Governance & Leadership

Jennifer Danslow

Chairperson

Jennifer Danslow has served as a Council Member since 2013, including as Secretary from 2019 until 2025 and as Chair since 2025. She is currently a Casual Consultant Principal Process Engineer with Worley Consulting.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (with Distinction) from Queensland University of Technology.

She has a wealth of experience gained in employment, governance and community roles with a range of organisations and committees, including St Peter’s Lutheran College Council, Scouts Queensland and Queensland University of Technology.

Anna Renner

Vice Chairperson

Anna Renner was elected as a Council Member in 2024. She has over 15 years of experience as a nurse within tertiary health facilities in Brisbane and is currently the Cardiac Surgical Care Coordinator at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. Anna also has experience in her early nursing career working in a regional aged care centre as a personal care assistant and later as a registered nurse.

Anna’s current job gives her experience supporting not only children with complex health needs but also their families as the navigate the healthcare system. Anna has a personal connection to Lutheran Services – three of her grandparents have been residents in both Zion and St Paul’s aged care homes.

She is a current practicing member of St Peters Lutheran Church in Indooroopilly.

Theresa Stolz

Secretary

Theresa Stolz was elected as a Council Member in 2021. She has previously served on the District Church Board of the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District. 

Theresa is an accredited social worker within Queensland, and is currently working in the health sector. She is passionate about her work, as is reflected in her ongoing contribution to research and training for people who have experienced domestic and family violence and sexual abuse. 

Theresa is also a congregational member of St Peters Lutheran Church in Indooroopilly. 

Dr John Neldner

Member

Dr John Neldner was elected as a Council Member in 2025, following 40 years of distinguished leadership in ecological science at the Queensland Herbarium and Biodiversity Science (QHBS).

John’s work has helped shape the way Queensland’s vegetation is understood, conserved and protected. He has managed teams, chaired committees, completed fieldwork and authored scientific publications.

John holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours)and PhD and has been active in the University of Queensland’s Lutheran Student Fellowship. He is passionate about how we protect the natural world, which he sees as a gift of God’s creativity to us all.

Rev Edwin Shoesmith

Member

Rev Edwin Shoesmith was elected as a Council Member in 2025. Edwin is a pastor in the Lutheran church, with a background in health care, governance and ministry leadership. He brings cross-sector insight from both clinical and pastoral contexts, experienced in community engagement, strategic planning and digital innovation.

Pastor Edwin is currently serving as congregational pastor at St James Lutheran Church in Hervey Bay and as a board member of St James Lutheran College. He has previously worked as a Clinical Support & Sales Specialist and Registered Nurse.

Pastor Edwin holds a Master of Theology, Bachelor of Ministry and Bachelor of Nursing. He is passionate about Christ-centred care, organisational integrity and the mission of the Lutheran Church to serve through love and dignity.

Andrew Spyropoulos

Member

Andrew Spyropoulos has served as a Council Member and Vice Chair since 2019. He is a mediator, facilitator and conflict and dispute resolution practitioner. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership, leading and influencing change in real estate and business management.

Andrew has served as a member of several committees within the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District, including the District Church Board, Constitution Committee and Risk Audit and Finance Committee.

He has more than 25 years of board-level experience across the public, commercial and not-for-profit sectors, with particular experience in the professional services, hospitality and fast-moving consumer goods industries.

Cheryl Steinhardt

Member

Cheryl Steinhardt has served as a Council Member since 2019. She has provided continuous service on the District Church Board of the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District since 2010, and is an active member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church Laidley congregation. 

Cheryl is a Councillor on the Lockyer Valley Regional Council and a company director of several businesses in the Lockyer Valley. She also serves in executive roles on several committees, with her local congregation, parish and the wider community.  

Cheryl holds qualifications in management and has completed studies in governance. She continues to build her knowledge of aged care and her commitment to the work of the Lutheran Church in service and mission. 

Nick Ryan

CEO

Nick Ryan is a widely experienced CEO, Board Member and senior executive with 30 years’ experience in a range of human services including aged care, government, youth services and education. Nick has led and advised a variety of organisations from government departments, industry representative bodies, not-for-profit service providers and faith-based charities. 

Nick joined Lutheran Services in 2019 following an interim position as CEO at Southern Cross Care Queensland. Prior to this, he was CEO of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency and CEO of Aged Care Queensland (now part of Leading Age Services Australia). He has also served on the Boards of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland and the Archdiocese of Brisbane Catholic Education Council. 

Nick is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government and a graduate of the Melbourne College of Divinity (now the University of Divinity) and the University of Canberra. 

Charles Grady

Executive Director – Corporate Support Services

Charles Grady is an experienced corporate and finance manager with an emphasis on strategic and operational planning. 

He has held senior positions in a number of public and not-for-profit organisations, at both the state and federal level. Charles has successfully led corporate teams through significant change including mergers, expansion, process and system reengineering, and digital transformation. 

Charles holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Economics from Bond University. 

Tricia Davis

Executive Director – Aged Care & Quality

Tricia Davis is an experienced leader who has held significant board and executive roles across the profit and not-for-profit sectors. She has helped many organizations grow, thrive, and navigate transformative change. Tricia’s experience includes responding to challenges such as national health reforms, step changes in funding, building contemporary service delivery models, and commercialization.

Since joining Lutheran Services in 2015, Tricia has led the rebrand from Lutheran Community Care to Lutheran Services in 2017 and the subsequent development of a contemporary and competitive marketing, sales, and customer experience function.

Tricia is motivated by helping to contribute to the quality of life of residents, clients, and their families. She holds a Physiotherapy degree and an MBA from the University of Queensland. She is a Fellow and Certified Practising Marketer of the Australian Marketing Institute and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Justin Savaille

Executive Director – Community Services

Justin Savaille is an experienced transformational leader with experience in both not-for-profit and private organisations.

With a focus on strategy, continuous improvement and team engagement, Justin is experienced in navigating complex challenges to deliver measurable results to organisations and their clients.

Justin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the Queensland University of Technology and has accreditation in coaching and various behavioural profiling tools.

Allie Ernst

Executive Director – Mission, Identity and Culture

Allie Ernst is an experienced executive who brings deep experience in faith-based leadership and cultural transformation to the Lutheran Services leadership team. She has developed formation programs, built cross-denominational partnerships, and led strategy and mission for a Registered Training Organisation supporting Christian ministry in the education and social services sectors.  

With over 40 years of lived experience in the Lutheran Church, Allie offers both credibility and insight, and a unique ability to translate theology into identity, culture, and organisational practice. 

Allie holds qualifications in theology, social sciences, and business, including a PhD in Studies in Religion, Master of Social Science and Master of Business Administration.   

Deepak Oberoi

Executive Director – Enterprise Transformation

Deepak Oberoi leads Lutheran Services’ multi-year transformation program, guiding major capital works, digital modernisation, organisational change and growth initiatives. 

With more than 20 years’ experience across human services, aged care, utilities and retail, Deepak has helped organisations deliver meaningful change in some of Australia’s most complex environments. His work has spanned digital programs, mergers and acquisitions, and long-term capital strategies—all with a focus on creating real benefits for people and communities. 

Deepak is passionate about connecting transformational strategy with everyday impact, creating lasting improvements that support our staff, residents and clients to thrive. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds qualifications in Information Technology and Project Management.