Our board

Alicia Fowles

Chair

Alicia is a CPA-qualified Deputy Chief Financial Officer at James Cook University. She is passionate about supporting regional communities, particularly in key areas such as education and health. Alicia joined the Foundation in 2021, having observed the positive impact charities have on individual health journeys.

Alicia has a Bachelor of Commerce and is currently completing the Master of Business Administration program.

Dr Matthew Bryant

Deputy Chair

Dr Matthew Bryant (FANZCA, FFPMANZCA, FRACGP, FACRRM, Grad Dip Rural GP, MBBS) is Director of Medical Services for Townsville’s Rural Hospitals and Indigenous Health. Prior to obtaining his Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia Fellowships, Matt worked as a rural GP in a number of locations across North Queensland and the Northern Territory. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at James Cook University, Deputy Chair of Brighter Lives (Townsville Hospital Foundation Board) and a member of the ANZCA Health Equity Committee. His research interests include health equity and pain management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Craig Burkhardt

Board Member

Craig has over 20 years of experience working with small to large family enterprises and is the Head of Relationship Management for Rabobank Australia, providing financial services to primary producers in Northern and Western Queensland. Having spent most of his life living in regional Queensland, he is aware of some of the challenges that face health services and is looking forward to expanding Brighter Lives' support into smaller centres.

Craig has a Bachelor of Business from Central Queensland University and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.

Linda Kensington

Board Member

Master’s Degree in Health Management (honours); Post Graduate Degree in Business; Medical Laboratory Scientist

Linda is the CEO of CRANAplus, the peak professional body for the remote and isolated health workforce in Australia. She has more than 20 years of experience providing fiscal, strategic, and operations leadership within the health system.

Linda has substantial leadership experience in the health sector across primary care, acute hospital, and community settings including government funding and procurement. She has a strong commitment to the community and is dedicated to improving primary and secondary healthcare in the Northern Queensland region. Linda is passionate about working collaboratively to improve health outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged populations.

Gary Lewis

Board Member

Gary is the Dealer Principal and a Director at Carmichael Ford and Mercedes Benz Townsville. He began working there as an apprentice in 1993. He joined the management team in 1998. Gary also has a heavy involvement in the Townsville and District Rugby Union having played his first game in 1990. He is the current President of Townsville Rugby holding this position since Nov 2019.

Gary joined the Brighter Lives board in 2021. He has a passion for all things local and is committed to improving our Townsville and surrounding regions and making sure they remain the best place in the world to live and play.

Sally McCutcheon

Board Member

Sally is an associate at wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers where she commenced employment in 2009.  Sally works in the workplace relations team and has significant experience in dealing with all aspects of employment law.

Sally is an active member of Townsville’s theatre community and is the President of TheatreiNQ.

Sally joined the Board of Brighter Lives in 2021.  One of Sally’s children spent a short amount of time in the Townsville University Hospital in 2020.  Sally and her family were grateful for the work of the foundation that assisted in making her son’s stay a positive experience.  Sally is delighted to be able to contribute to that legacy through her involvement with Brighter Lives.

Tony Mooney AM

Board Member

Tony Mooney was a Councillor and Deputy Mayor of the Townsville City Council and was elected Mayor in 1989. He held the position of Mayor of Townsville until 2008. In 2008, Tony was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2011, Tony was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for services to local government and the community.

Tony served on the boards of numerous government and community entities, including Ergon Energy, LG Super, Townsville Entertainment Centre Board of Management (Chair) until 2008, and as the inaugural Chair of the Willows Stadium Joint Board (currently 1300 Smiles Stadium). In 2011, Tony was appointed by the Federal Government to the Board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority where he served until 2016.

Tony has held the position of Townsville Hospital and Health Service Board Chair since May 2016.

David Patton

Board Member

David is a partner at wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers where he commenced employment in 1998. He was admitted as a solicitor in 2000 and is now the partner in charge of the firm’s property workgroup. David has extensive experience in property and commercial transactions.

David has been a member of the Foundation’s Board since 2015. His oldest daughter was born at Townsville University Hospital, and was there for almost 5 months after birth. During that time David and his family observed and benefited from the efforts of the Foundation and its volunteers. Becoming a member of the Board was an easy decision for David when the opportunity arose.

Joanne Stitt

Board Member

Jo is a registered psychologist who has proudly worked in the Townsville community for almost 30 years, including 26 years with the Townsville Hospital and Health Service, and over 14 years as a senior leader and health service manager across a broad range of mental health and allied health inpatient, outpatient, specialist, outreach, rural and community services.

Jo is the Director of the Allied Health Services Division, operationally managing and leading a vibrant workforce of over 330 talented allied health professionals that delivers acute inpatient, outpatient, community, and rural allied health services across 10 campuses of the Townsville Hospital and Health Service. Jo is passionate about improving the experience of patients, families, and the community. She has seen first-hand the positive impact that the Brighter Lives’ wonderful volunteers and funding opportunities have had on people who access clinical care.

BPsych(Hons) PGDipClinPsych GradCertClinEd MHLM MAPS AFCHSM CHM

Karyn Voevodin

Board Member

Karyn Voevodin is a mum, wife and has been a Townsville Real Estate agent for close to 20 years. She is a trusted advisor and representative to many people throughout the city. With strong skills in communication and negotiation, Karyn gives her best in every situation. She loves her work and people, which makes for a great agent who is engaged and caring. 

Karyn has also been involved with Townsville Basketball for over 33 years as a referee and for many years was a WNBL referee.  She has travelled all over Australia refereeing, including a stay at the AIS, and was awarded the Australian female referee of the year.

Another passion for Karyn is her involvement with the Naevus International Board. Karyn’s daughter, Hope, has a rare condition, Congenital Melanocytic Naevus, and her connection with the board allows her to be involved with the communications team worldwide. Hope was also the face of Brighter Lives’ first Giving Day, where Karyn and Team Hope raised close to $20,000.