Michele Robbins

Chair Australian Patients Association

A highly respected executive leader and board director, strategic thinker, implementer, with a strong background in pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Expertise in commercial, external/corporate affairs, patient advocacy and strategic leadership roles. Passionate about developing strategies that respond to an unmet need, and making things happen. Demonstrates a proven track record of growth and exceeding targets, together with building key stakeholder relationships across local roles based in Australia and US markets and global roles in London, UK.

Michele is an Intensive Care Nurse by training and holds an MBA. She sits on other Not-For-Profit Boards, Melanoma Patients Australia and the Continuity of Care Collaboration.

Gary Copolov

Gary Copolov

Gary is a Graduate of Monash University, where he completed studies in Law, Economics, Politics and Sociology.

He is the founder and Managing Director of Gold Medal Marketing Pty Ltd. Gold Medal Marketing was established in 1991 to assist businesses to develop and implement winning Business Development Plans. Gold Medal Marketing provides consultancy and group workshop programs to manufacturers, retailers, importers and exporters. His experience involves Marketing and Management consultancy to a wide breadth of industries.

Kaylene O’Shea

Kaylene is an experienced healthcare professional with a career spanning over 30 years in the pharmaceutical and medical research arenas. Her pharmaceutical industry career included research and development of new therapeutics and involved conducting clinical trials in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region. Consequently, Kaylene appreciates the potential value to patients who participate in clinical trials.

Kaylene has qualifications in science and business and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and serves on several not for profit boards.

Tamara Rowan

Tamara Rowan

B Nursing

Tamara has a background in health, with extensive experience in medical education, public health and the corporate sector in senior leadership and management roles. She has a keen interest in patient outcomes and advocacy having worked in public health in the areas of clinical risk, incident and complaints management. Tamara has worked in many leading hospitals and peak industry bodies.

Marlene Katz

Marlene believes in good health and vitality. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Melbourne University in Psychology, Philosophy and History and has commenced a Master’s Degree in Philosophy also.

Over many years she has participated as a Board Member on several major Organisations such as Small Business Victoria, International Women’s Association for Commerce & Industry, Board of Governors of Mt Scopus College, and several Fund Raising Boards etc.

She is concerned that so many of her generation are dying of cancer and other diseases, while their parents were not. This has resulted in a research journey which has uncovered some remarkable people, and many varied approaches to creating and maintaining Health.

Marlene brings a different perspective to the Board, one focussed on ‘Wellbeing and Prevention’.

Lisa Robins

Chief Executive Officer

Lisa Robins is an accomplished healthcare executive with expertise and experience in health service delivery and innovation. She has held leadership roles across both corporate and not-for-profit sectors, focusing on clinical service development, digital health, research, innovation, marketing, and communications. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Patients Association, Lisa is dedicated to advancing patient rights, improving healthcare access, and fostering affordability. Her commitment to compassionate care and strategic leadership continues to drive positive change within the Australian healthcare system.