Afford appoints new Board Chair to lead the Australian not-for-profit in 2022 and beyond

Today, the Afford (Australian Foundation for Disability) announced that longstanding Afford Board Director and Australia Day Honours award recipient, Mike Allen, will become Chair for the Australian not-for-profit disability provider, with Carol Bryant announced as Deputy Chair.
 

For 32 years, Mike has served as a not-for-profit board member and championed opportunity and choice for people with disability. He became an Afford Board Director in 2015. 

"I am honoured to take on the role of Chair with Afford. It is a privilege to oversee the strategic growth of Afford and work alongside dedicated and passionate board members, Afford executives and frontline staff to continue to support the needs of people with disability and their families," Mike said.

Mike has over 40 years of experience in social and affordable housing, homelessness services, and Aboriginal housing. This includes executive leadership of a large NSW government department, and leading several significant reforms at both a state and national levels. He was also Chair of the former Housing and Homelessness Ministers Advisory Committee for several years.

His background will be invaluable in driving change and effective governance for Afford into the future.

In more recent years, Mike has served the community in a variety of non-government Board roles as well as advocating for people with disability in various consulting, research, and advisory capacities. Some of these roles include Chair of Wentworth Community Housing, and Board member of Aboriginal Hostels Limited and NSWALC. Housing Ltd. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

In recognition of his service to the community and commitment to the values and principles of social housing, Mike was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours in 2011. He is also a recipient of Penrith City Council's Making a Difference: Community Service Award.

Mike becomes Chair following Ross Fowler, who has held the position since 2017. Ross has stepped down from his role following increased work commitments. However, he will remain as a Board Director with Afford.

"On behalf of the Afford Board, I would like to thank Ross Fowler for his dedication to Afford. As Chair, Ross has overseen the expansion of Afford services into Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia and provided stoic guidance through the pandemic to ensure that every Afford client received continuity in support and care. We thank Ross for his leadership and welcome his continued contributions as a Board Director," Mike said.

Carol Bryant will serve as Deputy Chair for the Afford Board. She has extensive experience in executive leadership, organisational culture, business strategy, hospital accreditation, human resources and governance in complex healthcare organisations.

As the former CEO of Macquarie University Hospital and part of the executive team at Westmead Private Hospital, Carol's insight into the operation of large, complex organisations will prove valuable in guiding Afford into the future.

Both Mike and Carol were appointed into their roles on 15 December 2021.

Afford is a registered charity and has been operating in Australia for 70 years, providing a range of disability supports to thousands of people every day nationally. 

As one of Australia's longest-serving not-for-profit disability organisations, Afford supports people of all abilities to achieve their home, work, and life goals under the NDIS. 

For more information, visit www.afford.com.au or call 1300 233 673.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Jo Toohey, Afford CEO at Joanne.toohey@afford.com.au

Editor's Note: Images available here.
 

About Afford - www.afford.com.au

Afford is a registered charity providing disability services to over 6,000 people and families across Australia. Afford supports people of all abilities to achieve their goals for home, work and life under the NDIS. The not-for-profit has championed choice, respect and opportunity for people of all abilities for 70 years. The supports provided by Afford include supported accommodation, short-term accommodation, social and community programs, SLES (School Leaver Employment Supports), carer support, DES (Disability Employment Services), supported employment in ADE (Australian Disability Enterprises); allied health support, support coordination, supported holidays (Afford Getaways) and healthy lifestyle activities and outings (Club Afford).