The Board of Directors

Adjunct Professor Debora Picone AO is a highly respected leader in public administration, with extensive experience in the provision of healthcare services. Through a quality led governance approach and applying the value systems of learning organisations, Prof Picone has been privileged to make the lives of people better by driving high performing organisations that improve the health of people, patient safety and access to health care within a balanced budget.

Doug has recently retired as Ernst & Youngs Market Segment Leader for real estate, construction, leisure and hospitality in Oceania. He has 28 years’ experience both in Australia and in the UK and has been a partner in the assurance practice for more than a decade. Doug is a well-regarded and knowledgeable client service partner who has broad experience across a range of industries, including construction, infrastructure, property and resources.

Mary is the Managing Partner of Swaab, a Sydney based mid sized commercial law firm. In this role, Mary was appointed to this role in 2014. She leads by example, with an authentic leadership style and a focus on promoting and protecting the well-being of people in the legal profession.

Mary is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been a long-standing Board member of Cameron Brae Pty Ltd (a property development family owned company) and Minds Count Foundation (a mental wellbeing charity).

Mary has been a supporter of Odyssey House since 2016.

Professor Michael Farrell is the Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW and Faculty Theme Lead of Mental Health, Neuroscience, Ageing and Addictions, UNSW Medicine. Prior to his appointment at UNSW, Professor Farrell was a Professor of Addiction Psychiatry at Kings College London.

His extensive research interests include evidence-based practice and treatment evaluation, in tobacco, alcohol and other drug dependence, psychiatric comorbidity, translation of new evidence into practice. He was Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. He is an editor with the Cochrane Drug and Alcohol Group. He is a member of the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug and Alcohol Dependence. He is current President of APSAD. He has published over 300 scientific papers and a number of books. He has been a board member or director of many different Alcohol and other Drug NGO Community Groups over the past thirty years he has been a consultant on National Drug Policy to many national Governments. Michael is a strong advocate for better investment and support for prevention, treatment and research.

Douglas Isles has more than 20 years in investment management. He was appointed Head of Investment at Platinum Asset Management in March 2022, where he has worked since 2003.

You can learn more about Douglas from his feature in our Autumn 2023 newsletter.

Debra Kelliher has had a career in education for over twenty-five years. She has a Doctorate in Education from the University of New England and a Master of Arts with First Class Honours from Auckland University. Debra’s doctorate examines effective ways to increase girls’ leadership capacity in schools. She began her teaching career as an English teacher and has been a Head of English, Director of Studies, Head of Senior School and Principal of two independent girls’ schools in Australia, one regional and one urban. She has had experience in schools in Vietnam, China and Japan.

Debra is a trained mediator and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has a keen interest in girls’ education, leadership and student voice. She is currently an Associate of the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute (NESLI) facilitating programs in Advanced Women’s Leadership.