Our Board

Corporate Governance

Able Australia is governed by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time to monitor, guide and support the organisation on behalf of the members and people we support. The constitution of the organisation outlines our governance principles. Board members are elected in line with these constitutional requirements.

The Board elect the Chairperson and appoint the CEO to lead the operations of the organisation, as per Able Australia’s constitution. There are a number of sub-committees of the Board to govern the broad number of areas of responsibility.

Able Australia Board

The Able Australia Board consists of seven directors. The Board is responsible for our strategic direction, organisational performance and overseeing governance and risk. There are five subcommittees.

  1. Finance, Audit, Investment & Risk Committee
  2. People & Engagement Committee
  3. Client Advisory Committee
  4. Client Quality & Safeguarding Committee
  5. Integration Committee
Jenny Smith

Jenny Smith

Chair – Director since 2019

Bachelor in Computer Science, Information Systems and Accounting, MBA Melbourne Business School, CPA, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Jenny is a senior executive and consultant with a wealth of experience across the not-for-profit sector including Public Health, Aged Care and Disability Services as well as the for-profit sector with experience in Oil and Gas, Mining, Media and Retail. 

Jenny has expertise in Strategy, Financial Planning and Analysis, Major Infrastructure Projects and Mergers and Acquisitions.  

Jenny’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:

  • Finance, Audit, Investment & Risk Committee
  • Integration Committee
Meg Downie

Monica (Meg) Downie

Deputy Chairperson since November 2018. Director since 2016

Bachelor of Business
Fellow, Institute of Public Administration (Vic)

Meg is the Director of the Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare Industry Group at KPMG where she manages the industry strategy and operations and brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to Able Australia. Prior to KPMG, she had a career across both Victorian and the Commonwealth Governments where she specialised in organisational re-structuring and a range of human resource management functions.

Meg’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:

  • Chair – People & Engagement Committee
  • Chair – Client Advisory Committee

Dr Prue Morgan

Director since 2018

PhD, Master of Applied Science (research), Bachelor of Applied Science (physio), Graduate Diploma Neuroscience

Prue is a Professor of Physiotherapy at Monash University. She is an experienced physiotherapy clinician and academic with more than 30 years of experience in neurological clinical practice, physiotherapy education and research. Prue has assumed many state and national leadership roles in physiotherapy over her career and was awarded the title of Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist in 2008 by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in recognition of her expertise in clinical practice and scholarship.  She has particular skills in the management of issues affecting people aging with complex disability and brings her clinical experience to Able Australia.

Prue’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:

  • Chair – Client Quality & Safeguarding Committee

Ro Marks

Director since 2019

Bachelor of Applied Science Recreation, Master of Social Science Human Services, Graduate Diploma Strategic Foresight

Ro is an experienced senior policy adviser with a 30-year history of working across the social policy spectrum with state, regional and local governments, statutory authorities and not for profit organisations in Victoria and Western Australia.  She has a keen understanding of the aged and disability sectors and is committed to strengthening engagement with Able’s clients and employees to ensure quality in policy and service outcomes.

Ro’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:

  • Client Quality & Safeguarding Committee
  • Client Advisory Committee
  • Integration Committee
Harry Smith - Board Member - Able Australia

Harry Smith

Director since February 2024

Graduate Director program – AICD (GAICD), MBA 
Deakin, Bachelor of Business (Economics)

Harry brings over 25 years of experience as a senior leader in the areas of health and human services, developing and implementing policy and programs to support vulnerable people including homelessness; affordable housing; disability support; family and domestic violence; child, youth & family; and LGBTIQA+ programs.

Harry is driven by his passion for developing meaningful and sustainable change.  He increases awareness of the impact of social disadvantage across the broader community by establishing partnerships between the private sector, not-for-profits, government and academia.

Harry is the CEO of the Australasian Institute and lectures in strategy and leadership at Kaplan Business School. Harry is also a Non-Executive Director at Tenants Victoria. 

Harry’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:

  • Chair – Integration Committee
  • Client Quality & Safeguarding Committee
Rob Dowling - Board

Rob Dowling

Director since October 2025

Bachelor of Commerce
Masters in Business Administration
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

As a passionate advocate of diversity, Rob is an experienced Non-Executive Director. Rob has previously served as Board Chair of Linking Futures, a market leader collaborating with companies, individuals, and communities, to support strong and dynamic futures for Aboriginal Australians. Rob currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Disability Living Inc SA; and Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA. Rob also sits on the Community Advisory Committee of Children and Family Services, Ballarat. 

Rob also brings to the Able Australia Board extensive Operations Executive experience in the water sector: as COO of Suez Environnment’s North American operations, and as an EGM in Queensland and South Australian water utilities.  Combined with his senior production management experience at General Motors, Rob is well versed in the challenges of technically diverse and geographically dispersed workforces.

With a particular passion for generating organisational culture and employee engagement uplift, Rob has a strong focus on safety, innovation and delivering the best possible outcomes for both clients and organisations.

David Benbow Board Director

David Benbow

Director since February 2025

Graduate, Australian Institute Company Directors
Fellow, Institute of Public Accountants
Diploma Financial Planning, Deakin University
Diploma Superannuation Management, Macquarie University

David brings over 25 years’ of experience in a variety of senior executive roles across the private and public sectors. His diverse background includes Insurance, Superannuation Management, Funds Management, Trustee Services, Wealth Management, Marketing and Banking Services.

With a considerable experience as a Board Director in both the private sector and not for profit organisations. David was previously the Chairperson of Mosaic Disability Services where he guided Mosaic through its  merger with Able Australia.

David has a passion for working with organisations to build financial strength to fuel future growth and deliver an exceptional client experience.

David’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:

  • Integration Committee
  • FAIR Committee

Our Strategic Plan

Able Australia’s Strategic Plan maps out the organisation’s direction for the next three years. It articulates five strategic priorities to achieve the organisations strategic objectives:

  1. Better days, every day with and for our clients
  2. Grow for our future
  3. Make the complex simple

Downloads:

Download:   Able Australia Strategic Plan 2022-25