Chief Executive
Simon Schrapel AM, BA Social Work, Grad Dip Management, MPolAdmin
Simon is the Chief Executive of Uniting Communities. Originally trained in Social Work, Simon has spent more than 30 years in social services practice, management and policy development and advocacy in both the Government and not-for-profit sectors in Australia, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.
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Simon joined Uniting Communities as Chief Executive in mid-2010 with a commitment to build on the organisation’s history and reputation as a progressive agency for social change, reconciliation and fostering compassionate and resilient communities.
In 2017, Simon was awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community, particularly to children and families through social welfare organisations, programs and initiatives.
Uniting Communities’ Board
Dr Sue King PhD, MPolAdmin, BSocAdmin, BA
Sue is the Chair of the Board of Uniting Communities, and joined the Board in 2014. Until recently, she was the Discipline Head, Social Work and Human Services at the University of South Australia. In addition to her roles at the University, she has been President of the Australian Association of Social Workers, SA Branch and a member of a number of other Boards, including currently an aged care facility, Summerhill Inc., and in the past Relationships Australia (SA), the South Australian Housing Trust and the Children’s Services Consultative Committee.
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Sue joined the Board as she has a great respect for the work being done by Uniting Communities and a strong interest in contributing to innovations in service delivery in the current social policy context.
John Byrne
John joined the Board in 2012. After starting his career in physiotherapy, he has gained diverse general management experience in the corporate sector in financial services, telecommunications and allied health.
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John has over 20 years’ experience in starting and running businesses, and currently runs a small farming operation with a focus on sustainability. With a commercial lens and a keen interest in finance and property, John is also a member of Uniting Communities’ Redevelopment Steering Committee.
Mike Flynn
Mike joined the Board of Uniting Communities in 2016. He is currently working as a business consultant in the energy and resources sector, and was on the Board of the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy from 2011 to 2017.
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With qualifications in engineering and management, Mike brings with him 25 years of commercial, planning and operations experience in the oil and gas sector both in Australia and overseas. Growing up in a small town in south-east SA, Mike has a balanced appreciation of country and city living, and enjoys getting alongside people from all walks of life. Mike is passionate about helping people reach their full potential, and feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to assist and learn from the dedicated people within Uniting Communities.
Dr Jörg Strobel, MD, FRANZCP, FGLF
Jörg joined the Board of Uniting Communities in 2017 and is currently working as a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network.
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Born in Germany, he trained as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, and worked as a forensic psychiatrist before migrating to Australia in 1996. Since then he has worked within the public sector in SA Metro and Country Services, for about 8 years in the capacity as Clinical Director. He has an academic appointment at Flinders University with a research interest in e-Health and m-Health. This interest has led him to venture into entrepreneurship as a founding member of an IT start-up. He has served and is serving on the boards of mental health related NGOs. Personally and professionally, he has a strong commitment to social justice and is championing recovery oriented work.
Deborah Miller, FAICD, MBA
Deborah joined the Board in 2018. She has enjoyed a 30-year executive career, holding a number of senior financial controller and company secretarial roles, with experience as chair of a finance subcommittee and, for over five years, as a partner at a mid-sized accounting firm.
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Deborah enjoys being part of a dynamic Board environment that encourages a diverse view and “outside the square” thinking. Her Board portfolio covers diverse enterprises spanning property, equities, technology, professional services, finance, retail and not-for-profit organisations.
Deborah has an MBA from Adelaide University and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. As well as her interests in children’s welfare, women’s rights and animal welfare, Deborah is an active volunteer at Lifeline.
Dr David Caudrey PSM
Commencing with the Board in 2019, David brings extensive experience in the disability sector to Uniting Communities. Throughout his career in the State public service, he developed and implemented disability services, and oversaw significant reform to the way people with disabilities and their families are supported in South Australia.
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After retiring, David was part-time Director of the Disability Policy Unit and is now in the role of Disability Advocate within the Office of the Public Advocate.
David is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, Flinders University and, in 2013, was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to the disability sector.
Ruth Sims
Ruth joined the Board in 2020. She has more than 20 years’ professional communication, planning, and change experience in the higher education sector. As well, Ruth has leadership experience in community and professional groups.
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Ruth’s current PhD research extends what we know about effective leadership to explore the contribution followers and followership make to organisations. She holds postgraduate qualifications in education management and human resources management.
Nicolle Rantanen
Nicolle is an experienced Non-Executive Director on a number of boards. Her current Board roles include; Chair of the State Procurement Board (SA Government), Credit Union SA Board Member (Audit and Risk Committee Chair), Divisional Councillor SA/NT Australian Institute of Company Directors, SA Harness Racing Board, CAWRA Audit and Finance Committee, Office of Recreation Sport & Racing (Audit and Performance Committee) and The Grange Golf Club (Vice President and Finance Committee Chair).
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Nicolle is also an experienced senior executive with over 20 years experience in both the public and private sector and a substantial record of success in all aspects of service delivery for commercial and profit for purpose enterprises. With a Masters in Commercial Law, an MBA and as a Certified Practising Accountant (Fellow), Nicolle has a strong legal, business, accounting and audit background and an in-depth understanding of risk management and governance.
As the South Australian Public Trustee (Chief Executive of the Public Trustee), Nicolle is a Statutory Officer appointed under an Act. Her responsibilities include holding 83,000 Wills and Powers of Attorney for clients and managing the finances for over 4,500 vulnerable members of the community who lack the capacity to manage their own affairs. She manages over 200 staff with responsibilities including corporate strategy, financial management and investment of over $1.2billion. Nicolle was previously the Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Treasury and Finance and both Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer at Statewide Super, a $6 billion dollar superannuation fund.
Nigel Hall
An seasoned director and entrepreneur, Nigel is recognised for strategic leadership, good governance, service excellence and relationship management. Qualified in engineering and management, Nigel brings significant know-how to organisations, always with a focus on people, governance and effective stewardship of information assets.
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He serves on the boards of sustainable, ethical organisations which make a difference to peoples’ lives and which leverage his professional background in the delivery of digital technologies across a broad range of industries.
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