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Board of Directors

The St Andrew’s Board is accountable for the delivery of safe and quality care and services that meet the Aged Care Quality Standards. The governing body sets the strategic priorities for the organisation. It is expected to promote a culture of safety and quality, and to include this in the organisation’s governance systems. The Board is expected to drive and monitor improvements to make sure the organisation is committed to quality care and services and the best interests of residents, inlcuding a clear understanding of the risks at the service.
The St Andrew’s Board of Directors draws its directors from a diverse range of career and community engagements and backgrounds in order to ensure that the clinical and operational functions of the facility are managed in alignment with the legislative requirements. Resident/client dignity and choice, the provision of the highest quality clinical care and overall business management are the primary focus of Board governance and monthly Board meetings centre on ongoing continuous improvement within both the facility and the aged care sector.
St Andrews - Wendy Sharpe

Wendy Sharpe

Chair

Wendy has had over 35 years in Local Government and is an enthusiastic and positive team player who is highly motivated, organised, focused, with a high level of personal integrity and is always looking for process improvements and believes it is time to give back to the community. She has vast experience in finance, asset and property management.Wendy is retired from Coffs Harbour City Council and has moved to Ballina to embrace the lifestyle. Positions undertaken at Council include Section Leader Logistics, Plant Administration Coordinator and other positions within the financial section, Wendy joined the Board in 2021.

St Andrews - Diane Cuthbert

Diane Cuthbert

Director

Diane is a former Town Planner who worked for Ballina Council in the early 1980s before returning to Sydney. She held the positions of Director of Planning & Development at three large Sydney Councils. After retiring Diane and her husband Lloyd, moved back to the north coast. When Lloyd entered a nursing home, Diane became more aware of aged care needs and particularly the care of people with dementia. Diane first joined the St Andrew’s Board in 2021, resigned in 2023 due to personal circumstances and re-appointed as a Director in January 2024.

St Andrews - Layer 4

Inkah Fischer

Deputy Chair

Inkah Fischer holds a current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a Division 1 RN. She provides consultative services in human resourcing, strategic leadership, workforce training and development, change and project management, healthcare organisational reform, stakeholder consultation and engagement and co-design. Inkah is a subject matter expert for Healthcare Leadership and Management, Mental Health Nursing, Clinical Nurse Practices, Acute Care and Primary Healthcare at a local University. She has a range of qualifications in Healthcare and Business Administration. Inkah is passionate about maximising workforce capabilities and is committed to benchmarking quality engagement. Inkah joined the St Andrew’s Board in August 2023.

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Vicki Knudson

Director

In 2008 Vicki commenced a 5-year appointment as Executive Assistant to the (then) CEO of St Andrew’s. Prior to this Vicki provided executive support in medical and financial planning arenas. Upon retirement, Vicki produced the publication The History of St Andrew’s to mark the 30th anniversary in 2013. Vicki has an extensive track record of community engagement in the Northern Rivers and has undertaken significant volunteer work (including work as a crisis counsellor for Lifeline). Vicki has been invited to serve as a Director on the St Andrew’s Board twice in the past 6 years and provides acute insight into the needs of the community. Vicki rejoined the St Andrew’s Board in 2022.

St Andrews - Whenua

Whenua Oner

Director

Whenua is an experienced nurse with a Master of Nursing – Advanced Practice Older Persons who transitioned into clinical management initially as a Director of Nursing for a large residential aged care facility and then as a Regional Manager for a large not for profit organisation, responsible for multiple residential aged care services, a home/community care service, the Commonwealth Carer Respite Service and Principal Officer for an Out of Home Care Foster Care program. Whenua is currently working with Family Aged Care Advocates and Lotus Palliative Care. Whenua joined the St Andrew’s Board in 2022.

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Andrew Lowrey

Director

Andrew Lowrey is the Director and Partner for an established Northern Rivers Accountancy Practice.  With extensive experience in delivering business advisory services and taxation advice.  A qualified Fellow, Chartered Accountant he holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Post Graduate Diploma of Agricultural Economics. Andrew has long been an active member of the local community, with previous experience as a Board member for a local organization. Andrew joined the St Andrew’s Board in late March 2023.

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Dayne Mearns

Director

Dayne Mearns is a qualified Architect and has had extensive experience over a long period of time working with Aged Care Facilities, Independent Living Villages, Community Centres, Community Health Centres, Hospitals and low cost housing developments in Australia, Asia, the South Pacific & the Middle East. He is currently an honorary architect for a Benevolent Society and has contributed to the local community through involvement in Rotary, Scouts, junior basketball coaching and has undertaken a variety of pro-bono architectural projects. He has formerly been a member of the National Trust, Friends of the Earth and served on the Community Liaison Group for the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Motorway project. Dayne joined the St Andrew’s Board in late March 2023.

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Steven Grant

Director

Steven Grant holds a range of qualifications in Law, Finance and Investments and Applied Law. He was a Partner in a medium sized Law firm in Brisbane for many years and established his own practice in July 1999. His primary areas of practice are in estate planning and taxation. Steven is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and regularly lectures on legal topics for the Television Education Network. He also received a Bravery Medal from the Governor-General of Australia. Steven joined the St Andrew’s Board in late March 2023.

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Dane Mitchell

Director

Dane Mitchell is the Managing Director of an allied health organisation with multiple clinics between Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast, including in Ballina. He is responsible for strategic planning, financial management, recruitment and key relationship management. Dane is also a Director of his family’s business, Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort in Yamba. Outside of work, Dane is regularly involved in the local community, especially in sport where he is a committee member for the Yamba Buccaneers Rugby Club, Committee member and Treasurer for Harwood Cricket Club and is also the coach of various junior Rugby teams in Yamba and for Far North Coast Rugby Union. Dane joined the St Andrew’s Board in August 2023.