Our People

As Chief Executive Officer of Regional Development Australia Central Coast, John leads our Board with a passion for building a strong, prosperous and resilient Central Coast for all residents in our region.

He brings to the Board over 30 years of senior management experience in the public and private sectors, including a decade at Gosford City Council where he worked as Manager Customer Services & Communications, Manager Arts, Heritage & Culture and Council’s Executive Officer.

Qualifications:

• Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (Final Year of MBA studies)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Current member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

With a demonstrated history of Executive Leadership in the public sector, Stephen offers his experience working with varied regional and rural communities, proven expertise in the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects and a background in Civil Engineering to the Coastlink board.

Working as the Director of City Services for Gosford City Council (now Central Coast Council) for 13 years, Stephen brings with him vast experience in project planning and management, governance and strategy, and extensive local knowledge.

Currently a community representative on the Central Coast Planning Panel, Stephen works to give greater accountability and transparency to our regional planning system, while making decisions on sensitive, complex and high value development applications for the benefit of our broader community.

Other qualifications include:

• Graduate Diploma in Local Government, Engineering, at University of Technology, Sydney
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) Civil Engineering, University of Newcastle
• Graduate Diploma Education (Secondary), University of Newcastle

Lisa has focused her special interest in social responsibility, and financial and corporate governance of not-for-profit organisations, as a Director on numerous not-for-profit and Australian government boards.

As CEO of the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music and an Associate Professor at Avondale University, Lisa has also been appointed to the Advisory Board for the Australian Academy of Business Leadership, and is Deputy Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Australian Curriculum, and Assessment Reporting Authority (ACARA), an independent statutory authority responsible for the development of a national curriculum, a national assessment program, and a national data collection and reporting program that supports learning for Australian students.

Qualifications:

• Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
• Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Fellow CPA (FCPA)
• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
• Fellow Taxation Institute of Australia (FTIA)
• Fellow Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA)
• Chartered Accountant (CA).
• Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA)

Steven has over 20 years’ experience guiding organisations in the Not-for-Profit and Disability Sectors. During this time, he has held the posts of Director, Treasurer, Executive and external financial advisor. Currently, he is the CEO of Coffs Harbour Support Services, a disability service provider on the NSW Mid North Coast.  Previous roles have included CEO of Community Transport Central Coast and Principal of Accounting Edge Services.

Steven is passionate about building organisations that deliver positive outcomes to the community across multiple generations. He brings both industry knowledge and a regional perspective to Coastlink, along with a commitment to ensuring the voice of clients and their representatives are heard and understood around the board table.

Qualifications:

• Master Business Administration (MBA)
• Member Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
• Bachelor of Commerce

Having spent 30 years in statutory planning for local government and managing his own Town Planning Consultancy, Tony offers the Board a broad spectrum of wisdom in development, planning, due diligence, environmental impact and negotiation.

Qualifications:

• Post Graduate Diploma Urban and Regional Planning
• Post Graduate Certificate Local Government Management
• Associate Diploma Health and Building Surveying.

Having developed the Better Access Map smartphone app as part of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW’s Access and Inclusion program, been responsible for the development and implementation of council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan and Planning Accessible Events Guide, and most recently been selected as a scholarship recipient for the national Disability Leadership Program, since 2021 Ainslie has worked at the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), a cross-disability representative organisation, and the national voice representing people with disability in Australia.

Ainslie works with members to implement an effective customer relationship management system and deliver peer-led and designed information and training sessions, as well as providing support to the Business Inclusion and Diversity Scheme.

Ainslie’s current role and former experience working with organisations including the Central Coast Disability Network has enabled her to partner with a range of businesses, community organisations and government stakeholders to formulate policy and planning for a more accessible and inclusive community.

Ainslie offers extensive knowledge and experience in successfully promoting accessible and inclusive businesses across all sectors of the community and she continues to advocate for increased opportunities and improved access and inclusion for all people living with disability.

Other qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, Statewide Business Training
• Diploma Education (Secondary), University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Arts (major: Psychology, minor: Sociology), University of Newcastle

Brok has held executive leadership roles at the Australian National University, Newcastle University, CSIRO, and in the private sector. Currently, he is Adjunct Professor at the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute. While fortunate to be raised in Australia, and after an uncompromising adolescence, Brok’s formative years were spent in the UK where he trained in the neurosciences.

Qualifications:

• BSc (Hons), University of London
• PhD, University of London
• GAICD, Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors

A journalist by background, Rebekah has a focus in supporting not-for-profit organisations with communications and engagement, and corporate services systems improvement.

Having held senior leadership roles with NSW Health, Western NSW Primary Health Network, and Coast and Country Primary Care, Rebekah is currently the Director Medical Programs and Sector Engagement for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, in which she builds relationships across the national health sector to help sick kids in hospital and improve health equity.

She also has a special interest in supporting organisations to develop Reconciliation Action Plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (English/History) Australian National University
• Effective Director Course, Governance Institute of Australia

Nicole is passionate about people, their growth both personally and professionally, and developing great workplace culture.

Nicole brings to the board over 25 years of senior management experience, specialising in Business Operations, Human Resources and Strategy.

Currently Director – People, Culture & Corporate Services at North Construction & Building, a medium-sized commercial construction company operating in regional NSW and south-east QLD. Nicole has also been appointed to the Business NSW Regional Advisory Council – Central Coast and has previously sat on the Regional Advisory Council TAFE NSW – North Region.

Nicole was a proud winner of the 2017 Women in Building & Associated Services (WIBAS) – Women in Building Award and is currently the WIBAS Vice President.

Qualifications:

• Certificate in Governance Practice
• Member Governance Institute of Australia – GIA (Affiliated)
• Advanced Certificate in Management, Business Administration & Management General