Our leadership team
Leading the way
Our organisation is overseen by a council, which sets organisational direction and elects a board. Our board oversees governance and performance against our strategic plan. Our executive team then leads a team of almost 4000 employees to implement our strategy, reporting into our board.
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Our Board
Meet our Board, led by Chair Nigel King.
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Nigel King, Board Chair
Nigel joined the Board in July 2018, after previously serving as a Board member from February 2013 to February 2016. Nigel is the current chair. Nigel is a business and corporate affairs consultant and professional company director andwas formerly the CEO of a multi-national company. Nigel is inspired by the hardworking, caring, and empathetic team across our organisation and who minister daily to those in need. On every occasion he visits one of our sites he is encouraged by the hard work and dedication to our mission of our team who work tirelessly each day.
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Kevan Denny, Non-Executive Director
Kevan is the Chair of the Churches of Christ in Queensland Conference Council and Ex-Officio member of the Board. Kevan was elected Council Chair in 2020. He is a Director of the Council of Churches of Christ in Australia and serves on the Queensland Heads of Churches Committee. Kevan has been a pastor since 1999, with the past decade spent at Sunnybank Church of Christ on Brisbane’s southside. Kevan has a heart for the local church and believes that in an ever-changing world, the message of the cross, hope in Jesus and discipleship must be the focus.
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Dale White, Non-Executive Director
Dale joined the Board in 2019 and is a member of the Mission, People and Culture committee. Dale previously served as a member of the Churches of Christ in Queensland Council from 2011 to 2017, and is also a Board Member with Global Leadership Network Australia. Dale is Senior Pastor at Springwood Church of Christ, and previously held senior ministry roles in churches at Ballarat and Toowoomba. Dale draws inspiration from our mission to bring the light of Christ into communities. “Wherever there is darkness or difficulty, we need to shine a light that brings hope, peace, faith, and wellbeing.” Dale is married to Wendy and has three adult children.
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Jillian Carson, Non-Executive Director
Jill has been a board member since 2015 with a short break in 2018. Jill has more than 20 years of executive and board experience in Not For Profit, Profit and Government sectors, including 10 years as Chief Executive Officer and Board member of Churches of Christ Community Care (a ministry of Churches of Christ Victoria/Tasmania). Jill has a particular interest in governance ,our aged care and housing areas. She sees that these areas are where we have the most impact in bringing positive change and better lives for those we serve.
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Jill Gray, Non-Executive Director
Jill joined the Board in July 2016 and is the Chair of the Mission, People and Culture Committee. Jill has held a number of leadership roles in the public and private sectors, and has served in church leadership roles. Jill is passionate about equipping and empowering people and she has spent much of her career in achieving this. “The way we develop our people for both mission and service is critical to our success and reputation, and impacts how we attract and retain a motivated and committed workforce.”
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Steven Muller, Non-Executive Director
LLM (Commercial), LLB, GradDipLP
Steven was a previous member of the Churches of Christ Board between 2012 and 2018, and was Chair of the Risk and Governance Committee for five years. He joined the Board again in late 2022. In 2020, Steven founded Muller Property Group, acquiring and managing a boutique portfolio of commercial retail properties. For almost 16 years, Steven practiced as a lawyer in a mid-tier Brisbane firm, culminating in the position of partner. He brings a wealth of professional and legal expertise to his position on the Board. Steven and his family attend Springwood Church of Christ.
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Brendina Saul, Non-Executive Director
Brendina joined the Board in 2024 and brings with her 35 years’ experience in transformation programs and information management, and more than 20 years in management and senior leadership roles. Over the last decade she has pursued her passionate of making a difference to the most vulnerable people in our communities by delivering technology solutions to government, public and not for profit clients. She has a wide range of experience across all core business functions, namely in technology and is currently a partner at a global professional services firm. She is an active member of Wonga Park Christian Reformed Church since 2006.
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Paul Mergard, Non-Executive Director
Paul is currently CEO of Destiny Rescue based on the Sunshine Coast. With experience across a range of NFPs, including the Salvation Army, and other industries including professional services, real estate and e-commerce; Paul has strong skills in business transformation and societal change. He also has a steadfast commitment to drive healthy culture. At Destiny Rescue, Paul significantly increased income following years of declining growth. Coupling this commercial success with qualifications including a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from QUT, Executive Leadership Program with Arrow Leadership, a Graduate Diploma in International Development and is a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors, Paul is well placed to bring another level of experience to our skilled Board.
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Dr Paran Rayan-Samuel
Paran joined the Board in July 2024 and is a Medical Scientist currently working with Queensland Health where she advised the Health Ministry on COVID-19 outbreak management during the pandemic. Paran’s experience includes scientific research and analysis, and project management for collaborated ventures between Australia and India, and 15 years teaching at Griffith University. She brings to the Board significant experience in clinical governance and also serves on the Boards of Not-for-Profit charities. Paran is an active member of Sunnybank Churches of Christ and is aware of the constant contention between legislation, safety, quality and mission-oriented service, and seeks alternate avenues to reach out with the message of Hope in Christ.
Our Executive Group
Meet our leadership team, led by CEO Bill Lyon.
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Bill Lyon, CEO
Bill joined Churches of Christ as CEO in April 2024 with an established track record of leading business transformation and driving change through innovation.
With broad sector experience, including the NFP sector, Bill has demonstrated ability to engage teams and build customer centric cultures has delivered operational efficiencies, and improved organisational performance and culture.
Bill was drawn to Churches of Christ to bring his diverse experience and leadership to provide solutions to people in need with care, compassion, innovation and wisdom, ensuring a mission-based approach to everything he and the Organisation does.
In addition to a Bachelor of Business Degree and Associate Diploma in Electrical Engineering Bill is an experienced company Director.
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Donna Hart, Executive Director - Seniors Living
Donna was appointed Director Seniors Living in March 2022. She joined the organisation in 2017, and was drawn to our value of Unconditional Love, which resonated with her passion of advocating for and assisting the ageing members of our communities to live their best lives.
Donna engages an innovative, no barriers approach to enriching the lives of older Australian’s through flexible, responsive, consumer-focussed care delivery models that respond to an ever-changing care environment.
Donna is a Registered Nurse and has post-graduate qualifications in Health Services Management and Executive Management Development.
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Rue Masunungure, Executive Director - Governance
She leads a team that empowers the organisation to achieve its objectives, provide assurance, manage risk, drive improvement and maintain ethical standards.
Rue is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), member of the Governance Institute of Australia and is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
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Grant Hawgood, Executive Director - Children, Youth and Families
Grant most recently held senior management roles in the not-for-profit organisations, overseeing risk and compliance, quality and practice improvement for clinical services; and upskilling management in financial literacy, analysis and performance monitoring.
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Donna Savill, Executive Director - Church and Community Engagement
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Chris Brunings, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Chris is a certified practicing accountant with a Bachelor of Business; Accounting and a Diploma of Business Management. He is currently studying a Directorship Course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
The Council
- Kevan Denny
- Nigel King
- Laura Snook
- Steve Peach
- Pat Hegarty
- Sharman Irvine
- Paul Hicks
- Sharon Edwards