
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 eight directors. The Board is responsible for our strategic direction, organisational performance and overseeing governance and risk. There are four subcommittees.
- Finance, Audit, Investment & Risk Committee
- People & Engagement Committee
- Client Advisory Committee
- Client Quality & Safeguarding Committee

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 with diverse experience across the not-for-profit and for profit sectors. She has been in senior roles at Mercy Health for twelve years and currently holds the position of Executive Director – Strategy, Planning and Major Projects.
Jenny’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:
- Finance, Audit, Investment & Risk Committee

Meg Downie
Deputy Chair – Director since 2016
Bachelor of Business
Meg is the Director of the Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare Industry Group at KPMG where she has been managing the strategic growth and market positioning of its government business for a number of years and brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to Able Australia. Prior to KPMG, she spent 16 years with the Commonwealth and Victorian Public Services 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

John Rowan
Treasurer – Director since 2019
Bachelor of Business (Accounting), CPA, Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia
John has held a variety of leadership roles in diverse areas including Human Resources Management, Superannuation, Company Secretariat, Fleet Management, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain and Occupational Health and Safety. John has extensive skills in business development and continuous improvement (kaizen) and has previously served as a longstanding Board Director for a not-for-profit disability organisation.
John’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:
- Chair – Finance, Audit, Investment & Risk Committee
- People & Engagement 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

Dr Prue Morgan
Director since 2018
PhD, Master of Applied Science (research), Bachelor of Applied Science (physio), Graduate Diploma Neuroscience
Prue is the current Head 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:
- Client Quality & Safeguarding Committee

John McKenna
Director since 2021
John has over 60 years of living experience having a physical disability. He has been an Empowerment Advocate for over 30 years. As an Empowerment Advocate John has worked with a range of people and their families. He has a thirst to learn from others including gender diversity and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people and their experiences.
With extensive experience living with a physical disability, John was an Advisor during the establishment of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). He has a special interest in the significance of developing communication that is accessible for all regardless of their ability and was the Chair of the Internet Industry Association web Accessibility task force and highlighted the issue of inclusive website accessibility.
Today, John operates his own consulting business ‘Better Access Consulting’ and is an Honorary Justice of the Peace.
John’s Able Australia Board Committee membership includes:
- Client Advisory Committee
- Client Quality & Safeguarding 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:
- Quality and Innovation
- Establish a Centre of Excellence for Deafblind
- Partnership and Engagement
- Sustainability through Growth
- Transformation
Downloads:
Download: Able Australia Strategic Plan 2022-25