People - Disability Support Australia

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

Tash Binder - BECE; AdvDip Com Sec Mgt

Tash advises and supports the development of programs at Siblings Australia. She has extensive experience within the fields of early childhood education, inclusion support and disability. Her work has centred on enabling optimal developmental outcomes for children as well as building the capacity of families, carers and professionals to develop their own skills to enact positive change. Tash is a parent to a child with disability and a younger child sibling so brings lived experience and dedicated passion to her role at Siblings Australia.

Tash Binder - Program Development Officer

Liz Somers - BBSc, MA (Journalism)

Liz is responsible for sharing Siblings Australia’s knowledge, offerings and advocacy with our supporters and service users, and for ensuring that siblings, families and professionals who need our support know that we’re here. After cutting her professional teeth in the marketing agency world, Liz discovered her passion lies with connecting not-for-profits with the community. Her experience in this space includes roles with some of Australia’s best-known charities.

Liz Somers – Marketing & Communications 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

Lucy Sutherland - PhD; MAppSc; BAppSc; Diploma in Project Management; Diploma in Professional Book Editing, Proofreading and Publishing; MAICD

Dr Lucy Sutherland is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of leadership and management experience in the science, conservation and education sectors in government, academia and the not-for-profit sectors in Australia and overseas. Lucy has been a Non-
Executive Director on the boards of several not-for-profit environmentally focused organisations. She has also been an expert advisor and elected representative on various intergovernmental committees focused on national issues. She currently holds the position of Honorary Professor with the University of Adelaide. Lucy has lived experience with an older sibling who had significant mental health issues for most of their adult life. This experience has provided her with a unique insight into the impact, both positive and negative, of disability and chronic conditions on families.

Lucy Sutherland - Secretary

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

Rob Fowler

Rob Fowler is an Adjunct Professor in the Law School at the University of South Australia. He served as Dean of the Law School at the University of Adelaide from 1995-98. He has extensive board membership and governance experience, including as a member of the Board of the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (2011 – 2017), Chair of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law (IUCNAEL) (2008-2012); Chair of the South Australian Environmental Defender’s Office (2001-2009); President of the Conservation Council of South Australia (2011-2014); and Board member and Vice President of the Australian Conservation Foundation (2008-2015). He has been a member of the Siblings Australia Board since 2014.

Rob Fowler

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.

Our People

Our Staff

Kate Strohm – Founder/CEO

James Girvan – Program Manager

Tash Binder - Program Development Officer

Liz Somers – Marketing & Communications Manager

Rachel Bailey - Office Manager

Our Board

Peter Gill - Chair

Lucy Sutherland - Secretary

Kevin Johnson - Treasurer

Rob Fowler

Mary Hudson - Deputy Chair

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