Board of Management
Gateways was formed by dedicated members of the local community, including parents of children and adults with a disability, and members of the Geelong medical and business community.
The aim was to form a responsive organisation to provide innovative programs to address unmet needs, including for people with very complex needs.
Gateways is governed by a voluntary Board of Management. The Board ensures that Gateways stays true to its Mission of empowering and supporting people with disabilities, and their families.
The Board comprises:
Jacquie is a Chartered Accountant with more than 15 years accounting experience. For the last 12 years she has been working for an accounting firm specialising in business, audit, taxation and financial planning and Jacquie has extensive experience in taxation and financial analysis.
Jacquie was elected by the Board to the role of Treasurer and is the Chair of Gateways Board Finance Committee.
Cassandra is currently an Audit Partner at Crowe, commencing with the firm in 2005, and providing both internal and external audit services. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Registered Company Auditor, and is an approved agent for both the Victorian Auditor General’s Office and the Australian National Audit Office.
Her client portfolio centers around the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector which she has a passion to serve. Cassandra’s broader experience includes statutory audits, compliance audits, risk consulting, and providing technical accounting advice and includes experience across various NFP clients including community services, training, education, health, and government.
Cassandra’s extensive audit experience provides her with a broad understanding of the issues facing the sector as well as allowing her to draw on her experiences to provide insight and recommendations for process improvements. She looks forward to bringing this experience to Gateways Support Services.
Dr Jenner is a Consultant Paediatrician and Family Therapist and has special interests in Child Learning, Developmental and Behavioural Problems, Bereavement, Asthma and Neonatology. He is Chairman of Barwon Paediatric Services Inc., Consultant Paediatrician at Geelong Hospital and St John of God Hospital, former Director of Paediatrics at Barwon Health and the Geelong Family Therapy Centre, Clinical Associate in Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, and Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics at Deakin University. Read more
He is involved in undergraduate, postgraduate and community Education, is a consultant to numerous Barwon regional support services, and been on many Hospital and Community committees. He is associated with two award-winning organisations in the Barwon Region, as the Founder and President of both Hope Bereavement Care and Gateways Disability Support Services.
He was awarded the 1995 Advance Australia Foundation Award, the 1998 Alan J. Holding Memorial Lions Club International Award for Community Service, in 2002 Barwon Health Quality Award, in 2003 the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International, in 2005 The Parks Victoria Regional Achiever Award and a finalist in the Victorian Healthcare Awards, in 2007 was the recipient of the Australian of the Year Local Hero award for regional Victoria and a finalist for the National Australian of the Year Local Hero award, in 2012 was the recipient of the Compassionate Friends of Victoria Compassionate Employer Recognition Award for Gateways Support Services. He is also an Australia Day Ambassador.
Graeme brings with him an extensive background in community health, financial management, and corporate leadership. He holds undergraduate degrees in Science and Social Work, as well as advanced qualifications in business, human resources, and accounting.
With over three decades of experience, Graeme has held key roles in project management, risk and compliance, and senior corporate support across various organisations in the not-for-profit sector, including community health, aged care, and disability services in Geelong and Bendigo. Graeme’s commitment to community agencies and building social capital is reflected in his Board and Committee involvement across numerous community organisations in these cities, most recently at Access Australia Group and Sirovilla.
At Gateways Support Services, Graeme aims to leverage his expertise in governance, financial oversight, and strategic planning to further empower individuals with disabilities and contribute to the organisation’s vision of an inclusive society full of possibilities. With lived family experience supporting a person with disabilities, Graeme is aware of the difference organisations such as Gateways’, working in conjunction with the NDIS, can make to individual lives.
Sonya has significant senior management experience in a number of sectors including law, medical research, manufacturing and resources. Through these roles Sonya brings a broad strategic perspective and global experience with a focus on risk management, corporate governance, change management and financial markets. She holds a double degree in Law and Science, with honours in Law, and is a registered Company Secretary.
Sonya is passionate about giving back to the community and is excited to have recently joined the board of Gateways Support Services. She is looking forward to contributing her knowledge and experience to support Gateways Support Services’ Mission, Vision and Values. Sonya currently works as the Deputy Company Secretary at CSL Limited, is a mum to three children and has recently become a Schnauzer enthusiast.
David brings over 25 years of experience as an IT professional, including two decades specialising in large-scale systems design, technology planning, and ICT governance. He holds a Master of Engineering from RMIT and an MBA from Deakin University, and he is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David’s career spans diverse industries, including disability, health, defence, retail and logistics, telecommunications, education, and automotive. This broad background allows him to share valuable insights into different ways of working, enhancing Gateways’ ability to deliver innovative and effective support.
Rachel brings over 30 years’ experience in the disability sector, complemented by extensive leadership and governance roles as a Board Member, Chief Executive, Director, and Council and Committee Member across a variety of industries and sectors.
Rachel’s career has been shaped by her commitment to advancing disability rights, reflected in her PhD research on the Disability Rights Movement and her 2014 publication, Disability and Social Movements: Learning from Australian Experiences. Her academic contributions include work as a research fellow in the areas of person-centered active support and dementia care for people with intellectual disabilities.
With hands-on operational management experience, including leading a sizeable plan management company in Melbourne’s western suburbs, Rachel combines practical expertise with a strategic perspective. In her current role as Director of Public Policy in education, she continues to drive meaningful change through advocacy, policy development, and community engagement.
Rachel’s extensive experience is invaluable to Gateways in achieving impactful outcomes for the people we serve.
Diana is passionate about the vital role a strong and well-managed non-profit and for-purpose sector plays in creating positive social and environmental change. She believes robust governance, sound financial management, and effective business operations are key to driving meaningful impact for communities and the economy.
With over a decade of executive leadership experience across the not-for-profit, government, and corporate sectors, Diana brings expertise in organisational growth, income generation, philanthropy strategies, marketing, and governance. As a qualified marketer and organisational development practitioner, Diana is an active supporter of community-led sustainability initiatives in her local area.