Our People

Peter Perry – Chief Executive Officer

I joined Spinal Cord Injuries Australia as Corporate Services Manager in 2006 after 30 years at senior levels in both corporate and not for profit organisations, where I specialised in financial management, change management and human resources development. Organisations I have worked for include Mirvac Funds, Schroders Australia, State Bank of NSW, University of Sydney Union, and EDS. I have also contributed as a volunteer to Guide Dogs NSW and Humane Society International.

The organisation I now lead has a proud history of removing barriers in society, and facilitating independence for people with a disability. Despite the organisation’s specialist origins, its work encompasses issues and outcomes that are of relevance to all people with a disability. These issues, including accommodation, respite, care, carers, transport, employment, and community participation are of fundamental importance to our organisation.

I am keen to ensure that whilst promoting and supporting innovation, SCIA does not lose touch with its roots and its proud history, and is constantly finding ways to better engage with its members and the broader community. Too many charities end up looking like businesses, treating people like objects similar to chess pieces; while a commercial mindset and commercial practices are important to ensure maximum bang for the buck, commercial outcomes should never become more important than community and individual outcomes. Whilst I am CEO, SCIA will always play a leading role in ensuring viability, sustainability and diversity of services for those who are at risk of being marginalised in our society.

Please feel free to contact Peter: pperry@scia.org.au

Sean Lomas - Policy and Advocacy Manager

As, what is often called, a new arrival in Australia the 4 years I have spent here have been with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA). Coming from a background in disability, Blue chip sales and service to my former country of Great Britain I have sought to further my aims of better empowering people with a disability. What better place than with SCIA.

I presently work as the Policy and Advocacy Manager in SCIA’s growing policy department. Tasks are varied for me and involve individual advocacy, systemic advocacy and even editing our accord magazine, which I enjoy greatly. With systemic advocacy much work has been undertaken by both me and my colleague Greg Killeen in putting issues forward to be addressed. We have had some very positive successes as well as being involved in the development work of some decent policies that should address some of the issues raised by our membership.

My aims for our policy department, and for the wider organisation as a whole, are to be recognised as being a source for positive support and leadership on issues that affect people with a spinal cord injury and the wider population with a disability. I hope to build upon recent policy successes, to encourage active member participation in policy and ensure that through working together some of the issues that have led to people with a disability not enjoying this wonderful country and its opportunities are removed.

Please feel free to contact Sean: slomas@scia.org.au  

Alex Traill - Regional Services Manager

Hello my Name is Alex Traill. I am a person with a spinal cord injury resulting from a workplace accident in 1976. I joined the management team of the organisation in March 1991, managing the Illawarra regional service.

The position I currently hold within Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is Regional Service Manager.  The administrative office for Spinal Cord Injuries Australia’s regional service is based in Wollongong, NSW.  I am responsible for the management of the regional office. I supervise and support the Spinal Cord Injuries Australia Regional Officers who are based in Wollongong, Lismore (in the Northern Rivers), Tamworth (in the New England) and Mudgee (in the Central West of NSW).

During my nineteen years of service with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia I have developed and gained a wealth of experience relating to the needs and support required by people with an acquired spinal cord injury. I have gained experience in access to the built environment and how the building code of Australia and the standards relate to access to the built environment within our communities for people with disabilities.  I currently represent Spinal Cord Injuries Australia on several local government and community forums to advocate and raise awareness of services and the ongoing needs of people with physical disabilities.

During my years of service, I have enjoyed participating in the growth of the organisation. I would like to see Spinal Cord Injuries Australia continue to grow and develop into a truly national organisation. I believe my role in this process will be to identify where there is a need and expand into those regional areas that can benefit from an SCIA presence. I believe this will allow us to better support our consumer and member base.

Please feel free to contact Alex: atraill@scia.org.au  

Lesh Dhesi – Executive Assistant

I have worked for various not for profit organisations providing high level administrative support and IT training to staff and clients over the last 5 years. 

My role at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is to provide executive support to the CEO and to manage a thriving administration team that provides essential admin support to the staff at our Little Bay and William Street offices.

Our team believes in achieving the best results to ensure the programs our organisation provides are delivered, maintained and administered to its highest standards.

My goals for the organisation are to increase efficiency and provide effective leadership to our administration team by initiating training and developing education tools to implement continuous improvement.

I feel proud to be a part of an organisation that is continuing to develop programs and services to create independence and unlimited opportunity for people living with a spinal cord injury in Australia.

Please feel free to contact Lesh: ldhesi@scia.org.au

Paul Cunnington – Human Resources Manager

My name is Paul Cunnington and I have been employed at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia since January 2006, where I was initially employed as the Payroll/Personnel Officer and more recently was promoted to the role of Human Resource Manager in February, 2008.

My role as HR Manager is quite varied in that I cover areas such as Remuneration and Performance Management system, Occupational health and safety Compliance, Payroll including Superannuation and Salary packaging, Procedure/policy writing and review, Training, Award interpretation, Recruitment, Writing Job Descriptions, Inductions, Workers Compensation Coordination/Management, Maintenance of manual & computerised HR records, and Generalist support to Managers and staff in metropolitan and regional NSW.

My previous roles include working as an Employment Consultant at Summit Personnel under both the DEN and Job Network contracts where I was responsible for seeking suitable employment for clients with a physical or intellectual disability.

From this, I was employed by Coca Cola as an Internal Recruitment Consultant, where I was responsible for managing the recruitment and selection of internal staff for a variety of blue and white collar workers in the temporary and permanent job markets.

I thoroughly enjoy working for such a great organisation at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and I would like to strive towards SCIA being an employer of choice and a high performing workforce that aims to reduce the barriers involved in every day living for a person with a spinal cord injury.

Please feel free to contact Paul: pcunnington@scia.org.au  

Bernice Daher - Resource Development Manager

I have worked in the field of disability services for over 30 years, starting by supporting Vietnam Veterans with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.  This lead to work with the Commonwealth Government covering a range of disability services prior to the Commonwealth/State and Territories Disability Agreement.  Since then I have worked for various NGOs representing physical disability and a private nursing agency covering the entire spectrum of community care.  I have worked with various peak bodies such as NDS and the Physical Disability Council of NSW to strengthen the voice of those I represent.

I have extensive experience in the delivery of in-home support, the complexities of government funding and the need to promote the individual needs of each person.  While these goals appear basic, they are difficult to achieve in an environment that lacks adequate funding and remains crisis driven rather than preventative.

I am passionate about ensuring equality for people with a disability and eliminating the barriers that divide our society.  I believe that organizations, formed and actively supported by those who experience the disadvantages caused by incapacity provide the most effective voice.

The range of services provided through SCI A and the possibilities for the future are truly exciting and I look forward to contributing.

Please feel free to contact Bernice: bdaher@scia.org.au

Leila Mitchell - Partnerships Manager

Started at SCIA in January 2009

Worked in the not for profit sector for 7 years, experiencing most aspects of fundraising including event management, corporate relations, direct marketing, bequest promotion and major gifts. My passion in fundraising is around building relationships with the people and organisations that are committed to making a difference to the lives of people with a disability.

The best part of my job is spending time with our clients, seeing the difference that our programs have made to their lives not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well. Being able to share those stories of hope, determination and overcoming adversity really puts life’s little worries into perspective.

In a perfect world my team wouldn’t be necessary, but unfortunately we aren’t there yet, so we exist to encourage the wider community, corporate and individual support to invest in the work of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia so people with spinal cord injuries and disabilities can have a better life.

If you are interested in discussing partnership opportunities with Leila, please contact her on 0421 055 990 or lmitchell@scia.org.au

Peter Murray - General Manager, Service Delivery

I joined Spinal Cord Injuries Australia in late January 2010 in a newly created role of General Manager, Service Delivery overseeing four key areas of the organisation.  My career has included management roles for both Commonwealth and State Government agencies in the areas of education, health, occupational health and safety and transport (where I reviewed the community transport strategy for rural and regional areas of NSW).  I spent nearly 4 years developing and implementing the vehicle accreditation scheme for the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Since 2000 I have worked outside government in a private career and education foundation and as a private consultant in the sport industry.  Prior to joining SCIA I spent over 6 years as a senior manager at the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of Australia.

I am very keen to ensure the four diverse and varied areas of my responsibility all make a difference to the lives of people with spinal cord injuries.  We will constantly be asking the question – are the services we deliver achieving results for our clients?  A key challenge will be to continue to deliver quality programs and services which are financially sustainable, through ensuring a diversification of our funding sources from government and our external partners in the corporate world.  With my background in exercise science I look forward to leading the growth and development our exciting new intensive exercise recovery program – Walk On – and its expansion across Australia in the years to come.

The activities being initiated and progressed by SCIA are many and varied and I look forward to being part of the ongoing success of the organisation. 

Please feel free to contact Peter:  pmurray@scia.org.au