Our Leaders

Mercy Community is run by an exceptional group of individuals who ensure our services remain relevant and responsive to your needs.

Our Executive Team

Justin Lorenz

Chief Executive Officer

Chris Thomson

Interim Chief Financial Officer

Karen Cicero

Chief People Officer

Tim Nayton

Chief Risk Officer

Janet Rhodes

Executive General Manager, Aged Care Services

Melanie Steele

General Counsel and Company Secretary

Barry Lenihan​

General Manager, First Nations

Shane Dwyer​

General Manager, Mission Integration ​

David Jukes

General Manager, Disability Supports

Martin Greller​

Interim General Manager, Families & Young People Services​

Our Board

Rowena McNally

Chair

Jeff Carlos

Deputy Chair

Dr Steve Hambleton

Non-Executive Director

Mary Lowcock

Non-Executive Director

Patrick O’Sullivan

Non-Executive Director

Dr Christine Foley

Non-Executive Director

Michael Keir

Non-Executive Director

Our Governance

Mercy Community (the ministry) is governed under the sponsorship of Mercy Partners.  The ministry was entrusted to Mercy Partners by the Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation in April 2018. 

The Mercy Partners ministerial Public Juridic Person (PJP) assumes the role of the canonical sponsor of Mercy Community.  The civil relationship is that Mercy Partners Limited is the sole Member of the organisation that operates the Ministry.  The day-to-day operations of Mercy Community remain under the governance of the Mercy Community board.  

Mercy Partners commits to ensure that their ministries flourish as a Catholic ministry that contributes to the emergence of a world where the healing, liberating and life-giving mercy of God is experienced.

Rowena current image_SEPT2021

Rowena Mcnally

Chair

Rowena has over 25 years’ experience as a board director and board chair. She has served on a number of national and regional boards across a broad range of areas including Catholic and government hospital, health and aged care services, disability, water and energy infrastructure and professional membership organisations.

Rowena has held several roles with Church entities including as a past Chair of Catholic Health Australia. She currently serves on the Archdiocesan Development Fund board, and as the Chair of Sugar Research Limited and Isa Rodeo Ltd and Advisory Council to the Queensland Energy and Water Ombudsman.

Rowena holds a Bachelor of Law and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute for Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders and a Fellow of the Resolution Institute.

Qualifications: LLB, FAICD, FAIML, FRI

Jeff-Carlos

Jeff Carlos

Deputy Chair

Jeff joined the Board as Deputy Chair on 24 February 2021.  He is also chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Jeff has over 40 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant and has 20 years’ experience as board director and chair.  He has worked in public practice consulting to corporate and family groups in the areas of Audit, Taxation, Superannuation and Business Planning.

Directorships held include both profit and non-for-profit companies including mission-based organisations.  Currently Jeff also sits on the finance council for The Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for The Diocese of Rockhampton, the body of governance for Central Queensland Catholic Education schools and colleges, Centacare, Diocesan Development Fund and the Diocese and Parishes.  Jeff is also a member of the Queensland Bishops Provincial Salary Remuneration Committee.

Jeff has previously been a Registered Company Auditor and Superannuation Fund Auditor and has an extensive experience on finance, audit and risk committees as well as interacting with many such committees in the capacity of external auditor.

Qualifications: BBus, FCA, FCPA, MAICD

Steve-Hambleton

Dr Steve Hambleton

Non-Executive Director

Dr Steve Hambleton is a General Practitioner in Brisbane.  He is a former State and Federal President of the Australian Medical Association and is the Chief Clinical Advisor to the Australian Digital Health Agency and Chairs their Clinical Governance Committee.  He also serves on the boards of Avant Mutual Group Limited and the Digital Health CRC.   He is a former President of the AMA Queensland Foundation and served as an independent director of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council for two years.  He is Chair of the Service Delivery and Quality Committee and the Ethics Committee.

Qualifications: MBBS, FAMA, FRACGP(hon), FAICD

Mary-Lowcock

Mary Lowcock

Non-Executive Director

Mary Lowcock is a Sister of Mercy of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG) and has a broad range of experience in various sectors within the Catholic Church.

Her early years in ministry were in teaching and administration in a number of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Townsville but in the 1990’s she accepted other ministries within the Church.

Mary was a member of the Leadership Team of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy Townsville, the Executive Officer of Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Townsville, the Director of Catholic Mission in the Archdiocese of Brisbane and the Executive Officer of Catholic Religious Australia, Queensland. In these positions, throughout her life, Mary was a member of many committees and boards.

In recent years, Mary retired from active ministry and has been enjoying more rest and relaxation, pursuing hobbies such as cooking.  Mary lives in Townsville and is a member of the Mary MacKillop Parish, Mundingburra.

Qualifications: Diploma of Teaching, BA, MTh, MBA

Chris-Foley

Dr Christine Foley

Non-Executive Director

Christine (Chris) has worked in the healthcare industry since 1985.  She is a hospital trained Registered nurse and holds an undergraduate degree in nursing and a range of post graduate qualifications in management, built environment and a Doctor of Philosophy. Chris is currently appointed as the Director of Clinical Governance for health, community and residential aged care in Mater Health.

Chris’s career has seen her work across all sectors of health from public to private, metropolitan and regional, community services and aged care.  She has held state and national Executive roles with a strong focus on Clinical Governance, quality and risk management, clinical care, consumer partnerships, clinical deterioration and effective communication.

Chris has previously been appointed as a Member of the Queensland Board of the Australian Medical Board and a Member of the Board for Wesley Medical Research. She has developed a strong interest in translational research in health and aged care and completed research at doctoral level on the relationship nurses have with policy in their everyday work.

Chris has a deep connection with the philosophy of servant leadership and has a proven track record in public sector and catholic health and aged care governance in developing and sustaining a strong and positive workplace culture where respect, transparency and quality of service thrive.

michael-keir-490x700_edit

Michael Keir

Non-Executive Director

With over 25 years experience, Michael Keir (Keir Steele Waldon Lawyers) practices law primarily in the areas of rural, commercial, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, health industry and property development.

Advising agribusiness operators, local governments, government owned corporations, corporate and family businesses across a range of industries requires an appreciation of the commercial reality involved in each particular transaction, which Michael’s business sense allows him.

He has quality experience in the beef, cane, aquaculture, aviation, energy, solar, marine, mining, quarry, health, probity, property and construction industries and sits on several private advisory boards in that regard.

Qualifications: LLB(Hons), BCOM

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