Our People

Robyn Batten AM

Director and Board Chair

Title: Director and Board Chair

Qualifications: Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, Master of Business Administration and Graduate and Fellow of the AICD

Experience and expertise: Robyn joined the Windana Board in 2024 to work with fellow Board Directors overseeing Windana’s continued success.

In addition to her role on Windana’s Board, Robyn is the Deputy Board Chair of the Eastern Melbourne PHN, the Executive Chair of Leap in! and the Vice-Chair of MIM China Pty Ltd.

Initially training as a nurse, Robyn has held CEO and executive director positions in health, local government, community and aged care in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Robyn served as the Chair of Western Health and as a non-executive director of Uniting Victoria and Tasmania.

Anthony Boffa

Director

Title: Director and Public Officer

Qualifications: Master of Business Management, Member of CPA Australia

Anthony is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Dementia Australia having joined the organisation in 2019. Anthony’s roles before this cover over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector – having worked for organisations providing services in the disability, home nursing, home aged care support and residential aged care sectors. Prior to his involvement in the not-for-profit space Anthony had a number of roles in the commercial sector covering transport, service industries and travel.

Anthony is also a Board member of Palliative Care South-East.

Anthony joined the Windana Board in August 2022.

Special responsibilities: Chair Finance Risk and Audit Subcommittee

Deborah Dobbie

Director

Title: Director

Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Diploma of Education, Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology

Experience and expertise: As a dedicated organisational development professional, Deborah brings more than 25 years of expertise in steering and implementing transformative people initiatives across diverse organisations in the commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors.

Deborah works with organisations to create vibrant work cultures that unlocks and amplifies individual potential, inspiring them to be their best both personally and professionally. She has a proven ability to collaborate with organisations to bridge the gap between personal development and tangible business outcomes by creating development strategies that align with business objectives. Deborah has specialist skills in creating career pathways and fostering a culture of formal and informal knowledge exchange to engage and develop aspiring and experienced leaders.

Deborah’s pro bono work includes 14 years on the board of TaskForce, a not-for-profit community agency supporting clients with substance misuse.

Special responsibilities: Member Remuneration & Nominations Subcommittee

Shaymaa Elkadi

Director

Title: Director

Qualifications: PhD (Neuropsychology), Master of Executive Public Administration, Juris Doctor (in progress), Member of the AICD

Dr Shaymaa Elkadi is a values-driven governance and strategy leader with over 15 years’ executive and board experience across the justice, mental health, and community services sectors. She joined the Windana Board in 2025 to contribute her expertise in system reform, risk oversight, and ethical governance.

Shaymaa is currently a Non-Executive Director at Neami National, Women’s Health Victoria, and VACRO, where she also chairs the Strategy and Planning Committee. She serves on the Appeals Committee of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and previously held executive roles with Corrections Victoria, Forensicare, and across public and not-for-profit sectors.

Shaymaa is the founder of Ruqi Consulting, a strategy and leadership consultancy specialising in reflective governance, cultural humility, and trauma-informed leadership. Her work is grounded in systems thinking, policy expertise, and a deep commitment to justice, equity, and human rights.

Shaymaa joined the Windana Board in August 2025.

Derek Madden

Director

Title: Director

Qualifications: Bachelor of Business; Master of Business Administration; Master of Organisational Dynamics; Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Derek Madden joined the Windana Board in 2025 and brings experience in leadership, governance, and financial management from both the public and private sectors.

He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Moorabool Shire Council and has previously held senior roles in local government and finance. Derek also served for eight years as Board Member and Treasurer of Outlook Australia, a social enterprise supporting people with disability.

Passionate about community wellbeing, Derek is committed to supporting Windana’s mission and ensuring strong governance to help the organisation thrive.

Derek joined the Windana Board in August 2025.

Jen Riley

Director

Title: Director

Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Development Studies, Diploma in Governance

Experience and expertise: Jen has over 20 years social sector experience having worked for government agencies and a range of large not-for-profits in Australia and overseas. Jen has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, youth transitions, early years education, mental health, family violence, homelessness and drug and alcohol. For the past 10 years Jen’s focus has been on the measurement and evaluation of social impact and as consultant has provided support to range of organisations including (in the past) Windana. Currently, the Chief Impact Officer at Our Community, Jen provides evaluation and outcome support to a government and non-government grantmakers. Jen has a lived experience of mental illness, and lives in Bayside with her wife and two young children.

Jen joined the Windana Board in May 2021.

Special responsibilities: Member of Remuneration & Nominations Subcommittee

Serge Sardo

Director

Title: Director

Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Grad Dip Counselling, Masters of Business Administration, Psychologist MAPS, MAICD.

Serge has accumulated over 18 years’ experience as a CEO and non-executive director for not-for-profit and government organisations. He currently Chairs Tenants Victoria and is a non-Executive Director of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Other Board roles have included Director and Chair of the Finance and Governance Committee for the Family and Relationships Services Association, and non-Executive Director and Chair of the Governance and Remuneration Committee for Scope Disability Services

Until recently, Serge was the CEO of Better Place Australia, a for-purpose organisation providing family support services to disadvantaged communities across Victoria. Other CEO roles included CEO of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and the Australian Human Resources Institute..

With expertise in preventative programs, social policy and advocacy, he has delivered and managed a wide variety of community-based support programs within the family services mental health and disability sectors.

Serge joined the Windana Board in August 2025.

Marita Scott

Director

Title: Director

Qualifications: Registered Nurse Division 1, Graduate Diploma Health Management

Experience and expertise: Marita has extensive executive experience working in health and human services including for purpose, public and private. Operational experience across diverse sectors including primary health, aged care, child, youth and family, mental health, drug and alcohol, disability and asylum seeker/refugee sectors provides a clear understanding of the social model of health. Marita is passionate about good governance which provides the foundations for a thriving culture and the provision of quality human services. A values driven professional who is committed to social justice in which human rights and equality are demonstrated in the everyday lives of people. Marita is committed to help building a society in which individuals are empowered to achieve their dreams and goals within an inclusive community. Her pro bono work includes membership of Sisters of Mercy Safeguarding Advisory Committee.

Marita joined with Windana Board in November 2021.

Special responsibilities: Chair Quality & Safety Subcommittee

Cathy Whelan

Director

Title: Director

Qualifications: Assoc. Dip. Welfare Studies, Grad. Dip. Business, Master of Applied Science (Organisation Dynamics)

Cathy works as an organisational consultant with governments, NGOs and the community sector.  She is on the governing Council of Victoria University and is a member of the Mitchell Institute Advisory Board. She has been a member and chair of a range of public entity and community sector boards. Cathy has held executive leadership roles in local government and spent the first 10 years of her career in community development roles on inner Melbourne public housing estates.

Cathy joined the Windana Board in August 2025.

Kent Burgess

Chief Executive Officer

Kent Burgess joined Windana as CEO in May 2025. He brings over 15 years of leadership experience in community health, alcohol and drug services, mental health, HIV and LGBTIQ+ health.

Most recently, Kent was CEO of Your Community Health and previously held executive roles at Better Health Network and Thorne Harbour Health. Kent also serves on the Board of the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA).

Kent is committed to community partnership, equity and quality in healthcare. He holds a Master of Public Health, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has a clinical background in occupational therapy and mental health, including dual diagnosis. In 2023, Kent was named a Harvard Club of Victoria Not-for-Profit Fellow.

Kent’s connection to Windana began early in his career supporting clients in St Kilda. He values the powerful work of Windana’s staff and volunteers and looks forward to leading the organisation in collaboration with the team and community.

Joanne Caruso

Chief People Officer

Joanne Caruso CPHR has led strategic people functions in NFP Sector for over 10 years. Prior to commencing at Windana in April 2021, Joanne was Head of HR at Beyond Blue and Head of People & Culture at Good Shepherd Microfinance, where she worked closely with Executives and Board directors.

She has extensive and varied experience in community organisations, including early-career roles in the fields of Social Work and Quality. As well as a Bachelor of Social Work, Joanne has a post graduate qualification in HR management including registration as a Certified Practitioner in HR.

Joanne has been a State Councillor with Australian HR Institute as well as a convenor of their NFP HR Network.

Adam Miller

Chief Communications Officer

Adam joined Windana in August 2020, becoming a member of the Executive team in 2022. During this time Adam has strengthened Windana’s strategic, internal, and external communications capacity, refreshed the Windana brand, overseen all communications relating to the Windana/TaskForce merger, and is currently building Windana’s strategic project management and change capability.

Adam’s career philosophy is simple – do work that gives more than it takes. Over his almost 20-year career, Adam has become not only an excellent communicator, knowledge translator and storyteller, but a thoughtful, impactful and influential leader who delivers positive results for organisations and the people they support.

As a proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community, Adam is a strong advocate for ensuring diversity is celebrated in all its forms and that everyone feels safe to be themselves.

Born and raised in the Latrobe Valley, Adam has worked in various Communications and Event Management roles in the health and environmental sectors for not-for-profit and government organisations including VicHealth, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder and Latrobe Community Health Service. He holds a Bachelor of Arts/Communications and is a keen home baker.

Di Nally

Chief Impact Officer

Di joined Windana in late 2023 following the merger with TaskForce.

Di is an experienced senior manager with over 30 years of extensive knowledge across various sectors – including mental health, housing and homelessness.

Alongside her eduction and training, which includes a Bachelor of Social Work, Di’s work at our merged organisation is enriched by her extensive experience in cross-sectorial partnership establishment and innovative service model design.

Mel Thomson

Acting Chief Operating Officer

With over 15 years of experience in a range of client-facing and strategic roles, Mel is a recognised expert in Victoria’s alcohol and other drug sector.

Mel currently leads multidisciplinary teams at Windana, delivering programs and services across alcohol and other drugs, family violence, and broader social disadvantage – supporting both adult and youth clients.

She is deeply committed to ensuring that clients receive the most effective and relevant services to support healthy lives, strong relationships, and connected communities.

Her leadership is grounded in trust and clear communication. She prioritises building resilience, focus, and engagement within her teams – empowering each team member to deliver services that create meaningful, life-changing outcomes.

Through strong partnerships and tireless advocacy, Mel works to drive systemic change that supports and uplifts the most marginalised members of our community.

Substantive role: Head of Adult Community Services