THE INFLUENCE AND THE COMMITMENT BY THE CTE COMMUNITY HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE

Diana is the Chief Executive of the Law Society of South Australia. Prior to this role, Diana was the General Counsel for Workskil Australia. Her previous roles include Manager, Legal Practice at the Legal Services Commission of South Australia and National Director, Legal Services for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. 

Diana worked in the UK for ten years where she was a Partner at the UK based Law Firm, Eversheds Sutherland LLP supporting clients working across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Diana has extensive Board experience and is the Chair of the Board of disability and aged care provider Community Support Incorporated and Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors of Pulteney Grammar School.

 "We are thrilled to support the organisation through the next stage of its journey and look forward to engaging with the CTE community to provide support and hope."  

 Sarah Willey grew up in Townsville, North QLD and is the wife of Steve who has been diagnosed with probable CTE. Steve grew up in Ingham, North QLD which involved a lot of outdoor and high contact activities as a young North Queenslander who lived life to the max (and even pushing quite a few limits in between). Steve is in the later stages of CTE now and lives a simple life which is why Sarah has embarked on this opportunity with ConneCTErs Australia.

Steve has experienced a range of difficult personal struggles for decades which increased in latter years, years of reporting challenges and presenting with symptoms associated with a degenerative brain disease and only being accurately diagnosed at the start of 2024.

Sarah brings with her a range of experience across various areas which includes senior leadership positions within government healthcare, clinical experience across allied health and mental health, and has had to opportunity to work for other government agencies spanning over twenty-plus years. Her experience is extensive ,and her approach is always about patient-centred care and being accountable to person, the cause and the community.

Tim England is a Dementia Champion and is a

leading voice on dementia in Australia and has

been active in this area for almost two decades.

Simply google the 3 words - Tim England

Dementia - to discover more about his history and

contribution to the community.

With a Bachelor of Dementia Care and being the

first recipient of the world’s first Masters of

Dementia degree, Tim De-mystifies and De-

stigmatises dementia and advocates for people

living with dementia and their families to live well.

The neurobiology study of CTE was a major

project for Tim during his Masters Degree

program and Tim has written and spoken publicly

and extensively about CTE.

Tim is committed to ConneCTErs Australia due to the impact that CTE has on the

individual, their family and the community. CTE is a disease that is linked to Younger

On-Set Dementia and CTE is very much misunderstood and needs to be discussed

publicly to remove the stigma and mystery around it. From his first meeting at a

supporter’s event hosted by Dr Rowena Mobb’s, 

Tim knew immediately that he could

help and must help. Currently Tim works with several individuals with CTE and their

families and assists them to find suitable supports and services as they navigate the

challenges linked to CTE.

Mel is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in oncology, complex case management, and service provision. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Postgraduate Certificate in Oncology Nursing, bringing extensive clinical expertise and a strong commitment to patient-centred care.

Mel’s dedication to raising awareness of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is deeply personal. Her husband, Troy, was diagnosed with probable CTE after years of searching for support and answers. A passionate amateur AFL footballer

from the age of nine through to 32, Troy experienced repetitive head knocks that have profoundly impacted his life and that of his family.

Drawing from both her professional background and lived experience, Mel is committed to improving support pathways, raising awareness, and advocating for individuals and families affected by CTE. Her unique perspective as both

a healthcare professional and carer allows her to contribute meaningfully to service development, education, and research initiatives in this vital area.

Bill’s life and career reflect a rare blend of discipline, leadership, and legacy-building across three distinct arenas: elite sport, military service, and executive business leadership. He played

first-grade rugby league for the Parramatta Eels and first-grade rugby union for Brisbane Eastern Districts, later serving as President of the QRU Invitation XV. Representing Tasmania and the Australian Combined Services.

His enduring commitment to the sport continues through his volunteer leadership as President/Director of the Blue & Gold Alliance (Parramatta Eels Former Players and Officials

Association) and as Convenor of the Rugby League Former Players Collective, ensuring the legacy and well-being of past players remain front and centre.

As a National Service Officer, Bill served with distinction for over two decades in the Australian Defence Force. His deployments spanned Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Singapore, and Malaysia, where

he led with integrity, cross-cultural acumen, and strategic foresight. He held senior roles with a  various companies, where he led post-merger integrations, workforce reform, and cultural

change across diverse geographies.

Bill is a connector in every sense—of people, purpose, and possibility. Whether mentoring future leaders, advocating for former players, or shaping workforce strategy, he brings clarity, care, and conviction to everything he does.

Tamara is an executive leader in social change, public policy, and corporate affairs with a career spanning government, corporate, and the not-for-profit sector. Tamara began her career in government, working in social policy and executive advisory roles, before serving as a Ministerial Advisor during the first year of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rollout in New South Wales. She then went on to hold senior roles in corporate

affairs, government relations and communications across health tech, fintech, and disability tech.

Tamara is currently the General Manager of Social Change at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, leading a team dedicated to removing barriers to inclusion for people with low vision or blindness through systemic advocacy, education, and awareness. She

is also the Global Chair of the joint Advocacy Committee for the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International, and an external advisor to Geriatric Care Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political and International Studies and an Executive Master of Public Policy from the Australian National University.

Beyond her professional roles, Tamara is a carer for her father, who has been diagnosed with probable Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from years of repeated head knocks while playing first-grade rugby league in Newcastle. This indirect lived experience fuels her personal commitment to raising awareness and driving policy change for people and families affected by sport-related brain

injury.

Stephen is an advocate for Medical Research and CTE Dementia awareness with first-hand experience in the long-term effects of repeated head traumas, the impacts on sufferers, family and friends and the stigmas associated with a diagnosis. His father Dennis, a former professional footballer is now in care

accommodation with CTE dementia, and a background in sports administration at NRL level has exposed him to former colleagues and friends dealing with various stages of the disease.

Stephen has Undergraduate Degrees in Law and Communications with previous career experience in television media and public relations, professional sports administration, medical research and company management. Stephen was instrumental in establishing one of Australia’s early CTE studies and he brings Board experience to ConneCTErs Australia through previous Director and Committee roles. His vision for CTE related research is two tiered. 

The first is to lobby for the necessary changes to the health and aged care systems to cope with the unique challenges CTE Dementia sufferers present.

The second is to secure adequate funding for researchers to discover a definitive diagnosis which may lead to the ultimate test - a bio marker to understand if a young athlete may be at risk of CTE later in life. He believes such outcomes will lead to successful collaborations with sporting bodies to shape the future of sports with high

exposure to brain traumas and minimise CTE related injuries.

Alison is a practicing naturopath and nutritionist with over 25 years of clinical experience. Her connection to CTE is deeply personal. Her husband, Justann, was an elite amateur boxer, once ranked number two in the world in the light heavyweight division. A proud Indigenous Australian, Justann represented Australia at two Olympic Games and one Commonwealth Games, and has been inducted into the Indigenous Hall of Fame. 

While Alison never felt comfortable watching the sport, she supported his passion, even when his career came to a sudden end just before the 1998 Commonwealth Games due to health concerns raised by the coach. Like many athletes, Justann initially laughed off his memory lapses but the seriousness of his cognitive symptoms became

more evident, especially after a major post-COVID infection and health decline in 2022. In 2024, Alison and Justann connected with Dr Rowena Mobbs and began a new chapter of understanding and managing probable CTE.

Alison brings to ConneCTErs Australia both her lived experience as a carer and her clinical knowledge as a health professional. She is a strong advocate for the role of nutrition in supporting

brain health and reducing inflammation,  particularly for those living with or at risk of CTE. She believes that consistent dietary support has helped slow the progression of Justann’s symptoms. Despite hundreds of poorly managed concussions and retiring more than 25 years ago, Justann continues to work full time as a personal trainer  with supports and checks in

place, and remains an active, present husband and father.