Our People

MBBS, FRACP, Dip. Child Psychiatry, Grad. Dip. Soc. Sci. in Family Therapy Dr Jenner is a Consultant Paediatrician and Family Therapist and has special interests in Child Learning, Developmental and Behavioural Problems, Bereavement, Asthma and Neonatology. He is Chairman of Barwon Paediatric Services Inc., Consultant Paediatrician at Geelong Hospital and St John of God Hospital, former Director of Paediatrics at Barwon Health and the Geelong Family Therapy Centre, Clinical Associate in Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, and Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics at Deakin University. He is involved in undergraduate, postgraduate and community Education, is a consultant to numerous Barwon regional support services, and been on many Hospital and Community committees. He is associated with two award-winning organisations in the Barwon Region, as the Founder and President of both Hope Bereavement Care and Gateways Disability Support Services. He was awarded the 1995 Advance Australia Foundation Award, the 1998 Alan J. Holding Memorial Lions Club International Award for Community Service, in 2002 Barwon Health Quality Award, in 2003 the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International, in 2005 The Parks Victoria Regional Achiever Award and a finalist in the Victorian Healthcare Awards, in 2007 was the recipient of the Australian of the Year Local Hero award for regional Victoria and a finalist for the National Australian of the Year Local Hero award, in 2012 was the recipient of the Compassionate Friends of Victoria Compassionate Employer Recognition Award for Gateways Support Services. He is also an Australia Day Ambassador.

(LLB (Hons), BSc, GAICD, FGIA, FCG) Sonya has significant senior management experience in a number of sectors including law, medical research, manufacturing and resources. Through these roles Sonya brings a broad strategic perspective and global experience with a focus on risk management, corporate governance, change management and financial markets. She holds a double degree in Law and Science, with honours in Law, and is a registered Company Secretary. Sonya is passionate about giving back to the community and is excited to have recently joined the board of Gateways Support Services. She is looking forward to contributing her knowledge and experience to support Gateways Support Services’ Mission, Vision and Values. Sonya currently works as the Deputy Company Secretary at CSL Limited, is a mum to three children and has recently become a Schnauzer enthusiast.

MEng GAICD David brings over 25 years of experience as an IT professional, including two decades specialising in large-scale systems design, technology planning, and ICT governance. He holds a Master of Engineering from RMIT and an MBA from Deakin University, and he is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. David’s career spans diverse industries, including disability, health, defence, retail and logistics, telecommunications, education, and automotive. This broad background allows him to share valuable insights into different ways of working, enhancing Gateways’ ability to deliver innovative and effective support.

BCW (hons), PhD, EMBA Rachel brings over 30 years’ experience in the disability sector, complemented by extensive leadership and governance roles as a Board Member, Chief Executive, Director, and Council and Committee Member across a variety of industries and sectors. Rachel’s career has been shaped by her commitment to advancing disability rights, reflected in her PhD research on the Disability Rights Movement and her 2014 publication, Disability and Social Movements: Learning from Australian Experiences. Her academic contributions include work as a research fellow in the areas of person-centered active support and dementia care for people with intellectual disabilities. With hands-on operational management experience, including leading a sizeable plan management company in Melbourne’s western suburbs, Rachel combines practical expertise with a strategic perspective. In her current role as Director of Public Policy in education, she continues to drive meaningful change through advocacy, policy development, and community engagement. Rachel’s extensive experience is invaluable to Gateways in achieving impactful outcomes for the people we serve.

GAICD M.App.Sci. Org Dynamics B. Bus. Marketing Diana is passionate about the vital role a strong and well-managed non-profit and for-purpose sector plays in creating positive social and environmental change. She believes robust governance, sound financial management, and effective business operations are key to driving meaningful impact for communities and the economy. With over a decade of executive leadership experience across the not-for-profit, government, and corporate sectors, Diana brings expertise in organisational growth, income generation, philanthropy strategies, marketing, and governance. As a qualified marketer and organisational development practitioner, Diana is an active supporter of community-led sustainability initiatives in her local area.

CPA Jacqualine Lam is a senior technology leader with experience in IT strategy, risk management, and digital governance across diverse and complex government and large organisational environments, including healthcare and retail. She has led major transformation initiatives and developed governance and risk frameworks that support transparency, accountability, and effective decision making in regulated and customer-focused environments. She has senior management experience overseeing a variety of technology portfolios. Jacqualine has completed the Company Directors Course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is also a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), bringing strong financial acumen to board deliberations. She has a sound understanding of board governance, compliance, and strategic oversight, and applies a practical and measured approach to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, with a focus on safety, ethics, and risk management. Jacqualine is motivated to contribute to Gateway Support Services and is passionate about making an impactful difference by strengthening governance and strategic oversight in a way that reinforces trust, accountability, and positive outcomes for the communities Gateways serve.

Lucy has over 15 years’ experience in HR, with a focus on leadership development, capability building and talent management across complex, multinational organisations. She began her career as a lawyer at a leading commercial law firm before transitioning into the people and culture space. She has held global, regional and local roles across both established and newly created functions, specialising in evidence-based development solutions across the employee lifecycle. Lucy has lived and worked in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. She is an active not-for-profit board director and is committed to strong governance, effective leadership and improving outcomes for underserved communities. Beyond work, her young daughter keeps her busy, and when time allows, she enjoys her hobby of competitive speed jigsaw puzzling.

Bachelor of Commerce double major in Human Resources and International Business Georgia oversees the People and Culture department. As a member of the Australian Human Resource Institute, she brings over 15 years of expertise in strategic human resources, change management, diversity and inclusion, workplace relations, and business partnering, to Gateways. Georgia’s experience covers community, not-for-profit, and corporate sectors, from global organisations to local startups. Her passion lies in strengthening organisational capabilities and cultures to deliver value to communities.

Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality Studies and Master of Marketing Jandi is responsible for engagement and experience across the entire Gateways customer ecosystem, including clients and their families, community, supporters, and partners. With over 25 years of experience in customer engagement across various complex and highly regulated industries Jandi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in best practice for engagement and experience across the disability and care sectors. Jandi holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality Studies from RMIT and a Master of Marketing from Melbourne Business School. Throughout her career she has successfully led a sales force transformation initiative for the Australian division of a global pharmaceutical company, redefining how sales representatives engage with GPs and specialists. Additionally, Jandi designed and implemented a customer engagement strategy for a leading Australian health insurance company. Beyond professional achievements, Jandi continues to highlight her passion for fostering community engagement as a sports coach, dedicated to creating amazing experiences for youth in their final years of secondary school. This role helps build their resilience, motivation, and love of sport.

Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Arts (Politics & Policy Studies), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice Cruz joined Gateways as General Counsel in March 2025. In his role, he provides strategic legal and compliance advice to the Board, Executive Group, and wider organisation, supporting governance, operational decision-making, and risk management across all service areas. He brings a wealth of legal experience, having advised statutory bodies, regulatory authorities, listed companies, private corporations, and individuals on complex legal and compliance matters. For a significant part of his career, Cruz acted as legal advisor to one of Victoria’s largest statutory water authorities, where he gained substantial insight into the legal challenges faced by large, regulated service providers. Cruz’s portfolio has spanned commercial transactions, property and land-related issues, dispute resolution, litigation, and regulatory matters. He has led negotiations on significant agreements, provided counsel on governance and compliance frameworks, and supported the development of internal capabilities across multiple organisations. His expertise includes governance, statutory interpretation, commercial and property law, litigation, and regulatory compliance. Recognised for a practical, solutions-oriented style, Cruz is adept at managing legal complexities in highly regulated environments. Cruz holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts (Politics & Policy Studies) from Deakin University, alongside a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Leo Cussen Centre for Law. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia and is affiliated with the Law Institute of Victoria, the Association of Corporate Counsel, and other professional bodies. A proud Geelong local, Cruz is committed to leveraging his skills to advance inclusive, community-focused practice. He has previously served on the Board of the Werribee River Association the Law Institute of Victoria’s Courts Practice Committee, and several legal sector working groups.

With over 30 years of experience in disability and community service organisations, Simon brings extensive expertise across various service delivery environments. With a range of experiences in direct support in accommodation and community supports, in-home care, supported and open employment, service development, and both operational and strategic management, Simon has a thorough understanding of how to ensure services operate within a high-quality framework. Simon holds qualifications in disability, training and assessing, quality auditing, and business management. Over the past seven years, his work has focused on policy development and integrating a human rights-based approach into service delivery and practice governance. He continuously advocates and emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and organizational learning and strives to strengthen the voice of the people at the heart of an organisation. As the Manager of Quality, Simon’s dedication to excellence ensures that the services provided at Gateway’s are of the highest quality and empower and reflect the needs and rights of the people we support. In his spare time, Simon enjoys tackling DIY projects around his home, listening to classical music, indulging in musical theatre, and sharing good food and wine with friends

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Nick is a seasoned corporate executive with over two decades of strategic design and implementation experience across a range of industries including banking, telecommunications and not-for-profits and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He has extensive experience in team leadership, strategic planning and transformation, information technology, change management, process engineering, business intelligence, and more. Nick has successfully led many transformational changes including the implementation of new ways of working across enterprises, organisational wide restructures, product and service development, major technology shifts , end-to-end process improvements and setup business capabilities such as Business Improvement, Business Intelligence and Project Management Office (PMO) teams which have returned material value, productivity savings, cost reduction, customer experience increases and improved employee engagement outcomes.

Certificate IV in Community Services, Workplace Training and Assessment, and Workplace Investigations Sean has been a part of the Gateways team for 30 years and brings unparalleled insights and industry experience to his role as Chief Operating Officer. Sean oversees all service delivery programs ensuring they are high-quality, participant-focused, goal-driven, and financially sustainable. Sean holds several certifications, including Certificate IV in Community Services, Workplace Training and Assessment, and Workplace Investigations. He is an Authorized Program Officer, has training in Applied Behaviour Analysis, and is a facilitator for Maps and Paths. Additionally, he is a NDIS Registered Behaviour Practitioner. Some of Sean’s accomplishments during his extensive career include implementing Person-Centred Planning and Active Support, developing and delivering Autism and Positive Behaviour Support training, and opening 21 new residential services. He also established Child and Youth Services, Therapeutic services, a Behaviour Support team, and a Weekend On-Call team. Sean developed our Social Connect program, individualised programs for complex participants, the Gateways Gardening Program, and designed individual accommodation homes. He also worked extensively in the creation of effective data recording tools to help us understand and provide support based on our clients’ individual needs.