Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)

Our People

Patron

John DOYLE

Respected dramatist, actor and broadcaster. John is better known as his alter ego Roy Slaven, one half of the comedy sports duo Roy & HG. His adult sister was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder at the age of 11.

Board of Directors

Keith PERKIN (Board Chair)

Keith joined the Aspect Board in October 2004 and became the Board Chair in May 2008. He is Chief Operating Officer, Starlight Children’s Foundation. Prior to that he was Chief Executive Officer of Retravision Pty Limited. Keith holds a Bachelor of Business degree and has completed Advanced Management programs at Mt. Eliza Business School in Victoria and INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. Keith is also a graduate of the Williamson Community Leadership Program and has completed the Not for Profit Board Orientation Series run by Sydney Leadership.

Robert PESAVENTO (Deputy Board Chair)

Engineering Manager with SingTel Optus. Robert is the father of a son with an autism spectrum disorder. Robert was appointed to the Board in 1999 and co-chairs the Client Services Committee.

Weston RYAN (Hon. Treasurer)

Chartered Accountant, partner at Einfeld Symonds Vince, Chartered Accountants. He has worked extensively in the area of Education with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and frequently travels to Asia to conduct courses on strategic business management and other accounting related disciplines. He joined the Board in 2003 and is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee.

David DOWN

A Chemical Engineer by profession, David currently works in a senior management role with rail company Pacific National. He is the father two children, one of whom has an autism spectrum disorder. David joined the Board in 2007.

David EPPER

Senior Associate of ANZIIP, Managing Director, Accident and Health International Underwriting Pty Limited. He joined the Board in 2001. He has a son with an autism spectrum disorder.

David FOSTER

B.E., F.I.E. (Aust), retired Engineer with management experience with Pacific Power. As the parent of an adult son with an autism spectrum disorder, he is interested in progressive development of plans for growing numbers of adults who have autism spectrum disorders. A member of the Finance & Audit Committee, he has been a Director since 1975.

Jonathan HARRIS

Solicitor and Managing Partner of legal firm Harris Hyde Page. As the parent of a son with an autism spectrum disorder, he is interested in early intervention services and assisting parents with their wills and other estate planning issues relating to their disabled family members. Jonathan has been a director since 1996.

Malcolm McEWEN

BBus (Accounting); MBus (Employment Relations). Executive Search & Selection consultant, employed by KPMG. He has an 11 year old son with Asperger's disorder who attended Vern Barnett School and is currently at St Lucy's, and a 13 year old daughter with Down Syndrome. He brings to Aspect an awareness of disability in general as well as the experience of being the father of a child with Asperger's disorder. His wife has previously been involved in the Down Syndrome Association.

Dr David STARTE

David is Service Director at the Chatswood Assessment Centre and a Clinical Associate Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, School of Medicine. His interests include developmental paediatrics including autism spectrum disorders and ADHD, and audiology including universal newborn screening and auditory processing.

Peter WERNER

B.Comm. Executive Search Consultant and Director, Richfield Consulting. He joined the Board in 2001. He has worked in the banking industry. He is the father of three children, one of whom has an autism spectrum disorder.

Senior Management Team

Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Ford

B Soc Stud, GAICD. Previously Deputy Chief Executive Officer of The Benevolent Society and the National Coordinator of the Kids First Foundation. He is a member of the Autism Council of Australia. Former Chairperson of the NSW Child Protection Council and the Association of Children's Welfare Agencies. He has worked both in Australia and Great Britain in community services and has specialised in management of these services over the past 15 years.

Director, Education and Research, Dr Trevor Clark

Trevor is a special educator with a comprehensive knowledge of educational programs and service provision for students with ASDs and over seventeen years' experience in New Zealand, England and Australia. During his 14 years with Aspect he has been a teacher, principal of four schools and acting Director, Services. Trevor completed his doctorate in autism in 2001 at UNSW, including a curriculum designed to make functional use of savant and splinter skills (strengths and interests) in children with ASDs.

Director, Adults and Behaviour Support, Dr Mark Clayton

Mark has worked within the disability field for 25 years. With an initial background as a classroom teacher and special educator, Mark has worked as a consultant, school principal of four schools, lecturer and researcher, policy advisor, and held various management positions across several non-government organisations. Mark holds a Masters in Special Education from Macquarie University and a PhD from the University of Illinois, USA.

Director, Young Children and Families, Anthony Warren

B.A. (Hons), T.T.C., G.D.S.E. (Spec. Ed) Anthony is a psychologist and special educator who has worked with Aspect for a number of years managing the School Outreach Service. This multi-disciplinary service provides diagnostic and functional assessment, home and school management support, social skills training, and professional development programs.

 

Director, Service Planning & Development, Allison Yee-Brogan

Allison Yee-Brogan has had a varied career spanning accounting, management consulting, direct service management, service planning, quality assurance and systems development. She has held various positions at pricewaterhousecoopers, Spice Consulting, St Vincent’s Hospital, The Benevolent Society and Australian Foundation for Disability. Allison has qualifications in Economics and Community Management and is also a Chartered Accountant.

Director, Corporate Services, David Renneberg

B.Bus (UTS) majoring in Finance and Economics. Over the last ten years, David has worked in various accounting roles at the University of Sydney, Marrickville Council and The Benevolent Society. David is a member of the A.S.C.P.A., achieving CPA status in 1999.

 

Director, Fundraising, David Jackett

David has worked in the not for profit sector since 1994, holding senior positions in communications and fundraising with The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and St. Vincents & Mater Health Sydney.  Prior to 1994 he worked in the commercial world in both the UK and Australia holding marketing and finance positions in organisations including Air New Zealand,  Johnson and Johnson, Wilkinson Sword and Unilever.

Director, People and Communications, Mark Schlosser

Mark was previously the Chief Executive Officer of JewishCare.  Other roles he has held include Deputy General Manager and Acting General Manager of the Home Care Service of NSW (DADHC) and NSW Manager of Silver Circle Home Support Services.


Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)
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41 Cook Street, Forestville NSW 2087 Australia
Ph: (02) 8977 8300 Fax: (02) 8977 8399 ABN 12 000 637 267