OUR TEAM
Unisson Disability’s Board is made up of a team of talented people united in their passion for creating possibilities for the people our work touches to live their best life. Our Board members bring significant and wide-ranging skills and experience to their roles. Together, they are committed to helping Unisson Disability continue to grow as a provider of high quality disability services whose key difference lies in the extraordinary connections we make with those we support and their families.
Unisson Disability’s Executive and Senior Leaders assist in formulating our overall strategic direction, and are responsible for its implementation, along with managing resources and operations. Our senior leaders are highly skilled individuals from a variety of backgrounds, each of whom is passionate about bringing their unique skills and experience to the table in order to create opportunities with the people we work with to live their best life. Supported by more than 60 like-minded and capable leaders throughout the organisation, Unisson Disability’s success is a truly collaborative effort.
Board of Directors
Steven Gregg
Chairman
B Comm
Steven is a highly experienced investment and commercial banker with extensive Australian and international executive experience. He held various positions with ABN AMRO including President and Global Head of Investment Banking, UK. He was also employed at Chase Manhattan, Lehman Brothers and AMP Morgan Grenfell. His most recent executive role was as Expert Partner at McKinsey & Company in Australia and the US. His current non-executive roles include senior advisor with McKinsey & Co and as senior consultant to Grant Samuel.
Steve has been the Chairman of Caltex Australia Ltd since August 2017 and he is the Chairman of Lorna Hodgkinson Foundation and Unisson Disability Limited. His former roles include Chairman of Austock Group Limited and Chairman of Goodman Fielder Pty Limited. He serves as Trustee of the Australian Museum Trust, and as a Non-executive Director of Challenger Limited, Challenger Life Company Limited, William Inglis & Son Ltd and TabCorp Holdings Limited.
PREVIOUS
Steven Gregg
Chairman
David Hardy
B COMM, MBA, MA
David’s 25 year career in corporate strategy development spans many industries.
He was Head of Strategy for the Insurance Australia Group, holding leadership roles with the consulting firms Accenture and McKinsey & Co prior to that. Currently mixing consulting and teaching, David is on the adjunct faculty of the Australian Graduate School of Management where he leads a strategic consulting project class. He has worked on a broad range of strategy and operations improvement projects in many industries across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and North America. David’s involvement with Unisson Disability has also been of a personal nature, as his brother Richard has been supported by the organisation for 45 years. David is constantly impressed with Unisson Disability’s leadership and the passionate commitment of all its staff to helping people with disability lead their best lives.
David Hardy
Peter Horton
B BUS, A.C.A
Peter has had over 40 years’ experience in accounting and finance roles.
He previously practiced as a Chartered Accountant, retiring as a partner from KPMG in 2001. This was followed by roles as Director of Finance & Accounting for Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited and CFO and Company Secretary for Carlton Investments Limited, where he still serves.
Peter joined the Board of Unisson Disability in 1999 as Treasurer. He enjoys using the skills gained throughout his career to assist Unisson Disability in meeting its objectives of providing support to people with intellectual disability. Through his close involvement with the organisation, Peter has developed a great admiration for the families and employees involved in our work.
Peter Horton
Alex Gelman
OAM, GAICD, M COMM, CPA
Alex brings over 25 years of practical business and technology experience, focusing on strategic technology advice, business technology transformation, cloud solutions and strategies to compete in the digital age. Previously, Alex founded C9 Solution and Consult Point, plus was the National Head of Technology Advisory at Grant Thornton Australia.
Currently, Alex is an Executive Director at Care Support Network and a Partner at Strategy Assist.
Alex Gelman
Roberta Ryan
BA(HONS), B.SOC.SC(HONS), GRADDIP
Professor Roberta Ryan from the University of Technology Sydney is a leading social policy, program evaluation and stakeholder engagement practitioner and researcher, with over 30 years’ experience in academia and consulting across Australia and internationally. A qualified social worker, Roberta has specialised skills in large multi-service evaluations, service development, delivery and applied policy research. She has also worked for a number of non-government agencies in direct practice and management roles and has designed and undertaken a range of complex government and non-government policy advisory and applied policy projects. Roberta’s extensive experience includes working with people with disability and their families in applied policy, service review, evaluation and service management. Her work in the disability field includes projects for government, non-government agencies, peak and advocacy organisations, including the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, the NSW Disability Council, Family Advocacy NSW, Centacare, Burnside, Jewish Welfare and UnitingCare. Prior to joining UTS, Roberta was a director of a private consulting firm.
Roberta Ryan
Dr Gillian Brooks
BA (PSYCH), MBBS HONS. FRACP
Dr Gillian Brooks is a specialist paediatrician and Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians (Paediatrics and Child Health). She has extensive experience in community child health and developmental paediatrics, general paediatrics and paediatric rehabilitation.
As Senior Staff Specialist Developmental Paediatrician and Team Leader for Children’s Hospital Westmead (Parramatta Early Childhood Assessment Team), Dr Brooks leads a multidisciplinary team in the service of paediatric patients and their families. She has extensive experience across the assessment, diagnosis and management of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Dr Brooks strongly supports a holistic approach to the treatment of children, which takes into consideration their family environment, as well as their social, cultural and linguistic needs, and revolves around taking a partnership approach with families. She has a special interest in quality improvement projects and in research related to service delivery and building the capacity of individuals with a disability to lead a full life.
Dr Gillian Brooks
Rebecca Fletcher
Rebecca Fletcher has been a part of Unisson Disability since 1988.
Rebecca has extensive experience across a number of industries including banking and finance, manufacturing and the disability sector and has worked in both Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region. Rebecca holds formal tertiary and post graduate qualifications in Accounting, Human Resources Management, Company Director, NFP Management and Teaching. She was accepted as a Fellow with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2005 she became CEO and was responsible for developing and communicating Unisson Disability’s strategic direction, and for leading and guiding its operations. Rebecca acted as the key point of contact between the Board of Directors and the Senior Leadership Team and was responsible for bringing to life Unisson Disability’s vision, purpose and values. In 2018 Rebecca retired as CEO of Unisson, however, continues to be a part of the organisation as a non-executive board member, for both Unisson Disability and the Lorna Hodgkinson Foundation.
Rebecca Fletcher
Executive and Senior Leaders
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.
David Kneeshaw
Chief Executive Officer
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.
Gail Jeltes
General Manager - Client Services
Joyce Baillie
General Manager, Corporate Services
Joyce has qualifications in Accounting, Finance and Management with over 15 years’ experience across these areas both in the commercial and NFP sector.
Joyce has spent the last three and a half years working within the disability support sector, playing a key role in the successful transition of another disability support provider to NDIS. Joyce brings to Unisson an extensive knowledge of the NDIS, as well as strong experience at an operational and corporate services level. Joyce is a highly motivated individual and is passionate about delivering quality services and providing the required support within the organisation so that individuals and the organisation as a whole can perform at their best.
Joyce Baillie
General Manager, Corporate Services
Michelle Carlyle
General Manager - Business Development & Innovation
Michelle has formal qualifications in Business Administration (MBA) and has had over 15 years’ experience in general management roles with a wealth of experience across business strategy, sales/marketing, product/service development and innovation.
She's had significant experience with large global organisations where navigation and influence across complex structures, and wide and varied stakeholder groups has been critical.
She is a Fellow at the Institute of Managers & Leaders, and a Graduate of the Company Directors Course.
Michelle is passionate about every person being able to live the best possible life they can and that philosophy led her to work for the last five years within the mental health and disability services sectors.
Michelle Carlyle
General Manager - Business Development & Innovation
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.
Cathy Gauci
Practice Leader
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.
Jennie Broadley
Practice Leader
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.
Katrina Jackson
Manager, Marketing & Communications
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.
Rashika Islam
Manager, Human Resources Operations
Tracey Sherwin
Enquiries Manager
Tracey joined Unisson in March 2005 and has had several leadership roles throughout this time.
With a Diploma in Community Welfare, Tracey has a positive approach to customer service and is passionate about providing the correct service delivery and knowledge to others. She strives to keep up to date with industry trends in order to maintain a positive and consistent approach, and focus on ongoing growth for Unisson Disability.
Tracey Sherwin
Enquiries Manager
Sawako Fitchett
Manager, Finance
Sawako is a member of CPA Australia and has over 10 years’ experience in the financial management of organisations in the private and not for profit sectors.
Sawako joined the finance team at Unisson Disability in 2013.
Leading the Finance team, Sawako has extensive experience in the delivery of services such as financial accounting, management accounting, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, annual statutory reporting, payroll and consulting with the operations team, in accordance with legislative requirements and organisational policies and strategies.
Sawako is passionate about creating a supportive environment within the organisation and delivering quality services to Unisson’s clients.
Sawako Fitchett
Manager, Finance
Terri Cohen
Manager, Quality & Safeguards
Terri has formal qualifications in Psychology and Criminology and has been working in the disability sector for over 20 years.
Terri is passionate about the rights of people with disability and began her work in the sector as an advocate. This included advocating for people living in supported accommodation or accessing short term accommodation, as well as supporting people involved in the Criminal Justice System. After working as an advocate for several years, she worked for the NSW Ombudsman for 13 years, across a number of the functions relating to disability.
Terri has extensive experience in complaints handling, investigations and oversight, and is committed to helping maintain and enhance safe and high quality supports to Unisson clients.
Terri Cohen
Manager, Quality & Safeguards
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.
Karen Bird
Regional Manager, Client Services
Ryan Tracey
Regional Manager, Client Services
Ryan Tracey has held a career in the Disability sector for 17 years, always carrying out work duties with commitment and community service in mind. Ryan started out as a Direct Support Professional and went on to obtain an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management. He is currently studying a Diploma of Counselling to further his skill set.
Ryan started his career within Shared Living, (group homes) supporting clients move from large residential centers into the community. He has since held several roles and managed a range of supports, including Supported Living. Ryan is an experienced Client Services Manager with a demonstrated history working in the non-profit organisation management industry. Skilled in negotiation, budgeting, coaching, non-profit operations and government relations. Ryan’s work goals are to ensure that the Good Life is achieved by all and that all voices are heard.
Ryan Tracey
Regional Manager, Client Services
