Our People
Our Staff

Kate Strohm - B. App. Sc., Grad Dip Health Ed., Grad Dip Counselling
Kate established Siblings Australia in 1999, following careers as a hospital scientist, health educator and counsellor, and a print and radio journalist. Since then, she has been invited to present across Australia and overseas to siblings, parents and professionals. Her book Siblings has been recognised as an invaluable resource for siblings and their support networks both within Australia and internationally. Kate brings her own personal experience to the position, having grown up with an older sister with cerebral palsy.
Kate Strohm – Founder/CEO

James Girvan - Bch Social Work & Social Policy; Dip Leadership & Management
James has worked in various sectors including disability, child protection, carer support, mental health and sibling support for the past 21 years. James is a highly experienced manager who brings both professional and lived experience to his role at Siblings Australia. James is a sibling himself, as his younger sister has an intellectual disability.
James Girvan – Program Manager

Rachel Bailey - BPsych (Counselling & Interpersonal Skills), Dip Counselling, Dip General Insurance
Rachel Bailey is the Office Manager for Siblings Australia. Rach manages all needs associated with the property, IT, communication equipment, file management, Insurance and any other tasks to ensure the office continues to run smoothly. Outside of Siblings Australia Rach keeps herself busy as a trained counsellor and supervisor, mother, and avid runner.
Rachel Bailey - Office Manager
Our Board

Peter Gill
Peter Gill started his media and communications career as a journalist with some of Australia’s leading newspapers, including The Age and the Australian Financial Review. He complemented this experience with senior communications and advisory roles in the political, higher education and corporate sectors. In 2017, Peter completed a 12-month assignment in Myanmar under the Federal Government’s Australian Volunteers for International Development program. He is now working as a communications consultant. Peter is a sibling to his brother Chris who has Down Syndrome.
Peter Gill - Chair

Mary Hudson - (M Ed (Studies), BA, Grad Dip Ed)
Mary is currently Director of The Leadership Institute, and a member of the Senior Educational Consultant team at the Association of Independent Schools South Australia. As a school leader and classroom teacher, Mary worked closely with many siblings of special needs students and became acutely aware of the dire need for ongoing care and support of this largely forgotten cohort. She feels privileged to be part of this wonderful organisation.
Mary Hudson - Deputy Chair

Kevin Johnson - Bachelor Of Commerce (B.Com), Chartered Accountant (CA).
Kevin is a director of Chartered Accounting firm i2 Advisory – a firm specialising in Income Tax and Business Advisory services. Having plied his trade across small, medium and large (Big 4) firms, Kevin’s experience includes working with many varied businesses and industries including not for profits, medical and allied health, professional services, retail, property developers, retirement villages and hospitality. His clients also range in scale; from start-ups to bigger business operations involving advising on a vast range of challenging issues.
Kevin Johnson - Treasurer

Amy Pokoney
Amy is General Manager, Community Development at the City of Salisbury. With a background in event management and fund development in the not-for-profit sector, in both North America and regional New South Wales, Amy transitioned to a career in community development within the Local Government sector upon moving to Adelaide 10 years ago.
Having worked at the City of Adelaide and City of Salisbury, Amy brings a diverse set of skills and experience, including strategic management of very large NDIS and Aged Care Home Support services, stakeholder engagement, asset based community development and corporate planning. Amy has a Masters in Community and International Development and has previously served on the Board of Community Centres SA.
Amy Pokoney

Samantha Hellams
In a career that has spanned senior executive roles in disability and community services sectors as well as the private and public sectors and working as a lawyer, Sam is currently the CEO of an Adelaide based disability services provider. With experience in achieving transformational change, her expertise also lies in strategic planning, risk, corporate governance and business improvement, as well as culture and change management. Her commercial focus is supported by strong values-based leadership and a person-centred approach to service delivery.
Sam has also served as a board member over many years of organisations in the disability, aged care, community services, agribusiness, energy and government sectors. She is also a sibling to her sister with intellectual & physical disabilities, who is also non-verbal.