Sarajevo Conference

Brisbane Conference

Bosnia Workshops

Dubrovnik Conference

Hyderabad Conference

Ignorance of Ability Brings Disability

Team

2012 Managing Committee

Peter Binyon- President, Dr.Venkat Pulla- Vice President and Director, Kerrie-ann Wallis- Executive Treasurer, Stefan Bakaj - Secretary, Dragan Bombek , Kimberley Llyod-Jones and Palani Thevar

Conferences and Trainings Europe and Asia Pacific  2012- 2013- Sub Committee:

Overseas: Dr. Bala Raju Nikku , Nepal, Dr Abraham Francis, James Cook University, Australia

Director of Conferences and Trainings Dr. Venkat Pulla

Dr Venkat Pulla, is an Indian born Australian Human Services Management Consultant and a motivational speaker. He teaches at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Australia. Previously he held teaching and leadership positions in the Schools of Social Work, in Northern Territory University, Australia, and College of Social Work, Hyderabad, Osmania University, India. He is the founder of the Brisbane Institute of Strengths Based Practice and is the Principal of Impetus Global Consulting that offers – Strengths Based Strategies for the World. More recently he completed six weeks OvationNet AI Workshop with Dr David Cooperrider, in the spring of 2011. A confluence of the Schools of Positive Psychology, Appreciative Inquiry, and Solution focused therapies and Mindfulness practice describe the evocative approach of Dr Venkat Pulla. Dr.venkat.pulla@gmail.com, www.impetusglobal.com

Peter Binyon graduated with an Honours degree in Social Work from the University of South Australia in 1991.  He is one of the foundation members of the Brisbane Institute of Strengths Based Practice, and is a member, and past management committee member, of the AASW- Qld. Peter has worked in management and planning roles in government and non-government social services in Australia and the United Kingdom.  Peter provides facilitation and consultation services in relation to strategic, business and service delivery planning, organisational development and quality management systems. Peter has applied his management practice in community sector settings including, State Level Coordination for Canteen – The Australian organisation for teenagers living with cancer and as the President of Brisbane’s leading community Musical Theatre company, Ignatians Musical Society since 2001, producing large scale musicals that have played to critical and popular success to ten’s of thousands of patrons. Peter Binyon is a Manager in Queensland Public Sector. Peter.binyon@gmail.com

KERRIE-ANN WALLIS B.A. (Hons 1^st Class) AIMM, has been elected as Executive Treasurer 2010-2012.  Kerrie–ann is a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Customer Service Association, and the Australian Association for Psychological Type.  Kerrie-ann’s professional experience covers more than twenty years in administration & accounts management and Human Resources.  Kerrie–ann is also an Accredited Practitioner of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).  Kerrie-ann has had lifelong a passion for the arts, culture & history.  She continues to read and research comparative religions with a view to one day converting her studies to a PhD.  This year she commences post-graduate studies in Human Services to support her front-line service role with QLD Department of Communities.

Stefan Bakaj is a Slovenian born Australian Citizen. Stefan holds a degree in Visual Arts and Social Work (Hons 1^st Class). He participated in a number of group exhibitions prior to becoming a Social Worker and continues to engage with his artistic endeavours. Stefan spent some time living in Russia studying the language and culture.   He was the President of the Alumni of the University of Queensland Social Work and Human Services and continues to remain on the Alumni committee as part of the team organising professional development opportunities for Social Workers. Stefan is a contributing author in Social Work and Welfare Practice (4^th edition) by O’Connor, Willson and Sutterlund. Stefan works for the Department of Communities in Queensland Government as a Senior Social Worker. sbakaj@hotmail.com

Kimberley Lloyd-Jones graduated from the School of Human Services, Griffith University in 2002. Kimberley has worked extensively in the disability sector both with the government and non-government organisations. Kimberley currently works for the Queensland State Government in the disability services area. Kimberley manages a team who works in direct service delivery and funding. Kimberley has been a member on the board of the Queensland Advocacy Service and Palliative Care. Kimberley's particular area of interest is person centered practice and program development and implementation. kalj06@hotmail.com

Palani Thevar, BSW ( University of Queensland)  was born in the small village of U. Pudukkottai to an agricultural family near the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu.  Palani has always been deeply impressed by the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi’s work and has worked extensively in the community sector throughout India. He obtained his Masters degree in Peace Making from the Madurai Kamaraj he Madurai Kamaraj University and completed a Master of Philosophy at Gujarat Vidyapith (founded by Gandhi in 1920). Since 1996, Palani has lived in West End, Brisbane. Presently Palani is employed by the Communities department at Oxley Disability Service Centre.  palanithevar@gmail.com

Dragan Bombek, is a creative media developer and publisher , www.liberopublishing.com who designs websites for  non profits companies and medium sized businesses. Dragan has worked on all conference material for International Conferences. Dragan is one of the foundation members of of the Institute. From 2001 - 2004  Dragan worked on  Zena 21 (Women 21) - Project of NGO from Sydney supported by STARTTS  www.startts.org and Federal Department of Family and Community Services. Australia. He has founded a Dream Band Club Inc -  that organized Multicultural Performances for former Yugoslavian Diaspora in Australia. Dragan has previously designed art exhibitions since 1993 in Vienna, Austria and in Essen, Germany, He also organized the first satellite broadcasting to Bosnia since war, with help of the Eurovision Geneva.  Dragan was scenario and director of the short movie Sarajevo is ...Sarajevo. libeordb@aol.com

Members

Duncan Williams identifies himself as an aboriginal person. 'Mura Ama Wakaana' literally means 'people working together’. Duncan has put together a wonderful training package that sensitizes public servants in Queensland to the history of the aboriginal communities in Australia. Duncan's mother was instrumental in seeing that Duncan kept his contact with his nativity, culture and his people from his father's side. Duncan's maternal heritage is part Irish. Duncan is one of the founding members of the Brisbane Institute of Strengths Based Practice.

Chris Montgomery has worked in the field of intellectual disability for the last 20 years. He is widely known and respected both nationally and internationally for his work convening the annual Sharing the Road conference for disability support workers in Queensland.  Chris has worked as a direct support worker, a manager of support work and most recently in the development of statewide reporting systems. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as the foundation Secretary of the Institute.

Christine Radke has worked as a support professional and manager in the field of intellectual disability support for over two decades and has been actively involved in welfare and community support for more years than she can remember. Chris has enjoyed a number of work roles, the majority relating to direct service provision to individuals with an intellectual disability who have high and complex support needs.  Chris is one of the foundation members of the Institute.

Consultants

 Wayne McCashen is currently Manager Regional Learning Network
Learning Development Unit, at the Department of Children and Families, Northern Territory Australia. He is the author of the books The Strengths Approach: A strengths-based resource for sharing power and creating change and Communities of hope: A strengths-based resource for building community; and co-author of the card-based resource Name the Frame: Reminders for building respectful socially just decisions. Wayne has 30 years experience in the human services including youth work, family work, community development, training and professional development, staff supervision, and management. His qualifications are in the fields of social work and community development.

John Armstrong is a Social Role Valorisation  trainer. He received recognition as a Senior SRV Trainer with Dr Wolfensberger and the Training Institute in Syracuse NY. Since 1991. In addition to standard SRV and PASSING training, John conducts training and consultancy for agencies on request that can be tailored to their requirements.  More about John HERE

Michael D. Clark (MSW, LMSW) is a Consultant, Trainer and an Addictions Therapist. Currentlythe Director of the Center for Strength-Based Strategies, United States, He provides training and/or onsite technical assistance to mental health, criminal justice and child welfare organizations throughout the United States, as well as Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and Micronesia. More about Michael HERE

Lesley Chenoweth BSocWk, MSocWk, PhD is the foundation Professor of Social Work at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia and is Head of the Logan Campus of Griffith University. She has more than thirty years experience as a social work practitioner and academic, twenty of these in the disability area. She is a regular consultant to government and community organisations and has served on numerous boards and committees for disability, legal and family welfare agencies. Lesley is a regular invited speaker at conferences both in Australia and overseas. Lesley has participated in every conference of the Institute. www.griffith.edu.au/health/research-centre-clinical-community-practice-innovation/staff/professor-lesley-chenoweth

Rita Kugler is a Chartered Accountant with nearly 20 years experience in the private, public and community sectors. Early in her career Rita joined the international firm KPMG where she gained valuable experience and training in auditing, systems assessment and process improvement both in Australia and USA. Managerial roles awakened in Rita the desire to increase her skills in understanding human behaviour. To this end Rita has completed Master practitioner level in Neuro linguistic Programming (NLP) and other personal and group development processes. Rita is passionate about self-development and the importance of values based studies/programs in understanding and shaping behaviour. She is also passionate about raising awareness about the environmental and sustainability issues faced by our planet today. Rita was born in Argentina and migrated to Australia with her parents and sister in 1977. Rita was invited to the Brisbane Institute of Strengths Based Practice, as its founding member and fulfilled the role of treasurer for 2 years and since her move to New South Wales, continues to be an advisor on financial and general management to the Institute.

Ram, mainly known as Mr. Karuppiah Ramanathan, an accountant by profession, Ram has received best Business Excellence awards in Queensland for his turn over and rapid expansion of his business called Remox Exchange. Ram has been the Treasurer on the board of management for two years 2008 and 2009  Ram is a member of the National Institute of Accountants in Australia.

Coralie Graham has worked as a Registered Nurse for many years in addition to completing her PhD at the University of Southern Queensland which examines which Psychological Strengths Older Australians living in the community use in maintaining their health. Coralie has an interest in researching in the area of positive psychology, including the impact of resilience, adaptability and spirituality on health.