Who We Are
Board
MBBS(Hons) FRACGP FAICD GradDipAppFin
Dr. Annette Carruthers joined the Board of MS Australia in 2014, holding the role of Vice President from 2015, and President from late 2017. Annette works part-time as a general practitioner while fulfilling several roles on different boards. Her medical interests include clinical risk management and quality improvement in health services. Several of her patients have MS.
Annette is an experienced non-executive director in financial services, health, infrastructure and aged care. Current boards also include, Catercare Pty Ltd, and headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation). Other appointments include part-time member of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal and member of the Medical Experts Committee of Avant Ltd.
Previous directorships include nib Holdings, Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Advisory Board, National Heart Foundation (NSW Division), Hunter Medicare Local, Hunter Area Health Service and the NSW Board of the Medical Board of Australia.
Roger was elected Vice President in late 2017, having been appointed to the MS Australia board in 2001. He is also an active member of the MSQ Board including MSQ Chairman since 2015, MSQ Executive Committee member since 1996, Chair of the MSQ Building and Property Assets Committee, and MSQ Remuneration and Nomination Committee.
His professional experience includes; Solicitor in private practice (2006 – present), Director of Burrell Stockbroking Pty Lt and related entities, Director and owner of Access Funds Management Limited, consultant to GM Properties and Property Solutions, Classic Holidays & Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Australia, former partner of Clayton Utz (1987-00) and Phillips Fox (2000-06) [now known as DLA Piper] and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; holder of Real Estate Agent’s licence and owner through Precinct Residential Pty Ltd of property management business; FAICD; LLB; BCom; FFIN; Dip of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management; Cert (IV) in Property Services (Real Estate);
LLB (ANU), BEc (ANU)
Ron was appointed to the MSA board in 2018. He is also currently chair of the Australian Research Integrity Committee that considers disputes over research integrity providing advice to the CEO’s of the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council.
Ron recently retired as Australia’s first Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO), having held the position from 2010 to 2017. Prior to this, he held the role of Commonwealth Ombudsman for six months and before that, Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman for seven years. He also has experience in management and leadership having been Director of the National Film and Sound Archive for 10 years, as well as policy and legal roles in various Government departments.
Ron has served on a number of Boards and is currently on the Board of the National Folk Festival alongside his roles with Multiple Sclerosis Limited and Multiple Sclerosis Australia.
LLB (Hons), M Administration, FCPA, FCA (Aust & UK), FTIA, MAICD (Chairman)
Peter Day was appointed to the Board of MS Australia in 2008, having joined the MS Limited Board in 2007, later accepting the role of Chairman of MSL in 2013.
He has extensive professional financial and general management experience in a range of industries including mining, manufacturing, food and financial services, along with a number of public interest areas.
Peter’s last Executive role was as Chief Financial Officer for the global packaging group Amcor; he has held Senior Executive and Director positions with Bonlac Foods, Rio Tinto, CRA and Comalco.
He is a former Chairman of the Australian Accounting Standards Board, and was Deputy Chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Current Directorships include Ansell, Federation Centres, Orbital and SAI Global.
Peter is also a member of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board and was appointed a member of the Takeovers Panel in February 2010.
Chris Gillies is a person living with MS. In addition to serving on the Board of MS Australia since 2001, she serves on the Boards of MS Limited, holding the position of Chair from 2006-2013, Australian Home Care Services, and until recently MS Research Australia.
Chris brings to the Board extensive executive experience in mergers, acquisitions, organisational change and information technology. She is an independent Non-Executive Director serving on a number of boards and committees and advises boards on establishing IT Governance leadership. Prior to her board career, Chris was Group Executive, Group Services at St George Bank where her role included managing the integration with Advance, Chief Information Officer for the Bank of Melbourne and Victorian Director of the DMR Group.
Chris has over 20 years’ experience as a Director and more than 40 years’ experience in business management and IT.
Appointed to the MS Australia Board in 2014, Des also serves on the Board of MS Limited and previously as Board Chair of MS Tasmania.
With over twenty years' experience in health and human services, Des has held senior public sector positions in various States. He was the inaugural CEO for the Mental Health Council of Australia and has represented Australia at a number of international forums.
Des' qualifications include nursing, a Master of Science (Mental Health), and an adjunct position with the University of Tasmania. He has retired as the Deputy Secretary Children, and Executive Director, Policy, Information & Commissioning Groups, with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Professionally, one of Des' most prized achievements was the dedication of a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Award to the Mental Health Council of Australia for his services to consumer and carer participation in health service planning and individual care.
BA Acc (S.A.I.T.), Grad Dip App Fin & Inv, FCA, GAICD
Christine was appointed to the MS Australia Board in 2016. Following a period as Acting CEO of MS SA & NT in 2017, she returned to the MS Australia Board in late 2017 and resumed as President of MS SA & NT.
Christine has extensive global experience in strategy and operations across diverse industries in the public and private sectors as CEO and other executive roles including with Santos Ltd, F H Faulding & Co Ltd and Barossa Valley Estate Ltd.
She has been responsible for major change including revenue growth; restructure; M & A and efficiency improvements. Christine has raised equity and debt funding and has been awarded multi-million dollar government grants.
Christine now consults with organisations, advising on improvement and growth opportunities, financing, preparation of strategic and business plans and assistance with implementation.
She also co-wrote and now delivers the capstone subject in the Masters of Applied Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Adelaide, guiding entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas.
BCom, CA, Member of ICAA
Sophie Langshaw has worked to make a difference to people with MS since her brother’s diagnosis in 2003.
Sophie was appointed to the Board of MS Australia in 2013, while also serving on the MS Limited Board, as well as chairperson of the MSL Audit and Risk Committee. She is also a member of the Sydney MS Angels who raise awareness and important funds for MS Research Australia.
She is a Partner at PwC, with 17 years tenure in their Assurance practice. .Her experience includes financial accounting, risk management, due diligence and internal controls evaluations. Sophie’s expertise is in managing large complex multi-location audits and related projects for a range of clients.
As a qualified chartered accountant (ICAA), Sophie also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting & Business Law, UNSW). She is a member of the AICD and Institute of Internal Auditors.
BEc MBA F.Fin FAICD
Paul was appointed to the MS Australia Board in 2003 and Chair of the MS Research Australia Board in 2007. He is also a former Director and Chairman of MS Limited.
Paul is a corporate advisor and company director with over 35 years’ experience in investment banking, consulting and general management. He was a director of Citibank and Goldman Sachs, and a Partner in a leading global professional services firm. Most recently he spent the last decade as a director and senior adviser in corporate advisory roles with Goldman Sachs and a leading independent corporate advisory firm.
He is also a Director of not-for-profit boards involved in overseas development, education, public policy, the arts and corporate governance.
Paul has a close family member with MS. His personal experience of MS’ realities is what drives his passion and determination to pursue successful research and advocacy outcomes for Australians with MS.
BCom, CA, Member of ICAA
George was appointed to the MS Australia board in 2017. He joined the MSWA Board in 2010 as an appointed member. After Chairing the Audit and Risk Committee and Fundraising Committee, George became President of MSWA in 2013. George’s interest in MS is due to seeing his Mum and close friends live with the disease.
George’s background is of a financial nature. Graduating with a commerce degree in 1996, he has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1999, a registered company auditor and a specialist Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) auditor.
He is a director of Flinders Financial a financial services based business providing financial advice and planning for privately owned businesses and their owners.