Governance

Diarmid is a director at Leed Consulting, an Adelaide based consultancy specialising in organisational and leadership development. Diarmid founded Leed in 2010 after returning from the UK, where he facilitated senior leadership development and organisational development projects across Europe at the height of the global financial crisis.

Diarmid works with clients as a coach, facilitator, and cultural change consultant, assisting them to optimise business and people performance at both the organisational and individual levels.

He holds both a Psychology degree and an LLB Honours degree from the University of Adelaide and was a Senior Associate with Minter Ellison prior to his time in the UK. He was the chairperson of Time for Kids, prior to its merger with Relationships Australia SA, having served on that board for more than 8 years.

Experienced Associate Professor with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Program Evaluation, Public Speaking, Facilitation, and Report Writing. Strong professional with a PhD focused in Disability, spirituality and social policy from Flinders University.

Lorna holds a PhD from Flinders University (2005) having completed a B. Soc. Wk. from the University of Queensland in 1982. Prior to coming to Flinders, Lorna practiced in a range of settings, including disability advocacy and the management of a loss and grief service. Lorna speaks and writes regularly on ethical issues for workers in complex human services.

Lorna was Head, Flinders Social Work from 2014-mid 2019 and was President Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work from mid-2018-mid2019. During this period she was also Chair, Flinders Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee.

Lorna has been a significant and long term contributor to the development and analysis of disability policy including the development and evaluation of the Trial of The National Disability Insurance Scheme. In 2015, Lorna was appointed the Independent Reviewer of the SA Adoptions Act (1988). From July 2019 until the end of 2020 Lorna was seconded to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability as Senior Research Advisor. She is a member of the SA Premier’s Women’s Council; and the NHMRC Research and Advisory Committee on COVID-19.

Claire Ralfs PhD is CEO of Relationships Australia SA and has more than 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit community services and education sector.

She is an outcomes-driven leader, dedicated to human services that strengthen family safety, children's wellbeing, cultural respect, and effective use of community resources. Claire's expertise includes strategic planning, financial management, outcomes evaluation, organisational change, and strengthening cross-disciplinary collaboration for collective impact.

Claire is a member of the South Australian Child Protection Expert Group and a member of the South Australian Gambling Advisory Council.

Sarah Emms is a director at Chapman Capital Partners, an Adelaide based advisory business that specialises in providing strategic and transaction advice to businesses, governments and not-for-profit organisations. Sarah has over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance with large corporate entities and as an adviser.

Prior to CCP, Sarah was Head of Corporate Development at Codan Limited after spending six years in the Adelaide Corporate Finance practice of KPMG. She has experience in strategic planning, corporate development, project management, investor relations, business valuation, acquisitions and divestments.

Sarah is a Chartered Financial Analyst and is passionate about the transition to renewable energy and net zero emissions.

Franco is a lawyer by profession. He is a director of an Adelaide legal practice that he established over 30 years ago. He practises in the corporate and commercial group and has a particular interest in corporate governance. He advises a number of not-for-profit organisations. His work has included an assignment with the Asian Development Bank as a legal consultant in the Lao PDR advising on issues concerning governance in financial transactions.

Franco has also been extensively involved in legal education having for many years taught in the Practical Legal Training programs in South Australia. He also holds the status of Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at Flinders University where he teaches in corporate and commercial law subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Franco has been a legal member of the Nurses Board of South Australia. He has been involved with Relationships Australia SA since 2000 and is currently a member of the Investment Committee.

Ann-Marie is an expert in clinical leadership and the operational management of complex health and social services. She is the Director of a private consultancy firm that provides strategic planning, service delivery model review, and management support.

Previously she served as Executive Director, Community & Family Services, Department of Human Services where she oversaw Safer Families Services, Office for Women, and Youth Justice Services.

Ann-Marie is currently the Chair of the Working Women's Centre SA including Board of Management and Chair of newly established Working Women's Centre Australia, the national peak organisation.