Governance reimagined

Leading to inspire change in the aged care sector

Rockpool Songbird Oxley

Rockpool's Board Members

Rockpool’s Board includes some of the sectors most highly regarded professionals dedicated to creating homes unlike any other. Each possesses the experience, expertise and passion in line with Rockpool vision of life reimagined. Their guidance and governance are complemented by a diverse range of skills and knowledge from a highly professional team.

Bill Summers

Executive Chairman

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Cathy Meyer

Non-executive Director

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Melissa Argent

Chief Executive Officer

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Patrick Staunton

Non-executive Director

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Michael Watson

Chief Financial Officer

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Anthony Vedelago

Non-executive Director

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Karen Conroy

Facility Manager

Karen has a passion for nursing leadership and has over thirty years’ experience in health with expert clinical knowledge in a range of practice settings including Medical Surgical, Residential, Subacute, Rehabilitation, Brain Injury and Psychogeriatric.

 

Karen facilitates the delivery of high-quality nursing care, blending her skills in chronic and acute illness to ensure an individualised person-centred approach to the nursing care of all our residents. Karen is very approachable and has an enthusiastic attitude to her work and the desire to ensure the aged care industry has a voice.

 

When not at work Karen will be boating on the high seas, actually she is really a fair-weather boater who is terrified of the high seas and is devoted to her family.

Emma Van Leeuwen

Facility Manager

Emma brings not only brings her extensive experience in the Aged Care sector spanning over 14 years, but a strong dedication and passion for leading great teams and delivering empathetic resident care.

 

Emma’s journey in the industry began as an Assistant in Nursing, and since then, she has continuously demonstrated her commitment to excellence.  Coming from a Facility Manager role, Emma’s direct experience will complement our strong team here at Rockpool Morayfield seamlessly.

 

On a personal note, Emma shares her excitement in becoming a part of our community. She is not only dedicated to her professional role but also cherishes her time with her family, enjoying moments at the beach, gym sessions, hiking adventures, and a bit of chocolate!  However, it’s worth noting that pumpkin and ironing are not her cup of tea!

Rebecca Burgess

Facility Manager

Rebecca (Bec) believes everyone deserves great care and she’s passionate about making connections with residents and their families. Each resident has a story to tell and she finds herself being privileged to be a part of that journey.

 

As a qualified nurse Bec has worked in aged care for the past 22 years, the last 14 years in facility management roles across residential and district hospital settings. One of her greatest professional accomplishments was becoming a finalist at the 2011 Hesta Nurse of the Year Awards. 

 

In her spare time, Bec loves reading and going to the beach and is fan of dinosaur and shark movies. She’s also a mother to 6 children, so caring comes second nature to her!

Ian Kelleher, Rockpool Residential Aged Care's COO

Ian Kelleher

Chief Operating Officer

Ian has over 25 years’ experience in leading diverse business functions in the highly regulated telecommunications sector, human services and tourism industries. Over the years Ian has developed deep capabilities in leadership, operations, marketing, technology, strategy, innovation, modern work practices, project management, financial management and delivery.  These skills are crucial for advancing Rockpool’s strategic vision.  

 

Ian is an authentic, dynamic leader and is driven by a strong purpose to make a positive impact on people’s lives.  He empowers those around him, is curious to learn, has the courage to innovate, all while keeping things simple.  A passion of Ian is connecting with people and is dedicated to the personal development and mentoring others. He loves a new challenge, while having fun along the way.  You will often find him alongside others training for a new adventure, attending major events or volunteering his time to advance one of his passion projects in Outback Queensland.

Desma-Ann Van Rosendal

Chief of Quality & Innovation

With over 25 years in Aged Care, Desma has filled a variety of positions across Australia including Quality and Compliance Manager, Staff Development and Training Manager, Facility Manager, Chief Executive, Industry Consultant, Quality Assessor and Mediator. Desma is skilled in change management and team development. She is passionate about creating a culture that values cooperation and collaboration to achieve common goals.

 

Desma believes that by leading and partnering with team members, a sense of community is built which empowers the team to provide care and services in a way that enhances the quality of life for those who live in residential aged care. Desma has no doubt that Rockpool is an organisation that can offer these values to any resident seeking residential care.

Jimina Silvestri

Resident Relations Manager

Jimina is one of the leading Resident Relations Managers in aged care and comes to Rockpool with a breadth of experience of relationship building for our resident relations team and has over 20 years’ experience in Client Relations and Sales teams.

 

Jimina is responsible for leading Rockpool’s occupancy and engaging with local community groups. She works closely with teams on the ground to ensure our new family’s experience a smooth transition into aged care. Empowering and supporting Rockpool’s team to deliver exceptional care to every resident as they make their journey into Rockpool’s Residential Aged Care.

 

Prior to Aged Care, Jimina worked in Public Relations, Insurance, Sales Management, Client Relations and Property Sales working closely with developers on the Sunshine Coast. She currently holds licences and certificates from Financial Services Institute of Australia and Property Sales.

 

Jimina is constantly recognised for going the extra mile from start to finish when assisting families when making difficult decisions with their journeys into aged care.

Roman Summers

Development Manager

As development manager, Roman’s responsibilities lay mainly within ensuring Rockpool deliver the best built form outcomes for our residents. However he takes an interest in all parts of the operations of Rockpool to ensure we use learnings from all facets of our business. As most in aged care, he has a varied past, undertaking studies in engineering and psychology. The common thread being a passion for critical thinking and problem solving.

 

Roman is passionate about photography, basketball and food. He takes great delight that his friend’s often can’t tell the difference between the food photos taken at Rockpool or at fine dining. Residents often recognise him as the man with the camera during special events. Roman also works closely with Cathy Meyer on the Living Memories project, documenting some of the interesting facets of our resident’s lives.

Sam Henry - Rockpool Residential Aged Care's Marketing Coordinator

Sam Henny

Marketing Coordinator

Sam is an innovative and forward thinker and is passionate about the digital revolution ongoing within the aged care sector. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing/economics and has worked in a variety of different sectors throughout his career; from marketing within the kids toy industry; working as a mortgage broker; to concierge services within a luxurious five-star hotel. 

 

 

His unique and diverse experience within these environments enables him to bring a range of ideas and unique perspectives to better enhance the vision and implementation of marketing strategies here at Rockpool.

 

 

Outside of work, Sam is an avid Football (soccer) fan and committed father to two girls.   

Greg Beaver

Hospitality & Services Manager

Greg has a passion for hospitality in Aged Care, bringing his vast experience from within the sector as well as 5-star hotels and acclaimed restaurants. His experience allows him to deliver the highest standard of hospitality at Rockpool Carseldine. Greg is a big advocate for true partnering with our residents, ensuring a person-centered approach to hospitality at Rockpool.

 

Greg empowers his team of catering, cleaning, laundry, and maintenance staff to deliver a world-class hospitality service on a daily basis that contributes to a beautifully lived environment at Rockpool. You will find Greg in the dining rooms every day, engaging with residents or simply having a chat over coffee.

 

When not at Rockpool, you can find Greg pursuing his second passion on the rugby pitch, coaching, or at home entertaining friends and family.

Cheryl Norlander

Finance Manager

Cheryl Tether

HR Business Partner Lead

Cheryl Tether is the Human Resources Business Partner Lead across the Rockpool RAC Group.  Cheryl has over 20 years experience partnering with organisations to develop the full potential of one of their most valued assets – their people.   Cheryl has a passion for the health industry, having worked in the sector for the last 10 years.
 
Cheryl completed her Masters in Business (HR) in 2020 and has a keen interest in the areas of psychological safety, employee engagement and industrial regulations.  To compliment her education, Cheryl has also studied a Diploma in Workplace Health and Safety and Cert IV in Training & Assessment.
 
As the HR Business Partner Lead for Rockpool, Cheryl believes in cultivating a workplace that values curiosity, honesty, integrity, and empathy. These core values drive innovation, foster trust, maintain ethical behavior, and create a supportive and inclusive environment for our team.

Latika Dumaru

Clinical Manager

Latika has been working as a registered nurse for over 12 years in a range of healthcare settings including gerontology, medical and rehabilitation. Latika has specialised in Palliative care as it is her passion to ensure positive palliative outcomes for older individuals and their families.

 

Latika treats her residents as family with a calm sweet nature and has a focus on a person- centred care, when residents are fortunate to encounter these characteristics of an exceptional nurse, it makes their care experience that much better. When not at Rockpool Latika loves spending time with her children and can cook up a storm in the kitchen.

Jade Miles

Clinical Manager

Jade has been working within the health care sector for the past 16 years in a range of settings including Aged care, acute care and general practice. Jade has worked her way through aged care starting out as a personal carer and moving through the ranks to her current role as Clinical manager. Jade has a passion for wound care, leadership and quality and safety.

 

Jade likes to ensure all of her staff and residents are treated like family and provided with remarkable person-centred clinical care each day. When not at Rockpool Jade loves spending time with her husband, children and Charlie her beloved Cavoodle. 

Bill Summers

Executive Chairman

As a co-founder of Rockpool Residential Aged Care, Bill is driven by passion and an unwavering belief that aged care is about providing care and enhancing quality of life.

 

A driving force in the evolution of the industry for more than three decades, Bill has founded, managed and overseen some of Australia’s leading aged care groups.

 

My passion for aged care comes from a desire to make the end-of-life experience for residents in residential aged care really positive.

 

After three decades in the industry, I’m still enthralled by the possibilities of residential aged care.

 

At Rockpool, the Board prioritises the workforce, in the knowledge that if we look after our team, they will look after and care for our residents. Our workforce is empowered to support each other and to look for opportunities to make each day, each shift, meaningful for our residents.

 

Aged care should be prioritised as it has the power to spark hope, allowing older Australians to look forward to tomorrow with anticipation and enthusiasm.

 

At Rockpool, we are proud to be different. We design, build and operate our own residential aged care homes. This approach allows our workforce to work efficiently and for our residents to live in an environment which many have aspired to their entire lives.

Michael Watson

Chief Financial Officer

  • Chartered Accountant
  • Bachelor of Commerce (The University of Queensland)

A co-founder of Rockpool Residential Aged Care, Michael is one of the most respected financial minds in the industry and is responsible for creating the framework behind the Rockpool vision of Life reimagined.

 

An experienced Chartered Accountant, Michael has more than 40 years’ experience managing the financial affairs and performance of some of Australia’s leading aged care groups.

 

Over the past four decades, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly in aged care.

 

Rockpool is the culmination of a plan to cherry pick everything that is great about aged care and making it the best experience for residents, their families, our workforce and the broader industry.

 

I’ve watched relatives go through the aged care process. Some have had wonderful experiences, while others have not. At Rockpool I believe we can make a difference, by listening to and providing residents with exactly what they want in aged care.

 

We’re deliberately a boutique provider based solely in south-east Queensland, which has attracted a very experienced management team, which in turn has allowed us to create a caring, happy culture for residents and staff.

 

I’m passionate about aged care and making a difference in people’s lives. At Rockpool, I get the opportunity to do both.

Melissa Argent

Chief Executive Officer

  • Master of Business Administration MBA (University of Southern Queensland)
  • Graduate Certificate in Health Management (Queensland University of Technology)
  • Bachelor of Nursing (Griffith University)

 

Melissa Argent is one of Australia’s most dynamic and innovative aged care leaders and ensures Rockpool’s residents live their best lives in a caring, supportive and compassionate environment.

 

Melissa is committed to leading a culture of excellence, professionalism, quality outcomes and collaborative practice, which is always resident focused.

 

Every Australian deserves exceptional aged care, irrespective of their needs. At Rockpool, the team and I ensure aged care is a celebration of life. It’s an honour to provide support, dignity and joy to our residents in a happy and nurturing environment.

 

Aging is a privilege and I want to give older Australians the care, accommodation and lifestyle they deserve.

 

At Rockpool, we’re doing something that nobody has done before by showcasing what is possible for older Australians living in residential aged care. It’s taking the time to get to know each resident, so they can live with purpose and happiness.

 

In Australia, there is a total misperception about how and why we should care for older people. At Rockpool we celebrate our residents by honouring their extraordinary lives in an environment which is safe, secure, inclusive, contemplative, reflective and vibrant with life.

Cathy Meyer

Non-executive Director

  • RN – Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney
  • Bachelor of Health Science & Administration (CQUniversity)

Cathy has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of traditional and institutional thinking within the aged care sector and creating opportunities for change for our managers, staff and residents.

 

With a 50-year career spanning nursing, workplace assessment and accreditation, auditing, operations and executive management, Cathy is valued, respected and admired for her unwavering standards and unrelenting energy.

 

Cathy is driven to create change and focus on resident care which includes the entire emotional, mental, social and physical aspects of a person’s life.

 

At Rockpool we have a community of residents who are encouraged to feel empowered to take risks and be independent within a culture that is supportive and nurturing.

 

Our beautiful living environments are complemented by everyday inclusions (cinema, hairdressing salons, community café) which provide a sense of respectful connection, and engagement.

 

We’ve reimagined what aged care can be. It’s not isolation and loneliness. It’s a safe, stimulating environment where care is tailored to meet a resident’s needs and wishes.

Staff are our pathway to delivering good care and services.  

 

At Rockpool, residential aged care is an environment that provides safe harbour for residents and their families. After their long lives of working and enduring mental, social, physical and medical stresses, we have a responsibility to create an environment where residents can really live a life worth living.

 

Patrick Staunton

Non-executive Director

  • Graduate Diploma, Advanced Accounting (Queensland University of Technology)
  • Bachelor of Accounting and Human Resource Management (University of Southern Queensland)

An experienced Chartered Accountant, Chief Executive Officer, business owner and Non-Executive Board Director, Patrick brings three decades of best practice and administrative advice to Rockpool.

 

Patrick’s extensive aged care experience and financial knowledge ensures Rockpool achieves its impressive business and care goals while driving industry wide change.

 

To me, aged care is a service industry, but Rockpool is doing it very differently to other providers but offering residents a better quality of life, more options, care with dignity and providing leadership to the entire sector.

 

Our motto is Life reimagined, and that’s exactly what we’re doing at Rockpool. We’re removing the stigma surrounding aged care and showing people what can be done and why it can and should be better for residents, their families and our aged care workers.

 

It is essential aged care is prioritised because aging with dignity and respect is a basic right, not a privilege. Residents and their families want and deserve options when they age and to be involved in the decision making and care process. At Rockpool we provide residents with world-class care and accommodation in an environment they want to be in, not because they have to.

Anthony Vedelago

Non-executive Director

  • Bachelor of Engineering (The University of Queensland)

An experienced civil engineer, with extensive experience in property management, finance and investment, Anthony’s enviable strategic planning skills and insight underpin Rockpool’s success.

 

An analytical thinker, Anthony ensures Rockpool remains focused on long-term business goals while delivering exceptional care.   

 

What sets Rockpool apart is the passion and commitment to deliver exceptional aged care. To me, that’s very inspiring.

 

There is an incorrect belief that aged care is a synonym for end of life. At Rockpool, it isn’t, it’s a whole new world that can generate excitement, passion and new opportunities for our residents and their families.

 

In addition to providing superior care, the Rockpool team also provides superior life experiences and services within a beautiful setting which has elite facilities and activities for the residents.

 

You don’t realise it at the time, but life is often about caring for others, be it your children, grandchildren or your parents and constantly putting their needs above your own. Rockpool is an opportunity for residents to prioritise their own needs and wants and to receive the care and support they have earned and deserve.