Meet our leaders

In my 30 year career, I have worked in the private sector, the public sector, and the for-purpose sector. My leadership is characterised by working within and across these sectors, and in partnership with government, to support amazing people deliver outcomes to our community and to bring about social change.

Throughout the ages, society has expected conformity with rigid and unspoken social rules and expectations that seek to define and categorise us. These categories then determine what parts of society we can and cannot access. I was drawn to the for-purpose sector to try and find ways in which to challenge the status quo and create a space for those who aren’t part of the conforming class. To me, ‘Embrace Your Otherness’ means a world in which people can express themselves fully and without fear of being closed out of society. The only thing that should define us is our common humanity…not our disability, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, or age.

I pride myself in opening the line of communication between participants, partnerships, and businesses to achieve mutual life-changing employment opportunities. I have over 15 years experience in the employment services sector and heavy industry sector that supports and aligns to our key initiatives. My passion is supporting and empowering our Castle team to deliver the best services for our participants and community stakeholders.

Firstly don’t underestimate the importance of being you!

Embrace your otherness is a call to action to provide opportunities for everyone to be truly seen, supported and valued. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to be involved in contributing to society no matter their circumstances.

Over a decade ago, I embarked on my professional journey in the community service sector navigating through various pivotal roles in service delivery, business support, and youth/mental health, including diverse leadership positions. Leading teams, mentoring, and delivering high-quality services to individuals are aspects of my career that I find fulfilling. Despite its challenges, the satisfaction of consistently making a positive impact on someone's life has always resonated with me, even in the smallest gestures.

I place great importance on recognising and amplifying the strengths of our staff. Working with a team that shares my passion is particularly rewarding. Witnessing the same level of dedication to our participants mirrored within the team serves as a constant source of motivation for me. I hope to empower individuals to attain greater control over their mental, physical, emotional and social well-being.

I believe each person possesses a unique way to contribute their gifts and make the world a better place.

There's space for a myriad of ideas, skills, aspirations, individuality, and uniqueness. You stand apart from the crowd, beautifully different, and that in itself is a precious gift. Dive into all that defies conformity, express yourself wholeheartedly, and fully embrace your true self.

Jennifer has been a Board member since 2014 and has been Chairperson since 2015. Jennifer has over 36 years of experience working in senior management roles responsible for service delivery, operations and people management in employment and social services. She is very passionate about contributing to services that support individuals achieve their goals.

Nino is a local businessman who comes from a construction and development background. He has been operating his own company in the local area since 1989. Nino holds a Diploma of Marketing and joined Castle as a committee member in 2003 and became a Director upon incorporation in 2011. Nino was appointed company secretary and has been vice-chairman since 2014.

Ray has an impressive career in the mutual banking sector, including time as Chief Executive of Companion Credit Union and in leadership roles at Beyond Bank. He is experienced in mergers and acquisitions in the not-for-profit sector, and he is passionate about our vision for a world where every person is able to contribute to society.

A Director of Castle since 2009 and 30 years’ experience in public practice accounting.

Blair has dedicated his career to working with people in business. For more than 25 years he has been driven by a desire to help people achieve their goals and reach the level of success they long for. Blair’s attention to detail and measured way of dealing with every task is impressive. He has the ability to cut through the jargon and explain the process involved in each service in simple terms so that it’s clear.

Over 20 years of Chartered Accounting and more than 10 years of being a business owner I have developed business growth, management and governance skills which can help to grow the organisation. I have a personal connection to disabilities and the challenges they create for family's and look to use my skills to benefit Castle and the sector.

Otherness can be a superpower, a different perspective on the world, a different approach to life and competitive for business. By Embracing our otherness and the otherness of those around us not only can we create a more inclusive community but also a more productive one.