Board of Directors

Michele Ferris

Dip Bus Management, Cert IV Aged Care, Cert IV Leadership and Management, Assoc. Degree in Dementia Care, NSW JP
President

Michele is a current carer whose adult son lives with intellectual disability and vision impairment. Michele works as a Team Leader for a national peak body in dementia care. With a background in aged care and disability service provision of more than 20 years, she has a strong passion for advocacy and for the rights of older people living with dementia, families and carers and supporting people living with disability. Michele was elected as President in November 2022.

Reid Johnson

BSc, MMan, JP, AICD
Vice President

Reid is a seasoned business executive with more than 20 years' experience in senior and executive roles in financial services and telecommunications. Reid's experience spans both corporate and government sectors having worked internationally across corporate governance, program management, operational leadership, service delivery and customer experience. He is involved in a variety of not-for-profit activities and is passionate about advocating for the rights of carers. Reid was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in December 2017 and elected as Vice President in November 2022.

Bruce Howle

BEc, CA, Dip FP
Honorary Treasurer / Carers NSW Nominee to the Carers Australia Board (Honorary Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, Member Board Executive)

Bruce Howle joined the Board of Carers NSW in 2014 as a co-opted member. He is the Managing Principal at KSG with a career in accounting, taxation and assurance spanning a period of more than 25 years. Bruce is a registered tax agent, registered auditor under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009, registered company auditor and is a registered SMSF auditor, advising on all matters financial to the SME market, not-for-profit organisations and financial service providers. Bruce has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University, and is a member of Australia and New Zealand Chartered Accountants and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has been actively involved in the governance of a number of local community organisations in various capacities including Treasurer. Bruce has previously held the position of Secretary and was elected as Honorary Treasurer in November 2016.

Barbara Iordanidis

BLAS
Honorary Secretary

Barbara is a public sector professional with a background in strategy and policy. Barbara has managed state and national government projects, some of which have achieved international recognition for the contribution to sustainable and conscientious use of technology.

Barbara is a spokesperson in public sector innovation and digital transformation. She is a Standards Australia NextGen Graduate and Smart Cities Certified Practitioner.

Barbara was also a young carer and worked closely with Carers NSW to advocate for and raise awareness of carers under the age of 25. Barbara was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in June 2022 and elected as Honorary Secretary in November 2022.

Emeritus Professor Bettina Cass AO

BA (Hons), PhD
Director

Bettina has over 40 years’ professional experience in the research and policy fields and is internationally renowned for her social policy research on issues such as social security, youth and families, disabilities and ill-health, elder care services and the provision of care by family and friend carers and paid care workers. Bettina has been director of several large governmental inquires and reviews, including serving as Commissioner on the NSW and Commonwealth Law Reform Commissions on social policy, as well as consulting for the OECD on social policy issues in Eastern Europe.

In recognition of her extensive contributions to both research and policy reform, Bettina received the Order of Australia in 1989. Bettina is currently Emeritus Professor at the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, Emeritus Professor at the University of Sydney and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. Bettina was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in April 2019.

Janina Jancu

BA/LLB, MBA, Grad Dip Social Impact, GAICD
Director

Janina is currently the Director of Operations at ReachOut Australia, a not for profit organisation providing mental health support to young Australians and their parent/carers. She has more than 30 years of experience as a senior executive in the not for profit, government and corporate sectors specialising in the areas of education and health.

A qualified lawyer she brings extensive experience in the areas of finance, risk management and corporate governance. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has served as a Director of UNSW and Parkinson’s NSW, and has acted in an advisory capacity on a number of not for profit boards.

Janina is a carer for her elderly parents and has experience navigating the My Aged Care, NCAT and CHSP/CSP systems. Janina was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in August 2023.

Faiza Khan

BBus (Accounting and Finance), CA
Director

Faiza Khan is an experienced senior executive with a career in risk and audit spanning over 25 years. She has worked for various private and public sector organisations in audit, risk and compliance leadership roles.

Faiza holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney, is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor and a member of Australia and New Zealand Chartered Accountants. Faiza was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in August 2023.

Chris Rawlins

BEc (Social Science), MMkt
Director

Chris is a senior executive with extensive experience in government, non-profit and commercial roles. Based in Orange NSW, he is currently the Manager, Economic Development for Orange City Council. He was previously Executive Director, Transformation and Engagement with the Regional Investment Corporation and has held a number of executive leadership roles in the aged care and disability services sector.

Chris brings substantial experience across strategy, marketing, policy and engagement, with particular strength leading digital transformations. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, Master of Marketing from the University of NSW and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Chris was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in October 2023.

Bill Wong

BCom (Liberal Studies), CA
Director

Bill Wong is a senior executive with a professional career that spans across strategy, risk management and innovation. He is currently the Head of Strategic Excellence for Allianz Australia. His prior experience includes senior leadership positions in Banking, national leadership roles in Management Consulting (including as a Partner in a boutique consultancy) and leading Strategy and Implementation for an Artificial Intelligence start-up acquired by an S&P 400 conglomerate.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) from the University of New South Wales, is a member of Australia and New Zealand Chartered Accountants and is trained in Prince2 and Lean Six Sigma.

Bill was also a young carer, having acted as a Financial Manager for his late father with very high disability needs and as a carer for his late mother who went through palliative care. Bill was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in May 2024.

Alberto Piccenna

BEc, Dip Financial Services
Director

Alberto holds a Bachelor of Economics, with majors in Insurance and Risk Management. With over 20 years’ experience in the Financial Services sector across Europe, the UK and Australia, he has held a number of senior positions in various multinational companies.

Since 2021, Alberto has been a Board member and Treasurer of another NFP organisation. He is an advocate of diversity and inclusion, as well as proud father of two girls, one with a rare genetic condition. Alberto was appointed to the Carers NSW Board in May 2024.