Our Board

Michael Cahill, Chair

Mike joined the Board of Management in November 2008 and brings a wide diversity of experience in both Mental Health and Aged Care. He previously held positions with South Metropolitan Area Health Services; Mental Health Services and Alzheimer’s Australia WA Ltd.

He has presented at many National and International conferences on Global Ageing, Dementia and Mental Health. Mike is a Churchill Fellow and has degrees in Psychology and Social Science. He believes that his diverse experience; from mining to marketing and rural to resources, will be of benefit to the board. Mike is a strong advocate for the "Recovery First" model and hopes to continue to serve as a Board member.

Eric Baines, Vice Chair

Eric joined the Richmond Fellowship Board of Management with effect from August 2009. Now retired, Eric has been employed over many years in the field of Human Resource management at a senior management and executive level within a number of private and government organisations both at the state and national level.

His roles have also included the management of change, communication and consultative aspects and has had significant experience in contributing to the strategic direction of organisations across all levels of business and operations. Throughout his career, Eric has provided high level support and advice and is confident of being able to apply these skills to the Richmond Fellowship Board.

Peter Carden

Peter Carden was elected to the Board of Management in April 2004. He has worked as an accountant for many years, and owns his own business in Merredin.

He has been involved in many causes over the years, including fundraising as well as   previous board membership of the Merredin hospital. Peter also has extensive experience in property development.

 Shirley Lancaster

 Shirley Lancaster joined the Board of Management in March 2006. She is an accountant and registered Tax Agent, having worked in the public sector for 22 years, and more recently operating her own business.

Prior to studying as a mature age student, Shirley worked in a variety of roles within the industries of retail, wholesale and manufacturing. In her capacity as an accountant she is also a member of Richmond Fellowship WA’s Finance Committee.

Shirley is actively involved in 'Business and Professional Women' and is a charter member of BPW Belmont. She is the inaugural Treasurer and more recently took on the role of State Treasurer.

Gehann Perera

Gehann Perera has been a member of the board of Richmond Fellowship of WA since 2010 and chairs the Corporate Governance Sub-committee.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws and practices as a lawyer specialising in banking and finance law. He is also on the board of Street Law Centre of WA Incorporated and the Minter Ellison Youth Arts Foundation Inc.

 Anne Deck

Anne Deck joined the Board in January 2011. She has a Bachelor of Social Work, which she completed in 1996 and for the last 10 years has been working with Alzheimer’s Australia WA. Her role incorporates managing the Counselling Service, Early Intervention program, Carer Support groups, Younger Onset dementia program and Special needs groups (CaLD and ATSI). In this role Anne has 11 staff, which she oversees and directs in these Support Services.

Anne also brings to the Board her experience in communication and conference presentations. She has great ability to train, motivate staff and facilitate workshops, having been one of the guest speakers at several national and international Conferences.

Dr Mathew Carter

Mathew joined the Board of Management in October 2010 and brings over a decade of lived experience of significant mental illness. He has direct experience of RFWA services as a client/consumer.

Mathew holds degrees in medicine and public health and spent over 10 years as a medical practitioner in the hospital system and in primary care, including experience as a psychiatry registrar at several WA hospitals. Since 2008 Mathew has been a voluntary consultant to the Improved Services Initiative Comorbidity Project, and he is currently undertaking research at UWA exploring ways of improving recovery in comorbidity.

Monica Holmes DSJ JP Grad.Cert.Mgt AFSAE

Monica Holmes is currently the Chair of the Small Business Centre, South East Metro.She is a Dame of the Sovereign Orthodox Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem;a Patron of the Canning Districts Historical Society and a founder of the WA Achievement Association Inc.

Since her arrival in Western Australia in January 1983 Monica has held numerous community positions within the South East Metropolitan Region.   These included her appointments as a Justice of the Peace and the inaugural Area Coordinator for Neighbourhood Watch in Willetton.  She was subsequently elected as a City of Canning River Ward Councillor and went on to become the inaugural Member of the State Seat of Southern River.    

Monica also undertook external MBA studies, via the University of New England, and attained a Graduate Certificate in Management.  She is an Acting Fellow of the Australian Society of Association Executives and has a wealth of knowledge in the Association Management sector.

During her Parliamentary career Monica was the first Liberal female to be appointed as an Acting Speaker and a Member of the Public Accounts and Expenditure Review Committee.  She also had a lot of dealings in the health and disability sectors and was active in supporting the work of Canteen and Nulsen Haven.