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Executive Team
Jodi Schmidt
Human Services Skills Organisation - Chief Executive Officer
Jodi is an experienced CEO with a track record of successful business transformation, improving profitability and significantly enhancing shareholder value.
Jodi has over the last 3 years been consulting across a number of industry sectors including education and training, property and real estate, manufacturing, human services, ICT and digital businesses in the areas of strategic planning, CEO/executive coaching, leadership and culture development and business performance and advisory.
Jodi has had extensive experience in the Vocational, Education and Training sector over the last 15 years. She served as the Deputy Director-General, Training and Employment with the Queensland government, and then as the inaugural chief executive officer of TAFE Queensland, leading the reform and amalgamation of TAFE institutes in Queensland and establishing it as one consolidated commercial entity. She also served as the Chair of the National Education and Foundation Skills – Industry Reference Committee (IRC), and has been a member of a number of national review boards and expert panels.
Prior to this, she held various senior executive positions in both Australia and the United Kingdom in health, defence and local government in both the public and private sectors and holds qualifications in marketing, accounting and market research.
A complete list of HSSO’s dynamic team can be viewed on their website.
Board Members
John Murray
Royal Australian Air Force Association WA – Chief Executive Officer
John took up the role of CEO at RAAFA in May 2013. He comes with extensive experience in health, aged care and retirement living with senior management experience spanning 25 years. John commenced his career as a Registered Nurse specialising in mental health. RAAFA has gone through a major transformation over the past six years, now employing 750 staff, with 450 aged care beds, 1440 retirement units, community-based services and DVA services.
John was previously the Chair of Aged Care and Community Services WA, and a Director of ACSA National. He continues to be Chair of the Audit, Financial and Risk Committee. ACSA represents not-for-profit providers across Australia.
He holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Leadership, is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
Russell Bricknell
Baptistcare - Chief Executive Officer
Russell has an extensive background in the aged care and community services sector, holds degrees in education, science and a masters in business administration, is a Graduate and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
He was previously the Chief Executive of Aged Care Channel, overseeing operations in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand. Prior to this role, Russell was Chief Operating Officer of Australian Home Care, a leading provider of home based care to people with disabilities in NSW and Victoria, a General Manager of BaptistCare NSW and ACT, and Executive Director of Churches of Christ Care in Queensland.
Kasy Chambers
Anglicare Australia - Executive Director
With extensive national experience in the government and community sector, Kasy Chambers has hands-on experience in policy, advocacy, government relations, service provision, community development, corporate governance and finance.
Currently Executive Director of Anglicare Australia, she has also held positions with UnitingCare Australia, the Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the YWCA of Canberra.
Benjamin Keast
ARC Disability Services - Chief Executive Officer
Benjamin Keast has been the CEO of ARC since April 2016. Prior to this he has held many roles at all levels within the organisation over his 18 years in the industry. Ben has always held a passion for the skills development within the Disability sector since his engagement on the Disability Sector Training Coalition (2008 -2012).
Ben was a member of the Far North Queensland’s Regional Disability Advisory Committee; and is currently a member within the Premiers Regional Forums. Ben has his MBA and has been on a number of not for profit boards within advocacy services; arts; and community housing organisations. Ben is currently the Chair of the Far North Queensland’s Disability Provider Network, as well as the Chair of the Disability Support Industry Reference Committee.
Liz Cohen
Cara -Chief Executive
Liz Cohen has led Cara through a period of significant change, transformation and celebrated organisational milestones since joining Cara in 2015.
Under Liz's leadership, Cara has transformed from a block funded ‘Not for Profit’ to a values driven, commercially thinking ‘Profit for Purpose’ that is committed to providing high-quality services so that people with disabilities can lead fulfilling, everyday lives.
Liz has more than 30 years’ experience in the disability, education and health sectors. She is the Deputy Chair of the Health, Disability, Aged Care and Community Services Industry Skills Council. Liz has been elected to the board of Ability First Australia, which is a strategic alliance of leading disability service providers, and she is on the board of the YMCA of South Australia. Liz is also a member of the SA State Committee of National Disability Services (NDS).
Additional board members may be added at a later date.