ADEC - Board of Management

Members

Chairperson: Dr Helen Bryant
Deputy Chairperson: Dr Sophie Holmes
Treasurer: Joe Romeo
Secretary: Adua Merola

Jan Ginis
Maria Carmusciano
Dr Helen Farrell
Jackie Whitwell

Since 2001, the board has taken on a governance role. This is different to a model of management where committee members take on an active role in the day-to-day activities and business of the organisation.

A governance role acknowledges that the role of the board is to:

Employ the Executive Director
Set the future direction of the organisation and decide on matters which may impact on its future viability
Develop, monitor and review policies for the organisation
Develop policy positions on public policy matters
Ensure that all accountability and performance measures are met.

Biographies:

Dr Helen Bryant - Chairperson

Helen joined ADEC three years ago and has recently been appointed as ADEC's new chairperson. Helen started off in nursing before she obtained a degree in commerce. For the last 16 years she worked in the disability area firstly in setting up Australian Home Care (wholly owned by the MS Society) then as General Manager of services for ParaQuad Vic. She later did a masters degree in organisational dynamics and is currently completely her PhD. Her PhD focuses on the culture of in home care and the dynamics between carers and clients with disabilities. Helen also obtained a diploma in corporate governance with the Australian Institute of Corporate Secretaries.

Helen is interested in culture as it effects organisations and takes a special interest in working with families affected by both disabilities and mental health problems. Helen had a daughter with severe mental health issues and is keen to see the community become more responsive to the needs of people with both disabilities and mental health issues. She is currently working as a consultant and project worker within the disability sector.

Joe Romeo - Treasurer

Joe Romeo'sl background is in Financial Planning. Having started his career in 1983 with AMP Life and running his own Financial Planning practice under AMP for 20 years. He then sold his practice in 2003 and during a period of 3 years started two other businesses, a Travel and a shoe importing business. He returned to Financial Planning in 2007 while still maintaining his interests in the Travel and Shoe businesses.

He successfully completed his Diploma of Financial Planning and has attained Certified Financial Planner status.

Joe Romeo speaks Italian fluently and is involved with the Italian community. He is the representative for Victoria and Tasmania for CTIM, Comitato Tricolori per gli Italiani nel Mondo (committee three colours for Italians abroad).

Adua Merola - Secretary

Adua is vision impaired, but the disability does not hinder her from leading a very busy life. Adua works as a Do Care Volunteer where she visits elderly people, and is also a Lifeline bilingual volunteer counsellor. Adua is employed to work in a Aged Care Facility as a service assistant, which involves organising activities such as bingo, massages for residents, along with preparing meals, being an advocate for residents, and working one on one with people suffering from dementia.

Adua was the “social secretary” for the Blind Workers Union, where she organised functions, and raffles. Adua competed in the Blind Olympics at Seoul in 1984. The events she competed in were the long jump, 100m and 200m. Adua also enjoys tandem bike riding (pedalling behind the front rider), writing poetry and short stories.

Adua has been on the ADEC Board for 12 months, and has been secretary for that period of time. Learning quickly about the Boards operations, Adua is a very positive person and does not let adversity stand in her way.

Dr Sophie Holmes - Deputy Chairperson

Sophie Holmes was born in Australia. Sophie comes from a Polish origin and speak fluent Polish. She has a longstanding interest in working with families from non-English speaking backgrounds and is a director of the Williams Road Family Therapy where they have teams and practitioners (psychologists and counsellors) who speak at least 12 different languages. Sophie personally supervises and trains practitioners to work with families where a member has a chronic disability, including chronic mental illness, developmental/ intellectual/physical disabilities. They have developed programs and methods to work with children and families where the parents have a mental illness, a member of the family is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, major mental illness, eating disorders, leaning disabilities and learning difficulties.

Sophie has been on the Board of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation since 1998 and currently is the Chair of Ethics.

Other Board members

Maria Carmusciano

Maria became involved with ADEC approximately 18 years ago, as her son had a severe disability. ADEC provided Maria with information and assistance with services and with carer support.

ADEC also provides Maria with an outlet, where Maria is able to meet with other caregivers and professionals to share and exchange experiences, and to also have general communications.

Maria chose to get involved with ADEC as it was and is an avenue to share her views and experience within the disability network. Maria feels that by being actively involved with ADEC, she is able to provide a voice for the people through being a representative for the disabled. It also ensures participation in other various avenues of discussions which are held to benefit others.

Maria has been on the Board since November 2004 and has thoroughly enjoyed her role and the challenges it brings. Maria feels valued by ADEC and appreciates the opportunity to put something back into the system, which she has obtained so much from.

Jan Ginis

Jan is employed as a Specialist Audiologist and Clinical Adviser with Australian Hearing. As part of her role, she is required to deliver academic and other papers, internationally and around Australia.
She joined the Board of Management at the annual general meeting in 2000.

Antoinette Khalil

Antoinette Khalil joined ADEC six years ago and was the chairperson for three years. Since migrating to Australia from Egypt Antoinette has lived in Melbourne. Two degrees were completed at Latrobe University including a Bachelor or Arts majoring in legal studies and sociology and a Post Graduate degree in Social Work. Since completing these degrees her professional career has remained within the Department of Justice. To date, most of her career has been in Correctional Services working as a corrections officer and senior Corrections Officer. Six years was spent in management, managing community correctional locations such as Prahran and Carlton.

Antoinette also spent 12 months with the Supreme Court managing staff in the juries division. She joined the OPA in April 2000 and enjoys her current position as an advocate/guardian. Antoinette also sits on the Executive Committee with the Bonnie Babes Foundation as a volunteer. The BBF is an organisation that provides counselling and raises funds for research into still birth, miscarriage and pre mature birth of babies. When not working Antoinette enjoys movies, cooking, entertaining friends and family at home, travelling, reading and the gym.

Return to top