Our people

David commenced as CEO in March 2021. Following his 20-year passion volunteering on MND-related boards and in other ways to make a difference for people living with motor neurone disease in Victoria, nationally and globally, as CEO David hopes his contribution at an operational level will improve the impact for people affected by MND today and in the future. David has held executive roles across the Victorian Parliament and the Victorian Public Service, was CEO of the Commission for Children and Young People, a management consultant, and CEO of IPAA Victoria before joining the MND Australia team. David is Vice Chair and Hon Treasurer of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations.

Gethin Thomas has been the Executive Director, Research at MND Australia since 2019. He oversees the research grant program and manages national and international partnerships. A key aspect of this role if providing a conduit between research programs and the wider MND community through MND Australia and the affiliated State Associations. Gethin is also Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council of the International Alliance of ALS MND Associations which is a centralized resource to review and provide global perspective on scientific and biomedical announcements, information and research opportunities relating to ALS/MND.

Gethin has over 20 years of experience as a biomedical researcher, having published widely and secured almost $4M in research funding. He has extensive review experience across a wide range of journals as well as reviewing grants for Australian and International funding bodies. Over the last 10 years as a senior research manager, he has directed a University Research Office and served as an Associate Dean of Research. He has a deep understanding of research strategy and the research funding system from the grant preparation, application and review process through to management of funded projects at both the researcher and institutional level.

Laura joined the MND Australia team as Research Coordinator in November 2018. Together with Gethin Thomas, Laura manages MND Australia’s research grants program. Laura has a background in science and environmental law and a masters in education. She worked part time at MND NSW while studying at university. Since moving to Canberra in 2009, Laura has worked in a policy role at an industry association, undertaken committee work at Parliament House and has worked at a local publisher. Outside of work, Laura loves spending time with her three kids and getting out in the beautiful Canberra bushland for a run.

Maddie holds a Master of Project Management and a Bachelor of Communications from the University of New South Wales. She is passionate about working with not-for-profit organisations which have a social impact. Maddie’s experience extends across governance, project management, event management, marketing strategy and implementation, operations and stakeholder engagement. In her spare time, Maddie volunteers some pro-bono hours for deserving charities and spends weekends with her two dogs – usually at the beach!

Olivia joined the MND Australia team as Grants Coordinator in September 2023. Olivia has extensive grant writing, strategic planning, event and project management experience across the arts and culture, economic development, not-for-profit and local government sectors. Based on Gubbi Gubbi country in Queensland, Olivia holds a Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) from the Queensland University of Technology. Outside of office hours, Olivia is a busy mum to four children and enjoys getting lost in a good book. 

Melissa joined MND Australia in September 2023. She is a writer, editor and communications specialist with 20 years experience within the health and medical, not-for-profit and travel sectors, including roles at Melanoma Institute Australia and Cancer Council Queensland. Melissa is the author of What Will Be Worn: A McWhirters Story, published by Transit Lounge in September 2018, and also writes essays, reviews and short stories. She has lectured and taught writing to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology and recently completed a PhD in creative writing within the Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance program.

Melissa is based on Bundjalung country, in the Tweed region of northern New South Wales.

Julie joined MND Australia in September 2023 and comes from a health background, including extensive experience providing healthcare for people living with MND and their carers. She was the Clinic Coordinator of a Sydney-based multidisciplinary MND Clinic for 17 years, supporting more than 500 patients and carers throughout the course of their illness. During her time in this role, Julie learned the most valuable lessons about MND directly from people living with the disease and their families.

Julie has led numerous projects over her career, harnessing clinical indicators and the lived experience of patients, to inform best-practice models of care, shape service design, and develop clinical policies and procedures. Julie also has a keen and active interest in MND non-clinical research. In collaboration with various universities, she has published papers in peer-reviewed journals, and presented at national and international MND conferences.

Morag joined MND Australia in February 2019. She has held a variety of marketing and communications roles over the last ten years, beginning in book publishing before moving into the the public heath and research sectors. Before moving to Canberra, Morag worked for a research and health promotion centre at the University of NSW, where she also completed a Master of Public Health.

Ben joined MND Australia in April 2019 as Information Resources Manager. Ben was recently seconded to a role leading a new study with a different approach to improving quality of life: making videogames more fun and easier to play for people with MND.

Ben has worked in health promotion practice and research for over 15 years, including with people experiencing homelessness, and people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Ben is also an Adjunct Fellow at University of New South Wales and Swinburne University and writes for a variety of academic, news media and literary publications. Ben enjoys spending time with his family, reading science fiction novels and walking his very large Bernese mountain dogs.

Ruth started working with MND Australia in 2020 as the Connect Project Manager. Ruth began her career working in the nursing arena and has had a career of over 37 years working in health related fields in hospitals and community based services, which have included public, corporate and not for profit organisations. Her introduction to MND came via a six year period working as a Regional Advisor for the MND Association of NSW in the early 2000s. Ruth’s diverse experience underpins her special interest in the skilled provision of health information that supports service users to engage with health services and to proactively manage their health.

Frances Quan Farrant has worked in the community and disability sectors for two decades. She is a social scientist (BA, Macquarie University) and a graduate social worker (MSW QUT). She has an extensive background in advocacy, policy and disability rights including expertise on the UNCRPD and has represented disabled people at the United Nations (Geneva, New York) on a number of occasions.

Frances is currently enrolled for a PhD at the University of Queensland researching the implementation of the CRPD in Australia and internationally. She is based on Gubbi Gubbi Country north of Brisbane.

Komal joined MND Australia in April 2019. Komal is an educated professional and has extensive administrative and management experience with a demonstrated history of working in the facilities and services industry in Australia for over 10 years. Komal is skilled in negotiation, customer service, business development, organisational development, office management and recruitment. Komal’s work background is a strong business development professional with a Masters in Human Resource Management, Certificate II in Customer Service, and Certificate III in Business Administration. Komal thrives in customer service and building strong relationships with clients, donors, and stakeholders.