Our
People

David Kneeshaw

Chief Executive Officer

David has more than 20 years’ experience in both technical and commercial finance management roles. 

He has had significant international experience, having worked in the UK, US and Australia, with long tenures in a top 4 professional services firm and a top 100 listed global organisation. David brings to Unisson exceptional skills in balancing high level strategy with operational responsibilities, and has extensive experience developing strong relationships at all levels of complex and diverse businesses. David comes to Unisson with a strong passion for the people we support and ensuring exceptional business practices are in place to support the sustainability of the organisation.

Gail Jeltes

General Manager - Client Services

Gail has formal qualifications in Psychology and Habilitation and has worked in the disability sector for some 30 years.
Starting as a direct support worker in accommodation after a previous career in motivational training and sales, Gail moved on to establish and manage one of the first individual supported jobs agencies for people with intellectual disability in the west of Sydney. 

She went on to become one of the founding members of ACE (Association of Competitive Employment Agencies) and spent several years lecturing part-time in disability. Since then Gail’s roles have focused on operational and strategic directions. She joined Unisson Disability in 1994 specifically to close the institutional accommodation and move the organisation into a community- based service model. Apart from the rights of people with intellectual disability, Gail is particularly passionate about organisational culture and how it affects the way people and groups interact with each other, with clients, and with other stakeholders. 
 

Cathy Gauci

Practice Leader

Cathy first began her career in early childhood education and continued her studies in the areas of Community Welfare and Social Science.

After gaining experience working with people with disability in employment as well as accommodation settings, Cathy joined Unisson Disability in 1996 to manage our first satellite office, Hornsby Lifestyles. This office was established to support the first group of clients who left the institution to start living in the community. Cathy’s current role at Unisson Disability revolves around improving and growing our accommodation services to ensure the organisation maintains its place within the disability sector. Cathy is inspired by the people Unisson Disability supports and she loves being with people and hearing their stories. It is important to her that her work has value, and that through it, she’s making a contribution not just to Unisson Disability, but also to the the wider community.
 

Jennie Broadley

Practice Leader

Jennie has formal qualifications in Teaching and Management and has worked in the disability sector for over 30 years.

She started her career teaching independent living and life skills to children, and later adults, with disability. Jennie also worked in the UK, primarily in accommodation and employment services for people with disability. In the late 1990s, Jennie worked with Unisson Disability coordinating a joint employment skills development project. She re-joined the organisation in 2009, in order to lead our supported and open employment programs. Jennie is inspired by the people we support as they overcome their personal challenges and community barriers to achieve wonderful things for themselves. She is excited to be working in the disability sector at this time of change and looks forward to a time when people can access the support they want from a diverse range of flexible services.
 

Katrina Jackson

Manager, Marketing & Communications

Katrina has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Business Management and ten years’ combined experience across the commercial and NFP sector.

Having worked across a variety of industries, Katrina has developed a broad set of skills that she now brings to Unisson Disability to support strategic planning, digital strategy, brand management, copywriting and understanding the customer journey.

She is passionate about influencing customer decisions through innovative storytelling and encouraging engagement between a customer and the brand.
 

Rashika Islam

Manager, Human Resources Operations

Rashika is passionate about developing workforce capability and employee engagement and influencing organisation culture with a pragmatic and consultative approach.

Currently pursuing her Masters in HRM and IR at the University of Sydney, Rashika has a Bachelor Degree in Human Resources Management (HRM) and Business from the UK and is a member of the AHRI (Australian Human Resources Institute). With over seven years of experience in the field of Human Resources, and having worked across industries from manufacturing to professional services and NFP, she has adopted a broad set of skills and cultural knowledge that are invaluable to Unisson Disability. Rashika values building relationships and having a laugh whenever she can.
 

Charlie Doane

Regional Manager, Client Services

Charlie has formal qualifications in Psychology, Filmmaking and Training and Assessment. Born in the USA, he has been working in the disability sector on and off since the 1970s. Initially working as a manager in a sector going through enormous change from institutionalisation and isolation to a disability model of community living and engagement, Charlie went on to gain experience managing a variety of accommodation facilities. In the 1980s Charlie began practicing Psychological Counselling with mental health clients in a hospital setting. At that time Charlie made a short fictional film about a disabled artist which garnered a number of awards in the US. After working for 24 years in the USA and Australia as a feature film producer, Charlie’s strong sense of social justice and desire to make a difference brought him back to the disability sector in 2010. Charlie recently oversaw the roll out of the NDIS for 300 mental health clients living in the community. He is particularly excited to be in the disability sector at a time when clients have an unprecedented opportunity to plan their own supports and live fulfilling lives.

Karen Bird

Regional Manager, Client Services

Karen has tertiary qualifications in Social Science and Community Sector Coordination and has been working in the disability sector on and off since 1998.

Karen is passionate about building positive relationships, getting to know people and understanding their story. In 2002 she traveled to the Middle East and Africa, where she lived for a few years. In 2005, Karen returned to Unisson Disability, as part of the leadership team. Karen is motivated by the ongoing changes in the disability sector. She feels excited about the future and what it holds for the people Unisson Disability supports and their families.