Mr Graeme Woolacott OAM
Former Board Member and PIRI Chair
Graeme Woolacott was a founder and is a long-standing member of the PIRI Board. He was Chairman of the Board 2008-14.
Founding Members
PIRI was built on 18 years of clinical and research work undertaken through the Infant Clinic, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Austin Health. PIRI consists of a dedicated group of clinical, academic and research staff whose aim is to provide world-class services to women and their families, support health professionals and conduct research in the area of parent and infant mental health.
The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) was incorporated in March 2001 with its own Board, whose role is to help set the objective and facilitate the achievements of PIRI by providing experience and knowledge to assist in PIRI’s development, to act as a guiding body and strategic directions assist with fundraising and to improve community awareness and networking. Prof Jeannette Milgrom is the Executive Director and founder of PIRI.
PIRI Founding Members
Mr Lance Coburn
Former Treasurer and PIRI Chair
Lance Coburn brought to PIRI his experience as an industry executive having previously been Group General Manager and Senior Vice President, Finance, BHP Minerals; President BHP Steel (USA) and Group General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, International Division BHP Steel among other senior appointments.
Garry Evans
Former Inaugural PIRI Chair
Private consultant and recently retired Group General Manager BHP Group Services, BHP Company Limited 1997-98.
Mr Graeme Henshaw
Former Secretary, PIRI
Graeme Henshaw was a partner with the legal firm Allens Arthur Robinson. He acted for the Australian Red Cross Society and MECWA Community Care and undertook work for major Australian and international corporations. He was also a past member of the Law Institute Conveyancing Committee.
Previous Board Members
Dr Linda Mellors PhD, BA, BSc (Hons)
Former Board Member, PIRI
Linda Mellors was the Executive Director Mercy Public Hospitals Inc. Dr Mellors has worked in the Victorian public health system for over ten years, holding executive roles for the last eight years including hospital operational management, strategic planning, business development, research governance, corporate governance and company secretary. Dr Mellors holds a PhD in medical research in the field of cardiac physiology.
Ms Felicity Broadbent
Former Board Member, PIRI
Felicity Broadbent is a public relations professional with 15 years experience and a mother of two young children. She has considerable experience in both public and private health care.
Ms Erina Reddan
Former Board Member, PIRI
Erina was employed as the strategy director for Media Manoeuvres when she joined the Board, and her experience was on development and delivery of high level media strategy for clients, coaching senior personnel in media skills, and providing media training to groups.
Sheena Scholten
Former Board Member, PIRI
Sheena Scholten was a nursing professional with valuable experience after 20 years service in Victorian public hospitals. She has been a Director of Services and Service Planning for North Eastern Women’s Health, Mercy Hospital for Women and for Mercy Health.
A.H. (Tony) Barnes
Former Board Member, PIRI
A seasoned executive with extensive experience at senior levels in the corporate world with a well developed understanding of the requirements for sound financial management of organisations and demonstrable leadership and people management skills.
Wendy Peter B Juris
Former Board Member, PIRI
Wendy is currently employed at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). She was previously a partner of the national law firm Allens Arthur Robinson beginning in 1990, and specialised in competition and regulatory law.