Rachelle Patterson Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Expand Rachelle is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) responsible for the organisation’s strategic leadership, vision and effective operation. Rachelle has been working for Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland since 2017 and prior to her appointment as CEO was the Chief Operating Officer of Human & Community Services. Rachelle has extensive experience working in the NGO and Government sectors including areas of domestic violence, mental health, out-of-home care, suicide prevention, homelessness, youth, Indigenous affairs, research, policing and criminology. Rachelle has held several executive and leadership roles across a number of locations in Australia including remote communities, regional and inner-city locations. Rachelle has also held Board Director Roles with the Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) and the Kimberley Community Legal Service (KCLS). Rachelle is strongly committed to leading staff working with people and supporting staff to engage and empower individuals to build resilient communities. She believes that this can only be achieved if staff individually live and work in accordance with our values, thereby leading by example.
John Pearson COO - Corporate and Human Resources Expand John is the Chief Operating Officer Corporate and Human Resources and oversees the Human Resources, Workplace Health and Safety, Quality Management and Corporate Support activities. John has had extensive experience at the Executive Director level in the Private, Public and Tertiary Education sectors. He has led the full range of human resource management activities with a particular focus on workforce planning, employee relations, change management, strategic advice and solutions, process improvement, quality assurance, compliance and risk management, and workplace health and safety. John is a strong advocate for creating a great workplace culture where all employees feel supported and valued with an opportunity to grow professionally and personally.
Robin Waldie PA to CEO Expand Robin joined Lifeline in 2014. The Executive Support Officer role sees Robin supporting the CEO and EMT as well as the Board of Directors and supervising the Administration team. During her career, Robin has lived and worked both in Australia and overseas and has 40 years of experience in professional admin roles in the corporate and community sector. With a wide variety of experience including roles in Marketing, IT, Corporate Quality, Project Management and Recruitment, Robin brings this knowledge and understanding to her position at Lifeline. Communicating and interacting with people is what Robin enjoys most about her role and she loves having the opportunity to do this as a Community Recovery Worker and Accidental Counsellor trainer for Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Qld Ltd.
Bridget Wray Chief Operating Officer Finance and Operations Expand Bridget is the Chief Operating Officer Finance and Operations. As well as being responsible for the finances of the organisation, Bridget also oversees the Business Division, including Retail and the ICT function. Bridget joined Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland in November 2022. She has qualifications in Accounting and Psychology and is excited to have a role in an organisation that delivers mental health programs and community support to the rural and remote communities of the Darling Downs and South West Qld. Bridget has extensive experience working and living in diverse multi-cultural communities in Africa, India, Timor-Leste and Australia. She is passionate about finding solutions to the challenges of financial sustainability in the NGO sector to help ensure ongoing quality service delivery to the communities they service. Her previous experience ranges from volunteering at a mental health NGO in India to being a Director at a Big Four accounting firm working on complex international projects. Bridget loves working with others to find practical and innovative solutions to issues, and therefore contributing to building stronger individuals, teams, organisations and communities, enabling them to thrive.