EBL Newsletter EBL_Newsletter_Spring_2018_Digital | Page 6

EBL Board Members Phil Donaldson Please join us in welcoming our new Board of Directors to EBL! To get to Wendy Warren to explore a possible role on the EBL Board given my know everyone, we share their submissions below. background in housing and in the innovation space. Since then I have continued In 2017-2018 I attended a meeting with the Board Chair Mark Pitcher and with conversations with Wendy and staff at EBL around opportunities for Dawn Brodie improving quality of life with people with a disability through improvements in I am a long serving supporter of EBL Disability Services. My daughter has housing provision through the NDIS and on a commercial basis. a significant developmental disability and associated conditions. She has attended the EBL Respite service for over 16 years. Following the sale of our family business after 29 years I was delighted to be offered a role on the EBLDS Board. With more time to pursue other interests, and a genuine desire to understand how the organisation functioned, I accepted the role and my journey as an EBL Director began. Originally the Board was comprised of 5 carers and 3 volunteers from various professions. This has now reversed with less carers and more professionals. The work EBLDS undertakes is complex and challenging and I have first-hand experience of the issues we face. For this reason, I believe that a strong carer presence has never been more critical. During my time on the Board I have attended national Board Conferences and training programs including: Australian Institute of Company Directors, Governance for NFPs, Finance, Risk and Strategic Planning. “ ” – Helen Keller working with end users, service providers, carers, builders, government, local government and a range of other people to discuss innovative housing models for people with a disability. This involved working closely with EBL staff, EBL Board members and clients about people’s needs and expectations before developing the workshop and running the workshop. My previous background involved working with Muscular Dystrophy children, teaching at Ashford Special School and working at Glenside Hospital in the experience in having lived with two people who were in wheelchairs so understand the many aspects of the needs of individuals who are challenged physically, mentally and emotionally. My experience, my current role as Chair of the Australian Living Lab Innovation Network, Founder and principal of Adelaide Design Link and past President of the Australian Institute for Urban Studies provides a solid experienced team. Her family experience of disability has been instrumental in building trust background in my ability to work collaboratively and co-operatively in support and respect for the organisation and I feel proud to be able to contribute to of EBL objectives and principles and as a supportive Board member. I believe my experience locally and globally, grounded in personal relationships Susan Chapman in the disability sector, provides an ideal platform in which to support EBL in I have been involved with the disability sector for many years, having a son delivering quality of life outcomes for people with a disability, working with a with Autism and intellectual disability, and a husband with Multiple Sclerosis. new Board, working towards future innovative solutions for its clients and for I have advocated on behalf of the families of those with disability, both to the sector more broadly. service providers, Disability SA and The Minister. I sat on the Board of the Tracey Edwards Autistic Children’s Association of SA (now Autism SA). I am a member of the Family Forum group of Highgate Park (formerly Julia Farr). For the last Member of the Foundation for three years and Chair for one year. 11 years, I have been a Board Member of the Harrow Trust (Harrow Housing I am a Certified Financial Planner and very much enjoy my community work. P/L), which has a focus on developing housing accommodation in the disability Since I have been with the Foundation I have been involved with the Innovation sector. Harrow Housing built Harrow House at Glenside which is home to Committee, rewriting the Constitution, confirmation of the investment portfolio 12 young adults with intellectual disability, including my son. EBL Disability and purchase of Davoren Park. Services has operated Harrow House for the past 4 1/2 years. I have been very impressed with the care and service they deliver, the level of consultation with all clients and their families, and the dedication of all of its staff. I joined EBL’s ” very challenging area of mental health and dementia. I have past personal EBLDS has grown significantly under the leadership of Wendy Warren and the EBL’s ongoing success. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. In late 2017, working with the Stretton Centre in the north, I undertook a project “ We lead by example, treating all in our community with genuine respect and equity. I have also assisted in the granting of an FPA grant for the My Voice Matters project. Carer Advisory Group because I wanted to become more involved with the organisation. I am keen to join the Board of EBL to support and promote their invaluable work in the disability sector. 6 EBL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER EBL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER 7