Board Members

Meet the passionate and talented
members of the CID Board.

  • Quang Nguyen, Chairperson

    I believe in speaking up and being seen.

    My culture is very important to me and I am bilingual but I often use technology to communicate and do presentations. New technologies can help people with disability to lead better lives. I love to try new experiences.

    Independence is very important and I believe making transport accessible can change the lives of people with disability. I have been on many transport advisory groups.

    I am on the board of Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association and was previously on the board of Diversity Disability Alliance.

    I received a National Australia Day Council Australian of the Year award in 2012 and 2014.

  • Fiona McKenzie AM, Vice Chairperson

    I was very proud of the fact that I was the first female chairperson with intellectual disability at CID and I’m excited to be doing the vice chair role.

    It’s really important to me because it means that women and people with intellectual disability can lead the way at CID.

    I do a lot of advocacy work, supporting our campaigns, and I have talked to a lot of politicians, letting them know what CID does and about big issues like health.

    Mentoring people is really important to me, especially in peer to peer work between people with intellectual disability. It really gets people motivated.

  • Jennifer Newman, Vice Chairperson

    I have heard about the work of CID for many years. I am excited for the opportunity to share my experience with the Board to further develop inclusion and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with intellectual disability, their families and our community.

    From my Wiradjuri culture I value storytelling and listening. I use it for communicating and connecting with other people, to gain support and to bring on change. I look forward to engaging and connecting with the CID community.

     

  • Ariella Meltzer headshot

    Ariella Meltzer - Secretary

    I am a social policy researcher, focusing on disability, young people, peer support, mentoring and how interpersonal relationships can be prioritised in human services. I also research information accessibility, including Easy Read. I have been working in these areas since 2010.

    I am also the twin sister of a woman with a physical and intellectual disability and have been an observer and supporter of her strong opinions about her services, supports and workers throughout our lives together.

    I look forward to bringing these experiences to my work on the NSW CID Board and to working together with CID’s leaders with intellectual disability.

  • Alex Hitchcock headshot.

    Alex Hitchcock, Treasurer

    I am a Justice Advocate working with people with Cognitive Impairment to get better outcomes from the criminal justice system. I am completing my Masters in Social Work and have focused my research on advocating for clients with Acquired Brain Injuries.

    In my previous career I was a Chartered Accountant with 15 years experience in commercial management. I worked in roles across Retail, Technology and Media.

    I am looking forward to serving on the CID board as Treasurer from 2023, combining previous experience and a passion for improving the opportunities for people with disability.

  • Gina Andrews

    I have been a public servant for more than 20 years with policy expertise in criminal justice systems, child protection, disability, NDIS, institutionalisation, and mental health.

    My PhD looks at the experiences of changes in law and policy for a group of children with intellectual disability admitted to Newcastle Mental Hospital in the 1950s.

    I also bring personal experience to the Board as my late uncle (Ricky) had an intellectual disability and lived in state care for the majority of his life.

    I volunteer as a ski guide with Disabled Wintersport Australia. My favourite activity is to guide children who have intellectual disability. Doing this makes me smile!

  • Alison Carr

    I have worked for over 25 years in the Human Resources industry across many disciplines, with the last 15 years mainly in the Not For Profit space.

    I enjoy dynamic and collaborative environments. My work focusses on driving business strategy, employee engagement, change and improvement projects, and forging productive relationships across businesses. I have helped develop high-quality cultures and implement positive change in line with organisational values.

    I have experience working collaboratively with CEOs, executive teams and senior leadership groups, as well as human resources teams to ensure staff are supported, and mentoring and leadership is provided.

    I am looking forward to working with CID as a Director.

  • Shu Hua Chan

    Sharing information and my story is very important to me.

    People with intellectual disability learn new skills when you work with them and you learn from them. We need a chance to grow into adults that can make decisions for ourselves.

    I speak 3 languages, Cantonese, English and Mandarin. Having people from non-English speaking backgrounds is very important on a board.

    I have spoken to the media a lot about health. I am very proud of this as we need to really get this message out there.

    I have been a carer, worked, and been a board member for CID. I understand how difficult it is to juggle all these things.

  • Steven Cooke

    I have been doing advocacy for a long time and I really feel that it is an important responsibility. There are a lot of people with disability who aren’t as lucky as me and haven’t had the chance to speak up like I have.

    It is really important to get the NDIS right. I hear a lot about how it is going from other people and we have to keep doing advocacy until it is right for everyone.

    I like to be part of a team doing advocacy work and at CID I get to do that work with others.

    Being on the Board, I get to have my say and try to represent other people too.

  • Judy Harper

    I have worked in the community sector for 35 years, predominantly with people in contact with the justice system with complex needs, people with cognitive disabilities and in advocacy.

    I have been an independent representative on government and industry consultative groups and worked with support organisations to meet disability standards, develop new models of support and improve the quality of individualised supports.

    Along with professional experience I also bring to the Board personal lived experience being the legal guardian of a person with an intellectual disability with complex health needs for over 25 years.

    I have also advocated for two people in contact with the justice system.

  • Kylie Scott headshot

    Kylie Scott

    I have been an active member at CID for many years. I have a strong background in advocacy including being part of CID’s Advocacy Group.

    I am an accomplished and passionate public speaker about issues for people with intellectual disability.

    I have been a member of the Down Syndrome Australia Advisory Network and like having my ideas heard and asking important questions. I have been part of NSW Ministry for Health advisory groups, showing my strong leadership and organizational skills.

  • Jack Stewart

    I think the justice system, mental health and transport are big problems for people with intellectual disability that I would like to work on.

    Talking to people in the community about what is right and wrong is important, so we know what advocacy we need to do to change things the government does. We need a fair go and to be treated right.

    Advocacy is not backing down on the big issues. We need determination, courage and a sense of humour to get our work done.

    I am really proud that I am a director on the CID Board. I never expected it!

  • Robert Strike headshot

    Robert Strike AM

    I believe strongly in citizen advocacy, and in self advocacy. I started Self Advocacy Sydney, because there is nothing more important than helping people speak up and give things a go. Mentoring is a huge part of my work.

    I love training people and trying new things! I have done a lot of training for organisations, such as the NSW Police in how to work with people with intellectual disability.

    In 2017 and 2018 I spoke at the United Nations about how to include people with intellectual disability.

    I received an Order of Australia in 2017 for my services to the community in the area of disability advocacy.

  • Tracy Wright headshot.

    Tracy Wright

    My career has focused on working with vulnerable groups in the community and human service sectors. I am an experienced executive leader, program director and change manager. My passion is to contribute to positive social change.

    I am currently working as a consultant, using my knowledge and skills to support vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community. I have been working closely with government, not-for-profit and non-government organisations.

    I have an in depth operational knowledge of change management combined with expert communication, collaboration, and relationship management skills. I bring all these skills and experience to the CID Board.

  • Elizabeth Young headshot

    Elizabeth Young

    I have been active in advocacy for many years and have been involved in advocacy groups in the eastern suburbs, have worked with the Centre for Disability Studies and have been a member at CID for several years. I have spoken in public about my life including at an ASID conference. I bring a lot of knowledge and lived experience to the board.

    I want everyone to understand the lives of people with intellectual disability and understand they are just like anyone else if you give them a chance.

    I work towards a time when people with disability will have their fair share of rights and will have good things happen in their lives. I don’t want people with disability to be left out of anything.

     

  • A white woman with blonde hair smiles at the camera.

    Georgina Reynhout, CEO

    I am passionate about inclusion, people with disability in the workplace, and overcoming barriers to help others better understand people with intellectual disability.

    I have spent a lot of time working for inclusive education as a CEO, a school principal and an academic.

    I have many years of experience with disability services. In recent years I have been a consultant completing NDIS audits and helping many small organisations develop strategy, build their capacity and be good NDIS providers.

    I have also worked overseas in Abu Dhabi helping to establish a new government department to support vulnerable people.

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