Navigating What Matters
Now and Next
A Leadership Summit for Australia's Independent Care & Community Sector
July 20-24, 2026 | Virtual | Free to Attend | Watch On Demand
Five days of honest conversations with leaders from leading organisations - each sharing multiple perspectives on strategic refounding, building leadership capacity, and staying mission-true during transformation.
Honest.
Diverse. Strategic. Purpose-Driven.
Navigating What Matters
Now and Next
A Leadership Summit for Australia's Independent Care & Community Sector
July 20-24, 2026 | Virtual
Free to Attend | Watch On Demand
Five days of honest conversations with leaders from leading organisations - each sharing multiple perspectives on strategic refounding, building leadership capacity, and staying mission-true during transformation.
Summit Sector Leaders Confirmed as Speakers
Read more about Adam Weir
Adam Weir is an experienced leader in enterprise and operational risk management and has served as CEO of Surf Life Saving Australia since 2018. With a background in surf life saving volunteering, he leads the national organisation in its mission to save lives, strengthen communities and support volunteers across Australia.
After completing degrees in Marine Science and Coastal Management at University of Sydney, Adam began his professional career with Surf Life Saving, developing initiatives in aquatic public safety risk management and leading SLSA’s CoastSafe division. He has a strong track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget while advancing operational capability through innovative solutions.
Adam also serves internationally as Chair of the International Life Saving Rescue Commission and as a member of the ILS Rescue Operations Committee, where he is recognised as a leader in global drowning prevention.
Read more about Ben Edwards
Ben commenced as Chief Executive Officer of UnitingCare Queensland in January 2026. He is passionate about building inclusive, values-driven workplace cultures and strengthening partnerships across the health, community, government and for-purpose sectors.
Originally from the north of England, Ben began his career in the UK National Health Service before moving into management consulting with EY and PwC. He moved to Australia 15 years ago and has since worked across health and human services in the public, private and for-purpose sectors.
Before joining UnitingCare, Ben served as Group Chief Operating Officer at St John of God Health Care and previously held CEO roles within the organisation. He also served as a Non-Executive Board Director of Juniper Aged Care. His experience spans healthcare, aged care, disability and community services, with a focus on service improvement, financial sustainability and compassionate leadership.
Ben and his wife recently relocated from Perth to Brisbane and look forward to becoming part of the Queensland community.
Read more about Cathy Thomas
Cathy Thomas is Group Executive of Aged Care and Community Services at UnitingCare Queensland, leading BlueCare — one of Australia’s largest and most trusted aged care providers. Known for her values-driven leadership, Cathy has led major transformation initiatives since joining UnitingCare’s Executive Team in 2016, including serving as Interim CEO from 2025–2026 and leading Australian Regional and Remote Community Services to strengthen support for First Nation and remote communities.
Her experience spans clinical, HR, People and executive leadership roles, with a strong focus on culture, innovation and quality care. Cathy is also a member of the National Aged Care Advisory Council and Chief Executive Women. She holds an MBA, a Graduate Diploma of Business Management, a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing),
Read more about David Harper
David Harper joined UnitingCare Queensland in 2023 as General Manager of the Wesley Hospital before being appointed Group Executive, Hospitals in January 2024 to lead our network of four not-for-profit private hospitals in Queensland. David is a Registered Nurse with an MBA and has more than 25 years’ experience in executive and senior management roles in private hospitals. He was the State Manager of Healthscope’s private hospitals across Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory, where he oversaw 3,500 staff and the care of more than 100,000 patients each year. Prior roles also include the operational performance team across St Vincent Health Australia’s ten private hospitals, General Manager of Gold Coast Private and Allamanda Private hospitals and a number of leadership roles in perioperative services across Ramsay’s and Mater’s private hospitals in Queensland. He is a people focused leader who is passionate about delivering safe and compassionate care.
Read more about Donna Shkalla
Donna has been part of UnitingCare since 2014, leading our Family and Disability Services Practice Improvement and Development team before joining the Executive Leadership Team in 2022.
An experienced leader and social worker, Donna is passionate about supporting and enabling teams to create and deliver services to improve the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities. As a strategic and transformational leader, Donna explores what's possible - and creates opportunities to make them happen.
Before joining UnitingCare, Donna had a long and varied career in the community services sector, from her early days in Youth Work in Australia to her work in the United Kingdom as a Child Protection Social Worker and Leader to her work as a Social Development Consultant in Kosovo. Throughout her career, Donna has focused on delivering quality services, which are informed and co-created with the people they support and underpinned by research and evidence of what works.
Donna holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Arts (Humanities), Graduate Certificate, and Diploma in Management, MBA (Marketing Management) and Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate - Company Directors Course. Donna is also a Chief Executive Women's (CEW) graduate.
Read more about Jamie Fillingham
Jamie Fillingham is a senior executive in aged care with over 30 years’ experience across clinical care, operations, and enterprise transformation. As Executive Manager Strategy and Transformation at Goodwin Aged Care Services, Jamie leads the organisation’s strategic direction and transformation agenda, with a focus on shaping and modernising the organisation. Jamie has a strong track record of leading complex, organisation-wide reform, including the design and delivery of transformation programs aligned to national aged care reform. His work focuses on building sustainable, client-led service models, embedding digital capability, and driving innovation to improve both client outcomes and organisational performance. With a background in nursing and senior leadership roles across hospital, community, and national service providers in Australia and the UK, Jamie brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and commercial acumen. He has led large-scale operational portfolios, overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, and delivered measurable improvements in quality, workforce capability, and business performance. Jamie is passionate about shaping the future of care by enabling organisations to adapt to changing client expectations, regulatory reform, and emerging service models ensuring they remain responsive, sustainable, and focused on delivering high-quality care.
Read more about Michael Ben-Meir
Associate Professor Michael Ben Meir is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria and an Emergency Medicine Specialist with more than three decades of experience across clinical, executive and academic leadership. As CEO, he leads the delivery of accessible, high quality healthcare, wellbeing support and social connection for rural and remote communities across Victoria. Prior to joining RFDS, Associate Professor Ben Meir served as Director of the Emergency Department at Austin Health, overseeing care for more than 90,000 patients annually, and previously held senior leadership roles at Cabrini Hospital as Director of Medical Services and Director of Emergency Medicine. His work spans healthcare innovation, digital health and emergency medicine, with extensive publications on patient flow, electronic health records and telehealth. Key Awards and Recognition: Cabrini Health Innovation in Practice Award: • Premier’s Health Care Award: Follow up phone call program (2014) • ACEM Gillian (Gill) Potts Award: Scribe trial BMJ publication (2019) Academic Qualifications: • Medical Degree (MBBS), Monash University: • Fellowship in Emergency Medicine (FACEM): • Master of Health Ethics, University of Melbourne: • Executive MBA, RMIT University: • Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Medical Administrators (AFRACMA) A/Prof Ben-Meir also holds academic appointments as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Monash University
Read more about Peter Agnew AM
Peter joined the SLSA Board in May 2023 following his election as President of Surf Life Saving NSW. A member of North Bondi SLSC for over 40 years, he previously served as President of SLS Sydney and has a deep experience across each functional area of surf lifesaving locally and internationally. Professionally, Peter is Director of People Development Australia and a consultant with the Australian Institute of Management in the MBA and Director programs. He has three Master’s degrees in Business (MBA), Education (MEd Adult), and Leadership Counselling (MCounsPsych). Peter is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been an active Board member for over 20 years.
Read more about Sandra Hills OAM
Sandra Hills joined leading Victorian aged care provider Benetas in 2009, with experience in government and the not-for-profit sector. Her qualifications span nursing, psychology, research and business management. Sandra was acknowledged for her service to aged care and promoting women in the workplace with a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division, in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honour List. As a voice for older people, Sandra has published many articles and works in numerous leadership roles including as a Director of Anglicare Australia, is a member of the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA), a past Director of the Aged Care Industry Workforce Council and was a long serving ex-Director and Vice President of Leading Aged Services Victoria (LASA). Sandra is currently a member of the Ageing Australia (Vic) State Member Council, the Ageing Australia Eastern Seaboard Chapter, a Director of Melbourne Rotary PBI and is a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW).
Read more about Stephen Holmes
Stephen Holmes is a highly accomplished senior executive and governance leader with extensive experience in the not-for-profit and professional services sectors. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwin Aged Care Services Ltd, Canberra’s largest provider of aged care and retirement living and has worked in the sector for the past 11 years. Stephen’s career spans over three decades, beginning at Deloitte where he spent 16 years. His leadership trajectory includes significant tenures in CFO, COO and Company Secretary roles. He is recognised for his expertise in strategic planning, corporate governance, and financial management. Stephen has a proven track record of redeveloping organisational strategies, leading complex mergers, and advocating for industry interests at both state and federal government levels.
Read more about Verity Leith
Verity Leith General Manager, Residential Services RN (Certificate General Nursing), Critical Care Nursing Certificate, BEd, GAICD Verity joined Benetas in September 2019, with extensive experience within the aged care sector since 2000. She has held a variety of roles including; aged care quality assessor, quality business partner and site manager. Verity has also held executive management roles within the industry, including previous positions at Estia Health and BlueCross as regional and executive manager respectively. Verity successfully completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course in May 2022. She is committed to building and maintaining high-performance teams, enjoys meeting her customer-facing teams, and interacting with residents and their families. She is eager to help Benetas achieve its strategy through strong business drivers with successful outputs. Verity’s advice is to ‘back yourself up as a professional’ and say ‘yes’ to challenges or opportunities – ‘you never know where they may lead’. Verity encourages young women to seek inspiration from other women who have successfully contributed and held leadership roles. In the future, Verity is looking to explore board opportunities to further her already sterling career.
Our Participating Organisations
Some of Australia's most respected Board and senior leaders from across the independent care and community sector have generously opened their doors sharing their honest thinking, their hardest challenges and their lived experience wisdom for the collective benefit of the sector. These are the organisations they lead.
Benetas
One of Victoria's most trusted aged care providers, serving older Victorians since 1948. With 2,000 staff across residential care, home care, retirement living and veterans' services, Benetas is navigating reform and growth while staying true to what has always defined it - a culture dedicated to creating fulfilling life experiences for older people, and care built around the individual, not the system.
Bolton Clarke
Australia's largest independent not-for-profit aged care provider, caring for Australians since 1885 - more than 140 years of service across residential care, home care and retirement living. Their purpose is to help people live a life of fulfilment, guided by values of listening, kindness and curiosity. Bolton Clarke is navigating the most significant regulatory reform in the sector's history while continuing to grow and asking what it takes to keep that purpose, the heart of care, alive at scale
Goodwin Aged Care Services
Canberra's largest aged care and retirement living provider, serving the national capital's community since 1954. Goodwin is simultaneously navigating a new strategic plan and the most significant regulatory reform in aged care history. What does it actually take to lead transformation at that scale, in real time?
Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria
One of the largest aeromedical organisations in the world and Australia's most reputable charity, the Royal Flying Doctor Service has gone the distance for rural and remote communities since 1928. In Victoria, RFDS goes where it is needed and to the hard to reach places believing that all Victorians should have the opportunity to access essential health care services, no matter where they live. How do you sustain that mission when costs are rising, workforce is scarce and communities are increasingly isolated?
Surf Life Saving Australia
Australia's largest volunteer organisation and one of the largest volunteer movements of its kind in the world. 200,000 members. More than 8,000 rescues a year. A 118-year-old movement growing when most are shrinking. SLSA is redefining what it means to deliver a life-saving service across 300 million beach visits every year without losing the soul of what makes it work.
Uniting Church Queensland
Australia's third largest Christian denomination and the first church to be created in and of Australia - formed in 1977 when the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches came together. The Uniting Church's community services arm, UnitingCare, is the largest non-government provider of community services in Australia. In Queensland, the Church is navigating what it means to lead a faith-based institution at a moment of profound social complexity and asking what the Church's distinctive voice and role must be in the decade ahead.
UnitingCare Queensland
The second largest employer in Queensland. 17,400 staff. 9,200 volunteers. More than 460 locations across Queensland and the Northern Territory. UnitingCare is navigating simultaneous reform across aged care, NDIS, hospitals, child protection and remote services and asking what it means to hold all of that together without losing the mission at the centre.
Benetas
One of Victoria's most trusted aged care providers, serving older Victorians since 1948. With 2,000 staff across residential care, home care, retirement living and veterans' services, Benetas is navigating reform and growth while staying true to what has always defined it - a culture dedicated to creating fulfilling life experiences for older people, and care built around the individual, not the system.
Bolton Clarke
Australia's largest independent not-for-profit aged care provider, caring for Australians since 1885 - more than 140 years of service across residential care, home care and retirement living. Their purpose is to help people live a life of fulfilment, guided by values of listening, kindness and curiosity. Bolton Clarke is navigating the most significant regulatory reform in the sector's history while continuing to grow and asking what it takes to keep that purpose, the heart of care, alive at scale
Goodwin Aged Care Services
Canberra's largest aged care and retirement living provider, serving the national capital's community since 1954. Goodwin is simultaneously navigating a new strategic plan and the most significant regulatory reform in aged care history. What does it actually take to lead transformation at that scale, in real time?
Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria
One of the largest aeromedical organisations in the world and Australia's most reputable charity, the Royal Flying Doctor Service has gone the distance for rural and remote communities since 1928. In Victoria, RFDS goes where it is needed and to the hard to reach places believing that all Victorians should have the opportunity to access essential health care services, no matter where they live. How do you sustain that mission when costs are rising, workforce is scarce and communities are increasingly isolated?
Surf Life Saving Australia
Australia's largest volunteer organisation and one of the largest volunteer movements of its kind in the world. 200,000 members. More than 8,000 rescues a year. A 118-year-old movement growing when most are shrinking. SLSA is redefining what it means to deliver a life-saving service across 300 million beach visits every year without losing the soul of what makes it work.
Uniting Church Queensland
Australia's third largest Christian denomination and the first church to be created in and of Australia - formed in 1977 when the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches came together. The Uniting Church's community services arm, UnitingCare, is the largest non-government provider of community services in Australia. In Queensland, the Church is navigating what it means to lead a faith-based institution at a moment of profound social complexity and asking what the Church's distinctive voice and role must be in the decade ahead.
UnitingCare Queensland
The second largest employer in Queensland. 17,400 staff. 9,200 volunteers. More than 460 locations across Queensland and the Northern Territory. UnitingCare is navigating simultaneous reform across aged care, NDIS, hospitals, child protection and remote services and asking what it means to hold all of that together without losing the mission at the centre.
AUSTRALIA'S CARE AND COMMUNITY SECTOR
AT A CROSSROADS
Every independent care and community organisation is navigating:
The care economic crunch demanding strategic refounding
Regulatory transformation requiring rapid adaptation
Workforce challenges threatening sustainability
Board and stakeholder expectations for demonstrable readiness
The 2030s positioning question every CEO
is asking
System complexity is slowing decision-making and execution
Traditional strategic planning isn't enough anymore.
The question isn't just "what should we do?"
It's "how do we refound our organisation whilst staying true to our mission?"
HOW YOUR PEERS ARE NAVIGATING IT
This summit brings together leading organisations, each represented by multiple leaders — CEOs, Board Directors, and senior executives from the same organizations sharing:
How they're approaching strategic refounding (not incremental planning)
How they're building leadership team capacity that scales beyond individual heroics
What difficult choices they're making whilst staying mission-true
How they're positioning for the 2030s with demonstrable capability
Where they're finding clarity in unprecedented complexity
Why multiple perspectives from each organization?
Because strategic transformation looks different from the CEO's desk, the boardroom, and the operations floor. You'll hear how the same challenges are understood and addressed across different roles within each organisation.
Not polished presentations. Real conversations about real strategic choices.
WHO'S SHARING
THEIR INSIGHTS
Leading organisations, multiple voices from each - We've invited CEOs, Board Directors, and senior leaders from the same organizations to share diverse perspectives on their transformation journeys.
Health & Aged Care
Independent hospital networks, charitable healthcare providers, and mission-driven aged care organisations
Community Services
Social welfare agencies, family support services, and emergency relief organisations
Emergency & Rescue Services
Volunteer-based emergency services organisations
THE SECTOR SPEAKS
Independent Perspectives · Day 5, Friday 24 July
Something significant happens when leaders of this calibre choose to speak honestly about what they are carrying, what they are navigating, and what they believe the sector needs to face.
Across seven sessions, that is exactly what happened.
On the final day, four independent witnesses come together to reflect on what they heard. Each brings a distinct lens from research, practice, leadership development and purpose-driven work. They watched every session. They sat with what surfaced. And now they name what they are hearing beneath the words: the patterns, the tensions, the things that kept returning, and what they might mean for the decade ahead.
Where their perspectives converge and diverge is itself part of the picture.
From voice to insight to action
The Summit gathered the voices. The Sector Speaks draws out what those voices are collectively signalling. The Report carries it forward - a resource that sector leaders, boards, funders and policymakers can take into their own rooms and their own decisions.
What surfaces here is shared to go beyond here.
Meet The Sector Speaks Panel
Read more about Christopher Conroy
Chris holds a PhD, EMA, BA and began teaching at RMIT University in 2016 following a 25-year career as a management executive in corporate, operational and project management roles across a wide variety of industry environments related to international trade, industry and community protection. Management subjects Chris has taught include Leadership and Management (MBA), Business Consulting (MBA capstone), Leadership, Ethics and Governance, HRM, Introduction to Management, People Analytics, Creativity Innovation and Design, Work Health Safety and Wellbeing, Organisations, Organisational Experience (capstone), Managing People (masters). His research has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals and he is the author of two management plays, Work. Life. Balance. (2020) and The Myth of Themanus - 21st Century Leadership in Action (Them-and-us) (2015), focusing on organisational leadership, ethics, behaviour, authenticity and affect. Chris has presented ‘Leadership’ papers at academic conferences in the UK and Europe. He has consulting experience, has held Chairperson governance positions in the education sector and at sporting clubs and is a Life Member of the Carlton Cricket Club.
Read more about Madeline Miller
Madeline Miller is an organisational advisor, researcher and keynote speaker who works at the intersection of institutions and the people inside them. After fifteen years in law, including work at the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal and a decade as an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, she now advises professional and purpose-driven organisations on generational leadership: how to develop the leaders who will carry the work forward, and how to engage the next generation as both workers and participants. She is a keynote speaker for universities, TAFE, and professional accreditation bodies, specifically in accounting, medicine, and law, on how to attract, engage, retain, and grow Australia's next generation of leaders. Her practice centres on the Legitimacy Gap — the distance between what an organisation promises and what its people actually experience — and on her A.I.R. framework (Alignment, Influence, Resilience), which she uses to build socially and emotionally capable leaders at every level of an organisation. She tutors essential skills for early-career lawyers at Monash University and tests ideas in public with a professional community of over 65,000.
Read more about Robert Lee
Robert Lee is an enterprise executive and Non-Executive Director with extensive experience across health policy, research, advocacy, governance and organisational strategy. He has led complex portfolios at state, national and bi-national levels, with a focus on aligning purpose-driven organisations to deliver strategy, performance and meaningful impact. Robert holds a PhD in physiology from the University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Read more about Thomas (Phu Minh Triet) Nguyen
Thomas Nguyen is a third-year PhD candidate in Neuroscience at The Florey Institute and The University of Melbourne, where his research explores the triggers of neuronal cell death in Alzheimer’s disease. Alongside his research, Thomas is passionate about leadership, service and community engagement. He has served as the 2025 President of the Senior Common Room at Newman College and President of the Students of Brain Research Society. In these roles, he has led initiatives that foster purpose-driven growth, expand professional networks and connect students, researchers and wider communities. His contributions have been recognised with the St Ignatius Medallion for Service to the Community, the St John Henry Newman Medallion for Academics and the Fr Peter L’Estrange SJ Medallion for Leadership.
FIVE DAYS. TWO CRITICAL QUESTIONS.
How Do We Refound Strategy Whilst Staying Mission-True?
What's really changing and what does it mean for us?
How are peer organisations approaching strategic refounding?
What strategic choices are leaders making in unprecedented complexity?
How Do We Build Capacity to Execute Transformation?
How do organisations build leadership capability that scales beyond heroics?
Live panel discussion - Where do we go from here? (2:00-3:30pm AEST)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This summit is ideal for:
CEOs & Executive Directors
Facing strategic renewal or transformation
Board Directors & Chairs
Preparing for strategic planning cycles
Chief Transformation Officers
Building organisational change capacity
Strategic Planning Directors
Seeking peer insights and frameworks
Senior Executives
In independent care and community organisations
Emerging Leaders
Being groomed for strategic roles
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is this really free?
Yes. Free registration gives you access to all content during summit week (July 20-24, 2026). Optional paid replay access ($67) is available if you want lifetime access after the summit ends.
Do I need to attend live?
No. Only the Friday closing panel is live (2:00-3:30pm AEST). All 18 other sessions are pre-recorded and available throughout the week on your schedule. Even the Friday panel will be recorded if you can't attend live.
How much time should I commit?
As much or as little as serves you. Each session is 30 minutes. Watch what's relevant to your challenges. Many attendees watch sessions that address their specific strategic questions.
Can I share access with my team?
Each person needs to register individually (it's free). After the summit, each person who wants lifetime replay access can purchase it for $67. Volume pricing is available for teams of 5+ people.
Will I receive CPD certification?
This qualifies as self-directed CPD. You can claim hours based on your actual participation. We don't issue formal certificates.
Is this promotional for PurposeOrgOS™ services?
No. This is a sector learning initiative. Speakers aren't selling anything. We're hosting conversations that elevate strategic thinking across the sector. Whether you ever work with us is irrelevant to the value you'll gain.
What if my organisation is outside Australia?
You're welcome to attend. The content focuses on Australian organisations, but the strategic challenges and approaches are universally applicable to mission-driven care and community organisations globally.
When will speakers be announced?
Progressively from January 2026. Register now to receive speaker announcements and session previews as they're confirmed.
REGISTER NOW
Registration opens: January 2026 Summit dates: July 20-24, 2026
Format: Virtual (access from anywhere)
Cost: Free during summit week
Early registrants receive: ✓ Speaker announcements as confirmed ✓ Session previews and key themes ✓ Pre-summit resources and frameworks ✓ Reminder notifications before summit week
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUMMIT?
Email: [email protected] | Phone: +61 421 915 608 (Bernie) or +61 402 253 966 (Vee)
Or schedule a call to discuss how this summit might serve your organisation's strategic planning process.
REGISTER NOW
Registration opens: January 2026 Summit dates: July 20-24, 2026
Format: Virtual (access from anywhere)
Cost: Free during summit week
Early registrants receive: ✓ Speaker announcements as confirmed ✓ Session previews and key themes ✓ Pre-summit resources and frameworks ✓ Reminder notifications before summit week
The Conveners
Bernie Kelly & Vee Haslam
Created PurposeOrgOS™ to help independent care and community sector organisations refound themselves for now and next.
Bernie brings decades of strategic transformation expertise with purpose-led organisations. Vee brings 20+ years of presence-based leadership development. Together, they're hosting this summit to elevate strategic thinking across the sector - whether organisations ever work with them or not.
This summit reflects their belief: Our world needs mission-driven organisations with heart and wisdom. The strategic choices leaders make today will define the sector for decades.
Related Resources
Take The Trek Readiness Assessment
Discover your organisation's current stage and what you need next in your refounding journey
Book: For Purpose Leaders - Navigating What Matters
Perfect pre-reading for the summit. Follow three leaders navigating the fundamental choice: management or purpose, constraint or possibility, fear or love.
Our Mission: Guiding purpose-led organisations to choose love over fear, possibility over constraint, purpose over management - for our abundant world.
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