Ian Poalses is the Queensland State Manager at Ageing Australia, a national not-for-profit organisation supporting aged care providers across the country. In this role, Ian leads strategic initiatives focused on member engagement, sector advocacy, and strengthening service delivery to improve outcomes for older Australians.

With a strong background in aged care leadership, Ian brings extensive experience in policy, reform implementation, and stakeholder collaboration. Prior to joining Ageing Australia, he served as the Queensland State Manager at Leading Age Services Australia (LASA), where he played a key role in driving aged care innovation and supporting providers through significant reform transitions.

Ian is deeply committed to building a strong, sustainable aged care sector and advocates for solutions that are practical, inclusive, and future-focused. He actively engages with providers, government, and peak bodies to ensure the voices of aged care organisations are heard and reflected in policy and practice.

In addition to his leadership roles, Ian is a respected voice within the sector, regularly contributing to discussions on aged care reform, workforce development, and the role of not-for-profits in shaping community care.

Danijela Hlis is a passionate advocate for culturally inclusive aged care and dementia support. She brings over 40 years of experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Australia—first in Human Resource Management and Interpreting, and later in aged care.

Since migrating from Slovenia in 1979, Danijela has been committed to reducing discrimination and promoting respect for diversity in Australia. In 1996, she gave up her tourism business in Tasmania

to support her ageing parents, becoming a tireless advocate in the aged care and dementia sector—a journey reflected in her three published books.

Danijela’s parents migrated from Slovenia in their seventies and spoke no English. Supporting them revealed to her the critical lack of bicultural support and services; even respite care was unavailable. Her mother lived with dementia and her father with a disability, and Danijela—like many—did not see herself as a carer, but simply as a daughter fulfilling her cultural duty. These personal experiences, combined with her professional work as a bilingual Lifestyle and Leisure Coordinator in residential care, fuelled her commitment to respectful, person-centred care.

Fluent in Slovenian, Italian, French, and English, Danijela volunteers as a bicultural social support visitor in aged care and is a Dementia Australia Advocate. She is also a member of OPAN/NOPRG and various multicultural organisations, and a former member of the Council of Elders. She encourages people from diverse backgrounds to participate in aged care and dementia-related research, reminding us that, “If we don’t speak up, our needs remain unknown and unmet—we can’t afford to remain silent.”

Danijela is a respected voice in the sector and regularly speaks at conferences about inclusion and dignity in aged care. She lives in Queensland.

Kevin Walker is a proud Duhlu man of the Gurang Nation, with Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander heritage on his mother’s side. He currently serves as the Manager of Service Operations and Human Resources at Change Futures Ltd.

With over 26 years of experience in the Human Services sector, he has held a range of leadership roles and has been with Change Futures for three years. Since 2015, Change Futures has been a leading provider of aged care psychology services, delivering care to more than 220 residential aged care facilities across Brisbane North and South, the Gold Coast, and northern New South Wales.

He is deeply honoured to be part of this progressive and supportive organisation, contributing to its mission of improving mental health and well-being in communities.

Jacqui Parle is the Director of Consulting at BPA Analytics, a Brisbane-based firm specialising in organisational culture and employee engagement. With 30 years of experience in cultural diagnostics and workforce research, she has led major national projects across sectors including health, aged care, and government. Jacqui co-developed the Aged Care Workforce Census Database, which underpins the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council’s Workforce Narrative—Australia’s most comprehensive longitudinal dataset on aged care employees.

Her expertise lies in translating complex workforce insights into practical strategies that enhance organisational performance and employee experience. Jacqui holds a Master of Health Administration from UNSW and a Graduate Diploma in Quality from QUT. She is passionate about helping organisations build cultures that support both strategic outcomes and the wellbeing of their people.

Dr Pan-Kar (Claudia) Wong is a geriatrician affiliated with Gold Coast Health. She is involved in several key services, including the Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) and Residential aged care Acute Support Service (RASS). These programs aim to deliver comprehensive care for older adults, focusing on improving access to health services and providing patient-centred care in both hospital and community settings.

Dr Wong also is the medical director for IMPACCT (Integrated Multidisciplinary Post-Acute Complex Care Team), which includes MAPS, a rapid response post-acute early discharge support and hospital avoidance multidisciplinary service, Complex Care, a nurse and allied health nurse navigator team, and IMPRINT, a multidisciplinary risk identification and intervention team for older patients with level 3 and 4 home care packages. Her work spans both inpatient and community-based geriatric services, reflecting a strong commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in the Gold Coast region.

In addition to her clinical roles, Dr Wong has participated in forums focused on dementia care in residential aged care settings, highlighting her engagement with broader initiatives aimed at improving aged care services.

Dr Wong practises at Gold Coast University Hospital in Southport, Queensland.

Grant Gamble is an Complex Care and Frequent Presenter Coordinator with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and has dedicated over 40 years to frontline and strategic roles within the organisation. A highly experienced Critical Care Paramedic, Grant has developed a deep understanding of the challenges involved in supporting patients with complex and chronic health needs in the community.

Over the course of his career, Grant has held a range of leadership and clinical positions, including in the Local Assessment and Referral Service, Regional Operations, and Clinical Support. He now serves as the Complex Care and Frequent Presenter Coordinator, a role focused on the integrated, multidisciplinary management of patients who frequently use ambulance services. In this capacity, he works to ensure patients receive appropriate care while identifying opportunities to improve broader service delivery models. Grant remains passionate about advancing QAS’s mission of delivering “Excellence in Ambulance Service” and enhancing care across the health system.

Emily Luhrs works for the Federal Government’s Australian Digital Health Agency, supporting their Aged Care Program. With a background in health research, Emily is passionate about improving health outcomes for ageing Australians.

Katherine Platt is the Head of Clinical and Service Governance at Bolton Clarke and a registered nurse who has worked in the aged care sector for 18 years, including management roles within the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and clinical governance roles for not-for-profit providers. She has been with Bolton Clarke for 8 years. Brisbane-bred and based, Katherine has lived overseas and nursed in the UK. She has successfully led multiple accreditation processes through a variety of methodologies – from aged care to EQUIP6.

Katherine has developed skilled expertise in complex complaint management and investigation into severe incidents requiring root cause analyses and open disclosure processes. Kath is passionate about quality systems and healthy ageing; she also has a love for public health and, following completion of her Master of Public Health, worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and tobacco control prior to moving into aged care.

Michele McLaughlin is a Director in the Qld Local Network of the Department of Health and Aged Care, and whilst based in the Brisbane Office is a Gold Coast local.