our people
Our people drive our purpose to support and empower South Australians living with spinal cord injuries and disabilities to choose how they live their potential.
Our leadership team
Our day-to-day operations are undertaken by our chief executive officer and his leadership team. With extensive experience across corporate leadership, non-profit and clinical settings, our team is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes for our members, clients and community.
Our Chief Executive Officer
Peter Stewart is our CEO.
Peter brings both clinical and corporate experience to this role, to propel estara’s vision. He has a deep understanding of how spinal cord injury impacts individuals, as well as the factors that motivate and nurture people living with a disability.
Starting as CEO in 2013, Peter brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career in nursing; including leading a nursing team at the South Australian Spinal Cord Injury Service and being the first nurse to receive the Best Scientific Paper award at the Australian and New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Society Meeting.
Head of Operations
Wendy Fraser is our Head of Operations.
Wendy’s commitment to excellent care was commended with the Premier’s Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award, with further training in Executive Leadership positioning her to apply her extensive experience and passion to create positive change in our community.
Head of People and Culture
Carly Austin is our Head of People and Culture.
Carly holds a Diploma of Management in Human Resources, an Associate Professional Membership from the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association (RCSA) and a Professional Membership of the Australian HR Institute. Her role focuses on proficiency and system improvements at the organisational level.
Head of Payroll and ICT
Damien Pollard is our Head of Payroll and ICT.
Damien holds a B. in Accounting and a B. Computer and Information Science, with over 25 years of experience in his current role.
Head of Finance
Suzanne Lee is our Head of Finance.
Suzanne has over 36 years of industry experience, starting in accounting firms and now with over 16 years of non-profit experience at estara.
Director of Business Development
Clement Jacob is our Director of Business Development.
His focus is managing change, streamlining operations, creating marketing strategies and ensuring estara’s overall performance.
Clement is an MBA Finance candidate, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Certified Practising Marketer (Australian Marketing Institute). His business experience spans markets across Australia, the UK, Europe Asia and Australasia.
Our board of directors
The Board tracks and sets the strategic direction of estara, according to our Constitution. Our Board members bring a wealth of experience across:
- Delivering health and disability services
- Financial management
- Non-profit and healthcare
- Leadership and business
- Experience of living with a disability or spinal cord injury
Chair
Beth Davidson-Park
Beth has extensive executive and non-executive leadership and management experience in public and private sector organisations including AnglicareSA, Southern Cross Care (SA & NT) and the Cities of Adelaide and Onkaparinga. She has led and managed operational and strategic roles, capital development projects and the delivery of front-line community and social services.
Beth also Chairs the Catalyst Foundation which provides consultancy services to not-for-profit organisations and coaching and mentoring services to individuals.
Passionate about making a difference in all that she does, Beth has served on several Boards and Advisory groups. These include Power Housing Australia, SACOSS, Child and Family Welfare SA, LG Professionals, Libraries Board SA, and Multicultural Aged Care SA. She has a deep reserve of knowledge and learning and is a strong advocate for those around her. She approaches her work with optimism, enthusiasm, and determination.
Beth is committed to engaging with individuals and communities on issues which impact them. Beth also provides consulting services in not-for-profit, government and education sectors and is currently General Manager at Alwyndor Aged Care.
Beth joined the estara Board in September 2019 and was elected Chair in June 2022.
Deputy Chair
Stephanie Clota
Stephanie is a values-driven leader, committed to roles with the power to improve lives and create social impact. An experienced CEO and director across private, public and NFP organisations with a focus on the healthcare and property sectors.
With a passion for driving innovation, transformation and strategic growth, Stephanie has successfully led organisations through significant change and disruption.
Her style is characterised by a keen sense of stakeholder management, a strong track record of optimising financial performance, and a deep understanding of risk and governance. She brings to her roles deep expertise in digital delivery, service delivery, quality and safety, workforce planning, policy and advocacy in the healthcare sector.
Stephanie joined the estara Board in August 2019 and was elected as Deputy Chair in November 2023.
Treasurer
Tony Vroulis
Tony Vroulis is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of industry experience and is a founding member of WVB Chartered Accountants, a boutique Adelaide accounting firm.
A well-networked professional, Tony provides strategic and personalised taxation, accounting, and business advice to small to medium-sized enterprises and high-net-worth individuals including private investment companies, property developers, professional athletes, legal professionals, and those in the hospitality industry.
Tony joined the estara Board in April 2019.
Directors
Steve Trestrail
Steve started his working career as an apprentice plumber and moved into corporate business following a spinal cord injury in 1980, as a result of a sporting accident. Steve has worked for over 37 years in various industries, including general and health insurance, workers compensation, compulsory third-party insurance, and most recently, the waste management industry.
Working with major organisations such as Insurance Australia Group, EML and Cleanaway, Steve has a broad range of experience in roles focused on improving internal business performance whilst supporting delivery of customer expectations through business planning, quality management, process re-engineering and management of major projects. He has a graduate certificate in management and holds Six Sigma accreditation.
From early rehabilitation to becoming a Paralympian representing Australia in wheelchair basketball, Steve has demonstrated commitment and leadership qualities to drive successful outcomes for people living with spinal cord injuries in South Australia.
For Steve, being involved with estara is an exciting time to help create the required support and opportunities for those living with a disability, ultimately making a positive difference in their lives. He was appointed to the Board on 1 July 2021 and was Deputy Chair from November 2022 to November 2023.
Mal Hyde
Mal is a former Commissioner of Police in South Australia, appointed in 1997 and retired from the position in 2012. Before this, he was a member of Victoria Police for 30 years and held a position as Deputy Commissioner.
Since 2012, Mal has been a member of several boards and not-for-profit organisations, such as Chair of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Council and Chair of St. John Ambulance SA. Other boards he has been a member of include the Bedford Group, Leaders Institute SA and the UniSA Business School.
Mal has been active in conducting reviews into various aspects of organisational performance for Governments within Australia, including child abuse in the churches (Victoria), bushfires (Tasmania), safety on public transport (Victoria) and employment process in child residential care (South Australia).
Mal is particularly interested in designing organisations to optimise performance, leadership, good governance, decision making and individual personal development. Other personal interests include family, travel and keeping fit. Mal has a Law Degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), both from the University of Melbourne. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (FIPAA). In 2007 he was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia.
Mal joined the Board in July 2019.
Rob Snowdon
Rob is an experienced board chair, director, and leader, who has developed his leadership, management and governance skills and experience in a wide range of industries.
He has spent nearly 40 years in senior management and leadership roles and has been involved with or on boards for over 20 years. Rob has vast experience in both not-for-profit and for-profit organisations and has been heavily involved with various charities for many years.
Rob is currently Chair of the Specialised Assistance School for Youth, Director of the Paraplegic & Quadriplegic Association of SA Ltd, Director of the Port Adelaide Football Club and Chair of Power Community Limited.
He is the past Chair of both the Country Fire Service Foundation and Astera Group, past General Manager at SA Power Networks and previously General Manager of Football of both the Port Adelaide and Sydney Football Clubs.
He is the Principal of Rob Snowdon Advisory, which provides advice to various organisations and individuals.
Janet Miller
Janet is a Chartered Accountant and AICD graduate, an experienced Non-Executive Director, and an accomplished CEO with a career spanning 20+ years across multiple sectors including law, finance, and human services. Janet is the current CEO of Centennial Park Cemetery, Deputy Chair of the Bedford Group
and Chair of the Bedford Audit & Risk Committee. Her past executive roles include CEO of Fox Tucker Lawyers and CEO of the Perks Group.
Janet’s board and executive career to date has allowed her to build strengths in a range of areas including strategy development and execution, financial oversight, risk, and governance. Her commercial strengths are complemented by compassion and a desire to be of service. She is keenly aware of the need to balance Purpose and Profit; to deliver on the organisation’s mission now while securing its financial future so that it can deliver on its mission well into the future.
Janet is passionate about creating an inclusive and equal society in which diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds are respected and valued.
Janet joined the Board in September 2022.
Céline McInerney
Céline is a strong advocate for those with acquired spinal cord injuries and other disabilities to be able to choose how they want to live their lives; how best to explore, identify, exercise, and enjoy their choices; and how best to live independent and healthy lives either in supported living environments, in care, or at home: maximising potential and removing barriers.
Céline is a seasoned and highly regarded governance specialist, experienced in strategy, and in legal, risk and compliance disciplines, in both executive management and governance roles. She has 30+ years of experience and has served on a range of public, private and not-for-profit boards in health, aged care, education, a public water utility, technology, agriculture, wine and tourism, and the performing arts.
Following her distinguished and sustained service to the University of Adelaide, in early 2022 she was awarded the title Emerita Fellow after serving for 17 years as the University’s General Counsel and Executive Director of Legal and Risk.
She is a former State Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards; a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award from the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women, for her contribution to Law and Performing Arts; and was a Judge of the Telstra Business Awards for 2021-2022. Céline is also a well-known performer in theatre, film, television and radio.
Céline joined the Board in September 2022.
Craig Clarke
As a former President of estara, Craig has an extensive background in the not-for-profit sector. He has been a Board member of the former Southern Domiciliary Care & Rehabilitation Service and other not-for-profits.
Having sustained a spinal injury at the age of seventeen, like many others, he had to set about rebuilding his life following a catastrophic injury. Craig holds several tertiary qualifications and is admitted to practise law. Craig works full-time as a taxation specialist and has extensive experience in dispute resolution.