Meet our committed and
highly-invested team

Kiind is thrilled to welcome Cristian as our new Chair. He is the father of six year old Max who lives with a rare medical condition.

Cristian started his career as an accountant, working in the maritime industry for 12 years before taking on a commercial role with the same company and later becoming the General Manager for Australasia for a further six years.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and is a qualified CPA accountant, specialising in tax. Cristian is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Cristian is about to embark on a new chapter in his professional life as he moves into the not-for-profit sector with the aim of using his extensive experience, in life and in business, to help develop and grow for purpose organisations, including Kiind.

Recently stepping into the role of Kiind's Vice Chair, Nicole has over 15 years’ experience in human resources and organisational development and change.

She has worked across the government, transport, engineering and construction sectors.

She is currently an organisational change consultant within the WA public sector.

Nicole has been a member of Kiind since 2014. She has lived experience raising her eldest daughter who has autism.

Nicole is a passionate advocate for inclusion and diversity. She strives to create a better world of work, where people and organisations are empowered to grow and environments are cultivated to enable individuality to thrive.

Dr Lana Weldon is a high-energy professional with 27 years’ experience in governance, assurance, reporting, consulting and education.

A chartered accountant, Lana also holds a PhD in accounting as well as a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA). She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand.

Lana currently works as the General Manager at Moore Australia and is a non-Executive Director with Diabetes Research Australia, as well as the Lead Independent Director and Audit and Risk Committee Chair of a financial services group in South Africa.

A skilled communicator, educator, trainer and team leader, Lana is looking forward to applying her wealth of knowledge and experience to supporting Kiind families raising children with disability and additional needs.

Leanne has been a member of Kiind, (formerly Kalparrin) since 2009. Her daughter has an intellectual disability and her diagnosis led Leanne in the direction she has been following ever since.

During the many years of her involvement with Kiind, Leanne has been both an employee and a Board member. She has previously been instrumental in helping to organise Kiind's many, annual, family events as well as undertaking the role of Family Support Officer. As a member of Kiind's Board, Leanne has acted as Secretary, Vice Chair and is now a Director.

Currently working as a Support Coordinator with a service provider in Midland, Leanne currently helps families in the NDIS to coordinate the supports they need within their NDIS Plans. This involves connecting people with support workers to assist them in reaching their goals, liaising with service providers, providing information and linkages on available services and providing assistance, using her lived experience and local knowledge, to connect NDIS participants with their community. She also volunteers her time, as a guest speaker, providing presentations to families and service providers about her experience as a mother of a child with additional needs and as a Support Coordinator.

For Leanne, becoming a member of the Kiind ‘family’ was life changing and she is passionate about Kiind and the incredibly important role the organisation plays in the lives of families. She continues to provide an active role as a member of the Board to support families and their children through the journey from infant to adulthood and beyond.

Barbara Goodwin is the Industry Partnerships Manager for the McCusker Centre for Citizenship at UWA and a passionate advocate for people living with a disability and their carers.

Barbara has completed a PhD in Law and has held multiple senior positions in the Australian Higher Education Sector. She has also previously served as Secretary on the Board of Unicare.

Barbara has strong networks in the social services industry and not for profit sectors and uses her high level communication, strategic and critical thinking and problem solving skills to provide opportunities to foster active citizenship in young people.

Barbara has a strong interest in the disability sector, stemming from her lived experience with her son, Winston, who is living with multiple disabilities. Winston is one of four boys and his strength and resilience fuel Barbara’s passion to help create inclusive environments for all abilities.

Barbara has been a Kiind member since 2019 and is pleased to serve on the Board of Kiind and give back to the community.

Amelia is a banking lawyer and has worked in large, international law firms and banks in both Perth and London for the past 15 years.

She currently works as a senior lawyer at ANZ and is involved in managing legal risk and working with internal and external stakeholders to deliver strategically significant projects.

Amelia holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Investment Finance) from the University of Western Australia as well as a postgraduate law degree from the University of Oxford, UK.

With three young children, Amelia is an advocate for inclusion and improving understanding of disability within schools and workplaces. She is passionate about the work of Kiind and supporting families during hospital stays and navigating complex systems such as health, disability, education and the NDIS.

Amelia has been a member of Kiind since 2019 and a board member since 2022.

Jemma is a doctor specialising in both medical administration (RACMA) and paediatric medicine (RACP).

Jemma is a doctor specialising in both medical administration (RACMA) and paediatric medicine (RACP). She is currently working as the General Manager for Medical Workforce and Education at St John of God Health Care and the Director of Medical Services at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital. She also still works clinically as a Paediatric Doctor.

In addition, she works as an Adjunct Clinical Lecturer at Curtin University, providing lectures on paediatric topics to medical students and facilitating clinical skills sessions. In 2019, she completed her dual Masters in Health Management/Masters in Public Health (with Excellence) through UNSW.

She has interests in medical leadership and education, doctors’ welfare, and advocating for patients and their families to ensure optimal care and support in their healthcare journey.

Kat is an AuDHD mother of five children, each with unique disabilities and varying degrees of complex medical needs.

She has over 17 years of experience in the disability sector, first as a support worker and now as a committed advocate, particularly in spaces between complex health and disability needs. She’s contributed to the legislative deliberative panel on restrictive practices authorisation, collaborated with local council to enhance accessibility, and is dedicated to helping other families like her own.
Kat has been a Kiind member since 2012.

Now that her family has found a new “baseline” she is excited to join the Kiind Board where she can utilise her lived experience in navigating systems and advocating for her own, her children's and others’ health and disability needs.

Kat is committed to furthering the rights, wellbeing, and dignity of disabled individuals and their families.

Vicki is a skilled people manager with over 20 years of demonstrated experience of working across corporate and for purpose organisations in Management, Customer Service, Strategic Planning, Training & Development, and Change Management.

Vicki has a passion of people, which she proves in her current role as the Executive Director of People and Culture at the PeopleKind Group. She holds the view that a People and Culture team are there as a support network to enable employees to do what they love and to be the best they can be at work.

Her focus is on treating all people as individuals and harnessing their strength and capabilities.

Vicki believes that empowering people who support people in need across human services is paramount to achieve the best outcomes and ensure that people with disability and their families lead a good life.

David Flanagan AM CitWA has been closely aligned to Kiind since his wife's appointment as a Director of Kiind, (formerly Kalparrin) in 2012.

David is the Executive Chair of Red Dirt Metals Limited, the Chair of AROSE and the Chair of Battery Minerals Limited.

David is a passionate supporter of giving in Western Australia and doing things to make his family proud.

David was named West Australian of the Year in 2014 and made an Eisenhower Fellow in 2013. David has received a number of awards over the years including the inaugural Governors Award for Giving in 2011, EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Business) in 2010 and First Among Equals, 40 under 40 in 2009.

David is also Ambassador to WA Parks Foundation and Patron of Many Rivers.

Sarah and David believe deeply in the vision of Kiind and the support the organisation provides to Western Australian families raising children with disability.

Sarah has been closely aligned to Kiind since her appointment as a Director of Kiind, (formerly Kalparrin) in 2012.

Sarah is a Dietitian, dividing her time between private practice, her children and family life as well as supporting a number of philanthropic interests together with her husband, David.

Sarah believes deeply in the vision of Kiind and the support the organisation provides to Western Australian families raising children with disability and additional needs.

Hon Donna Faragher MLC is the Liberal Member in Western Australia for the East Metro Region and Shadow Minister for Community Services; Early Childhood Education; Youth; Seniors and Ageing.

Prior to this appointment, she served as the Shadow Minister for Education and Training; Women’s Interests for four years.

As a former Minister for Disability Services she is a long-time advocate of organisations and initiatives supporting children and young people across Western Australia and a strong ally for Kiind and the support of children living with disability and additional needs.

Carrie brings a wealth of experience to the team at Kiind, previously working in senior community development and communications roles in the mining sector and local government.

Prior to joining Kiind, (formerly Kalparrin) in 2015, Carrie worked with Platform Communications, coordinating the delivery of strategic communications projects for corporate and not-for-profit clients.

Carrie also has eight years’ experience in the mining industry, working with Atlas Iron, CITIC Pacific Mining and BHP Billiton, where she worked with businesses and not-for-profit organisations to design and deliver programs and services that brought benefit to communities. She has led teams to deliver outcomes in the areas of community development, internal and external communications, government relations, brand management, media liaison, social media management and event management.

Carrie has a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development and Sociology. She has lived and worked in regional communities and has a lived experience of disability with a brother with additional needs.

Simone joined Kiind in 2021, bringing with her many years of professional experience in communications and community development roles within the private and not-for-profit sectors.

Simone’s career has included the delivery of strategic and corporate communications, stakeholder relations, and community engagement for organisations including The Kids Research Institute Australia and CEWA.

Simone manages the Operations Team at Kiind to develop and deliver capacity-building programs and digital communications. She is passionate about leading our high performing team to deliver outstanding support services and improved social outcomes for our members.

Simone’s qualifications include a BA in Community Development and Sociology. She has lived experience as a carer and is grateful to have shared in the journeys of hundreds of other carers throughout her career. Both her personal and professional experience have provided her with a deep respect for carers, and an in-depth understanding of the issues and challenges they often face.

Simone currently serves on the Disability Access and Inclusion Committee for the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) and the WA Department of Education Disability and Inclusion Consultative Committee.

Teresa joined Kiind in January 2022 and heads up Kiind’s Peer Navigation team.

With more than 10 years’ experience in the disability sector, Teresa leads Kiind’s team of Peer Navigators who provide support to parents and carers through Kiind’s peer support programs.

Teresa and her team help families to navigate the complex world of the NDIS, health, disability. They provide connection to community supports and government services and provide opportunities for members to connect, share insights and experiences.

Teresa’s lived experience of supporting a family member with disability is the reason why she is passionate about her work at Kiind. Teresa operates on the philosophy that if she can help a family with just one piece of information that makes their lives a little easier, then it’s been a very good day.

Danica is a dedicated communications professional with a passion for impactful storytelling.

Danica has been with Kiind since 2021. She has a BA in Mass Communications and over nine years of experience in digital marketing across both the private and not-for-profit sectors.

As the Marketing and Communications Lead, Danica is responsible for managing the Kiind brand, as well as promoting our programs. She oversees the development of our information resources and the weekly What’s on activity and event guide.

For Danica, it’s a privilege to share the real and often vulnerable stories from the families Kiind supports. She believes in the power of shared experiences to foster connection and provide comfort, helping other families feel less alone on their own journeys.

Kerryn joined Kiind (formerly Kalparrin) in 2016 with responsibility for coordination and management of the organisation’s extensive member events program. Following a short break during COVID-19, Kerryn returned to Kiind in September 2021 as the Office Manager.

In this role Kerryn manages Kiind’s two office locations and the smooth running of all office processes and IT platforms. She also plays an integral role on several project committees, most recently the design and development of Kiind’s Member Relationship Management system.

With a Diploma in Front Line Management from the Australian Institute of Management, Kerryn has an extensive administrative background having held previous roles within the mining and transport industries.

Kerryn enjoys being part of the Kiind community. Her long tenure with the organisation has enabled her to share the challenges and the joys of many amazing families as their children scale new heights and achieve ambitious goals throughout their disability journey.

When not at work, Kerryn enjoys spending time with her family and the odd spot of golf, both as a golfer herself and caddying for a particularly enthusiastic teenage son.

Renée is a social impact leader who brings 25 years of experience in the community sector, working in community development, disability, youth, peer support, and family services.

She holds a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact from UWA’s Centre for Social Impact, a BA in Psychology & Sociology, and a Postgrad Cert in Community Development at Murdoch University.

Joining the Kiind team in 2023, Renée is responsible for leading the organisation’s Systemic Advocacy. This role involves engaging with Kiind’s membership to identify the issues and barriers affecting families navigating the world of disability, and developing advocacy positions to inform decision-makers of the changes needed to improve systems.

Renée is an enthusiastic advocate for social and system change. She understands the value of peer support and lived experience and works in partnership with consumers to get their voices heard.

From her own experiences supporting a neurodivergent child, she brings empathy and a commitment to making the system better for families. Renée has been a member of Kiind since her first child’s diagnosis in 2014.

With a passion for community participation, Renée currently volunteers as a board member at her local school, and at the Vic Park Community Centre. When not busy parenting or changing the world, she can be found singing in a feminist choir, dabbling in half-completed craft projects (pottery is the current interest) and going for long walks as often as possible.