Introducing the Members of Our Board
Chair - Susan Proctor
Susan is an experienced company director and has served on numerous private and public boards, committees and councils including a school board, government boards and industry associations. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow and Council Member of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers.
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She is the founder of a local law firm, an accredited specialist property lawyer and has a keen interest in the Canberra community. She was appointed to the advisory board of CHF in 2017 and became one of the inaugural board members when CHF was incorporated in 2020.
Deputy Chair - Nadia Gabellone
With over 20 year's experience in technology design and implementation, Nadia is a Director in KPMG's Technology Advisory Practice. With a wealth of experience as a manager, technology designer and operational intelligence analyst, she is our newest Board Member.
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During her career she has designed and implemented cutting-edge technology and analytical capabilities for law enforcement and intelligence. Nadia worked as a federal government director of IT and Intelligence, a business architect and analyst, intelligence professional and business innovation lead on technology-based initiatives in government and private sector organisations. She has also consulted on the development of technology brand strategies, architechture, business analysis, project management, systems implementations, operating model designs, policy uplift, cyber security, governance and scoping studied to upgrade systems.
Nadia provides strategic guidance and oversight to achieve project objectives and outcomes. Leading teams and stakeholder engagement to ensure that 'technology translation' of complex system rare broken down into palatable artefacts ready for management oversight and adoption.
She helps organisations improve their business processes and outcomes through technology implementations and is passionate about understanding how to use technical capabilities to aid intelligence and government operations.
Nadia is a Lifeblood ambassador and is connected to the Canberra Hospital Foundation through her own life experiences with the health system.
Cathie O'Neill
Cathie is a registered nurse and an experienced health service executive. Cathie was a senior Executive at CHS for 5 years serving as Executive Director Cancer and Ambulatory Services, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director General Northside Transition. Cathie was awarded a Public Service Medal for her management of clinical services through COVID.
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Cathie has had a long history of supporting local communities through fundraising and has been a staunch supporter of the Foundation and has led or participated in a number of CHF events including the Larapinta Walk for Wellness and MasterCook.
Cathie is excited to join the Board and contribute her passion for fundraising and community building to the work of the Foundation.
'A key part of my role as an Executive has been to make it easier for staff to do their job, and ensure the best experience for our patients- I look forward to continuing this through the Foundation.'
Dion Bisa
Dion has spent the last 8 years working in her family’s business, East Hotel. In that time she has developed her skills and knowledge in her roles as Conferencing and Events manager, Human Resources, Food and Beverage design and operations, Assistant GM and Brand Director. One of her key roles as an owner, manager, operator of East Hotel is relationship building with interstate and international guests and the local Canberra community.
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Prior to her life at East, Dion worked in Sydney for 15 years as a practicing psychologist. She worked in areas of Alcohol and Other Drugs, women’s mental health, worker’s compensation claims for psychological injury, clinical supervision and counselling of psychology students and her own private practice.
Now managing a team of 100+, Dion continues to use her skills as counsellor and psychologist to ensure the stability and mental health of her staff and to upskill her management team in best psychological practice in nurturing and guiding their teams to their highest potential.
Dion is passionate about her work at East Hotel and its standing in the community as a place that is family focused, warm and open.
Jenny Chen
Jenny is a bilingual strategic management professional with close to 20 years of hands-on leadership experience across retail banking, commercial banking, strategic sales planning, client acquisition, and team leadership. Through her work between Australia and China, she has developed a strong understanding of diverse community needs shaped by different cultural perspectives.
Jenny also brings valuable experience from her time as a lululemon Ambassador and advisory board member, where she supported community engagement, active lifestyles, and wellbeing initiatives. This experience has deepened her commitment to holistic, whole-of-life health—supporting physical, mental, and community wellbeing through connection, inclusion, and long-term care.
Kerri Hartland
Kerri is the Director General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). She has more than 30 years of experience in the public sector, including as the Secretary of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business and before that Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Much of her career has been in positions assisting vulnerable people – including 5 years as Deputy Secretary in the then Department of Human Services.
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She has worked at senior levels across 10 departments including Prime Minister and Cabinet, Finance, Immigration, Industry and Agriculture, and for more than five years was the Deputy Director General in ASIO.
In 2020 Kerri was a coordinator for BizRebuild, a Business Council of Australia initiative to assist small businesses in the aftermath of the bushfire and then spent 2 years as the Chair and Principal Advisor at Proximity, a Canberra based professional services firm.
Kerri chaired the National Youth Science Forum and for 8 years was a member of the Board of the Canberra Girls Grammar School. She has chaired a number of Audit and Risk Committees for the Australian Public Service - including for the Office of Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police.
As a breast cancer survivor, she has championed fund raising for cancer research and was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and MS Angels.
Kerri is married to Brian and they have two grown up daughters.
Matthew Whittaker
Matthew is a Director in the EY Canberra Tax Practice with over 10 years’ experience in providing tax compliance and advisory services to Government, not-for-profit organisations and the private sector.
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Matthew graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law (Hons) and is a member of Chartered Accountants New Zealand and Australia.
In his time at EY, Matthew has developed a skillset in providing taxation advice and services to NFP entities and has become a national subject matter expert in this area for the firm. Matthew has used this experience to help establish and support the ongoing operations of numerous charities in both Canberra and across Australia.
In 2015 Matthew joined the social enterprise taskforce for the Canberra Business Chamber and in 2019 he was appointed Chair. In 2020, Matthew was appointed to the Policy Taskforce of the Canberra Business Chamber.
Professor Robin Stuart-Harris
Professor Stuart-Harris was born and educated in the UK. He went to Medical School in London in 1969 and graduated in 1974. In 1979 Professor Stuart-Harris went into higher medical training in Medical Oncology and completed Medical Oncology training in 1983. In 1984, he migrated to Sydney to a temporary position of Consultant Medical Oncologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Ludwig Institute.
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In November 1985 he returned to London, but migrated to Australia on a permanent basis in 1987 after accepting a position as a Medical Oncologist at Westmead Hospital. Whilst he was at Westmead Hospital, Professor Stuart-Harris also started outreach Medical Oncology clinics in both Bowral and Goulburn.
In 1993, he moved to St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney where he worked in both Medical Oncology and Palliative Care. Professor Stuart-Harris was the Director of Medical Services at the Sacred Heart Hospice.
In February 1998, Professor Stuart-Harris moved to Canberra to be a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Canberra Hospital. He also had an honorary academic appointment at the ANU and was part of the Faculty of the new Medical School of the ANU.
In 2004 he was appointed Director of Cancer Services in the ACT and also Southern Local Health District, NSW, but also continued to work as a Medical Oncologist in Canberra, subspecialising in the management of breast cancer.
"I believe that my two most important achievements in the position of Director of Cancer Services were the establishment of the Cancer Centre on the Canberra Hospital campus and the appointment of a full time Professor of Cancer Research at the John Curtin School of Medical research ANU."
In 2004 he was appointed Director of Cancer Services in the ACT and also Southern Local Health District, NSW, but also continued to work as a Medical Oncologist in Canberra, subspecialising in the management of breast cancer.
"I believe that my two most important achievements in the position of Director of Cancer Services were the establishment of the Cancer Centre on the Canberra Hospital campus and the appointment of a full time Professor of Cancer Research at the John Curtin School of Medical research ANU."
In 2014 Professor Stuart-Harris relinquished his position as Director of Cancer Services with the appointment of a full time Executive Director and returned to full time clinical work.
In addition to his clinical appointments, he was Secretary of the Medical Oncology Group, the special society for Medical Oncology in Australia from 1988-1994 and then Chairman of the Medical Oncology Group from 1995-1996.
"Throughout my career I was involved in medical research and the teaching of medical students. I published extensively, especially on the subject of breast cancer. I retired from clinical practice in June 30, 2019."
Outside of his career, Professor Stuart-Harris was a member of the National Advisory Council of the ABC from 1991-1994 and then the Convenor of the National Advisory Council of the ABC from 1994-1999.
Since retirement, Professor Stuart-Harris and his wife have remained in Canberra, though frequent visitors to Sydney as their three children and three grandchildren all reside in Sydney.
Emeritus Professor Robin Stuart-Harris December, 2021.
Emeritus Professor Robin Stuart-Harris December, 2021.
