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Executive team
Debra Burden
Chief Executive Officer
Aaron Farrell
Chief Operating Officer
Emma Hennell
Chief Financial Officer
Matt Kinnane
General Manager Service Development
Ingrid Westthorp
General Manager Clinical Services
Sandra Moore
General Manager Suicide Prevention
Pania Brown
General Manager Aged Care
Gwion Cain
General Manager Cairns
Ryan Wiggins
General Manager Regional Development
Sally Bawden
General Manager Townsville
Marissa Sherry
General Manager Regional Development - Western
Debra Burden
Chief Executive Officer
BBus FIML FAICD
Debra commenced as CEO of selectability in February 2017 and has previously held CEO and executive management positions with Queensland Country Credit Union and Health Fund, 1300Smiles and Canegrowers Burdekin.
Her business management expertise has been recognised with the Qld Business Review Women in Business Award and the Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Award.
Debra has held board positions in numerous companies and is currently a Director of Townsville Hospital and Health Service, and until recently was a Director of North Queensland Primary Health Network and Deputy Chair of North and West Remote Health.
Aaron Farrell
Chief Operating Officer
Aaron has been working in the disability sector for over 15 years. He specialises in Operational Management within private and not-for-profit sectors with a strong focus on community-based transport.
He has worked in Federal (Centrelink and NDIA) and State Government (Department of Community Services, Child Safety and Disability Services) roles.
Aaron played a key role in standing up the NDIA within Queensland and helped transition over 1,000 providers from State funding programs including transitioning the first Qld participant into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Emma Hennell
Chief Financial Officer
B.Com FCCA GAICD JP (Qual) CertDA
Emma joined selectability as Quality Compliance and Risk Manager in February 2020. Successfully leading the organisation through the NDIS accreditation process, Emma worked tirelessly to ensure that our policies and procedures are clear and support the provision of best practice services to our consumers together with ensuring that we operate in a way that is compliant with both industry standards and relevant legislations.
Emma was promoted to CFO in January 2022 - she comes from an extremely strong financial and governance background, previously working for selectability’s external auditors Jessups.
Matt Kinnane
General Manager Service Development
BBus
Matt Kinnane is a seasoned professional who has lived, worked and served North Queensland for more than 20 years. He has over a decade of experience in the finance sector and a deep understanding of financial management and analysis. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a strong financial acumen and a strategic mindset.
In addition to his extensive finance background, Matt has also dedicated seven years of his professional life to the social services sector, where he has made a significant impact in improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Matt Kinnane continues to be a driving force in championing the well-being and empowerment of individuals in regional Queensland.
Ingrid Westthorp
General Manager Clinical Services
BA (Nursing) MACN AIAM (mediator) MAICD
Ingrid is an experienced and dedicated health care professional/leader with demonstrated successes and experience in a variety of health settings ranging from acute to primary health care, in urbanised, rural, remote and indigenous controlled environments in both public and privately funded organisations.
Ingrid is a registered nurse with over 35 years’ experience who brings an energetic ‘can do’ attitude to her role with selectability.
Sandra Moore
General Manager Suicide Prevention
BSc, GradDipMgt, MBA, GAICD, FIML, GCertHumNutr
Sandra Moore has joined selectability in the newly created role of General Manager, Suicide Prevention.
The introduction of this new leadership role was prompted by the urgent need for more suicide prevention support across regional Queensland.
Sandra – an Ingham local –brings 20 years’ experience in executive and senior leadership roles in government, non-government and the private sector.
She has strong, well-established networks across regional Queensland and will be working closely with key stakeholders to identify and respond to gaps in knowledge, policy and practice in suicide prevention.
Pania Brown
General Manager Aged Care
BA (Psych & Soc), Dip. Mgmt, Adv. Dip. Mgmt & Grad. Dip. Mgmt.
Pania Brown joined selectability in May 2023 to drive its expansion into the aged care sector.
Her appointment comes after the organisation identified a growing need for quality in-home aged care services across regional, rural and remote parts of the state.
Pania brings a wealth of experience and is known for her strong and dynamic senior leadership. She has extensive expertise in human service management across the aged care, mental wellbeing, allied health and child protection.
Gwion Cain
General Manager Cairns
Gwion Cain joined the selectability executive team in August 2022.
Gwion has an in-depth knowledge of the NDIS, and a broad range of operational experience including working closely with First Nations groups and providing grass roots NDIS advocacy support for remote communities. In 2016 he developed and opened the MaraWay Community Hub in Cairns which supports approximately 5,000 disadvantaged people per year with crises housing, domestic violence, parenting, training, and job search support.
Gwion is well known across Cairns with an established network and strong connections to his community.
His commitment to the area spans more than 22 years, including 12 years holding senior positions in the Cape and Torres regions.
Ryan Wiggins
General Manager Regional Development
MBA B.A. (Human Services) DipIndigS
Ryan has dedicated almost two decades to the Australian social sector, working in homelessness, mental health, disability, aged care, with asylum seekers and refugees and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations.
Ryan brings knowledge, experience, a collaborative leadership approach and a passion to improve the mental wellbeing of regional Queenslanders.
Sally Bawden
General Manager Townsville
selectability’s team leader support coordination has been promoted to the role of General Manager - Townsville.
Sally has been with selectability for fours years. Starting as an LSW, she has filled the role of acting team leader on several occasions before becoming a support coordinator.
Sally quickly progressed to the role of team leader, support coordination, where she been instrumental in building a professional, well-respected (and constantly growing) team of 28 across selectability’s footprint.
She has strong community networks, exceptional knowledge of the NDIS and the passion and drive to successfully make the transition to her new role of General Manager Townsville.
Marissa Sherry
General Manager Regional Development - Western
BSocSci (Soc Wel), DipMgt&Lead, DipComSvc, JP (Qual)
Marissa joined the selectability executive team in May 2023.
Marissa’s work experience in regional communities spans over a period of 15 years in North West Queensland. Working in the social and community service sector for her entire career, Marissa has experience in community and direct service delivery and management.
Working for and with consumers and community is a priority for Marissa. She also has a strong interest and passion in the area of Suicide prevention, mental health and well-being services in regional and remote communities.
Marissa has spent a large amount of her career in Child Protection services and is committed to making communities safe for all.
Marissa holds tertiary qualifications in Social Science & Social Welfare, with postgraduate qualifications in Management and Leadership.
selectability acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we provide services and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge those with lived experience and those who support and partner with us to improve mental wellbeing and prevent suicide across regional Queensland.
