The people helping build stronger communities

Professor Samar Aoun AM

Director & Chair

Prof Samar Aoun AM is Perron Institute Research Chair in Palliative Care at the University of Western Australia, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Founder and chair of Compassionate Communities Australia and immediate past chair of MND Australia and MND Association of Western Australia (MNDAWA).

Prof Aoun is an international leader in the promotion and advocacy of public health approaches to palliative care and led this approach for those living with grief and bereavement. Her research programs on supporting family carers at end of life and the public health approach to bereavement care have informed policy and practice at the national and international levels. Her vision is that every person, every family and every community knows what to do when someone is caring, dying or grieving.

Samar co-founded and chaired for 7 years the South West Compassionate Communities Network in Western Australia and has led the Compassionate Connector Program which offers the practical and social support needed by families with life limiting illnesses. The program significantly improved social connectedness and reduced hospital admissions. She founded and chairs Compassionate Communities Australia which aims to become a hub of knowledge and skills for community-led solutions that would lead to social and systems change.

She is a Council member of Public Health Palliative Care International and is a member of the Public Health Palliative Care reference group of the European Association of Palliative Care. She served as member of the International Expert Advisory Group for the development of best practice statements in bereavement care in palliative care in Europe. She also served on the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council committees and chaired their grant review panels for 5 years.

Among Samar’s awards: The Centenary Medal in 2003 from the Prime Minister of Australia; the 2018 Medal for Excellence from the European Society for Person Centred Healthcare, the 2023 WA Australian of the Year; the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from MND Australia; the President’s Cup from MNDAWA; and Member of the Order of Australia (AM), Australia Day Honours, January 2025.

Dr Stephen Ginsborg

Director

During Stephen’s 50 years as a GP, and having watched his father’s work as a GP, he has been increasingly concerned about the over-medicalised responses to the social changes and challenges of the human condition.

For many years he has felt that the reanimation of our ability to care for ourselves, and others, can be nourished through interweaving First Peoples’ traditional knowledge with the development of Compassionate Communities.

A wish for this shift in the paradigm of health strategies, and the desire for social change has inspired his work in social policy over the last 15 years. He has served in Sydney as a Director on the Boards of his local Division of General Practice, Medicare Local, Primary Health Network (PHN), Groundswell, Community Care Northern Beaches (CCNB), and Council on the Ageing (COTA NSW). He also sits on the Board of Kamaroi School and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Stephen worked for many years as a visiting Medical Officer in Aboriginal Medical Services in the Kimberley.

He has found that swimming is an essential part of supporting himself so as to help support others.

Stephen is committed to help develop equitable strategies that raise health and death literacy and assist community, GP’s and other health care providers to offer compassionate choices so that we can live, age, die and grieve well. He is excited to be a Director of Compassionate Communities Australia, helping people to reclaim agency and connection at all stages of life.

Dr Joanne Doran

Director

Dr Jo Doran is a doctor with over 30 years’ experience in palliative care.  She currently works for the  Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service as a senior consultant and is also an Honorary Adjunct Assistant Professor at Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine.

Originally from the UK, she trained in London and completed her post graduate training in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. From 1999-2012 she was Area Medical Director for Palliative Care in Northern NSW.

She has been a strong advocate and champion for palliative care by being involved in policy development and implementation on local, state and national levels. She was co-author of the first National Standards for Palliative Care, and Palliative Care Service Development Models, both documents continue to underpin palliative care service delivery in Australia today.

 As well as her leadership role, she is passionate about education in end-of-life care and is highly regarded as a guest speaker and lecturer. She is well known for her entertaining, original and informative talks, and always aims to challenge and inspire others with compassion, playfulness, insight and generosity.

In recognition of her contribution to palliative care she was awarded the Palliative Care NSW Leadership Award by her peers, was nominated for NSW Woman of the Year by the Health Service CEO and more recently was nominated as Mentor of the Year in her current role.

Her greatest love has always been the bedside care of patients and teaching, which is now the main focus of her work.

Harpreet Kalsi-Smith

Director

Harpreet is an Australian Indian woman who was born in Kenya and raised on the lands of the Turrbul and Yuggera peoples. She brings 20 years of experience specialising in health and wellbeing, driving innovation and change. She founded the Kindness Company, a social change collective that works with individuals and communities to build capacity to live well, age well and die well. Harpreet’s passion to advocate and work in end-of-life care commenced after supporting her mother during her final months of end of life. Her own lived experience and that of carers and people who have died from a range of illnesses including dementia and cancer, have driven her to work for better care for all approaching end of life. Harpreet holds a Masters in Conflict Resolution, is a consumer advocate, integral sound healer, reiki master, trauma informed practitioner and end of life doula.

Guy Marchesani

Treasurer

Guy is a Chartered Accountant and experienced senior Finance Executive with more than 29 years experience in the energy industry and more recently the not-for-profit sector. Guy has established and led various finance teams responsible for corporate reporting and governance, planning, oil marketing and coordination, insurance, financial systems and treasury/cash management.

Guy has been appointed Director and Company Secretary for various group companies and is currently the Finance Director and Company Secretary for the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth Limited (AROSE).  

Guy is also a Board Member and current President of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Western Australia.

Guy holds a business degree from Edith Cowan University, is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Adam Woods

Board Member

Adam Woods brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the not-for-profit, aged care, events and arts sectors, with expertise in marketing, communications, customer experience and organisational strategy.

Currently Executive Director of Customer Experience, Communications and Marketing at Scalabrini Communities, Adam has led significant growth, innovation and systems change, helping expand services, strengthen governance and improve outcomes for older Australians. His career has been defined by translating bold ideas into practical, scalable initiatives that deliver meaningful community impact.

Adam has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, governance, strategic communications and building sustainable partnerships. He is passionate about strengthening community capability and creating opportunities for people and organisations to work together in ways that improve wellbeing and social connection.

As a Board Member of Compassionate Communities Australia, Adam brings strategic insight, creative thinking and a strong commitment to building compassionate communities where people feel connected, supported and valued.

Sherl Westlund

General Manager

Sherl is a dedicated not-for-profit advisor who believes we can create meaningful change in the world. Passionate about harnessing the power of collective action, Sherl emphasises our shared responsibility to contribute to positive change. With a deep appreciation for the role of curiosity in driving meaningful impact, Sherl inspires others to explore new possibilities and solutions for a better future.

Drawing on her 34 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector (16 as a CEO), Sherl now shares her knowledge and expertise with organisations to help them succeed and amplify their impact.

 Sherl is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management WA and mentors those working in the not-for-profit space.

Sam Brayley

Board Secretary

We are delighted to welcome Sam Brayley as Board Secretary of Compassionate Communities Australia.

Sam brings a rare and powerful combination of organisational expertise and clinical insight to our work.

As an owner/director of Mawson Consulting, Sam has spent two decades advising senior leaders across Australia and internationally on organisational culture, structure design and change. Her reputation is grounded in evidence-based, pragmatic delivery and collaborative leadership.

Alongside this, Sam trained as a clinical psychologist and specialised in psycho-oncology, supporting people with brain cancer, grief and loss, and families navigating serious illness. She has also served in governance roles with Palliative Care WA and Motor Neurone Disease WA, and previously chaired a registered mental health charity.

Sam has long held a personal commitment to contributing to the well-being of people facing significant health challenges and end-of-life experiences. We are honoured that she has chosen to bring her experience, steadiness and depth to CCAus.

Jess Watkins

Resource Hub Manager

Jess brings over 20 years of community sector leadership, advocacy, and systems development experience – including building and managing online resource hubs that support inclusion and collaboration.

Jess is also an End-of-Life Doula, community builder, and coordinator of a local Death Café – bringing both technical expertise and deep compassion to this role.

The Resource Hub aims to support the growth of compassionate communities across Australia by making knowledge accessible and practical – building capability at a local level. Jess is beautifully placed to help bring this vision to life.