Our People
Meet our Board
Our Board puts our vision for the future into action. We are world leaders in Indigenous health and also social support services being provided in an urban setting.
Melody Ingra
Board Chair
Melody is a proud Gooreng Gooreng/Wakka Wakka woman from Central Queensland. Born and raised on country in Gladstone, she has a teaching degree and has worked in primary and high schools in regional and remote communities. While working as the Principal Project Officer for Early Childhood Education and Care in the Remote Indigenous Professional Development Program, Melody delivered professional development to early childhood educators in Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia. Melody now works in the early childhood sector in a national role promoting reconciliation and is passionate about our little people and growing them to be deadly and proud.
Dane Corowa
Board member
Dane is passionate about evidence based health initiatives leading to positive health outcomes within the community. Dane was born in Tweed Heads and belongs to the Minjungbal tribe within the Bundjalung nation. He has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound both at the Queensland University of Technology. He has been employed as a Cardiac Sonographer with Queensland Cardiovascular Group since 2009 and Heart of Australia since 2015, travelling to rural towns throughout Outback Queensland.
Karina Hogan
Board member
Karina Hogan is a proud First Nations and South Sea Islander woman with strong ancestral ties to Northern NSW, Bundjalung Country. Her passion for elevating voices in her community is at the heart of what she does. She is a Content Producer, Broadcaster and Journalist with a thirst for making a positive impact in the health, media and arts space. With 13 years’ experience in media, She works for ABC Brisbane, is a businesswoman, studies at Griffith University and recently finished broadcasting for the flagship program for Triple A’s Let’s Talk Program. She is the researcher and impact producer for the Logie Award winning documentary ‘Incarceration Nation’ and is completing a research Honours degree at Griffith University focusing on the representation of diverse and First Nations women impacted by violence in the media. She is an experienced and passionate Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Children’s Hospital Queensland and the Deputy Director of BlakDance theatre company Brisbane.
Dr Anthony Lynham
Board member
Associate Professor Anthony Lynham is a well-respected maxillofacial surgeon with over 25 years’ experience in surgery. He trained in Queensland and Switzerland and has worked in various roles including as a consultant surgeon at RBWH. In 2014 Dr Lynham entered Queensland politics where he served as Member for Stafford and as Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines. Today he is a clinical director of one of the nation’s leading institutes in trauma research and is Associate Professor at the School of Medicine University of Queensland. Dr Lynham is passionate about community health and works in the ATSICHS Brisbane’s dental clinics on a regular basis.
Anthony Morgan
Board member
Anthony has extensive operational and management experience across the not-for-profit sector in the areas of Mental Health, Disability, Child Safety and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations. He has also held position in Queensland Government. He is currently employed at the Queensland family and Child Commission. His expertise is in Corporate Service functions, particularly finance and human resource management. He has worked with many Community Controlled Health Organisations and has a strong belief in the right to self-determination. He is an advocate for vulnerable people, a very proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gay man, and a animal lover, particularly dogs. Anthony holds qualifications in business administration, commerce and e-commerce.
Andrew Niven
Board member
Andrew is a Djaku-nde man from the Bunya Mountains, born and raised in Brisbane. Andrew completed a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) at the Queensland University of Technology. He is currently employed at Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) as their inaugural Indigenous Partnership Manager. Andrew has previous experience in finance, investment and strategic planning at The University of Queensland (UQ), Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and National Australia Bank (NAB). Andrew expresses his passion for health and wellbeing through his dedication to exercise where he aims to be a holistic health advocate and role model for Indigenous Australians. In 2021, Andrew broke a Guinness World Record for the most amount of weight lifted by kettlebell swing in 24 hours. He is excited to blend in fitness achievements with his financial experience for the health development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Meet our Senior Management Team
The day-to-day operations of ATSICHS Brisbane is led also by our Senior Management Team. They are also responsible for implementing the strategic decisions made by our Board.
Our Chief Executive Officer Renee Blackman heads up a team of professional and experienced directors. They work together to ensure that ATSICHS Brisbane makes the best possible use of all available resources. Our Senior Management team also aim to enable and empower our people and also community.
Renee Blackman
Chief Executive Officer
Renee is a proud member of the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) nation and is a passionate advocate for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Her career began with the role of Aboriginal Health Worker in the early 1990s in Brisbane. She gained a Bachelor of Nursing from Australian Catholic University in 2000 and has worked in urban and remote settings ever since as a Registered Nurse. Renee has over 30 years’ experience in operational, management and leadership roles across primary health care, acute care and community health. In 2016 Renee was the Health Services Director at ATSICHS Brisbane and is now the Chief Executive Officer for ATSICHS Brisbane. Additionally, Renee is a Clinical Fellow in the Faculty of Health, School of Nursing at Queensland University of Technology.
Jarryd Aleckson
General Manager, Corporate Services
Jarryd leads a multi-disciplinary corporate services team, providing foundational services and support to ATSICHS Brisbane core business. Prior to joining ATSICHS Brisbane Jarryd worked in multiple technical, management and consulting roles helping organisations deliver digital transformation, policy change and governance projects. He is qualified and experienced in management, strategic leadership, risk and governance and enjoys developing and implementing processes, policies and change which integrate data to deliver positive outcomes for organisations. Jarryd holds a Master of Management from Charles Sturt University, Graduate Certificate in Data and New Technology Law – QUT and is passionate about creating pathways for Indigenous people into corporate and technical careers.
Raymond Brunker
General Manager, Community Services
Raymond is a proud Maramanindji man from Daly River, Northern Territory. He has a special interest in finding solutions that empower communities and families. He has a deep history and connection to the Logan and Brisbane community, having completed Primary School at the Murri School and Woodridge State High School. Raymond has also completed a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and a Bachelor of Human Services. Currently, Raymond is an Atlantic Fellow completing a Masters of Social Change Leadership with the University of Melbourne.
Dr Jonathan Leitch
Clinical Director
Dr Jonathan Leitch is the Clinical Director at ATSICHS Brisbane and is responsible for clinical governance, clinical quality improvement and supports health service planning. He has been with ATSICHS for the last 10 years initially as a GP in Logan and then as SMO. He has a passion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and to empower individuals, families and communities to be enabled to improve their health and well-being. His qualifications include an MBBS (University of Queensland), FRACGP, DRANZCOG and a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (James Cook University). He currently holds an academic title as Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland and volunteers on not for profit boards.
Dylan Nelson
General Manager, New Business and Development
Dylan is a proud Wuthathi man from the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. He has been working at ATSICHS Brisbane for the last 9 years. Initially starting in a frontline position in child protection, Dylan is now the General Manager, New Business and Development. He is passionate about improving the wellbeing trajectories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families through targeted support and self-determination. Dylan has a particular focus in Child Protection and Childhood Development. In his spare time, he volunteers as a foster carer providing support to vulnerable children with a significant emphasis on working with their families to get them home.
Puja Patel
General Manager, Finance and Fleet
Puja has served as General Manager, Finance and Fleet since July 2017. She oversees corporate finance, facilities and fleet management, revenue management, accounting, tax and risk management/internal audit and plays a significate role in ATSICHS Brisbane’s strategic leadership. Prior to her current role, Puja has worked at ATSICHS Brisbane a in variety of roles in the finance team. Puja holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Commerce from India. She has completed a Master of Professional Accounting in Advance from the Griffith University in 2010 and is a member of CPA Australia and Company Directors.
Anna Sciuto
General Manager, Health and Aged Care
Anna Sciuto is the General Manager, Health and Aged Care at ATSICHS Brisbane and responsible for leading the development of all aspects of the Health and Aged Care Services Branch and to support the positive growth, development, health and social outcomes of Indigenous communities. Anna has been with ATSICHS for the past 6 years. Originally starting in our People and Culture team, Anna then moved into the Health and Aged Care Services Branch initially as Operations Manager for Primary Health Care prior to her current role. Anna holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Southern Queensland and has worked across multiple industries in operational and strategic roles. Anna is passionate about providing world-class health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.
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