The COTA Victoria Board’s dedicated members have diverse backgrounds and skills and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our work.
Robert Caulfield
PresidentRobert has over forty years of experience as an architect, and has designed numerous aged care facilities and retirement villages. He has been founder and managing director of several large architectural companies and a former National President of the Australian Institute of Architects.
He is Vice President of Kidsafe Vic Inc; a director of Donwood Community Aged Care Services; Commodore of Albert Sailing Club and a Director of the Bulldogs Forever Foundation. Robert has also served on aged care boards. Robert holds a Fellowship Diploma of Architecture and is a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
He received a Federal Government Centenary Award for services to architecture (2001) and a Victorian Premiers award for Volunteers (2016) for services to Child Safety.
Tanya O’Connor
Deputy PresidentTanya is a seasoned board leader and governance professional with a portfolio of non-executive director and chair roles spanning aged care, disability services, and community health. She currently serves as Chairperson of The Haven Day Centre, a community organisation providing respite and day programs for people living with memory loss and dementia, and as a Non-Executive Director of The Bridge Inc, which delivers disability and employment services across Victoria.
Tanya brings to the boardroom deep subject matter expertise in brain health, ageing, and cognitive science, underpinned by more than 20 years’ executive experience in healthcare and neuroscience technology. Her board work is informed by a strong commercial background – including P&L leadership, global stakeholder management, and strategic partnerships – as well as hands-on experience in risk oversight, CEO recruitment, organisational transformation, and new revenue development.
Outside her board roles, Tanya is CEO of Public Works Collaborative, a mission-driven research and design organisation focused on humanising healthcare and reshaping senior living. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and brings to her role as Deputy President a genuine commitment to the rights, independence, and wellbeing of older Australians.
Kathryn Brown
TreasurerKathryn is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has extensive knowledge of accounting, funds management and banking sectors. Her work experience includes auditing, regulatory compliance and risk management roles. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In addition to her role at COTA Victoria, Kathryn is a Director of Girl Guides Victoria and Honorary Treasurer and Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee. She also sits on the finance committees for both St Kilda Mums Inc. and Palliative Care Victoria and is on the Disciplinary Tribunal for Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.
Mary Downie
DirectorMary has a long and successful carrier in education, working with students from pre-school to tertiary level in the area of performing arts (music and drama). As a business owner, she has experience in managing and operating child care centres and retail stores. She has been a member of different committees, including owners’ corporations.
Mary has been providing an intergenerational interactive music program in aged care facilities and kindergartens and she also works as a musician in other aged care facilities.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Teaching Primary, Bachelor of Education, Masters of Educational Studies and Doctor of Education. Mary is an advocate for overcoming prejudice and discrimination against older people.
Hayley Hunter
DirectorHayley is a lawyer of over 11 years’ experience. Her practice comprises wills, estates, guardianship and administration, with particular focus on matters involving elder abuse. She is appointed as an Administrator for persons under a disability by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – Guardianship List.
Hayley is the vice-chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Elder Law Executive Committee. She represents the Law Institute at the Elder Abuse and Safeguarding Roundtable, run by the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and is a member of the Seniors Rights Victoria Advisory Committee.
Mark Stokes PhD
DirectorMark Stokes is an Associate Professor in Psychology and a registered psychologist.
Mark was formerly the director of the Victorian Injury Prevention Unit at Monash University’s Accident Research Centre. Mark obtained a PhD from La Trobe University in 1996. Mark has had appointments at La Trobe, Monash, and Vanderbilt Universities.
In 2002 Mark was appointed to Deakin University, establishing the Healthy Autistic Life Lab (HALL), and has been involved in Autism research since. HALL is a globally leading lab and collaborates with numerous researchers, covering questions addressing many areas of autism across the lifespan including: female profile; intersectionality; mental health; suicide; LGBTIQ+ issues; sexuality; relationship development; neurobiology; and transition to adulthood.
In 2014 Mark joined the global burden of disease and has researched issues related to mental health across the life span. Mark’s research has been cited more than 50,000 times, is ranked globally among the top 100 autism researchers, has published over 340 research papers and presentations, and has supervised over 34 PhD students.
Mark has been active in Kidsafe since 1998, and has served as Treasurer, Vice-President, and President. Mark was a founder of and former president of the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR). Mark holds life memberships of both Kidsafe and ASfAR.
Gerard Mansour PSM
DirectorGerard Mansour has forty years of experience as an advocate and public servant, working across government, not-for-profits and peak bodies. He possesses numerous governance qualifications and is a Fellow of Stanford University’s Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders.
Gerard served as the Commissioner for Senior Victorians between 2013 and 2023, providing independent advice to the Victorian Government and creating submissions for enquiries and Royal Commissions. He was also appointed as Ambassador for Prevention of Elder Abuse (2016-2023) to promote the importance of addressing the drivers of elder abuse.
As Commissioner, he launched the “Ageing Well in a Changing World” report in 2020, and acted as the Chair for the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Seniors Victorians (2015-2016), the Deputy Chair of the Elder Abuse and Safeguarding Advisory Group (2019-2023), and as an Advisor to the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (2020-2022).
Prior to his appointment as Commissioner for Senior Victorians, Gerard worked as the CEO for peak bodies within the Victorian aged care and community care industries.
Bianca Brijnath
DirectorBianca Brijnath is a Professor of Health Communication in Society at La Trobe University. Her background is in medical anthropology and public health, and her research focuses on cultural diversity, dementia, and mental health.
Within these areas, Bianca has conducted numerous studies on dementia prevention, awareness, diagnosis, and care, particularly within culturally diverse communities in Australia and beyond. She has authored over 150 publications and created more than 70 multilingual films, comics, and animations. Additionally, she has generated over $26 million in research income.
In recognition of her work, Bianca was inducted into the State Government of Victoria’s Multicultural Honour Roll in 2022.
Sue Roff
DirectorSue Roff is an accomplished arts leader with more than two decades of experience across arts management, cultural development, philanthropy and community engagement. She served as Executive Director of Arts Project Australia from 2009 – 2023, where she has significantly raised the organisation’s national and international profile, strengthened relationships with galleries, donors and partners, and expanded the organisation’s acclaimed studio programs. Her advocacy for artists with intellectual disabilities contributed to sector-wide recognition, including multiple awards for organisational excellence and innovation.
Sue’s earlier roles include National Manager, Cultural Development at the Australia Business Arts Foundation; Community Relations Manager and Executive Officer of the RACV Foundation; and Sponsorship Manager at Melbourne Theatre Company, where she consistently delivered growth, program reform and strategic partnerships. Sue has served on the boards of Strange Fruit and the Victorian Actors’ Benevolent Trust and is a former President of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria. A confident public speaker and respected sector voice, she continues to champion inclusive, dynamic and resilient for purpose organisations.