Board of Management
PRESIDENT
James Thom MBA
James joined the Board of Senses Foundation in 2003 and has played an active role in the organisation since. He has been President since October 2006. James is Executive Director, Infrastructure, with the Department of Education. James was involved with the disability sector initially as a parent of a son with an autism spectrum disorder. In 2002-03, he was the Department of the Premier and Cabinet representative, on a working party that reviewed the Disability Services Act. James has particular interests in the policy and financial relationships between governments and contracted non-government agencies and in the governance of not-for-profit organisations.
VICE PRESIDENT
Anne Bourke
Anne’s substantive position is the Executive Director, Nursing and Patient Support Services, Child and Adolescent Health Services (CAHS) which includes Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Community Health. Anne is a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, has a BSc (Nursing), Master of Clinical Nursing, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management. Anne has worked in the Health Sector in WA for more than thirty years, and has held senior management positions for the past fifteen years. Anne has a particular interest in governance, and customer involvement in policy. Anne Bourke was appointed to the Board of Senses Foundation in June 2006.
Bill Cutler
Bill Cutler joined the Senses Foundation Board in January 2005. Bill has a working background of 42 years in banking, including offshore postings in Fiji, Hong Kong, Singapore and London. Bill has held the positions of Deputy Chief Manager, London and Head of Banking Operations, Perth.
Rick Matich AMP (UWA) AIBF (Fin)
During 34 years service with Westpac Banking Corporation, Rick Matich served in a number of senior management and executive positions in Western Australia and New South Wales. Rick is a Director of Matich Marine and a business and financial services consultant. Rick Matich joined the Senses Foundation Board in 2001.
Craig Billings
Craig Billings is the General Manager Marketforce Retail. Craig is highly regarded as one of the industry’s leading strategic retail thinkers, and is renowned for his hands on approach in developing innovative communication strategies and value added initiatives for the Agency’s clients. Craig Billings joined the Senses Foundation Board in 2005.
John Groppoli B.Juris, LLB, FAICD
John Groppoli was appointed to the Board in 2005. He was a partner of national law firm Deacons (now known as Norton Rose) from 1987 to 2004 where he specialised in franchising, legal compliance and corporate governance. He was Managing Partner of the Perth office of Deacons from 1998 to 2002. John left private practice in 2004 and is currently Managing Director of Milners Pty Ltd, a leading Australian brand marketing group specialising in premium homeware products, and Aviva Optical, an importer and national distributor of optical products and accessories. John is a director of AHG Ltd and Retravision (WA) Limited.
Deidre Willmott, BJuris, LLB W.Aust., LLM Melb.
Deidre Willmott is a lawyer and is head of government relations for Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Prior to this appointment, Deidre was Cabinet Secretary and Chief of Staff to West Australian Premier Colin Barnett. She is Deputy Chair of the Council of St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls and worked as a General Manager for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Deidre Willmott joined the Board in 2008.
Dr Ruth Shean
Ruth Shean is the Director General of the Western Australian government’s Department of Workforce Development. Prior to this, Ruth was Commissioner for Public Sector Standards. Her other previous government CEO roles include Director General of the Disability Services Commission (from 1999 – 2006), and Acting Director General of the Department for Community Development. Ruth Shean has also been a non-government CEO (of the Cerebral Palsy Association), and has held leadership positions on both state and federal government reviews and committees. She has also been on governing councils of both Curtin and Murdoch Universities. Ruth Shean was co-opted onto the Board in June 2011.
Bruce Campbell-Fraser
Bruce Campbell-Fraser is the Executive Officer, People Strategies, for the Chamber of Minerals and Energy in Western Australia. Bruce has extensive policy and political experience, having spent the past decade as a senior government advisor – both at a state and federal level. Most recently, Bruce served as a Senior Advisor to the Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Previous roles include Principal Policy Advisor to former Premier Alan Carpenter, Strategic Management Advisor to former Premier Geoff Gallop and Chief of Staff to both the former WA Minister for Health and the former WA Minister for Energy, Science and Innovation. Bruce Campbell-Fraser was co-opted onto the Board in November 2011.
