Our Board & Executives
Mrs Marg Garrett
Board Chairperson
Margaret has been a trusted Board member since 2011, offering her community skills in leadership, governance, education, learning and development, human services and management.
Her roles in teaching, support services, behaviour management, counselling and protective training have made her the ideal Chairperson for the South West Refuge. Marg is constantly giving back to her community, through the Rotary Club of Bunbury, the Uniting Church, Lifeline and the Whyalla Aboriginal Reconciliation Network.
As well as her wealth of experience in human behaviour roles, Marg has completed a Grad Diploma in Education Counselling, a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary), and Cert IV Workplace Training and Assessment qualification.
Mrs Carina roney
board treasurer
Carina brings with her 30 years worth of knowledge in tax law, accounting and finance, and has been a member of CAANZ for over 20 years. She is a Chartered Accountant and carries a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Masters in Applied Finance.
Carina is currently employed by Virgin Airlines, focusing on financing and leasing of the vehicles. Her previous experience working in senior management at QANTAS, combined with her legal learnings have led to her mastering contract review, negotiation, research, financial risk assessment, government submissions and advisory functions.
Carina has been on the Board of St Brigid’s School, and has been the Cive Chair of Management Committee for Collie Early Education Inc, and also managed “Youthreach” in New South Wales. In her spare time, Carina volunteers for St Vicent de Paul, offering services in bookkeeping and home visit assistance.
dr amanda sabel
Board director
Amanda boasts 20 years of medical experience, bringing invaluable knowledge and skills to the women at the South West Refuge. Amanda’s qualifications include General Practitioner - Obstetrician, MBBS, FRACGP, DRANZCOG, completing Advanced Mental Health Training, and having been a GP Trainer and an Advanced Life Support Instructor.
Her studies and work have taken her from Australia to the UK, South Africa and Malaysia, where she worked as a medical officer for a marine conservation project. As well as that, Dr Sabel also volunteered four months of her time in a Romanian orphanage.
DR alexandra hugman
board director
Alexandra joined the Board of Directors in May 2020, after being a Board Member of the NSW Uniting Church Board of Education, the Bunbury Waratah Board, and the Secretary member of the Roseville Uniting Church.
Alexandra has also used her skills in ESL to educate teams for Relationships Australia and Chatswood Multicultural Centre.
We’re very fortunate that Alex made the move to Western Australia - she previously worked in the Eastern States, both as an Accessibility Coach at Macquarie University, and a Director of UniServe Science at Sydney University. She also worked as Assistant Principal at Armadale Christian College.
Alex’s qualifications include being a Doctor of Science Education, an MSc in Education Management, NVQ in Training Trainers, and a Cert IV in ESL Education.
Ms Kerry Smith
Board Secretary
Kerry joined the Board of the South West Refuge in June 2013, and has been of monumental value to the SWR community.
Kerry is a registered nurse, with experience as part of the Governance Committee of St John of God (Bunbury), as well as being on the Risk Committee.
Kerry was also Deputy Chairperson for the South West Refuge from 2015 - 2017.
Kerry’s 50+ years in nursing and management, combined with her risk and clinical governance skills have seen her contribute towards the bettering of lives in the South West for several years.
Ms nerida pickup
board director
Nerida has been offering her skills and experience to the South West Refuge for five years, being on both the Board, and the Finance Sub-Committee.
With over 31 years in finance and business banking, Nerida is the perfect fit for the refuge’s financial management, reporting systems and plans.
Nerida is also constantly giving value back to her community, be it through community fundraising, volunteering for Riding for the Disabled, or running Governance workshops.
mrs nicole frayne
board deputy chairperson
Nicole is a health professional with a Bachelor of Pharmacy, and also an accreditation with the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy. Nicole is also a credentialed Diabetes Educator, having worked as a Diabetes Management Specialist and a consultant pharmacist.
Her experience also includes being on the Australian Institute of Company Directors and completing the Not for Profit Governance Training. Nicole’s role as the Vice President of the Australian Diabetes Educator Association puts her in great stead for the Deputy Chairperson at the South West Refuge.
ms alison white
CEO
Alison has been helping others for years as a Registered nurse, and her humanity and empathy, combined with her skills in management, policy, grant writing, governance, leadership and finance planning, make for a very successful NFP CEO.
Ali’s experience heavily involves roles in management - for aged care, disability, mental health, community services operations, and housing services. Her Diploma in Governance and Graduate Diploma in Business Administration helps support her management role within South West Refuge.
Ali boasts a long history of being involved in Boards around WA, including being a Board Member of the Community Housing Coalition, the Ministerial Advisory Committee (Disability), Pheonix Support and Advocacy Centre INC, Ministerial Housing Advisory Roundtable, Retirement Villages Association Board, and Angelhands INC.