Our Board

In keeping with our Constitution, the strategic directions and governance of PeakCare is guided and monitored by a Board comprised of elected representatives from our Member organisations. They represent all Members and come from a range of Member organisations throughout rural, remote, regional and metropolitan Queensland. The Board meets a minimum of 9 times per year. Our elections are held annually at the Annual General Meeting.

In 2018, FIVE Board member positions are to be filled by election at our Annual General Meeting to be held on 21st November. View the Board Nomination Information Sheet for more detail on who is eligible to be nominated for election to the Board and the process for lodging nominations.

View the Board Organisational Chart and the PeakCare Constitution.

Sally Kelynack

President

Sally Kelynack is UnitingCare Queensland’s General Manager, Brisbane and South West Queensland, Child and Family Services.

Sally has been employed with UCQ for 7 years, initially as General Manager Far North Queensland where she held responsibility for all Crisis Intervention and Child & Family services, ranging from mainstream entry point Neighbourhood Centre through to Family Support, Family Intervention Service Intensive Support and Domestic and Family Violence Services.

Prior to joining UCQ Sally managed Relationships Australia’s Services in Far North Queensland. Sally’s range of experience working both in metropolitan and rural & remote communities and her experience working with vulnerable children and families have contributed to her commitment to working together in the sector to develop and advocate for services which support the needs of children and their families, at all times striving for the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Show Less

Leith Sterling

Vice-President

Leith is employed as Director of Operations, Child and Family Services with The Benevolent Society, with responsibility for all TBS early years and family support services, mental health services across Queensland and post adoption services in Queensland and New South Wales. Leith is a registered Occupational Therapist with over 25 years’ experience working with children and families in Queensland and Victoria, in both the disability and child protection sectors.

In addition to qualifications in occupational therapy, Leith has an Advanced Diploma of Management, with a strong focus on strategic planning and innovation. In the past 10 years, Leith has held senior management and executive roles within both the Queensland Government and the non-government sector, including 2 years as the Child Safety Director for state schooling in the then Department of Education and Training.

Show Less

Kathryn Woods

Treasurer

Kathryn Woods is General Manager, Childrens Services at C&K, with responsibility for more than 360 early childhood services across Queensland and supporting more than 20,000 children and their families.

Before Kathryn joined C&K in late 2014, she was in a senior executive role in government, leading substantial programs and reforms in early childhood education and care. Through extensive experience developing and implementing large scale public programs, Kathryn has delivered strong results for children and families. She has more than 25 years experience leading and managing service delivery and organisational development, notably for the Queensland and Australian governments, and more recently for C&K, Queenslands largest early childhood education and care provider.

She brings to PeakCare much knowledge and practical experience in Queenslands child protection system and strategies.

Show Less

Cara Benoit

Executive Member

Cara is an experienced People and Culture executive with a career spanning more than 20 years in both Human Resources and commerical Management positions across a variety of industries throughout Australia and Asia Pacific. A Certified Professional member of the Australian Human Resources Institute, Cara holds an undergraduate degree in social science and a post-graduate certificate in management.

Since 2008, Cara has led the People and Culture function to deliver best practice human resources and cultural change initiatives at yourtown (previously known as BoysTown), one of Australia’s largest charitable organisations, which provides support to tens of thousands of young people and their families each year.

Previous experience fostering adolescent boys upon their release from juvenile detention centres in Melbourne has provided Cara with first-hand knowledge of the challenges young people face and has driven a commitment to ensuring the safety and provision of opportunities for young people, particularly those who are at a disadvantage in our society.

Show Less

Kieran Smith

Executive Member

As an up and coming leader in Queensland’s Child and Family sector Kieran has built his credibility through his years in frontline child protection roles in regional and remote Queensland. Kieran was the recipient of the 2012 Queensland Child Protection Award, Professional non-Government for his work in establishing the safe house service in Doomadgee before going on to play a pioneering role in the development of the 2015 Queensland Reconciliation Award Winning Safe House programs in West Cape and Gulf Aboriginal communities.

Having served as Act for Kids’ Regional Director for Far North Queensland for the past 5 years, Kieran leads over 100 staff in varying programs including Family and Child Connect and Intensive Family Support services. Being of Badjtala heritage and a background in Anthropology and Community Development, Kieran has a strong focus on redressing the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system by integrating Child and Family services into culture and, in doing so, working closely with Traditional Owners and Cultural Authorities.

Kieran brings this unique Regional and Remote lens to the PeakCare Board and strives to close the distance between Regional, Remote and SE Queensland.

Show Less

Janet Wight

Executive Member

Janet has been the Director of the Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) since April 2012, YAC being a community legal and social welfare agency for young people generally aged 10-18years with a focus on youth justice, child protection and youth homelessness. A lawyer by background, Janet has previously worked at YAC as a casework solicitor and community legal education solicitor, as well as in policy and legislation areas within State government. Janet has been on the board of a number of organisations and is currently President of Community Legal Centres Queensland (CLCQ).

Darren Young

Executive Member

Darren is the State Director for Mission Australia across Queensland and the Northern Territory. His service portfolio includes assistance and support for vulnerable children and families, targeted homelessness and supported tenancy programs, youth services, disability and indigenous employment services, mental health programs, alcohol & drug rehabilitation and community development initiatives. Darren’s professional background includes over 25 years’ experience working within government and NGOs in the provision of human services.

He has held senior management and executive roles in state government, community health, rural hospitals and aged care. Darren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a degree in Social Work and a Masters of Public Management.

Show Less