Our Board of Management

Muscular Dystrophy Queensland is fortunate to boast a dedicated Board of Management, who ensure the Association remains focused on achieving our vision. Each year, during our Annual General Meeting the board is elected by the Association’s members.

Currently our board consists of the following members, elected at the eighteenth annual general meeting on 13 October 2011:

Lorna Peters - President

Lorna Peters Lorna is a committed educator who has worked in primary, secondary and special schools and she is currently principal of a primary school in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. She is married to Ian and has a son Tristram who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. For many years, Lorna has been actively involved in the organisation of both local and state sporting opportunities for those with muscular dystrophy and others who are reliant on motor wheelchairs for everyday mobility. In her spare time, Lorna enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening and scrapbooking.

Lorna is enjoys her role on the Board as she is strongly committed to enhancing life’s opportunities for those with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions.

Graeme Newton - Vice President

Graeme Newton A broadcast engineering specialist working with Broadcast Australia, Graeme has served on the executive board of various community organisations in the Cairns area including FNQ Disabled Children’s Support Group as well as the Queensland Maritime Museum. Graeme’s relationship with MD Queensland developed through his youngest son, Michael who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He has served on MD Queensland’s Board of Management since 2005, previously as Secretary before being elected President in 2008. Graeme is also a Director on the Board of Management of our associated national body MD Foundation Australia.

Tom Dickson - Secretary

Tom Dickson - Secretary Tom has Merosin Myopathy and has been a member of the association for 21 years. Tom represented and captained the Queensland Gladiators (Queensland’s National Electric Wheelchair Sports team) for 17 years. He was voted the best and fairest player in Australia in 2001 and went on to represent Australia at World Championships. He lives independently with his wife and has worked full time in the Department of Justice for 16 years. Tom’s interested in assisting young people living with neuromuscular conditions to achieve total independence and assist them achieve their life goals.

Peter Kearney - Treasurer:

Peter Kearney - Treasurer Peter is the managing partner of Kearney & Associates, a Chartered Accountancy firm in Brisbane. He has spent his working life in the accounting profession. In his early career, Peter worked with Arthur Andersen & Co, in their Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Chicago and London offices. He has worked as a freelance accountant in Europe. After returning to Australia, Peter was Financial Controller of Morgan Equipment Mining, a large national supplier to the mining industry. He held this position for three years before returning to the accounting profession. He has since been a tax partner in two major accounting firms. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Taxation Institute of Australia. Peter joined the Board of MD Queensland in 2008 and has served as our Treasurer since that time.

Helen Posselt - Director

Helen Posselt - Director Regarded as a leader in her field, Helen is a physiotherapist and neuromuscular advisor who has dedicated her life work to furthering knowledge of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and advocating for those living with the condition. Her important work and educational materials have become sought after internationally. In 2004 the Queensland Government recognised her contribution to the community in the ‘Smart Women - Smart State Awards’ for her work with Queensland boys with DMD and in 2005 for her work on ‘Laura’s Choice’, an educational DVD aimed at informing women at risk of being DMD carriers of their reproductive choices and of the tests available to them regarding conception and pregnancy. Helen continues her work producing videos for the Centre for Disease Control in the United States, to aid early diagnosis of all inherited neuromuscular conditions. Known and respected by many in the Queensland muscular dystrophy community through her lengthy service as case worker and physiotherapist with MontroseAccess, Helen retired in February 2010 and took on the role of Director with MD Queensland in October 2010.

Ian Godbold - Director

Ian Godbold - Director Ian Godbold is a professional marketer with more than thirty years marketing experience in Australia and overseas. He is currently Principal Consultant of Godbold & Associates, a business marketing and promotional strategy firm based in Brisbane. An advocate of the concept ‘marketing is action’, Ian has a history of making things happen within practical constraints of budgets and available resources. Ian was approached by the MD Queensland board for his expertise in marketing. He became a Director in late 2009.

Clare Besly - Director

Clare Besley - Director Clare is General Manager Client Services with MontroseAccess a service provider for children and young adults with physical disabilities. She has over twenty-five years experience in the delivery of human services in government and the not for profit sectors including disability, health and chronic disease. She has tertiary qualifications in health and business management and considerable expertise in change management. Clare has a strong commitment to ensuring service providers remain responsive and relevant to the changing needs of their clients. She joined Muscular Dystrophy Queensland’s Board in 2010.