We have a diverse and experienced board that is united by a passion to see the experiences of everyday people included in the development of a better healthcare system for everyone.
We have a diverse and experienced board that is united by a passion to see the experiences of everyday people included in the development of a better healthcare system for everyone.
Sophy Athan
Chair
Sophy Athan
Chair
With a strong interest in mental health, disability, the aged, women’s health, carers, diversity and consumer health research, Sophy has been an advocate in the health sector for over 18 years. She has presented at conferences and workshops on consumer and carer perspectives, and has published on these topics. She is also a member of several health service committees, chairs a number of consumer and carer committees, and sits on various boards.
She is the Director of her own company, Euroforce Music Pty Ltd. Prior to this, Sophy was a senior public servant in both state and local governments.
Marie Gill
Deputy Chair
Marie Gill
Board Member
Marie has worked as a nurse for over 30 years, mainly in chronic disease care. She has extensive knowledge and experience of the health care system and works as a consultant with government, community health, hospitals, Medicare Locals and non-government organisations.
Marie has a Masters of Education and works with health organisations to improve the way they deliver care for people with chronic health issues.
Her focus is to promote the concepts of client-centred care, self-management, consumer consultation and peer learning.
Meredith Layton
Board Member
Meredith Layton
Board Member
Meredith joined the Health Issues Centre in 2020- and welcomes the opportunity with her first Board role to further her commitment to evidence-based and patient-centred healthcare. She trained as a research scientist and has over 30 years of experience in the health and medical research sector, particularly in cancer research.
She has worked for universities, medical research institutes, not-for-profit organisations and state government. Since leaving the lab, her recent roles have focussed on ensuring that innovations in healthcare benefit patients. In her current role, she leads strategy and engagement for the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health at the University of Melbourne.
Meg McNena
Board Member
Meg McNena
Board Member
Meg has been a physiotherapist for over 40 years in public hospitals, health centres, clinics and for sports teams. Combined with her project work, science and arts experience, and passion for complex needs outreach and education, Meg fervently creates pragmatic, creative, people-driven action.
Meg is also a volunteer advocate and community visitor for people living with disability. She has been on various community committees before joining the Board in 2023.
Peter Ruzyla
Board Member
Peter Ruzyla
Board Member
Peter has a background in Education, Psychology and Health Services Management, with extensive experience in the education, disability and health sectors as a service provider, manager and policy advisor. Most recently, Peter was the CEO of Whitelion Youth Services, which supports highly vulnerable young people and their families across several states. Prior to this Peter was the CEO of EACH and EACH Housing, a large community health and social housing agency with an interstate presence.
Peter’s governance experience includes having been chair and director of several not-for-profit organisations and peak bodies, including the Victorian Health Care Association, Primary Care Partnerships and Medicare Locals. Currently Peter is a Board Member of an Interim Region Mental Health Board established to implement the recommendations of the Victorian Royal Commission into mental health. He has contributed over many years to a range of advisory committees and partnerships across the health, mental health and social housing sectors.
Across all these roles, Peter has been passionate about the need for services to be more accessible, integrated and empowering for consumers.
Mark Sanders
Board Member
Mark Sanders
Board Member
Mark Sanders is an independent consultant in the financial education area. He has previously lectured at RMIT, offering a unique set of skills to enhance governance and decision-making. He has also managed the trustee education pathway for the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees and is bringing those skills to a broader domain of profit-to-member opportunities. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers and has a master’s degree in finance.
Mark has specialist knowledge of financial advice, project evaluation and the superannuation space, coupled with extensive experience in finance, engineering, manufacturing and health industries in Australia and globally. He has lived in Singapore and managed projects in many countries throughout Asia.
Rakesh Sharma
Board Member
Rakesh Sharma
Board Member
Rakesh’s career spans over 20 years of senior leadership roles in Australian and international organisations, large private organisations and, most recently, the not-for-profit sector.
He is CPA and CA qualified, self-motivated, results-driven and resourceful, and consistently strives to achieve strategic outcomes for an organisation while simultaneously empowering communities.
