Our People

We rely on the diverse proficiency of our people to maintain and build on the accomplishments of our organisation.

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, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 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, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 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: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sean Lomas, Policy and Advocacy Manager

I joined SCIA about four years ago after much research. I was looking for an organisation that had a good reputation for doing the right thing both with government and its members—I found it! The organisation supports people who believe in getting on with the job. That sits well with me.

In my role as Policy and Advocacy Manager, I manage a small team who are tasked with providing both individual and systemic advocacy to our members. I find my job extremely rewarding, knowing that the skills I have are being used in a productive manner. Working with my team, with their constant professionalism, is a real inspiration to me. I now recognise the importance of full social inclusion and the benefits that it can bring to so many people.

Outside of my policy and advocacy work for SCIA, I enjoy history, British historical cooking, psephology, policy reading, music, painting and rugby union.

Please feel free to contact Sean: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lesh Dhesi, Executive Assistant

My aim has always been to work for not-for-profit organisations and I joined SCIA in September 2006. My role here 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. 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 continually developing programs and services to create independence for people living with a spinal cord injury in Australia.

Outside of my work at SCIA, my friends and family describe me as a shopaholic. I’m obsessed with trying out new cuisines or creating my own. Apart from that I love travelling and shopping … oops did I mention that already!

Please feel free to contact Lesh: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Peter Murray, General Manager - Service Delivery

I joined SCIA in February 2010 to oversee four areas of the organisation: Geo & Data—an area delivering a key contract for the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, SCI Workforce—a registered Disability Employment Service assisting people with disabilities to find employment, including a specialist service for people with SCIs, Accommodation and Emergency Services—providing accommodation and emergency services for people with SCIs, and Walk On—the intensive exercise recovery program designed to assist a person with a SCI to maximise their functional recovery.

I find working with a great team at SCIA and supporting our members very rewarding and, since joining the organisation, I am much more aware of the challenges faced by people living with a SCI.

Outside of my work at SCIA I enjoy sailing, golf, keeping fit (walking, running, swimming), riding my motor scooter, movies and good wine!

Please feel free to contact Peter: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Leila Mitchell - Head of Marketing and Fundraising

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 02 9356 8201.

Alex Traill, Regional Services Manager

Whilst working for the State Rail Authority of NSW as an overhead linesman in September 1976, I received an electrical shock from the 1500 volt overhead wiring system causing me to fall 10 metres and land on my side over the rail lines. The fall caused a T12 displacement of my spine, damaging the spinal cord.

After my rehabilitation program in hospital I was then rehabilitated back into the work force in April 1977, in a clerical finance administration role with the State Rail Authority. I remained in that role until 1991 when I applied for the position I currently hold at SCIA.

Here I administer SCIA’s regional services, providing support to regional staff and assistance to the consumer groups. We provide a service that delivers positive outcomes for people with SCIs. Working with a dedicated team of people has made me realize that for change to happen, you have to be involved.

Outside of work I enjoy reading and watching good movies.

Please feel free to contact Alex: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Nicole Bechaz, General Manager - Transitional Services

With a scientific background and a keen desire to help people, I became involved in medical research shortly after finishing my university studies. I loved the challenges involved in developing and assessing new therapeutics, interacting with government departments and regulatory bodies and working with people from a range of cultural backgrounds and across a broad demographic.

I had the opportunity to travel extensively, experience living in several different locations around the world and gain many new skills that allowed me to move into my first formal management position several years ago. However, whilst there have been many personal and professional benefits to working within a corporate environment, my desire to work for a not-for-profit group where I could work to directly benefit clients every day became just too strong to resist! After much research into the type of company I wanted to work for and an intensive interview process, I was very fortunate to be able to take up the position of General Manager Transitional Services with SCIA in 2011.

This role has given me the opportunity to work across the programmes and teams that not only help our clients through their spinal cord injury but give them the support they need to transition back into their community with confidence and independence. I feel very privileged to work with such an amazing team of people, all of whom bring their own unique experience and knowledge to the group. It is very inspiring to know that the team at SCIA all feel a very deep commitment to achieving the SCIA ethos of “A society without barriers for people with spinal cord injuries”.

Please feel free to contact Nicole: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Williiam Ko - General Manager, Corporate Services

I joined SCIA in July 2011. My portfolio covers Finance, HR, IT, Information Services, Performance Measurement and Client Reporting. Trained as an accountant and later a management consultant for a Big 4 consulting firm, I have held various senior finance roles in the insurance industry, ASX top 50 building and construction company and FMCG beverage company. Personally touched by disability in the family, I moved into the non-for-profit sector about 4 years ago. Since then I have been passionate about advice and advocacy in the disability sector.

The opportunity to implement best practice based on limited resources is a challenge which I enjoy (delivering services that are meaningful and measureable to our clients). The best part of my role is knowing that we are making a difference to people's lives with spinal cord injuries and bringing visibility and awareness to the disability sector as a whole.

Outside of my work at SCIA, I have been involved in voluntary work for youth outreach for over a decade and am currently treasurer for my son’s day care. In my free time (on the rare occasion that I can get a babysitter), I enjoy sharing a meal with family and friends, an occasional game of golf, the gym and reading.

Please feel free to contact William: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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