Governance & Leadership

Nick Ryan

CEO

Nick Ryan is an experienced CEO, Board Member and senior executive with 30 years’ experience in a range of human services industries including aged care, government, youth services and education.

He has led and advised a variety of organisations from government departments, industry representative bodies, not for profit service providers and charities.

In May 2019 Mr Ryan joined Lutheran Services from an interim position of 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 a part of Leading Age Services Australia). He has also served on the Boards of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority and the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland.

Mr Ryan 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 Yarra Theological Union and the University of Canberra.

Cara Benoit

Executive Lead People and Culture

Cara Benoit is an experienced Executive and Board Director with over 25 years experience in Human Resources and Commercial management positions in both the non-profit and the private sector and across a variety of industries throughout Australia and Asia Pacific.

Cara holds a BA in Social Science and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management and is a Professional Certified Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Cara is experienced in guiding organisations to create a culture that creates mutual value and enables people to thrive.

Tricia Davis

Executive Lead, Customer, Marketing and Product

Tricia Davis is a strategy, marketing and business improvement professional with over 20 years’ senior level experience.

Tricia has held significant board and executive roles with community services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, and in the health, energy, water, telecommunications and transport sectors. She has assisted a number of organisations navigate transformative change including the deregulation of the Australian telecommunication and energy sectors.

Tricia holds an MBA from the University of Queensland. She is a Fellow and Certified Practicing Marketer of the Australian Institute of Marketing and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Charles Grady

Executive Lead, Corporate and Commercial

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.

Chris Seiboth

Executive Lead, Community Services

Chris Seiboth has extensive experience in leadership positions in both public sector and not for profit organisations. He has held senior executive positions in primary care, sub-acute, acute hospitals, aged care and community services.

At Lutheran Services Chris has undertaken a number of Executive Lead roles in Strategic Ministry Development, People Culture and Development and Community Services. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Services from the University of South Australia and has additional qualifications in community development and horticulture.

Kerrie Storey

Executive Lead Aged Care

Kerrie Storey has over 15 years’ experience in management and executive positions in community and aged care organisations.  She has a strong background in clinical governance, quality management and health leadership across frontline, regional and national health and aged care multidisciplinary teams.  At Lutheran Services she has introduced a new clinical governance framework, and overseen the overhaul of the governance reporting system and the introduction of a new electronic medication management system.

Kerrie is a Registered Nurse, has post-graduate management qualifications and has been certified in the Australian Business Excellence Framework leadership and management system.

Dr Leena Vuorinen

Chairperson

Dr Leena Vuorinen has served as a Council Member since 2011 and as Chair since 2021. She holds a PhD and Master of Social Sciences, both of which focus on social gerontology. Her research interests include ageing in various settings, the quality of life and lifestyles among older adults, and the social problems that vulnerable older people may face in society today.

Dr Vuorinen’s career in aged care spans more than 30 years. She has worked across service design and development, quality and continuous improvement, policy development, training and education, case coordination and care management, in both the aged care and community care sectors.

Dr Vuorinen is General Manager, Ageing Well at Deaf Connect, overseeing in-home services for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing older people in Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia.

Andrew Spyropoulos

Vice Chair

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.

Mr Spyropoulos 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.

Jennifer Danslow

Secretary

Jennifer Danslow has served as a Council Member since 2013 and as Secretary since 2019. She is currently a Senior Consultant and Lead Process Engineer with Advisian, part of the Worley Group.

Ms Danslow 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.

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.

Ms Steinhardt is 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.

Ms Steinhardt 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.

Lyn Schultz

Member

Lyn Schultz was elected as a Council Member in 2021. She brings a wealth of experience in health and community services in regional Australia, as well as academic and theological work.

In Central Australia, Ms Schultz served as a District Synod Delegate and member of the pastoral care team for the Alice Springs Lutheran Church congregation, providing cross-cultural support for disadvantaged people with multiple health issues. She has also volunteered for Lutheran Community Care in Central Australia and facilitated District welfare projects.

A resident of Dalby for more than 20 years, Ms Schultz was a longstanding supporter of clients at Waminda Services, a disability services provider. Living in Oakey today, she is an active member in a community of many ageing residents.

Theresa Stolz

Member

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.

Ms Stolz 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.

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