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.

Vanessa Karamesinis – GM Corporate Services

Vanessa is an executive leader with a history of financial, commercial and operational success across the health, disability and community service sectors.  Vanessa leads the Australasian Regional Support Services team and oversees the Community of Care Independent Retirement Villas in NZ. Vanessa has great strength and experience in ensuring positive outcomes in service delivery and client satisfaction, demonstrated via a proud history of managing people, process & change.

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 – People & Culture Manager

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 Lusila Tautunu (Sister Superior)
Camberwell: Jenny Emmanoulidis (Facility Manager) and Sister Teresa Clare Nguyen (Sister Superior)
Geraldton: Mia Jebi (Facility Manager) and Sister Telesia Taavao  (Sister Superior)
Tamworth: Barbara Anderson (Facility Manager) and Sister Paula Asiasiau (Sister Superior)
Wynnum: Will Xu (Facility Manager) and Sister Elisapeta Tevaga (Sister Superior)

Sister Mary Monaghan – Chair

Sister Mary is a Sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth and was appointed as a Director and Trustee of the Board on 18 December 2019. Sister Mary was appointed Regional Superior and Chair of the Board on 7th October 2022. Sister Mary spent many years in education. Her appointments included being a classroom teacher at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Primary School in Perth, WA, and principal of St Lawrence’s Primary School Bluff Point WA. During her time in Western Australia, Sister Mary was a member of the School Resources Committee of the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia. After holding the positions of Superior and Administrator in Nazareth Houses in Camberwell, North Turramurra and Tamworth, Sister Mary was elected Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth in 2006. She held this position until 2018 and was based in London.

Sister Margaret O’Keefe – Board Member

Sister Margaret is a Religious Sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth. Sister Margaret was appointed Regional Superior and Chair of the Board from 7th October 2016 until 7th October 2022. Sister Margaret is currently Sister Superior at Nazareth House Christchurch and was previously Sister Superior and Director of Mission for Nazareth House Camberwell. 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 Teresa Clare Nguyen – Board Member

Sister Teresa Clare was attracted to the Sisters of Nazareth by its Vision and Mission of Care. Sister Teresa joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth in 1993. Sister Teresa holds a Bachelor of Theology, majoring in pastoral care studies. Sister has worked in Vocation, Mission Alive, Volunteers programs and has a wide range of experience in Aged Care and Allied Health. At present, Sister Teresa is Sister Superior and Mission Director of Nazareth House, Camberwell, VIC. Sister Teresa Clare was appointed to the Board on 22 November 2019.

Sister Lusila Tautunu – Board Member

Sister Lusila is a Religious Sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth and was appointed 1st Regional Councillor and Sister Superior for Nazareth House Camberwell on October 7, 2019 and as of October 7 2022 Sr Lusila transferred into the role of Sister Superior or Nazareth House Ballarat. Qualified with a Diploma of Business Administration, Sister Lusila has experience in Accounts Payable and Receivable, Bank Reconciliation and General administration duties. She was working for the 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 did a Formator Course in Sydney which led to her appointment to assist in formation program for the young women discerning their vocations to the Sisters of Nazareth in South Africa. Sister Lusila was appointed to the Board on 7th October 2019.

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