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Rohan is an experienced CEO, senior executive and company director with demonstrated expertise across the not for profit, private and government sectors. He is passionate and future focused with a proven record for creating substantial organisational, stakeholder and client value. He has extensive experience in strategically positioning organisations for transformational change and growth within the health, disability, education and community service sectors. His experience and strengths are in strategic planning, transformational leadership, finance, risk and compliance, continuous improvement frameworks, gaining efficiencies across systems and processes, building cultural alignment and developing high performance cultures and teams. Rohan is a socially responsible professional genuinely passionate about creating opportunities for people who live with disadvantage and disability, always acting ethically to service those he works with and for.

Shaya Nettle | Alliance Senior Manager, Lutheran Care

Shaya is passionate about humane and inclusive service systems. With 20 years’ experience in the South Australian, national and international not-for-profit communities, she has been involved in major change initiatives like NSW’s Going Home Staying Home reform, implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and poverty reducing initiatives in developing countries. For 10 years, she has also been the Treasurer of a not-for-profit charity delivering education and health initiatives for children and families in India and Mongolia.

 Kate McGarry | General Manager Community Services, Baptist Care SA

Kate has over 20 years’ leadership experience in community services, including 7 years as an Executive of Anglicare NT leading service and practice development in Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin. With a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Social Work and AICD, Kate has led service design and delivery for large teams of staff and volunteers across multiple services. She is currently responsible for a variety of programs including youth and Aboriginal specific homelessness services, out of home care for children and young people, adventure therapy AOD programs, family mental health services, youth education and training, and unaccompanied humanitarian minors.

 Mychelle Curran | State Director TAS/SA, Mission Australia

Mychelle has long term experience, commitment and expertise in the development, management, program planning and evaluation as well as operational service delivery of social and affordable housing, homelessness, early intervention, child protection, disability and other client support and assistance programs to vulnerable people, households and communities across four Australian jurisdictions, including Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. Mychelle has been responsible for the development of State-wide and local client information/communication strategies, standards and methods of service delivery, identification of areas for service improvement and developing initiatives for improvement, developing and reviewing strategic and operational policies, procedures and practices to enable the delivery of quality client services consistent with organisational vision, goals and values.

• Without a home: First-time youth homelessness in the COVID-19 period report

Sagaren Naidoo | Chief Executive Officer, Sonder

Sageran is the CEO of Sonder, one of the largest primary health care agencies in the SA, delivering a suite of clinical mental health services across all diagnostic criteria and across the age spectrum. Sonder is also the lead agency headspace Edinburgh North, headspace Onkaparinga, headspace Adelaide and as of January 2021 headspace Marion.

Chris Burns CSC | Chief Executive Officer, Hutt St Centre

On concluding a 30+ year military career, Chris consulted to the government and private sectors on Defence and international relations. This included a six-year appointment as the CEO of the State’s peak Defence industry body, the Defence Teaming Centre. Chris was then appointed as the inaugural South Australian Mental Health Commissioner where he led the co-design and co-production of the State’s first mental health strategic plan. Chris was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Hutt St Centre in January 2020.

Nick Cowling | Aboriginal Liaison, Royal Adelaide Hospital

Nick is the RN4 clinical lead for the Department of Human Services (DHS) Aboriginal remote visitor outreach service at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). For the past 2 years he has worked in the Emergency Department setting up Aboriginal Health program and working on projects for DHS.  A critical care nurse for the past 22 years as a critical care nurse, Nick entered into Aboriginal Health as a remote area nurse between 2007 – 2012 for the Top End Remote Health Unit. Nick returned to Adelaide as a Nurse consultant for the Integrated Care team Aboriginal Health at CALHN and ran the Aboriginal health unit at RAH as it transitioned to its new location.

Ian Cox | Head Office for Homelessness Sector Integration, SA Housing Authority

Ian has worked in the homelessness sector for the past 30 years as a social worker, CEO of a homelessness organisation and currently as the Head of the Office for Homelessness Sector Integration in the SA Housing Authority. Ian has been fortunate to have travelled overseas to visit and study homelessness and is fortunate to continue these conversations locally and abroad to help influence new ideas, innovation and connections. Among some major achievements include the development of an employment, education and training pathways program targeted at people experiencing homelessness; the development and implementation of Australia’s first homelessness social impact bond (Aspire); playing a leading role with the introduction of the Zero Project to Adelaide; leading the first Connections Week in South Australia and the initial development and growth of a community housing provider (Unity Housing Company).

Dr. Heather Holst | Commissioner for Residential Tenancies, Victoria

Heather worked for many years in homelessness agencies before being appointed Victoria’s first Commissioner for Residential Tenancies in 2018. The Commissioner role was introduced to give stronger representation to Victorian renters and residents of rooming houses, caravan parks and specialist disability accommodation. Heather is also a member of the independent panel reviewing the regulation of social and affordable housing in Victoria. She previously served as Deputy CEO of Launch Housing, with the Victorian government in homelessness policy and in various other not for profit organisations across Melbourne and regional Victoria. She designed and operated a range of housing projects, support programs and rough sleeping solutions. Heather is a board director of the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness.

 Associate Professor Yvonne Parry | College of Nursing and Health Services, Flinders University

Associate Professor Yvonne Parry undertakes research into the Social Determinants of Health among marginalised and disadvantaged populations, including working with children, and those experiencing homelessness and discrimination. Yvonne has extensive national and international standing in this area, both in research collaborations and in service on international research and professional committees is the international advisor on projects in the UK researching families with children 0-5 years living in homelessness/housing instability. She has worked collaboratively to co-design research and a model of care that incorporate the developmental and health needs of poly-disadvantaged children. Yvonne shows an innovative approach to research, great co-design and collaborative work and she also works in an interdisciplinary way to trial and scale up changes in interdisciplinary professional practice, models of care and service delivery to meet the needs of vulnerable populations, especially children.

 Dr. Theresa Lynch | Pregnancy & Homelessness Coordinating Committee & Network, Victoria

As a social worker for over 35 years Theresa has remained passionate in seeking justice and equality for disadvantaged and vulnerable women and children. For more than 11 years she managed the Victorian Royal Women’s Hospital Drug and Alcohol Service, providing specialised multidisciplinary clinical care and support to pregnant women and infants impacted by complex drug and alcohol use. Theresa was part of the Women’s team, in partnership with HousingFirst Ltd and Launch Housing, that led the vision and establishment of the Cornelia Program, an Australian first, providing safety, support and a secure home for pregnant women and their babies. She is the Convenor of the Pregnancy and Homelessness Network which advocates for system and policy change so that homeless pregnant women have access to a range of service models to improve women’s and newborn’s health and well-being.

• Murray, S., Theobald, J., Haylett, F. & Watson, J. (2020) Not Pregnant Enough: Pregnancy and Homelessness. Melbourne: RMIT University. 
• Murray, S., Theobald, J. & Watson, J. (2018) Pregnancy and Homelessness. Melbourne: Launch Housing.

James Packham | Managing Director, Harcourts Packham

James Packham directs a portfolio of businesses which specialise in sales and management for residential, commercial and retirement real estate. James is highly sought as a selling agent and auctioneer and holds respected industry awards from both Harcourts and the Real Estate Institute of South Australia. Harcourts Packham was recently awarded the Number 1 Franchise in Harcourts South Australia and in 2019, James was recognised as the Business Owner of the Year in Harcourts South Australia. He has completed degrees in Business and Economics from Flinders University and studied Operations Management at the Royal Military College (ADFA).

Dr. Alice Clark, Executive Director, Shelter SA

Dr. Alice Clark has been the Executive Director of Shelter SA since 2011 where she applies her passion for social justice and prosecutes the right to a safe, secure and affordable home for South Australians. A published author, Alice has an academic background in social science and public policy. While conducting systemic advocacy, one aspect of Alice’s current work at Shelter SA is bringing people together to create innovative and sustainable financial models that do not rely on governments to succeed, to build rental housing for people living on low incomes.

 Shane Austin | Chief Executive Officer, Baptist Care SA

Shane has extensive Community Sector experience, over 15 years of executive management experience, and played a key leadership role in establishing the Toward Home Alliance partnership in South Australia. He has held senior executive management roles in specialist homelessness services, community housing, cross-cultural international development and social justice philanthropy.   Together with expertise in strategic planning and implementation and stakeholder engagement, he has a really strong interest in social change and public policy.  With a background in law, Shane also has qualifications in Science and Theology.

Bethany Critchley | State Manager SA/WA/NT, Salvations Army Housing

Bethany is driven by her passion for helping people, she takes pride in providing the best Community Housing services possible. As a State Manager for SA WA & NT, her goals include providing long term supportive accommodation for the most vulnerable and supporting her teams to deliver the best outcomes possible. In addition to her primary job functions, Bethany also plays a key role in System and Database Management and Enhancement Projects for the organisation.

Karen Aistrope | Chief Executive Officer, Carrington Cottages Ltd.

Karen Aistrope is the CEO of Carrington Cottages Limited, an innovative Transitional Housing Accommodation Provider who leads the pathway from “At risk to the journey home”. Karen has worked in both the not-for-profit and corporate sectors and brings a wealth of relevant experience in strategic development, operational delivery, culture and leadership, collaborative partnerships, facilities management, innovation and growth including championing pilot programs where there is an unmet need. She has deep insights into the multiple factors that contribute to social disadvantage and a genuine desire to respond holistically to the needs of vulnerable people.

Tim Best | Lead, Toward Home Alliance & Adelaide Zero Project

Working as a Case Manager across multiple NGO’s in the homelessness sector since 2013, Tim is passionate about improving systems and service delivery for those most vulnerable in our community. Working in the sector both before and after the formation of the Alliances, Tim has witnessed improvements and challenges and is committed to make services easier to navigate. Tim studied a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Planning at Flinders University.

Robb Smart | Data Lead, Adelaide Zero Project

Robb works both as Community Data Lead for the Adelaide Zero Project and as Project Officer for the Office for Homelessness Sector Integration, SA Housing Authority. Robb joined the Authority in 2018 after graduating with a major in Community Development, and has worked across a number of different roles, including in Strategy and Governance and Planning and Reporting supporting the Authority’s leadership, and as a Housing Officer and Tenancy Practitioner working with at risk and vulnerable public housing tenancies in Northern Adelaide. Robb is keen to demonstrate how the Adelaide Zero Project By Name List can inform services, system integration and targeted advocacy to reduce the experiences of rough sleeping toward functional zero.

Victoria Skinner | Innovation Partner, SA Housing Authority

Dr Victoria Skinner works for the SA Housing Authority as Innovation Partner for the Toward Home Alliance. She has experience in homelessness research, law, and service reform. Victoria obtained her PhD regarding homelessness services and has since been involved in various initiatives, including the Adelaide Zero Project.

Kate Stock | Partnerships Manager, Good360

As Partnerships Manager for Good360 in South Australia, Kate Stock is passionate about supporting local charities and disadvantaged schools. Good360 is a matchmaker between businesses with surplus and people in need. By partnering with retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, Good360 has connected over RRP$250M in new, unsold stock to our charity members at only the small cost of shipping. Our platform for product gifting allows companies to share what they no longer need, or have too much of. Whether it’s clothes and toys to a family violence service or mattresses and linen for a homeless shelter — if Australians have the need, our business partners have the goods.

Livia Carusi | Conference Facilitator | Strategic Advisor, Lead, Toward Home Alliance

Liv Carusi has worked in the homelessness, family violence and housing sectors for almost 25 years. The positions held have included, Chairperson of Women’s Housing Limited for 9 years, homelessness case management, human rights and homelessness advocacy, senior strategic housing positions, public and social policy as well as senior management positions including her work for the Council to Homelessness Persons as well as her current position of Strategic Advisor, Lead for the Toward Home Alliance.

Prior to her current position, Liv was the National General Manager, Homelessness for the Salvation Army where she led the homelessness response in South Australia. In addition, she has recently been appointed to the position of Senior Project Officer, Office for Homelessness Sector Integration with SA Housing Authority. with formal qualifications in: political science, sociology, urban research and policy and a Master’s in public policy. Most recently, Liv has completed a Graduate Diploma in Theology.

She has a deep interest and passion in the space of improving health care responses for people rough sleeping, street sleeping specially for people living with diabetes.