The board

Julie owens

Julie Owens
Chair, Company Secretary
Financial Mgt, Grad Cert Bus, Future Leaders Program for Fundraisers, Masters Soc Investment and Philanthropy; lived experience

Julie is an experienced senior manager in her field, with significant skills and expertise: at the heart of her approach to her work and her philanthropy is nurturing sustainable and caring relationships. As General Manager, Fundraising and Donor Relations at the Mercy Health Foundation, Julie brings years of experience in fundraising in the not for profit sector.  

Julie has volunteered at many charities, supporting them in their fundraising, administration and sustainability. She brings to BPD Community commitment to the values, mission and vision of the organisation and a determination to see it achieve its goals.

Lakshmi narayanan

Lakshmi Narayanan
Treasurer
B. Comm, MBA, CA

Following a successful international executive career in finance and general management, Lakshmi has dedicated his talents, skills and experience in the not-for-profit sector. In his most recent work with Aboriginal community based service organisations in the field of legal service, healing and disability support, he has channelled his passion and dedication to improving organisational outcomes for the organisations he works with. In his current role at Connecting Home Limited, he oversees the operations that include finance, IT, HR, governance and change initiatives.

Lakshmi is committed to the values and vision of BPD Community and is focussed on adding value to our organisation.

Jane Betts

Jane Betts
Director
Grad Dip Bus (HR), MAHRI; lived experience

Jane is a senior executive in HR and has led major organisational transformation initiatives, driving innovation. She brings to BPD Community  a commitment to building organisational culture with a human centred design focus, working collaboratively with others to achieved desired outcomes.

Jane is dedicated and driven to make the world a better place. She is passionate about BPD Community and its plan to create a compassionate community.

emily darnett

Emily Darnett
Director
B Psych Sci.

Emily is a proud Palawa woman from the Nipaluna lands and her journey to her identity has help shape the women she has become. Emily is currently undertaking her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at Swinburne university with her PhD thesis focusing on practice adjustments psychologists can make to better meet the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Emily is committed to her community and it informs her approach to her studies and work which aligns with the community centred focus of BPD Community.  

philippa harding

Philippa Harding
Director
BA, lived experience

Philippa is an accomplished leader and people manager and dynamic social change agent who loves working end-to-end to understand stakeholder needs and drive business imperatives through innovative solutions to complex problems. She has extensive experience in the health system and not for profit sector. 

Philippa has a sound appreciation of the stigma and discrimination that affects people with BPD and is committed to making a difference and changing the mental health landscape in relation to BPD.

executive officer

Roy Reekie
B Arts, B Laws

Roy has a background working in Legal Aid, in Community Management and Development, and consultancy. His is a writer, an activist and supporter of the Arts. Roy has lived experience of the mental health system and is deeply committed to our mission to replace stigma and discrimination with hope and optimism.

Roy joins BPD Community with a view to consolidate the strengths of the organisation and to ensure it reaches the next stage in development. Dedicated to giving voice to lived experience, Roy intends to build on the foundations established at BPD Community - creating community to support recovery.

Our Consultants 

Linda Norman

Linda Norman
Consultant: HR, Training
B Psych, M. Comm

Linda has more than 20 years’ experience in the discipline of human resources management and industrial relations and apart from working with her own clients, manages a national team of HR consultants for HRplus. She has worked and consulted in a professional capacity to a range of government, not-for-profit and private organisations across several industry sectors.

Prior to her consulting career, she held several senior and management HR, IR and change management roles with the Wesfarmers Group, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Federal Police. Over more recent years, Linda has consulted to a wide range of small and large organisations including government, health care, professional services, manufacturing, hospitality, rural, not-for-profit and utilities industries. Many of her clients are industry leaders.

Linda has a generalist background and consults to clients on a wide range of issues including strategic human resource management, risk management, HR cost management, industrial relations, conflict management, legislative compliance, change management, training and development, recruitment and career planning.

Bernadette O'Connor

Bernadette O'Connor
Executive Director Management Governance Australia (MGA)
Grad Dip Ed, Assoc Degree Applied Sci (Hort), Masters Public Policy and Mgt

Bernadette is committed to addressing issues of social justice through organisational good governance. 

As well as being the Executive Director of Management Governance Australia (MGA), Bernadette is also President/CEO of Workforce Plus. MGA is a consultancy company working with a range of businesses, governments (local, state and federal), education institutions and communities nationally. Workforce Plus is a small not for profit organisation that focuses on developing innovative solutions related to engaging and retaining young people in learning and ensuring that they can successfully transition into sustainable employment.

Bernadette has a broad depth of experience and qualifications in the fields of education, training, employment and human services for 30 years.

Bernadette is also Chair of Enable Social Enterprises and a Director of Disability Knowledge Network.