Alzheimer's WA Leadership Team
Warren Harding - Chairman and Head of Research, Grants, and Innovation
Warren Harding (AM) was appointed to the Board in 2018/19. Warren has over 30 years of strategic management consulting and other NFP board experience. He was the former Ministerial adviser to a state Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development and held various senior government roles including Treasury.
Warren has a very broad international experience with PwC, Deloitte and Accenture at Managing Partner level in Asia Pacific serving some of the world’s largest companies in energy, mining, telecommunications; life-sciences, health and public sector. He has been an External Adviser to McKinsey & Company. He has led major organisational transformations involving complex OPEX/CAPEX budgets; major technology change and has a track record of building culture and developing talent.
He was a co-founder of the Future of Work Institute in WA and has been a regular speaker on future work skills, and the human factors of digitisation; AI and Automation and digital health accutive technology and wearables.
He was the Minister for Health’s Nominee on the Sustainable Health Review (2017-2019) and has strong views around financial sustainability, addressing inequity of regional access and delivery, the opportunity for digital health and assistive technology to support care in the home, and importance of workforce training. He has real-lived experience with dementia as a carer. He was appointed by the State Government to the Board, Disability Services Commission in 2020.
Warren holds a Bachelor of Science (First Class Hons) from the University of Western Australia, a Graduate Diploma in Media (AFTRS); was a British Council Scholar at London School of Economics; and holds an Adjunct Professorship to the Curtin Faculty of Health Sciences.
Ella Dachs - Chief Executive Officer
Ella Dachs has over twenty years of consulting experience in change management and is an experienced People and Organisation Culture Change professional. Her career began in Tax, then Human Resources and continued on to Change Management and Talent Development. She has held operational and leadership roles and has developed a comprehensive understanding of different industry sectors across multiple geographies.
Ella is the CEO and leads a dedicated team of talented professionals who have extensive experience in Care and Support Services, People and Culture, Education, Consulting, Finance, Marketing, Brand and Digital Strategy. The team is committed to providing high quality, person-centred services that can improve the lives of those living with dementia.
Ella holds a B.Bus. Organisational Psychology and Human Resources Management (UCT) and a Post Grad. Dip. Marketing (IMM). She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion to ensure Alzheimer’s WA delivers on our purpose, to be the dementia care experts and ensure AWA is an employer of choice.
“At Alzheimer’s WA, we look forward to developing trusted relationships with our ageing community and working with you, your family, friends and loved ones to enable and empower our ageing to live independently in their own homes for longer and to age in place with dignity in order to become truly inclusive dementia-friendly communities”
Sana Tariq – Executive Officer
Sana brings a wealth of expertise and a distinguished track record of excellence to our team, derived from over eight years of close collaboration with top executives, CEOs, and board members. She has adeptly navigated diverse work cultures and dynamics across multiple industries, including retail, real estate, and environmental services. As a seasoned professional, her core strengths encompass providing strategic support to senior leadership, ensuring seamless operations, and facilitating informed decision-making processes.
Renowned for her unwavering commitment to excellence and meticulous approach, Sana consistently strives to optimize organizational performance and foster a collaborative work environment. Her proactive and positive demeanor is instrumental in driving success and ensuring long-term growth.
Nigel Holmes – Head of Finance and Operational Performance
The Aged Care sector is going through significant change and Nigel’s role is focused on creating financial value for the organisation and its members. To achieve this, we need to ensure we have robust systems and processes in place. Being able to introduce improvements and efficiencies to realise value provides job satisfaction.
Nigel has significant finance and commercial experience from working across various industries in senior finance roles. Working for Alzheimer’s WA has allowed him to be part of a values-based organisation that addresses the needs of those living with dementia.
Nigel is a Member of CPA Australia and enjoys mentoring finance staff to help them achieve CPA membership
Annette Frazer - Finance Manager
Annette has over 27 years’ experience in the Not-for-Profit Sector, with experience in Disability, Aged Care, AOD, FDV and Youth Justice. Prior to entering the sector, she worked with Wool and Technology based organisations. Where her passion for quality and IT first began. Being part of the sector does not mean just working in it for Annette, who has had various roles on committees and is chair of the CPA Australia WA division, not for profit committee.
Annette enjoys learning and imparting her knowledge with a Bachelor of Business in accounting and computer studies, a Master of Management Information Systems, a diploma in Quality Auditing, has just completed the AICD, directors’ course.
Annette’s aim is to share her knowledge and skills to build and develop, staff competency and organisational best practice, in ICT, accounting, risk and quality. As a FCPA Annette has a commitment to continue to grow her knowledge and skills to support this.
The most important catch phrase for Annette in recent years is “Enter once use many times” and encourages the use of Technology to achieve this.
Gajan Maheson - Marketing Manager
Gaj brings over 20 years’ experience in strategic communications, marketing, brand building and new product development across the retail, manufacturing and not for profit sectors. His career spans with organisations such as Mars, Heinz, Red Bull and Rust-Oleum working locally and overseas.
Gaj is a graduate from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia holding a Masters degree and is a Chartered Marketer from The Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.
Gaj is an avid fan of cricket and also creates family music with his wife and 2 kids for the family band called ‘The Cuddly Koalas’.
Chamila Jayalath – Senior Manager, People & Culture
As Senior Manager People and Culture at Alzheimer’s WA, Chamila is passionate about driving people and culture strategies that will accumulate to a more engaged workforce and help to establish Alzheimer’s WA as an employer of choice in Western Australia.
Chamila is a strategically and operationally oriented HR professional with over 25 years of experience and is skilled in developing and implementing people related strategy and HR management across all aspects of the employee lifecycle.
She has held senior HR positions across manufacturing, travel and tourism, disability and aged care industries in Australia and overseas. Having special interests in the areas of Leadership, Culture and Change Management Chamila has successfully and proactively led turnaround and transformational change initiatives especially within the human services sector that have added value to business growth strategies and is a strong believer in open and transparent communication across all levels of organisations.
Chamila is a Certified Practitioner Human Resources CPHR of Australian Human Resources Institute and holds a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma in Human Resource Management, and a Master of Human Resource Management from the Curtin University.
Elvin Goh - House Manager - Mary Chester, Shenton Park
Elvin Goh started off as an aged care support worker in 2015, and fell in love with aged care. Over the years, Elvin has been involved in care planning, rostering, managing day respite centres and residential facilities.
He is passionate about aged care as he wants to create meaningful memories not just for the elderly, but also carers in this part of their life journey.
He holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce, majoring in Marketing and Accounting. He is also a PMP certified project manager.
Elvin is dedicated to creating supportive environment for all clients, carers and staff.
Jennifer Quartermaine - House Manager, Walker House, Woodvale
Jennifer has over 30 years’ experience in both Disability and Aged Care. She had coordinated roles in both Adult Day Centres and HACC Coordination/Assessment. She also worked as a Care Team Leader, which involved the assessment and ongoing Case Management of clients and staff.
She has worked specifically in Dementia Care. This line of work comes very naturally to her, and she feels honoured to work at Alzheimer’s WA.
Lorraine Benson – House Manager – Hawthorn House, Albany
Lorraine is a dedicated member of the Alzheimer’s WA team, joining the organisation over 20 years ago.
For the last 7 years, Lorraine has managed the hardworking, passionate team at Hawthorn House, Albany. Hawthorn House is a respite centre, focused on delivering best practice relationship-based support in the Albany area.
Lorraine has had years of experience working with people with dementia and an enthusiastic drive to improve services.
“I feel strongly that the values of people should be respected, and that we never lose sight of the individual and their role in community and family.”
Errolette Kemp - House Manager - Ella's House, Mandurah
Originally from New Zealand, Errolette discovered her passion for the community sector while working in mental health. This early experience led her through various roles, including frontline worker, administration, and coordination, ultimately advancing into managerial positions.
With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, she has dedicated her career to mental health, disability, aged care, and community services.
Her journey has equipped her with a deep understanding of various funding schemes and a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of care and support within the community.
“I am passionate about making a positive impact and fostering inclusive environments that empower individuals’’.
