Our Board

Board executive

David Meldrum
President

I have experience on a number of Boards, both at a state and national level, which I hope gives me the skills and understanding of good governance that can assist MIFSA. I also have good networks in the health and community services sectors.
My current position is Executive Officer of the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia.

My work history includes extensive experience in both the government and non-government sector in the management of health and community services. Previous roles have included the Chief Executive Officer of South Australian Mental Health
Services. I serve on the Boards of Foodbank (SA), and the Adelaide North Eastern Division of General Practice. I have been on the MIFSA Board for seven years, and have a good understanding of its programs, finances and human resources.

My experience and my profound admiration for MIFSA and its people helps me to contribute useful advice on matters of policy, governance and the overall development of MIFSA.

Pat McLeod
Vice President

 Pat’s interest and specialisation is in psychosocial rehabilitation, especially vocational rehabilitation.Pat has completed a Masters of Applied Science by Research looking at the issue of managing mental illness at work and worked in vocational rehabilitation from 1989. This role frequently involved collaboration with employers, medical personnel and community agencies in order to assist individuals to achieve their goals.

“I am keen to offer my extensive experience in the Commonwealth sector – and more particularly my passion for enabling people who experience mental illness to participate in society in the way they would choose. I believe that organisations such as MIFSA are a critical player in the mental health field.”

Neville Rice
Treasurer

Neville was a Board member with the former Mood Disorders Association which merged with MIFSA in 2006. He has served as MIFSAs Treasurer since then. Neville's interest in MIFSA derives from his wife and himself needing to care for a daughter with Mental Illness. “Jenny and I are also carers; therefore we both have a keen interest in mental illness. We are also members of Carers SA and of the Christadelphian CareGroup SA where I also serve as Treasurer”

Neville feels strongly about helping some of the most vulnerable members of society, therefore in addition to serving as Treasurer of the Christadelphian Care Group he is active in his church community in both a teaching and a caring role. Whilst Neville has some background in accounting, banking and finance, his daily work role is in a senior role in Information Technology. Neville is keenly interested in trains, and especially steam engines. His long-term planning centres on some train trips (the Ghan, the Sunlander) and designing and building his own model railway.

Jane Anderson

As a lawyer and Deputy President of the Guardianship Board I regularly meet and have the privilege of making decisions about people whose lives are impacted by mental illness. I am committed to ensuring that people with a mental illness
and their carers who experience the legal and justice system are afforded dignity and respect.

My legal skills and knowledge of the law and its relevance to the issues surrounding mental illness is a resource for the MIFSA Board. My compassion, understanding and genuine interest in this important area will mean that I am a passionate
and committed member of MIFSA. I hope to further my interest and experience in the area of mental health advocacy, support and fundraising.

My experience at the Guardianship Board and my experience as a lawyer has provided me with a good understanding of the needs of people with mental illness and their carers, and the challenges faced by then, both immediate and future. I
welcome, and indeed, am honoured by an appointment to the MIFSA Board

Eddy Lynch

Mental Health is my passion to which I have given my whole working life (psychiatric nurse for more than 40 years) and I also volunteer time to the needs of others. I have served on the MIFSA Board for the past six years and would like
to continue contributing in MIFSA’s governance, aiming always for best practice.

I previously served as President of the Mood Disorders (SA) Association Board for fourteen years and three years as Vice President. I was a foundation member of Family Therapy (SA) Association and the Mental Health Alliance. I am keen to
continue my commitment to support the Board of Management in their work in guiding MIFSA as a leading NGO. I bring a rich history and I have a passion for people who have or had mental disorder.

Richard Price

Currently the Managing Director of an Adelaide based high technology company with 350+ employees country wide. Like most of the community, I was insulated from mental illness, ignorant beyond what I had read in the media and had thought
little of its impact on families until encountering it directly. We cannot afford to ignore the contribution those affected by mental illness can make to society not only for the good of the individual but the community as a whole.

MIFSA has undergone a burst of growth in recent times and is continually striving to reach more and more people. As a Board member I am able to support the management of MIFSA in delivering our strategic goals by drawing on broad management, technical and business development skills. In particular, I enjoy working with the board and management to manage the risks associated with dramatic growth so that MIFSA remains a sustainable organisation, preserves its strong culture and retains the enthusiasm and commitment of its participants.

Michelle Williams

I am an experienced management generalist with 21 years in the Banking and Finance sector. My experience spans across numerous disciplines including operational management, quality and risk control, personnel and budget management at a
senior management level. I currently work for Shared Services SA a division of the Department of Treasury and Finance. My current role involves managing change programs through a shared service delivery business model.

I presently sit on the National Volunteer Advisory Group for the Starlight Children’s Foundation and have recently been appointed to the Women in Treasury Advisory Group. I am a long-term volunteer for the Starlight Children’s’ Foundation
and the Hutt St Centre.

I am passionate about influencing community attitudes through education and understanding. I wish to fully utilise my extensive experience, knowledge and skills in the private and public sector to support MIFSA’s vision and growth strategy.
I seek to make a tangible difference in the area of mental health and I bring significant expertise in finance, business development, relationship building, leadership and strategic management.