Trustees and Their Role

Under Mary Aikenhead Ministries, the many health (including aged care and research institutes), education and some welfare ministries that have been established and developed by the Sisters of Charity in Australia, since their arrival from Ireland in 1838, will be governed by a group of Trustees, consisting initially of members of the Congregation and lay colleagues.

The Trustees are the Canon Law and Civil Stewards of the Ministries. As such, the Ministries report to, and are accountable to the Trustees.

The Trustees will ensure that the heritage, tradition and charism of the Sisters are taken purposefully into the future. 
 

Mr David Robinson - Chairperson

David was educated by Sisters of Charity, Christian Brothers and University of Sydney.  David graduated with a Bachelor of Economics in 1981 and in 2001 obtained his Master of Commerce.

Sydney based David is currently the principal of Harveys Chartered Accountants.  His work history includes involvement as a non-executive director of Leighton Holdings Group since 1990; Chairman of the Windsor Farms Foods Group Limited and Former director of Valad Property Group Limited.

David is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, a Registered Chartered Tax Adviser and Registered Company Auditor.

David is a member of the Joint State Taxes Liaison Committee with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and his past activities include: Chairman of the Advisory Finance Committee Sisters of Charity of Australia, a member of the Board of St Edmund’s School for students with vision impairment and other special needs, founding board member of Edmund Rice Special Education Services (ERSES), occasional advisor to Sydney Archdiocese Chancery Office, member of the Boards of St Vincent’s College Potts Point, CBHS Lewisham and other Advisory Committees associated with the Sisters of Charity in Australia. 

Emeritus Professor Gabrielle McMullen AM FRACI - Deputy Chairperson

Gabrielle attended St Patrick’s Primary School in Pakenham, Victoria and then completed her secondary schooling at Killester College in Springvale.  In 1974 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) degree and in 1977 was awarded her Doctor of Philosophy, both from Monash University. 

Gabrielle’s professional experience and commitment to education have been extensive.  Following a 3-year research appointment in Germany, she returned in 1981 to Monash University, where she was   jointly appointed Dean of Mannix College, its Catholic residence, and progressively Senior Tutor, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry.  From 1995 she undertook senior leadership roles at Australian Catholic University, initially as Rector (Ballarat Campus) and then Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) until 2011. 

Gabrielle’s community contributions have encompassed membership of education, health, theological and welfare boards.  Apart from her role as a Trustee of Mary Aikenhead Ministries, she is currently also President of the Australian Association of von Humboldt Fellows and a member of the Australian Catholic Council for Pastoral Research, of the Caritas Hong Kong Institute Development Steering Committee, of the Christian Brothers Oceania Professional Standards Consultative Committee, of the Walter Silvester Memorial Lecture Committee and of Xavier College Council.

She lives in Clifton Hill, Melbourne and is involved in the local parish of Our Lady of the Southern Cross.

Sr Helen Clarke rsc

Sr Helen Clarke resides in Sydney and is an ex-student of Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, New South Wales.  She continued further study and obtained a Diploma in Teaching (primary) through the Catholic Teachers’ College in North Sydney, a Bachelor of Arts through Macquarie University in Sydney, a Masters of Education through Sydney University and a Diploma in Counselling at St. John of God Institute.

Sr Helen’s longstanding commitment and experience with in education is quite evident through her work history.  St Helen was a school principal at four Sydney based schools, a Consultant with Sydney Catholic Education, Congregational Leader with Sisters of Charity, a Board Director at St Vincents & Mater Sydney, St Vincent’s College, St Vincent’s Health Australia, National Catholic Education Commission and Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory), the National President of Catholic Religious Australia and Member of Union of International Superiors General.
Sr Helen is also a Trustee, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. 

Dr Tessa Ho MBBS (Syd) MHP (UNSW) MD (UNSW) MAICD

Tessa is an ex-student of St Vincent’s College in Sydney, New South Wales and medical graduate of the University of Sydney. She has a Doctorate of Medicine in Health Services Management, with a focus on health workforce training and support, especially in relation to health care provision for those disadvantaged by rurality, gender and ethnicity. Her research in health economics involved the development of simulation models for casemix funding of NSW public hospitals.

Tessa has a longstanding commitment to medical education and professional development, manifest in her work as a medical educator and medical administrator in workforce planning. She has had extensive involvement in University medical education, as Associate Dean and Head of the Medical Program at the University of Sydney, as a member of the Australian Medical Council Assessment Teams for accreditation of Australian medical schools, the Management Committee of the NSW Institute of Medical Education and Training,  Deputy Chair of the Education and Resource Development Committee of the NSW Postgraduate Medical Council and the NSW State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.

Ms Rowena McNally

Rowena was born in Papua New Guinea and educated at St Joseph's Primary by the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Port Moresby and then by Religious Sisters of Mercy at Monte Sant Angelo in North Sydney and All Hallows in Brisbane.

Rowena lives in Brisbane, Queensland with her husband John Bond and son Sean.  Rowena is a parishioner, sporadic chorister and former Parish Councillor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish and served for a number of years as the Professional Standards Director for the Church in Queensland.

An experienced corporate lawyer, Rowena is also a company director, arbitrator and mediator.  She has extensive board experience in water and energy infrastructure and distribution and in the provision of health, aged care and disability services.  She is the Chair of Catholic Health Australia; National President of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia and former chair of Australian Corporate Lawyers Association and Cerebral Palsy League Queensland. Rowena chairs the Quality Safety & Risk Committee of the North West Hospital and Health Service and serves on various legal and other committees including for the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Queensland Law Society and Law Council of Australia.

Mr Jim Russell  

Jim attended St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace in Spring Hill, Queensland.  He continued to do further study at the University of Queensland where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce CPA.  Jim also completed a diploma with the Australian Insurance Institute.
Jim’s work history includes working for National Mutual Life within various senior management positions across Queensland, Melbourne and surrounding areas.  Positions held included:  Divisional Sales Manager, District Manager, Superannuation Sales Manager, Sales Training Manager and Regional Sales Manager.   Throughout Jim’s working career he also worked as a Queensland Manager for Mercantile Mutual Life, a Consultant to Barbacan Benefits (financial planners) and Consultant to Millennium 3 (life brokers and financial planners).

Jim’s commitment and expertise allows him to serve on various committees such as a Trustee on the Mary Aikenhead Finance Committee, a Board Member with Queensland Building Services Authority, the Chair on the Insurance Committee and a Member on the Finance Audit and Risk Committee. He was also the Chairman of Sisters of Charity and Holy Spirit Health Services Qld. until 2005, a member of Archdiocesan Finance Council and Deputy Chair of Centacare Brisbane until June 2012.

Jim resides in Queensland and is a Reader and Eucharistic Minister at Burleigh Parish.