Ben Wood
Chair Australian Patients Association
Ben is an experienced services executive with a track record of establishing and scaling mass work-force businesses, organically and thorough acquisition. He is an experienced chairman and has also chaired Volunteer Boards.
He brings to the Board strong strategic skills and a business acumen which will support the growth of the APA.
Stephen Mason
Director Patient Engagement
Stephen Mason(LLB BComm DipCM FCPA FCSA JP) was formerly CEO of Creative Brands Pty Ltd and Finance Director of ASX listed Lemarne Corporation Ltd for over 10 years and Company Secretary of Lemarne Corporation for 20 years.He is a Director of Heritage Brands Limited and is Chairman of its Audit Committee and is also a Director/Secretary of two other private companies.Stephen has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from Melbourne University as well as a Diploma in Corporate Management. He is a Fellow of both the CPA and CSA, where he lectures occasionally, as well as a Justice of the Peace.Stephen has had previous experience managing start up organisations and is a life member of three clubs and/or associations. He has had strong community involvement in various clubs and not-for-profit organisations, including, Lord Somers Camp, Powerhouse, the VAFA and Save our Suburbs.
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.
Sophy Athan
Ms Sophy Athan is a consumer advocate with several academic qualifications, including a Bachelor and Master of Arts, two graduate diplomas and leadership certificates. She has substantial experience as a consumer representative in cancer research projects through her role as Chair of the Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, as well as through her involvement in several other oncology-specific committees and advisory panels.
Ms Athan currently serves on a number of boards, more than twenty committees and advisory panels within the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Victorian Cancer COVID-19 Taskforce, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, University of Melbourne, Health Issues Centre, Victorian Clinical Council, VAHI, Outer East Primary Care Partnership, Endeavour College Academic Council, Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. She previously served on many other committees, including steering committees for the Department of Health and Human Services, of the Victoria State Government. Ms Athan continues to be involved around issues of mental health, disability, aged care and diversity advocating for better health outcomes for everyone. Ms Athan has been a regular presenter at conferences at national and international levels.
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’.