Our Team

David Cotter – CEO

David is an experienced, people focused, strategic CEO with a wealth of experience in the aged care, disability & community not-for-profit sector. David leads the Nazareth Care Australasia region. David is a highly motivated and committed individual who is dedicated to excellence in all aspects of life. David has over 30 years’ health & aged care experience in Australia.

Tanya Barun – GM Operations

Tanya has a wealth of experience in health care including hospitals, disability & aged care. Tanya leads all Houses’ across Australasia operations and is passionate about providing high standard resident centred care services in collaboration with the Facility Managers. Tanya is a sound commercial operator supporting clinical governance, ensuring regulatory compliance, whilst driving strategic direction and change.

Ricky Relouw – GM Compliance & Risk

Ricky has a wealth of experience in Quality, Compliance and Risk having worked at small to large health organisations. Ricky leads the Quality team in the houses, ensuring Clinical governance and a high-quality resident-centred focus. Ricky brings a unique skillset ensuring our Houses meet compliance and reduce risk by implementing clinical policies and legislative frameworks.

Desiree Doherty – GM People & Culture

Desiree is an experienced People and Culture professional who is people centred and passionate about culture and change management. Desiree utilises her vast industry knowledge to foster the best within her team and is instrumental in promoting core values & strong culture across the organisation.

Each House has a Facility Manager and Sister Superior who work together to lead and support the House.

Ballarat: Patricia Libbis (Facility Manager) and Sister Telesia Ta’avao (Sister Superior)
Camberwell: Jenny Emmanoulidis (Facility Manager) and Sister Margaret O’Keefe (Sister Superior)
Geraldton: Mia Jebi (Facility Manager) and Sister Sipona Ah Kuoi (Sister Superior)
Tamworth: Barbara Anderson (Facility Manager) and Sister Trang Nguyen (Sister Superior)
Wynnum: Will Xu (Facility Manager) and Sister Elisapeta Tevaga (Sister Superior)

Sister Lusila Tautunu – Chair

Sister Lusila is a Religious Sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth.  Qualified with a Diploma of Business Administration, Sister Lusila has experience in Accounts Payable and Receivable, Bank Reconciliation and General administration duties. She has worked for Regional Support Services (RSS) in the Quality department as Documentation Administrator, assisting in implementing IT systems and managing the designing, formatting and uploading of documents on Nazareth Care Intranet. In 2018, Sister Lusila completed a Formator Course which led to her appointment assisting in the Formation program for young women discerning their vocations to the Sisters of Nazareth in South Africa. Sr Lusila was appointed 1st Regional Councillor and Sister Superior for Nazareth House Camberwell in October 2019 and then transferred into the role of Sister Superior or Nazareth House Ballarat in October 2022. Sister Lusila was appointed to the Board on 7th October 2019 and became Chair on 25th October 2024.

Sister Margaret O’Keefe – Board Member

Sister Margaret is a Religious Sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth. Qualified with a Diploma in Education, Sister Margaret was on staff at Larmenier School in Tasmania and Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Perth, WA. Sister Margaret has held many roles in education, as a professional teacher, religious education coordinator and school principal. Her responsibilities have also included membership on the Catholic Education panel for the employment of school principals and the Block Grant Authority managing grants for capital works. Sister Margaret has also studied in Rome, Italy, undertaking a course in Formation which led to the role of Formation Director for ten years. Sister Margaret was appointed Regional Superior and Chair of the Board and held this role from 7th October 2016 until 7th October 2022. Sister Margaret held the role of Sister Superior at Nazareth House Christchurch from October 2022 until October 2024 and is currently Sister Superior at Nazareth House Camberwell.

Sr Paula Asiasiau – Board Member

Sr Paula began her career in education before joining the Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth in 1991. She earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2006, completing a year-long placement at Ballarat’s Base Hospital during her final year of study.

Over nearly two decades, Sr Paula worked as a Registered Nurse across various Nazareth Houses throughout Australia and New Zealand.  During this time, Sr Paula held several positions including a supervisory role at Nazareth House Wynnum, Clinical Care Coordinator in Nazareth House Ballarat and Unit Manager in Nazareth House Christchurch. Sr Paula has vast experience in many aspects of aged care including managing staff performance and rosters, overseeing residents’ assessment and care planning.

Sr Paula was appointed Sister Superior of Nazareth House Tamworth in 2022 and then transferred to Nazareth House Christchurch, where she is currently Sister Superior and Mission Director. Sr Paula was appointed to the Board on the 26thOctober 2024.

Sr Telesia – Board Member

Sr Telesia was born and raised in Samoa, the 7th of 9 children. Three years after completing college, Sr Telesia completed a course for Early Childhood Education and later graduated from Teachers training college. Sr Telesia then worked as a primary school teacher for four years before entering the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth.

Sr Telesia has been with the Sisters of Nazareth for nearly 21 years, including four years of training. She has completed several courses and received various qualifications, including Management, Wellbeing & Lifestyle, Allied Health, Formation for Formators and Mission Inspired Leadership. Sr Telesia is currently Sister Superior at Nazareth House Ballarat and continues to serve the Congregation/Region as a Regional councillor, a community leader and board member and is involved in the ministry operated by Nazareth Care. Sr Telesia joined the Board in December 2024.

David Frost – Board Member

David is a registered architect with over 30 years’ experience in seniors’ living, education and healthcare design and project delivery. David holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in the Built Environment, and a Graduate Diploma in Architecture. He is an examiner for the Board of Architects Queensland. David is a Director of Benevolent Living, Rockhampton and sits on their Development and Planning sub-committee.  Previously David was the sector lead for Seniors Living at Cottee Parker Architects, after having been a Director at Thomson Adsett Architects for 25 years.  David has extensive project experience and expertise. He has been involved on projects from master planning, design and documentation through to construction management phases.  David has travelled extensively in Europe and the United States, studying best practice in aged care and retirement design. He is inspired by overseas examples of exceptional seniors living design that have uplifted the lives for residents and staff alike.  David joined the Board in December 2023.

Susan McWhirter – Board Member

Susan is a CPA who holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. With over 30 years experience across not for profit, for profit and government sectors, Susan has an established career as a CFO and senior finance professional. With a focus on social disadvantage and health, Susan has worked in the Not-For-Profit sector for the past 12 years, across Alcohol and Other Drugs, Mental Health, Aged Care and Disability.  She has held key roles at Neami National and Villa Maria Catholic Homes leading through sector reform, introduction of the NDIS, mergers, and acquisitions, increasing governance, risk and compliance requirements, and the transformation of teams, systems, and processes.  Initially commencing her career in audit, her previous experience has been across the recruitment, legal, consulting and energy sectors. Susan has previously served on the board of Uniting Care Regen as a Director and Finance and Audit Committee Chair, and as an independent Finance Audit and Risk Committee Chair at Greyhound Racing Victoria. Susan joined the board in 2024.

Patti Reilly – Board Member

Patti is a registered Nurse, Midwife, Maternal & Child Health Nurse, Lactation consultant and health manager. Patti has been working in the city of Melbourne providing maternal and early childhood supports across a broad spectrum of socioeconomic communities for several decades.

For the past 15 years Patti has been in senior management ensuring ongoing service delivery to a diverse community in the community health space, having spoken at several national conferences on community health. Patti brings a sharp clinical focus to the Board and keen interest in improving the quality of life for those in the end stages of the lifecycle. Patti joined the Board in December 2023.