Our people
We put people at the center of our organisation, both customer and our employees. We believe a great employee experience is the single most powerful tool in ensuring a great customer experience. Our team works across Living Well (Client Services), Partnerships & Engagement and Finance & Operations and there is plenty of opportunity to make a difference in someones life every single day. We are grateful for the support of our outstanding volunteers who give up their time to empower our work.
With an average tenure of 6 years, we maintain an impressive corporate knowledge to ensures our information is relevant, contemporary and accessible. Our Board and Leadership Team work closely to ensure we translate strategy into action and lead with purpose for the community we serve.
Our Patron
Rugby league legend and our Patron – Wally Lewis is a wonderful ambassador for Epilepsy Queensland Inc. and for our epilepsy community.
Wally is not only a sports champion, but a champion in raising awareness and advocating for understanding of epilepsy in the community. He generously gives his time to appear as a guest speaker at Epilepsy Queensland functions and never hesitates to spend time with our members and supporters.
Wally recounts his personal experience of epilepsy in his book (co-authored by Neil Cadigan) “Out of the Shadows” which is available here.
You can also find out more about Wally in the interview below, in which he discusses his inspiration, achievements, experience of epilepsy and his hopes for the future of epilepsy care.
Our Leadership Team
Chief Executive - Chris Dougherty
Chris joined as Chief Executive in September 2020. He brings with him 15 years commercial and profit-for-purpose experience in senior roles across disability, mental health, aged care, policy / advocacy, technology and retail operations. An award winning senior HR leader and most recently an accomplished operations leader of profit for purpose organisations he will lead the organisation in breathing new life and energy into the services we offer our members and clients and the impact we have in our community.
Chris also serves as Director and Treasurer of Epilepsy Australia Ltd, Non-Executive Director of The Alive Project Ltd, and as an external subject matter expert for Foodbank Queensland’s People & Performance Committee
Head of Service Delivery - Sandi Rodiger
With a passion for community services, Sandi’s career in the UK and Australia has included roles in international development, health, education, seniors and disability, including as Area Manager for the NDIS LAC program in Brisbane for 4 years. Sandi joined Epilepsy Queensland as the Head of Service Delivery in July 2022 where she currently leads the Living Well Team to deliver comprehensive services to people impacted by epilepsy.
Head of Commercial and Supporter Experience - Matthew Shortus
Matthew Shortus joins Epilepsy Queensland with over 10 years of commercial fundraising and direct marketing experience. During this time, Matthew worked with a number of charities, leading their teams to achieve acquisition and budget targets. He finds his passion in leadership, unlocking people’s potential and facilitating growth in both his people and the organisation’s capabilities.
Joining the organisation at a pivotal juncture, Matthew is excited to apply his team management experience and support EQ in the growth and maturity of the organisation as we move towards a bright future for people with epilepsy and their families.
Coordinator, Education & Training - Jenny Ritchie
Jenny comes from a background that has a strong connection to the lived experience. She has a passion for the narrative, hearing people’s stories and walking with them on their journey. Jenny is an experienced counsellor, trainer, coach and consultant who has been working with people with epilepsy and their support network at Epilepsy Queensland for 15 years. She has a dream to have a support team in every major city in Queensland, available to people with epilepsy and looks forward to the day when people experiencing epilepsy can feel safe.
Our Board
Our Board brings together a strong mix of skills, knowledge and experience to ensure strong and effective corporate governance to the organisation on behalf of our members. Almost 50% of our board members also have lived experience of epilepsy which ensure we find the right balance between a sustainable and financially strong organisation and meeting the needs of the community we serve.
Chair - Samuel Bryce
Sam Bryce is an agribusiness professional with 25 years of progressive leadership experience in the sector. He currently holds a senior position at GrainCorp Liquid Feeds and has a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University Of New England. Throughout his career, Sam has achieved success nationally and internationally in corporate, private small enterprise and start-up companies due to his business development acumen, strategic vision and strong relationship management skills.
Sam has a firsthand appreciation of living with and caring for someone living with the condition. He was diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager, and his son was diagnosed before his first birthday- both are well controlled with medication.
Sam loves all sports, especially rugby! He enjoys spending quality time with his family at ‘the farm’ on the weekends and during the holidays.
Deputy Chair - Kim Davis
Kim Davis is currently Patron Services and Security Manager at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and holds qualifications in Events and Project Management. She has extensive industry experience including sponsorship, corporate events, arts administration and marketing communications. Kim is a long-serving board member for Epilepsy Queensland and has been providing leadership and expertise in this capacity for over five years.
As a mother of a young adult with epilepsy, Kim has a personal understanding of the importance of the support and advocacy that EQI provides to individuals and their network of family and friends. Kim believes that through raising the community’s awareness of epilepsy, we can ensure that people with epilepsy have the opportunities to fulfil their goals and dreams.
Treasurer - Kalvin Booth
Kalvin Booth is a Chartered Accountant and is the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary at Chesterfield Australia Pty Ltd. Kalvin has extensive experience working for large public listed companies as well as multi-national private enterprises. His industry experience includes banking, private equity, agriculture, manufacturing and construction working in Australia, the UK and the US.
Kalvin has a passion for improving the lives of people with epilepsy and the families around them. Through his role as a board director, he is looking forward to helping play a part in Epilepsy Queensland providing this service.
Secretary - Louise Prychidczuk
Board Member - William Tuffley
William is a Chartered Accountant and is currently an Associate Director at BDO where he assists a range of individuals and businesses with their everyday accounting, tax and business advice needs.
Passionate about driving positive change in the sport sector, William specialises in providing accounting and financial service to professional athletes to secure their financial welfare during and beyond their sporting careers.
Not only bringing his professional skills and networks to the Board, William was drawn to the organisation as an opportunity to bring hope to people living with epilepsy through community, in particular through the inclusive power of sport.
Board Member - Simon Watt
Simon is currently a Senior Consultant within the People Advisory Services division at EY. Specialising in change experience and workforce transformation, Simon hold a Bachelor of Business Management with majors in Human Resources and Marketing.
Importantly, he also brings lived experience of epilepsy to the Board, being diagnosed at an early age and having ongoing treatment. Simon understand the importance of ensuring our organisation is sustainable and contemporary so that we can provide hope and support to others and their families.
Board Member - Charmaine Driver
Currently Principal of Darling Point Special School, Charmaine has gained strong leadership and strategic skills during her time in the education sector. Her expertise in inclusive education and high level experience in strategy and program/service design provide great value and insight to the Board.
Charmaine joined the Board of Epilepsy Queensland in 2009 and continues to be a valuable member, contributing to the positive outcomes of those impacted by epilepsy across Queensland.