ALARA People
Board of Directors
ALARA QLD Limited is a public company limited by guarantee with members rather than shareholders.
Diane Quinn - Chairperson
BA LLB (Hons), GDipLegPrac LLM (Adv), MBA
Diane Joined the ALARA QLD Limited Board in 2022, filling a casual vacancy.
Diane worked as both a solicitor and policy adviser in local government for over 30 years and also worked for a number of years in private practice as a solicitor. She qualified as a solicitor in Queensland, England and Wales; and has worked in Brisbane, London and the United Arab Emirates. In the latter part of her career, governance was an area of particular focus.
She is experienced in the operations of NFP boards and was a member of the board of a local arts organisation as well as a member of a national professional board for a number of years.
With both her parents and her grandmothers having been nonagenarians, some of them with chronic conditions, Diane is especially interested in the provision of quality services to assist the elderly.
Louise Horneman-Wren (McLoughlin) - Company Secretary and Director
BDSc, FICD, FADI, MAICD
Louise graduated from the University of Queensland Dental School in 1985.
She has worked continuously in private practice in Rockhampton, the UK and, for the past 30 years, in the Ipswich and Boonah regions. In 2005 she acquired the Boonah practice in which she worked and became its principal dentist.
Louise has been extensively involved in the Dental profession. During her student years, she served as President of the University of Queensland Dental Students Association.
She has been a member of the Ipswich Sub-Branch of the ADAQ since 1991, serving as its secretary from 1992 to 1993, and its President in 1996 and again between 2006 and 2012. She was a State Councillor of the ADAQ from 1993 to 1996 and served as the chair of its Oral Health Committee. She was a committee member of the University of Queensland Alumni, Dental Special Interest Group from 1992 to 2003, and served terms as both its Secretary and President. From 2004 to 2012 Louise was a member of the Dental Panel of Assessors for Queensland.
In 2001 she was conferred a Fellowship by the International College of Dentists and a Fellowship of the Academy of Dentistry International in 2015. Louise has engaged extensively in support of the arts, health and education, particularly the education of indigenous students.
She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Louise has lived in Ipswich for 30 years and raised a family here.
Having had a parent with a disability, Louise is acutely aware of the vitally important attainment of dignity, the need for access to services, and that, access to services is essential to dignity.
Phillip Bell - Treasurer and Director
CPA, FAIM
Phillip joined the ALARA Board in 2018. He is currently the Director of Financial Standards and Investigations with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. He has previously held Senior and Executive Leadership roles in a diversity of sectors including Education, Banking, Finance, Transport and Health. Phillip was the President of the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2017 to 2025 and CEO of the Ipswich Hospital Foundation from 2017 to 2019. Phillip has held a number of Senior Finance roles including as CFO of Tafe Queensland South West and Director of Financial Operations for Translink. He is an experienced CPA and Financial Regulator having served senior roles with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, and with the Queensland Police Service within the Fraud Squad, Drug Squad, and Proceeds-of-Crime Task Force . He is a proud Ipswich local, and he and his wife are Directors of a family-owned company which has pastoral and agribusiness interests in the Rosewood area and in Northern NSW.
Margaret Byrne - Director
BSpThy (Hons), Cert IV Training and Assessment
Marg joined the ALARA QLD Limited Board in 2018, filling a casual vacancy. Marg brings to the role extensive experience in the area of disability and community services. She was a practising Speech Therapist / Speech Pathologist for 29 years and subsequently worked in a range of key management and project roles for Disability Services at both regional and central office levels. In the three years prior to her retirement from the Queensland Government, she held a key role in program and project management including a lead role in NDIS Transition Projects - Participant Readiness and Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC). In addition to her knowledge and experience in the area of disability services, Marg brings to the Board a sustained commitment to the creation of opportunities for people with a disability to learn, participate and be included in their local communities.
Carolyn Ehrlich - Director
BHlthSc (Nursing), GDipPHC, MAdPrac CPHC (Hons 1), PhD, MICDA
Carolyn joined the ALARA QLD Limited in 2023. Carolynhas extensive clinical and community experience as a Registered Nurse. More recently, and up until her retirement in 2022, Carolyn has worked as an Academic Researcher in the areas of disability and rehabilitation. Carolyn has published extensively in peer reviewed journals in the areas of implementation, normalisation, nursing, disability and rehabilitation. Carolyn has volunteered in several community organisations that aim to support people across life stages. Carolyn brings to the board career and leadership experience across acute and community organisations that provide health and wellbeing care and support for people across the lifespan, in both clinical and academic capacities.
Belinda Huig - Director
BSocSc, GradCertMgt, Cert in Residential Care
Belinda joined the ALARA QLD Limited Board in 2024, filling a casual vacancy.
Belinda brings over 35 years’ experience in the disability sector in areas such as Accommodation, Respite and Community Services as well as Family Support, Positive Behaviour Support, and Self Directed Funding. More recently and up until Belinda’s retirement in August 2024, Belinda managed Human Resources for a Queensland Government Department including HR General Advice, Industrial Relations and HR Reporting and Systems.
Supporting a mother-in-law who is aging and accessing Aged Care services, Belinda is aware of the need for services to be individualised and person centred while continuing to provide dignity for the person.
However, Belinda’s most important role is as a mum and grandmother to children and grandchildren with disability. This is where her commitment to give back to the community comes from in order to create opportunities for people with disability to be valued, have choices in their lives, participate fully in their community and fulfill their dreams.
Brenden Harris - Director
BEC, BCom, CPA
Brenden joined the ALARA Board in July 2025, bringing 18 years of experience in the accounting industry, most of which has been with a large Ipswich-based firm. He holds a Bachelor of Electronic Commerce and a Bachelor of Business Communication, and is a member of CPA Australia.
A proud Ipswich local educated in the city at all levels, Brenden is deeply connected to his community. He offers expertise in financial management, governance, and strategic advisory, together with lived experience as the son of two parents with disabilities who have now transitioned to aged care.
This unique combination of professional skill and personal insight underpins his commitment to ALARA’s mission of building inclusive communities.
Management
Judy Dickson - Chief Executive Officer
B. Sp Thy; B.A.; Grad Dip. Man; Dip. Com Sec Man; JP (Qual); MICDA; Dip. Gov, FICDA
Judy has over 30 years of experience in the Disability Sector, initially as a Speech Pathologist and for 25 years in Senior Management and leadership roles. She possesses extensive experience in the development and provision of innovative and responsive services to address the broad range of support needs of people with a disability including accommodation support, respite, day and community access services, lifelong learning programs, employment services, specialized transport services, information and case management services, technology and assistive equipment services and Allied Health services.
Judy has presented numerous papers at State and National Conferences predominantly related to the provision of community-based accommodation support, community inclusion and participation, ageing and disability, transition and retirement planning and the impact of funding and legislative changes on the sector. She has actively participated at local, state and federal levels in a range of consultation and focus groups around issues and initiatives relevant to the disability and broader community sectors and has contributed as a sector representative on State and National Reference Groups. Judy was also a member of the NDS Qld Committee for a number of years.
Outside her paid roles, she has served on a number of committees of management for a range of community groups, in the childcare, and education sectors and is a past board member of a national disability employment provider.
Iain Smaill - Chief Financial Officer
BBS(acc); PGDipBus; CA
Iain has been a Chartered Accountant for over 25 years with experience in Financial Services, Media and Not-for-Profit sectors.
He has previously held executive roles as Chief Operating Officer, Company Secretary and at times Acting CEO at Vision Christian Media, and Former Director, Company Secretary at UCB Asia Pacific Limited.
Iain has extensive Information Technology experience, ranging from previously being a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, Database DBA, Developed and ERP/CRM implementor.
Iain is married with two children and community connections through church involvement.
Tracy Johnstone - Chief Service Manager (NDIS)
BN, Dip Bus, Cert IV FLM, Cert IV TAE
With a primary focus on care delivery, Tracy joined ALARA in 2007 moving quickly into a Coordination Role and then a Team Leader position. Currently in the role as ALARA’s Senior Plan Manager and Practice Advisor, Tracy is dedicated to recognising potential and supporting growth across the team.
With current responsibilities including onboarding of new staff, Tracy has a focus on training and service delivery, ensuring staff provide quality support in a safe and holistic way.
Strongly believing that to challenge others you must be challenged yourself and with a goal to empower and support those around her, Tracy is a strong supporter in the growth of quality services being delivered to ALARA clients.
When not at work Tracy enjoys spending time with her family, heading to the local markets and embracing a crossword or two!
Narelle Schaffer - Manager Systems Support
Assoc. Dip Acc.; Cert.IV Frontline Management, Dip. Business
Narelle has been employed in the Finance area of ALARA for nearly 20 years, holding a number of positions before being appointed to the position of Manager Systems Support. She came to the organisation with extensive experience in finance, administration and training.
Narelle holds qualifications in the areas of accounting and business management. She has extensive expertise in the area of effective use of our client relationship management system and management of the interface with accounting, payroll and statistical functions.
Narelle’s goal is to ensure quality back office support and a high level of customer service to underpin ALARA’s service delivery and continue to adapt our systems and processes to ensure a seamless transition into a new operating environment.
Colleen Henderson – Team Leader Support Coordination
LLB BBus (IntBus) (Honours) GradDip Legal Prac.
Colleen Henderson is a passionate disability advocate and legal professional with a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals. Admitted as a solicitor in Queensland, she has worked across both private legal practice and community legal services, always with a focus on equitable access and social justice.
With more than 15 years of experience in the disability sector, Colleen has played a key role in supporting individuals and families through significant sector reforms, including the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Since joining ALARA in 2019, she has been instrumental in developing and leading the organisation’s Support Coordination services. As Team Leader, she continues to drive person-centred, inclusive outcomes, ensuring that people with disabilities are supported with dignity, respect, and genuine choice and control. Drawing on both her legal background and extensive sector experience, she is committed to empowering individuals to navigate complex systems, exercise their rights, and achieve their goals.
Colleen finds joy in spending time with her family at the beach, exploring new places through travel, and sharing her love of cooking with those around her.
Charles Wright – Business Manager
BCom, MCom, CPA
Charles joined ALARA QLD Limited in May 2025.
Charles is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience serving in finance roles across a diverse range of sectors, including investment banking, global corporations, and the not-for-profit space and has worked in Sydney, Auckland, and Brisbane.
Recently he has worked in not-for-profit organisations including the Wesley Mission Qld. and Churches of Christ and was responsible in a finance capacity across numerous support programs including, youth and family, housing and homelessness, disability, emergency relief and more recently in Home Care.
He also holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in commerce and brings a disciplined yet forward-thinking approach to every organisation he partners with.
Charles is excited about the Australia Government’s reform of in-home aged care that is designed to offer more personalised, adaptable, and coordinated care services and will work with ALARA Qld to support growth in this changing landscape.