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Our people

Meet our committed and highly invested team. 

Our board

The Advocare Board is responsible for guiding the organisation’s strategic direction, including the development of our Strategic Plan, and supports the organisation to help deliver it’s services. Our Board Directors have significant experience and a passion for improving the lives of older West Australians.

  • Susan Barrera

    Board Chair

    Susan Barrera

    Board Chair

    Susan is a highly experienced senior executive, director, and chair. Susan chairs the South Regional TAFE’s Governing Council, MyLeave (formerly the Construction Industry Portable Long Service Leave Board), and recently completed her term as Deputy Chair of the Mid West Ports Authority. Susan is a former Director General of Communities, Executive Director of Labour Relations, and has lectured on industrial relations at Murdoch University. She understands the challenges in the aged care sector and looks forward to supporting Advocare’s mission. 

  • Arnold Wong

    Vice Chair

    Arnold Wong

    Vice Chair

    Arnold has enjoyed a long and successful professional career in the ever-evolving ICT services industry for more than 30 years. He has developed extensive strategic leadership, governance, general management, customer service and business development skills in diverse industries, including technology, education, healthcare, and resources in public and private sectors across Australia, Asia, Europe and Americas. A Fellow of ACS, he currently serves as National Treasurer on the ACS Management Committee and is a member of the Branch Executive Committee in Western Australia. 

    As a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Arnold continues to actively lead and serve in a number of not-for-profit organisations and boards.  Arnold is honoured to serve on the Board of Advocare and is looking forward to contributing to achieving its vision of ensuring ‘A society where older people are safe, empowered and cherished. 

  • Surya Ambati

    Surya Ambati

    Surya is a civil engineer. He is an active leader in the Indian community, having successfully delivered Australia’s first Indian Community Centre in Perth from inception to completion. Surya is passionate about promoting human rights in the community and establishing services for older people. 

    Surya holds an MBA from UWA and graduated from the prestigious Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. 

  • Moira Aynsley

    Moira Aynsley

    Moira brings experience working across brand, communications, stakeholder engagement and philanthropy areas in the ASX and not-for-profit sectors. She’s is an experienced non-executive director and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

    Advocare benefits from her enthusiasm to further develop stronger, strategic and governance outcomes backed by her qualifications of an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, and other qualifications in project management and digital marketing. 

    Moira was attracted to Advocare through her work in the aged care sector, impressed by our advocacy role in ensuring older persons have the right to age with dignity and in raising awareness of elder abuse and offering support to those experiencing it. Her goal is to support us to make a continuing positive difference in the lives of older people in WA. 

  • Gail Green

    Gail Green

    Gail, a social worker with more than 40 years of experience, contributing her expertise to the Advocare Board. Holding a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a Diploma in Education, Gail’s qualifications highlight her dedication to serving vulnerable communities. Her career includes leading wellness programs for older individuals and advocating for the rights of marginalised groups, such as Care Leavers and First Nations people. 

    With a background in mentoring and three years of experience as Chair with another Board, Gail possesses strong leadership and governance skills. She joined Advocare driven by her belief in equal access to care and support for older Australians. With her advocacy experience, Gail enjoys actively supporting Advocare in its mission. 

  • Alyce Martin

    Alyce Martin

    Alyce initially joined Advocare’s Risk and Audit Committee in April 2023 and now continues her involvement with Advocare as a Board Director. Alyce is a lawyer with significant experience in managing wills and estates, including providing legal advice on matters relating to the State Administrative Tribunal. Alyce is also a graduate of the Emerging Leaders in Governance program. 

  • Chris Murphy

    Chris Murphy

    Chris is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a passionate advocate for people living with CMT muscular atrophy, including himself, having co-founded the Western Australian division of CMT Australia. 

    Chris has been a consultant in the retirement living and residential aged care sectors since 2007, a licensed land valuer, and Fellow of the Australian Property Institute. 

Our leadership team

Advocare’s leadership team drives the organisation’s day-to-day operations, ensuring excellence in program management and service delivery.

They bring together diverse skills sets and experience and work collaboratively to drive innovation and improvements to enhance the quality of life for older people in Western Australia.

  • Bev Jowle

    Chief Executive Officer

    Bev Jowle

    Chief Executive Officer

    Bev’s career has nearly stretched across her entire lifespan, starting as a youth worker, working in child protection and family support, women’s health, and most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of Advocare.  Bev has consistently dedicated her career to advocacy, empowerment and support for vulnerable people. Bev achieved high results in tertiary study areas and holds a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact and a BA in Youth Studies. 

    Before joining Advocare, Bev was Chief Executive Officer at Consumer Credit Legal Service WA. She has also held leadership positions at the Department of Communities, Lotterywest, Financial Counsellors’ Association of WA, and South Coastal Women’s Health Service. Bev also brings considerable Board experience and is currently a Director on the Financial Counselling Industry Fund, the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency, and Nursing and Midwifery Board as a community member. 

    Bev is passionate about social justice and human rights She is an ardent feminist and is particularly interested in stopping the scourge of family violence and financial abuse. 

  • Harry Bloch

    Corporate Services Manager

    Harry Bloch

    Corporate Services Manager

    Harry is a results-focused business professional with a distinguished track record in financial management and strategic leadership. He is passionate about fostering collaborative environments where team members feel supported and motivated — values that strongly align with Advocare’s mission. 

    Holding a Bachelor of Business degree and a CPA qualification, Harry has built a diverse career, spanning roles in both Australia and Southeast Asia. He excels in both top-down and hands-on financial management. His tenure includes five years as CFO for a Perth-based AI technology startup, where he played a pivotal role in raising seed capital during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Harry is no stranger to Advocare, having successfully completed a six-month stint in 2023, where he led the implementation of a new accounting system and year-end audit process. Now, as Corporate Services Manager Advocare benefits from his financial acumen and team management skills. 

  • Hazel McKenna

    Program Manager – Specialist Support

    Hazel McKenna

    Program Manager – Specialist Support

    Hazel joined Advocare in 2019 and has worked across various programs supporting the rights of older people in Western Australia. She brings in-depth knowledge and grass roots experience working as a Senior Case Coordinator in Community Home Care.   

     In 2023, Hazel graduated from the Emerging Leaders in Governance Program from which she hopes to give back to the community through participation on boards. 

     In her most recent role as Senior Project Officer, she’s worked closely with the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) in the design and delivery of the Home Care Check-in Service Pilot. Through this she’s gained a greater understanding of the barriers older people experience, how ageism impacts quality of life and wellbeing, and the importance of a trauma-informed approach to care and service provision. 

    Hazel plans to assist Advocare to continue to meet its strategic objectives and to shine a spotlight on the outstanding service Advocare provides to older people in Western Australia.  

  • Erin Timu

    Development Manager

    Erin Timu

    Development Manager

    Erin has more than 20 years of experience working with peak bodies, professional services and small to large-sized, private organisations. She has extensive experience in community and regional development, stakeholder engagement, project management, leadership and marketing and communications. 

    Erin joined Advocare in 2021, drawn to the values of Social Justice, Empowerment, Integrity and Equity, and is committed to shining a light on the issues and challenges older Western Australians face. 

    Erin leads our community development, volunteer, projects, marketing and communications teams. She is passionate about driving Work Health and Safety initiatives to support and increase the health and wellbeing of the Advocare team.  She enjoys growing our brand and strengthening our community and stakeholder relationships to increase our support for older Western Australians. 

  • Shawnee Van Poeteren

    Program Manager – Advocacy

    Shawnee Van Poeteren

    Program Manager – Advocacy

    Shawnee has 30 years of experience in the management and coordination of aged care, Aboriginal health, and community and allied health services. She has an extensive, in-depth knowledge of the aged care sector, current aged care issues and reforms, and elder abuse. 

    Shawnee is currently a member of the Juniper Quality Advisory Care Body as its independent customer representative; the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre Advisory Group – Guide to Interviewing Older People at risk of or experiencing harm; and is Advocare’s representative to the national Older Persons Advocacy Network’s Advocacy, Operation and Practice Advisory Group. 

    Shawnee’s passion is to ensure older Australians are seen, heard, valued, and supported. In addition, she wants to ensure every opportunity is taken to raise the issue of elder abuse in our community.