Our Leadership Team brings a vast range of skills and expertise to deliver Hear and Say’s strategic plan and achieve the organisation’s vision and mission.
The dedication of our staff, volunteers, board directors and committees is at the core of Hear and Say
Meet our Board
Mr Matthew Ames
Chair
Matthew has almost 20 years’ experience in the energy and resources industry, and has found innovative ways to apply his skills after the loss of all four of his limbs and significant hearing loss in 2012. In addition to Hear and Say, Matthew is a board member of Bionics Queensland and Xavier Children’s Support Network; a council member for Centacare and a member of a number of steering committees for Queensland Health. Matthew joined the Hear and Say Board in November 2019 and was elected Chair in June 2020.
Dr Jane Black
Deputy Chair
Jane has a longstanding career in clinical management of paediatric disorders. She has played a key role in the development of Hear and Say from inception to present day. Jane has a proven record of executive leadership, having worked for both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations. She is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Hospital Foundation and serves on the Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee. Jane joined the Hear and Say Board in November, 1995, chaired the Board from 1996 to 2008 and was appointed Deputy Chair in May, 2010.
Dr Dimity Dornan AO
Non-executive Director and Founder
Dimity is a qualified speech pathologist, and Founder and Executive Director of Hear and Say. She is also Founder and Chair of Bionics Queensland. Dimity is an Adjunct Professor to The University of Queensland and Adjunct Associate Professor to the Science and Engineering Faculty, School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, and to Griffith University Health; Honorary Associate at Macquarie University, and a current member of The University of Queensland Senate.
Mr Andrew Fraser
Non-executive Director
After a career in public office in which he held the position of Treasurer of Queensland from 2007 to 2012, Andrew now serves on a diverse a range of boards. Previously Head of Strategy and Investment at the NRL, he is now an independent director and Chair of Sunsuper, a top 10 Australian superannuation fund with more than one million members. He is a director of Watpac, ASFA and 3rd Space, and is the Chair of Orange Sky Australia and Motorsport Australia. Andrew is a graduate of Griffith University, with degrees in law and commerce, in which he achieved first-class honours and won the University Medal. He now serves as the Deputy Chancellor of the university. Andrew joined the Hear and Say Board in September 2017.
Mr Darren Sumich
Non-executive Director
Darren is a lawyer of over 20 years’ experience, specialising in structuring and negotiating financial transactions. He is currently a Partner of MinterEllison and leads the firm’s Financial Solutions practice in Queensland. Darren has also led MinterEllison’s community investment and pro bono practice and is driven by his passion for bringing his commercial experience to assist not-for-profit and community welfare sectors. Darren joined the Board of Hear and Say in September 2020.
Dr Margaret Steinberg AM
Non-executive Director
Margaret has expertise in ethical decisionmaking as a clinician, academic and administrator. A former Commissioner, including of the Criminal Justice and Crime and Misconduct Commissions, Margaret currently sits on several boards and tribunals, and was previously on the Metro North Hospital and Health Service Board. Margaret joined the Hear and Say Board in April 2006.
Mr Mario Pennisi AM
Non-executive Director
Mario is a strategist and trusted advisor with more than 30 years’ experience in managing and growing commercial operations in the life sciences industry. Mario is the Chairman of Suncare Community Services and Non-Executive Director of Elo Life Systems Australia, Queensland Eye Institute Foundation, Alpine Immune Sciences Australia, Omniox AU, and Briz Brain & Spine. He is also Chair of the Griffith University Clinical Trial Unit and the Compounds Australia Strategic Advisory Board as well as a B20 Participating Delegate, and a member of the Queensland Government Biofutures Industry Advisory Group. Mario joined the Hear and Say Board in August 2020.
Mrs Evelyn Goggin
Non-executive Director
Evelyn has over 34 years’ experience in the energy, infrastructure and retail sectors, holding senior management positions in international companies primarily in accounting and corporate governance. Volunteer roles in the not-for-profit sector have allowed Evelyn the opportunity to leverage her substantial financial and accounting experience to enhance school and charity boards. Evelyn has an enduring passion for the sector and a strong association with Hear and Say, having worked with the organisation in a consulting capacity in 2018. Evelyn joined the Hear and Say Board in September 2020.
Dr Helen Chenery
Non-executive Director
Helen is an Emeritus Professor at The University of Queensland (UQ), having graduated from UQ with a bachelor and master’s degrees in speech pathology and a PhD in language neuroscience. She is currently President of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Queensland Eye Institute. She has previously chaired the STARS Hospital Alliance Board and been a Director of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Board and of CPL. Helen has a long history of engagement in human neurobionics, policy and practice reform in dementia care, health workforce innovation, adoption of digital health and education technologies and interprofessional education and practice. Helen joined the Hear and Say Board in October 2022.
Meet our Leadership Team
Greg Elphinston
Chief Executive Officer
A lawyer by trade, Greg brings experience from a diverse international career to Hear and Say. Through his work as a social innovator and instigator of the UNESCO Mobile Learning week, he was influential in the creation and adoption of mobile technology for health and education in developing countries. Greg has contributed to social change in a wide range of settings, from youth employability in Latin America to remote learning across Asia and Africa. He has a constructive approach to partnership, and has held executive roles in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. Greg joined Hear and Say in January 2022 and is committed to enriching the lives of clients through the beauty of sound.
Scott Miller
Head of Operations
Scott brings over a decade of leadership experience in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, including a range of finance and IT roles for an ASX-listed multinational travel business. It was here where Scott honed his passion for leading multidisciplinary teams, driving cost-saving initiatives, strategic business growth and systems design and implementation. Prior to this, Scott worked in secondary education as a science and mathematics teacher. Joining Hear and Say in early 2021 as Financial Controller, Scott now holds the position of Head of Operations where he is responsible for customer experience, IT systems upgrades and using data-driven insights to streamline processes, improve efficiencies and ensure long-term financial sustainability. Scott holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education, and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).
Lynda Farwell
Head of Listening and Spoken Language
Lynda is a specialist speech pathologist with over 16 years’ experience working with children with hearing loss and their families. She has a passion for family-centred practice and supporting each individual to reach their potential. Having commenced at Hear and Say as a graduate in 2006, Lynda now holds the position of Head of Listening and Spoken Language. This role sees Lynda oversee Hear and Say’s Listening and Spoken Language Therapy program, including ensuring quality clinical outcomes together with mentoring both internally and for external professionals working towards Listening and Spoken Language certification. Lynda has a Bachelor of Speech Pathology and Diploma of Leadership and Management, and is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist (LSLS Cert. AVT) and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (Speech Pathology Australia).
Emma Rushbrooke
Director of Clinical Governance
Emma is an audiologist and listening and spoken language specialist (certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist), specialising in implantable hearing technology and listening and spoken language therapy. Emma joined Hear and Say in March 2000 as an audiologist, then Clinical Manager from 2000 to 2006, before transitioning to her current role of Clinical Director in 2007. Emma provides oversight for the clinical programs at Hear and Say, including Listening and Spoken Language Therapy, Audiology, the Australian Microtia and Atresia Support Centre, WorldWide Training and Education, Group Social Skills programs and Research. Emma is passionate about providing the best possible family-centric support and delivering programs and services underpinned by evidence-based clinical practice and research.
Lorelle Silveira
Head of Communications, Marketing and Fundraising
Lorelle has over 20 years’ experience working in the communications industry both in Australia and internationally, including roles in journalism, global brand advertising and marketing. Upon returning to Brisbane in 2014, Lorelle decided to use her experience exclusively in the not-for-profit sector, where her overarching business knowledge and solutions-based approach contributes to the development of sustainable fundraising, marketing and communications strategy. Her work has spanned organisations including Mater Foundation, Bravehearts Inc., Foodbank Queensland, TechnologyOne Foundation and now Hear and Say. Lorelle is passionate about applying analytical and critical thinking to explore and develop innovative programs that will drive greatest impact for vulnerable communities.
Julie Decker
Head of Audiology
Julie is an audiologist specialising in implantable hearing technology. Prior to joining Hear and Say in 2019, Julie worked for 14 years as the Australia/New Zealand Clinical Sales Manager for Cochlear Ltd. She brings a wealth of experience working with families and children enrolled in hearing loss-related early intervention and educational support services. Now as Head of Audiology at Hear and Say, Julie is responsible for overseeing all audiology services including collaborating with the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) to coordinate the Hear and Say Medical Only stream of the QCH hearing implant program. She is driven by a passion for delivering timely, quality services to people of all ages on a hearing implant journey. Julie holds a Master of Science (Audiology) and a Bachelor of Science (Speech Pathology and Audiology).
Nicole Hamilton
Head of Human Resources
Having joined Hear and Say in early 2021, Nicole brings to the team over 30 years’ experience in the human resources sector. She has previously managed the human resources function for a variety of not-for-profit and corporate organisations, with expertise across compliance and best practices, human resources infrastructure, policy and procedure streamlining and leadership development. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business and an Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management.
News
Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants – What’s the Difference?
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are both excellent hearing solutions for people who are deaf or with residual hearing. The...
Energetic Elias Takes on The World
Like many four-year-olds, Elias is full of energy! At one month old, Elias was diagnosed with hearing loss but he...
“Her speech and language blows us away every day”
Enthusiastic Loud Shirt Day and Loudest Town participants Kerryn and Sam from the small town of Aramac,120 kilometres west of...
A Shared Hearing Milestone for Townsville Twins
Townsville twins Marley and Sienna share a love of swimming and gaming. Now 10-years-old and attending their local school, both...
“Loud shirt day is a fabulous campaign for a great cause that’s very close to my family’s heart.”
Parents Jess and Nick passionately raise awareness and funds so children who are born deaf can hear and speak, just...
Willow is Learning to Hear and Speak
“We’re so excited to see Willow develop her speech with the beautiful gift of cochlear implants.” – Ami, mum to...
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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of all the lands on which we meet, work and live and recognise that this land has always been and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
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