Our Board

Board Charter

Deaf Connect is governed by a Board of Directors and are accountable to the members for the management of the Company’s business and affairs, and as such is responsible for the overall strategy, governance and performance of the Company.

The major roles of the Board include:

Strategic Directions

Oversight of the strategic directions
Providing advice and counsel to executive management on a periodic and ad hoc basis
Ensuring management implement the policies and decision of the Board

Governance

Undertake all reasonable measures to ensure best practice corporate governance including compliance frameworks and control are in place and strategic risk management systems oversight
Monitoring the performance of the chief Executive officer and approving executive management remuneration policies and practices
Reporting to members of the Company

Operating performance

Reviewing and approving annual operating budgets and annual statutory financial statements
Monitor financial results on an ongoing basis
Determining investment strategy perimeters

Operational development

The appointment of the CEO and the approval of succession plans
Endorsing the appointment of the CEO’s direct reports

Information on Directors

Deaf Connect’s company secretary is Michelle Dahl.

The information on directors is as follows:

		Ralph Collins – Chair of the Board Ralph Collins joined the Deaf Connect board in 2014. He is a qualified actuary who has over 40 years of experience working in financial services (life companies and superannuation funds). He was a senior manager responsible for the delivery of products, services and advice to employers and their employees. Ralph is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. He is also Chair of the Uniting Church Queensland Synod Audit and Risk Committee.
Cameron Miller		Cameron Miller – Deputy Chair Cameron Miller joined the Deaf Connect board in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Education and is currently working at Toowong State School. He has presented at various National and International conferences on bilingualism. Cameron has been on the organising committee of the last three Deaf Festivals and was the secretary for Queensland Deaf Rugby League as well as Queensland Deaf Council Cultural Committee. In his spare time, Cameron likes to play touch football and coaches a junior touch team.
		Brian Halse Brian joined as a Director of The Deaf Society from July 2015 and was elected Vice-President in November 2015. He became the Chairperson in December 2016, till the merger with Deaf Services in 2020. In 2000, Brian became a director of the combined entity. Brian holds a Dip Sc. (Horticultural), Grad Cert. Financial Management, Certificate IV Training & Assessment. He is a member of the Australia Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and Fellow at the Institute of Managers and Leaders. (FIML). Brian has been Chief Executive Officer of several NFP, including High Security Irrigators, and ChemCert Training Group. Brian is currently the Co-Founder of beHub Health, a software business focusing on supporting clinicians, with medical products, education, and training.
		Doug Evans Doug Evans joined the Board in October 2014. He has held varied CEO roles over the last 20 years and has degrees in Science and Business Administration. Doug has worked in a range of business models including Global Consumer Companies, NFP, and member-based organisations as well as retail and service businesses across a number of industry sectors. Doug has held a number of functional senior leadership roles in HR & Corporate Affairs and has been a member of Boards and Industry Councils that successfully lobbied and dealt with government and regulatory authorities. He currently consults to NFP organisations as a leadership and governance advisor and trainer. Doug has a strong commitment to working collaboratively, compassionately and with high integrity, and he is passionate about building organisations and developing benefits for all stakeholders.
		Kathryn Armfield Kathryn Armfield joined the Board in 2014. She was the first signing Deaf Lawyer to be admitted in Queensland and is currently a member of the Queensland Law Society and Family Law Practitioners Association. She was a Board member and Secretary for the Queensland Association of the Deaf, an organising committee member and volunteer for the previous Queensland Deaf Festival’s and is currently the Chairperson for Deaf Sports Australia. Kathryn holds a Master of Laws and is principal of Armfield O’Brien Law. She has worked as a tutor for Griffith University Gumurri Centre, assisting indigenous students with their academic studies and she has a passion for advancing and sharing knowledge with the Deaf Community and ensuring the enrichment of future Deaf generations. Kathryn is a Visiting Committee Board Member for Griffith Law School since 2012.
		Len Bytheway Len joined the Deaf Connect board in November 2018. Len is a trained teacher of the Deaf with a specialty in deafness technology and accessible media. He is fluent in Auslan and been involved with the Deaf community for over 40 years. Len was the founding CEO of Australian Communication Exchange and started the National Relay Service. Len has 12 years’ experience as a CEO, many more as a senior manager. Through his management consultancy Len has provided advice, support and mentoring to the boards and executive management of many corporate, not-for profit and government agencies. Len is known for his passion, skills and knowledge of education, access technology, media and marketing and corporate management.
		Michael Boneham Michael joined the Deaf Connect board in October 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Education and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Michael completed a 28-year career with Ford Motor Company when he retired after over four and half years as President and Managing Director of Ford India. Michael spent over 12 years in overseas senior leadership assignments in manufacturing and General Management with Land Rover and Ford in UK, USA, Thailand and India. Prior to being posted overseas Michael worked for Ford Australia in a number of Human Resources and Manufacturing senior leadership positions. He presently holds Advisory Board positions for a US based private businesses, in addition to his Board role with the Deaf Society.
		Robin Mack Robin became a member of the Deaf Connect board in February 2019. Robin is the Founder / CEO of Innovation Transformation, where he helps enterprise organisations think and act more like a start-up. Robin holds a MBA from Queensland University of Technology and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Originally from the United States, Robin has worked in a range of senior leadership roles for global companies around the world.
		Sarahjane Thompson Sarahjane joined the Deaf Connect board in October 2020. Prior to that, Sarah had been on the Board of the Deaf Society since 2017. Sarah holds a Diploma of Business (Governance) from the Institute of Community Directors Australia, a Bachelor of Science (Psychology), Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) and a Cert IV Training and Assessment. Sarah currently works in the public service and her background is in the higher education sector. Her professional experience has a focus on learning and development, governance, executive support, and student services. Sarah is hard of hearing.
		Sarah Lowe Sarah joined the Deaf Connect board in October 2020. Sarah is director of her own business, Cloudmaker Consulting, which is engaged in business planning, marketing, UX Design and communications. Sarah is a passionate senior marketing executive with 20+ years’ experience in not-for-profit marketing and fundraising, corporate marketing and agency account management roles. Sarah is a Founding Member of the National Social Marketing Centre in the UK and a member of the Australian Association of Social Marketing and Australian Market & Social Research Society. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts (Monash University), Bachelor of Commerce (Monash University), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from RMIT.
		Stuart Lummis Stuart Joined Deaf Connect board in February 2019. Stuart brings 40 years of experience as a senior executive in ASX-listed groups, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations. Stuart has extensive management experience through his current role as the Head of Property for Yourtown and previously as CEO of Brisbane Housing Company. Stuart is Non-Executive Director on the board of several organisations, including Bolton Clarke, Brisbane Markets Limited, Heritage Council of Queensland and the National Trust of Queensland. Stuart is also the Chair of the Property Advisory and Stewardship Committees for the Sisters of St Joseph. Additionally, he is a member of the Property Council of Queensland, sitting on the Social Infrastructure committee. Stuart has a Bachelor of Economics, Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Diploma in Project and Construction Management, and is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
		Hoai Vince Lam Vince joined the Deaf Connect board in November 2020 and has been a director of The Deaf Society since 2017. He is a professional accountant and an independent financial advisor. Vince has a wealth of experience with international and domestic blue chip organisations. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Sydney), Master of Applied Finance (Macquarie University Applied Finance Centre) and professional membership with CPA Australia.