Our People.
The volunteers at Anam Cara Geelong are our gold. From all walks of life, they continue to generously give their time, care, support and kindness to our organisation, our guests, carers and families that we have the privilege of supporting.
Anam Cara Geelong is governed by the voluntary Board of Directors, drawn from the ranks of Geelong's professional associations.
The large volunteer base at Anam Cara Geelong complement the Directors and professional staff by undertaking a wide range of support duties – from general administration and housekeeping to fundraising and companionship for guests. The Board provides legal, medical, financial and communications expertise to lead our not-for-profit organisation in the fulfilment of its mission, and our professional staff provide excellence in administrative support and person-centred palliative care.
The focus of person-centred palliative care is on quality of life, symptom management and comfort.
- Board of Directors
- Executive Team
- Ambassadors
Diana Taylor AM
Board Chair
Diana has 25 years’ experience as a lawyer, director, business owner and consultant.
Diana completed her law degree at Deakin University and now operates her own business, Diana Taylor Legal Consulting, specialising in workplace relations, training, sport, strategic planning and governance.
Diana has over 22 years’ experience in Australian Rules Football administration. Diana became the first female president of a men’s AFL metropolitan football league, the Western Region Football League, and was the first woman appointed to the VFL Tribunal. In 2010, Diana became a director of the Geelong Football Club and in December 2019 was appointed as the Club’s Vice President. Diana was recognised in 2024 by the Australian Government with a Member of the Order of Australia award for her significant service to Australian rules football, and to the community of Geelong.
Diana also has extensive board experience and is the chair of the Geelong Authority. Diana is also a trustee on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust, a Deakin University Law Advisory Board member, a member of the AFLW Competition Committee and the Public Skills Australia Board.
Robert Threlfall
Board Deputy Chair
Rob is a highly skilled executive with over 25 years senior experience in finance management, business strategy & planning, governance and sports infrastructure funding and delivery. He founded AQtive Sports Business Consulting in 2015 specialising in expert services to elite and community levels of sport throughout Australia. In 2019, Rob co-founded Elite Sports Philanthropy providing strategic philanthropic advice to Australia’s sporting industry.
Prior to consulting, Rob spent 15 years at the Geelong Football Club as General Manager Finance and Company Secretary.
Rob currently serves on the Boards of two further Geelong community organisations; Geelong Football Club Foundation and Thirteenth Beach Golf Club.
He’s a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has studied at Harvard Business School.
Aaron Shrimpton
Director
Aaron is a lawyer working in the areas of planning, environment and local government at Harwood Andrews. His core area of practice involves advising statutory and private clients in statutory and strategic planning matters, as well as appearing as an advocate before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and Planning Panels Victoria. His particular areas of interest include developer contributions, planning agreements, heritage planning and administrative law.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (Hons), and a Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies from Deakin University, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law.
Simone Bellears
Director
Simone is the Head of Communications at Premier Strategy, a consultancy that specialises in bringing together government, industry and community to effect meaningful change. Simone has more than 20 years in leadership roles and a proven record of delivering outstanding outcomes across a range of organisations, including the highly successful AFL club Geelong Cats.
Simone has general management experience across all business functions, including strategic and stakeholder communications, planning, culture, people, finance, and governance.
Simone’s core belief centres around strengthening communities by empowering diverse voices to contribute to conversations that matter. Simone has a degree in Public relations and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s leadership development partnership.
Kate Russell
Director
Kate is Director and co-founder of Russell Resources, supporting efficiencies in the health and not for profit sectors.
Her expertise comes from over 30 years of diverse business, functional and governance experience. Kate initially specialized in health, completing General and Oncology Nursing and post-graduate qualifications in Occupational Health. She spent 13 years in health management in a large corporation before co-founding Russell Consulting International, delivering complex safety, health, leadership and culture interventions as a Director for 14 years.
More recently, Kate has focused on executive and non-executive leadership. She supports Menzies School of Health Research as an experienced coach and mentor, is currently Deputy Chair of Leisure Networks, an Ambassador for Bridging The Gap Foundation and Mentor with the Smith Family Youth program. Previously she was a Board Member of Russell Consulting International. Kate is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and studied at Insead Business School.
Dr Anh Tran
Director
Anh Tran is an emergency physician with over 15 years clinical experience which includes the management of patients with life-limiting illness.
He has completed a Masters of Health Service Management, Associate Fellowship Royal College of Medical Administrators and is currently completing a Masters of Business Administration.
Clinical governance and quality improvement certification has been through Institute of Health Care Improvement, Australian Council on Health Care Standards and Australian Institute of Clinical Governance
As a Clinical advisor for quality and safety at Mercy Health he provided medical expertise and leadership in Health Services Clinical Governance and Serious Events Review committees. He has also provided independent medical advice for Djerrirwarrh Health Services Urgent Care Mortality and Morbidity review meetings.
With training in Improvement Science, he has led improvement projects within Mercy Health and also at Safer Care Victoria.
Anh is a current member of the Safer Care Victoria Continuing Care Learning Health Network which provides advice on work of the Learning Health Network which includes health systems projects related to palliative care.
Anh is passionate about improving health care for all and ensuring that patients have care that is safe and that matters to them.
Vanessa McColl
Chief Executive
Kim Spalding
Director of Nursing
Bharathy Gunasekaran
Director of Clinical Services & Palliative Care Physician
Narelle Magee
Director of Finance & Operations
Claire Walker
Executive Assistant to Chief Executive
Bob Gartland OAM
Founding Patron
Barry Fagg
Ambassador
Jennifer Cromarty
Ambassador
Theresa Best
Ambassador
