Our Board

Chair: Tom Monks

Tom is the director of Tom & Co Legal. With over 48 years of lived experience in disability, Tom brings a profound understanding of the challenges and nuances faced by people with disabilities. Tom applies his unique perspective and understanding of disability in how he interacts with all clients. His insights are complemented by more than 20 years of strategic leadership experience as a non-executive director. In addition to his work in the area of promoting awareness about disability in the legal sector, Tom’s focus is to provide quality and culturally appropriate legal services to the CALD and disability communities.

Throughout his career, Tom has also made significant contributions to multicultural and youth organisations, ensuring inclusive opportunities and advocacy for marginalised communities. Tom’s long-standing dedication to empowering others and fostering equality and inclusion across various sectors.

Prior to Law, Tom was the Principal Consultant of Monks Corporate Consulting, which assisted entrepreneurs, corporations, and entities with commercial interests in the ASEAN region, focusing on strategic corporate and regulatory entry into Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

Tom is a professional member of the Law Society of Western Australia, the Family Law Practitioners Association WA, the Law Council of Australia – Family Law Section, and the Asian Australian Lawyers Association. He speaks fluent Thai and Khmer and has strong ties to his Thai heritage.

Tom received the Diversity Leader Award from the Asian Australian Lawyers Association (WA) in 2021 and the Law Society Lawyer of the Year Award in 2023

Vice Chair: Dr Bernadine Tucker

Bernadine is a partner in a consulting firm providing advisory services on complex governance matters. She has managed a number of oversight inquiries and has extensive experience working with committees, Boards and councils providing advice on corporate compliance. She has also undertaken a number of Board appointments, including audit and risk sub-committees, and is the current Chair for Technology for Ageing and Disabilities WA. Bernadine is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, has a Master of Criminal Justice by Research, and holds a PhD in governmental accountability.

Treasurer: Steve Ryan

Steve has over 20 years of experience in senior finance roles, primarily in the aged care and disability services sectors. He also contributes to several national disability services benchmarking committees through Ability First Australia.

Secretary: Zel Iscel

Zel was born blind and migrated to Australia from Turkey as a child. Zel is the Principal Consultant – Inclusive World through which she focuses on Disability Awareness Training, Consultancy, and special projects. She is also a partner of The Include Program, which conducts policy reviews. Zel has been a Senior Policy Officer with the National Ethnic Disability Alliance, a Women’s Health and Family Services Project Officer, and radio Producer and Presenter for Ethnic Ability (radio program of the Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre).

Director: Michelle Broun

A proud Yindjibarndi women living and working on Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodja. Michelle has worked at many levels and across many platforms to produce, promote, and present Aboriginal arts and culture. She is a curator, cultural planner, and creative producer. Her work focuses on engaging with community and collaborating with artists to create thought-provoking and moving experiences for audiences. She is currently the Curator, Australian First Nations Art at John Curtin Gallery.

Director: Dr Rebecca Waters

Rebecca is a Senior Academic in the Curtin School of Allied Health at Curtin University. She holds a PhD in person-centredness in human services and has extensive experience in disability, aged care, and mental health services, including leadership roles in policy and service delivery. A multi-award-winning university educator and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Rebecca has many years of experience in curriculum development and research focused on inclusion, lived experience, and responses to disclosures of abuse. She is a published author, active researcher, and committed advocate for person-centred approaches in human services.