Darlene Cox
Executive Director
Darlene has been involved in the consumer movement since the late 1990s. She is an eminent advocate for health consumers with an excellent knowledge of the health system, both locally and nationally. Darlene has a strong, practical understanding of community engagement principles. She has been the Executive Director of Health Care Consumers’ Association Incorporated since 2008. She is a board member of the Capital Health Network and Meridian. She has a long-standing interest in improving the quality and safety of heath care and has been involved with the Australian Medical Council, Australian Commission for the Safety and Quality of Health Care, and the NPS.
Kate Gorman
Deputy Director
Manager: Consumer and Community Participation
Kate started working at HCCA in February 2015 as a Project Officer on the Consumer Representatives Program. Her interest in health, and the way we experience health care, has developed over many years as she has supported family members needing treatment and care. Kate has particular interests in consumer and carer advocacy, health infrastructure and human-centred building and system design, and health literacy. She enjoys giving training and presentations to consumers and health staff about topics related to consumer advocacy.
C Moore
Health Literacy Officer
C (they/them) joined HCCA in November 2021. C has a background in systemic advocacy and community engagement. They have worked at the ANU and CIT Student Associations, Women with Disabilities ACT and Carers ACT. They are passionate about equitable access to health care, particularly for LGBTQIA+ and disabled people like themself.
Ivapene Seiuli
Multicultural Liaison Officer
Ivapene is a proud Canberran of Samoan heritage, wife and mother of 3. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of International Social Development. She brings over 20 years of community development experience including working and living across cultures in the Pacific and Africa. She is passionate about inclusion and is excited to advocate for the health care needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the ACT.
Darcy Whitmore
Health Infrastructure Project Officer
Darcy moved to Canberra four years ago to study Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development at the ANU. She has since worked as a Research Analyst and Community Development Officer at a not-for-profit. She has a strong interest in community empowerment, promoting social inclusion, and human rights advocacy, and is excited to be working at HCCA as part of the Consumer Participation Team. Outside of work Darcy likes cooking, spending time with her two dogs, and hiking around Canberra.
Michelle Cullen
Chronic Conditions Network Coordinator
Michelle joined HCCA in March 2023 as the Chronic Conditions Network Coordinator. Michelle has worked as a Community Development Coordinator in social housing over the past five years and has a background community engagement in remote Indigenous communities through her work for the Northern Land Council. Michelle enjoys connecting people and building relationships between stakeholders that lead to productive and empowering action. Michelle looks forward to using these skills in the health care sector.
Nadia Owuor
Consumer Representatives Program Coordinator
Nadia joined HCCA in February 2022. Nadia is from Kenya/Uganda and moved to Australia in 2018 for study. She holds a Bachelor in International Development and a Master in Public Policy. Nadia has always been passionate about promoting the health and well-being of people from various marginalized communities. Her prior work experiences have been centered on international development, namely food security and menstrual health management programs. Nadia is excited to be working with HCCA and hopes to become more involved in the health literacy space in order to influence and build on policy that benefits underrepresented populations.
Kathryn Briant
Manager: Policy and Advocacy
Kathryn has wide-ranging experience in the health sector including pharmaceutical policy and medication safety, having previously worked with the Federal Government and non-profit sector. Her particular interests include health care safety and quality, digital health, consumer advocacy and Quality Use of Medicines. Kathryn is a member of the International Society to Improve the Use of Medicines (ISIUM).
Kathryn has been working with HCCA since 2012 and has been a consumer representative on a range of committees at ACT and National levels around medication safety, incident management and digital health. She enjoys engaging with members and other organisations on a wide range of policy issues as well as writing policy submissions that highlight consumer experiences for improving health outcomes for everyone!
Jessica Lamb
Senior Project Officer
Jessica joined HCCA in October 2019, after over a decade in the Australian Public Service. In previous roles she delivered high-profile infrastructure and land management projects. Jessica has post-graduate qualifications in public health and a background in consumer advocacy in the maternity space in both the ACT and Victoria. She is excited to be pursuing her passion for public health, working with HCCA on health literacy projects, consumer participation initiatives and now as a member of HCCA’s Policy Team. She has a particular interest in health economics and women, youth and children’s health service design, and continues to act as a consumer representative on a range of committees.
Shivana Chandra
Research Officer
Shivana joined HCCA in March 2022 as part of the Integrated Health Project. She has worked in research and policy at not-for-profit organisations and has a keen interest in including consumer input and participation in research and developing programs designed to improve services for consumers. She is excited to be working with HCCA in bringing the consumer voice into policy and practice to improve healthcare for people in the ACT.
Geraldine Manser
Governance and Finance Officer
Geraldine joined HCCA in January 2020 as part of the Community Heath Literacy Project team. She has a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and has experience delivering a range of community based health promotion projects. She has a strong belief in social justice and in reducing the health inequities faced by marginalised and stigmatised groups. She has spent over 15 years working in the areas of community development, community consultation and engagement, service planning, policy, and managing a range of State and Commonwealth government funded programs.