of aged care businesses
• Currently Managing Director of advisory consulting business, supporting the health and aged care sector across Australia
• Chair of Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre
• Chair of Kikada Lane Dental

Qualifications:

• Master of Health Administration
• Bachelor of Educational Studies
• Diploma of Business
• Completed the Williamson Community Leadership Programme
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Graduate of INSEAD

Subcommittees: Risk

Background:

• A Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Jan joined the Board in October 2019
• An experienced senior executive with a legal and risk background who has worked in private and public practice
• Executive General Manager in the healthcare sector at I-MED Radiology, a national diagnostic imaging organisation where she leads the Victorian and Tasmanian division.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Law
• Master of International Law
• Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
• Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of NZ
• Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Graduate – Wharton Business School, Executive Development Programme

Subcommittees:
Finance, Governance and Risk

Background:

• CEO, St John of God Hospital Geelong
• Stephen was appointed as Board Chair of Karingal St Laurence (genU) in May 2018, after having served as a non-executive Director of St Laurence Community Services since 2015
• Stephen has served on a range of health industry boards and was a previous chairman of the Church and Charitable Private Hospitals Association

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Health Administration
• MBA –University of Melbourne

Subcommittees: Finance

Background:

• Experienced Finance and Compliance Executive with diverse industry experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Business
• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance
• Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)
• Fellow Chartered Secretaries
• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma

Background:

• A director of Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Corporation, GenU and Permanent Care and Adoptive Families, an independent member of the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Audit and Risk Management Committee, YHA Bushwalking Victoria President and Hawthorn Tennis Committee member.
• She was formerly Chair and CEO of the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB), KPMG Audit Partner and Open Gardens Australia Board member and Audit Committee Chair.
• 30+ years as a finance, accounting, audit and regulatory expert with extensive experience in developing and implementing strategies, policies and processes for organisations, including managing risk, corporate governance and compliance.
• An Anglicare foster carer.

Qualifications:

• Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand 
• Fellow of CPA Australia 
• Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors 
• Master of Business (Accountancy), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane

Background:

• Started her career as a Music Therapist focused on Child Psychology and Special Education
• Over 25 years’ experience in Early Learning and Care (Childcare), Retirement Living, Financial Services and Leadership Consulting sectors
• Roles have included senior positions in Operations, Internal/External Consulting, and Sales and Marketing
• She formerly worked as a Senior Executive for ASX-listed Stockland, in the Retirement Living Business, and held senior roles with Egon Zehnder International and GE Capital

Qualifications:

• Master of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Music Therapy
• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma

Background:

• Care coordinator for clients in the community with chronic and complex health and lifestyle issues, including chronic disease management, mental health issues and housing problems
• Extensive acute- care nursing experience working at University Hospital Geelong,  community nursing and aged and dementia care nursing
• Committee member of various Karingal/ genU committees for over 20 years
• Mother of a fantastic daughter with a disability and a chronic medical condition
• Enjoys play time with grandchildren and off-road camping in Central Australia

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Nursing
• Diploma of State Enrolled Nursing

Background:

• Elected as the 43rd Premier of Tasmania in 2008. During his time in the Tasmanian parliament, he also held the positions of Member for Denison; Minister for Education and Skills; Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology; and Attorney General
• Has held a number of non-executive positions in high growth technology companies and a number of not-for-profit organisations since stepping down as Premier
• His early career was spent in the technology and telecommunications sector, culminating as CIO in the Department of Health and Human Services
• Former Chair of Li-Ve Tasmania Board
• Former Chair of the Brave Foundation
• Former Chair of the Salamanca Arts Centre
• Former Chair of the Wicking Centre for Dementia Education and Research
• Non-executive Chair of the New Zealand headquartered Fronde Systems
• Non-executive Director of Emprevo
• Non-executive Chair of the Tasmanian University Student Union Board of Management

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science (Maths, Computer Science), University of Tasmania
• Graduate Diploma of Business, University of Tasmania

Michelle joined the genU Board on 1 July 2024 as genU and Activ merged.

Background:

• Michelle joined the Activ board in 2019 and has held the roles of Chair of the Customer, Quality & Safeguarding committee and a member of the People, Culture & Safety committee. 
• She has an executive background with deep digital and commercial experience, as a successful managing director and executive leader with News Corp in Australia and USA.
• Much of Michelle’s experience has been in very competitive markets with high rates of evolution, frequent disruption and complexity.
• Michelle has held non-executive director board roles at Perth Airport, Pioneer Credit, Variety Children’s Charity and was Chair of Community Newspaper Group WA.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Business from ECU
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Trevor joined the genU Board on 1 July 2024 as genU and Activ merged.

Background:

• Trevor is a professional Company Director with over 18 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director in the financial services industry following many years in senior corporate executive and management positions.
• Trevor is a Non-Executive Director of P&N Bank, a Perth based ADI, and is a former Chair and Non-Executive Director of a number of financial planning companies (formerly part of MLC) that were subsidiaries of NAB. Trevor is Chair of P&N Bank’s Risk Committee, former Chair of the bank’s Audit Committee and a current member of the bank’s Board and Governance Remuneration Committee.
• Trevor has been involved in community activities for 25 years, since becoming a Fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program (VIC).
• He is Chair of AICD’s WA Regional Forum, promoting AICD and their good governance practices to WA’s regions, and is a long term NFP CEO mentor with Kilfinan Australia.
• Trevor is Chair of Denmark Futures Limited, a Denmark-based charity contributing to the creation of a thriving local community.
• Prior volunteer activities have included working with the John Curtin Leadership Academy (Curtin University), the Institute of Child Health Research and the University of Notre Dame (WA).
• Since November 2023, Trevor has been the Chair of the Activ Board of Directors and since February 2024, additionally a member of Activ Foundation Limited.