OUR BOARD
The primary role of the CHASE Board is to ensure that the fundamental principles of CHASE, embodied in its missions, values and strategic initiatives are carried out and implemented. In performing its role, the Board aspires to excellence in governance standards.
The Board meets with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team every two months.

Hayden Fletcher
Chair
Hayden is a Senior Health Manager and Associate Fellow with the Australasian College of Health Service Management, possessing a diversity of experience within the mental health sector spanning service delivery, health service commissioning, program and project management and policy development roles. He has been a member of the CHASE Board since July 2021.
Hayden holds qualifications in Public Health with a major in Primary Health Care and Health Management from The University of New South Wales. He is a values-based practitioner, passionate about addressing health inequity experienced by young people by engaging them in decision-making on issues that affect and matter to them.
Outside of work, Hayden is a devoted father to Archie the very handsome hound, an urban cyclist, a frequenter of any excellent brunch spot and RuPaul aficionado.

Dianne Couch
Deputy Chair
Dianne has been on the CHASE Board since it’s commencement in 2013. She is an experienced Senior Executive who has led and managed health services and projects for many years. Dianne is currently the CEO CHIRP Community Health in Castlemaine. She has worked as an Executive leader in different community health services and held senior leadership roles in the hospital sector in acute, rehabilitation, aged and ambulatory care settings. She has also been the Executive Officer of a primary care partnership. Dianne has a strong commitment to the social model of health and social justice working with and in communities to achieve outcomes. This includes a focus on improving access, health and well-being, service delivery, continuums of care and equity for people. Dianne is also interested in service redesign and leading change that ensures that services and programs are regularly evaluated with clients and the community so that programs are effective, efficient and adequately meet the communities’ needs.

Shanila Paiva
Treasurer
Shanila Paiva joined the CHASE Board in August 2024, bringing her experience in leading finance functions through change across Australia and the UK. She has experience working on complex transactions (integrations and separations), IPO’s and large finance transformation projects. Previously, Shanila worked in auditing, focusing on ASX-listed financial statement and compliance audits. As a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, she brings a rigorous approach to governance, financial acumen, and commitment to advancing CHASE’s mission.

Debbie McLennan
Secretary
Debbie brings extensive senior leadership across diverse industries like offshore outsourcing, e-commerce, energy, healthcare, and media. Specialising in go-to-market strategies, business reporting, operations, and project leadership, she enhances customer and business outcomes.
Proficient in problem-solving and data-driven decision-making, Debbie has led Go-to-Market planning, partnership programs, and sales divisions. From 2011-2018, she fundraised for Balwyn High School, serving as Council President. Since January 2023, she has supported CHASE fundraising. Debbie aims for results, ROI, and growth-oriented cultures, contributing strategic vision and operational excellence to the CHASE board, promoting societal change since December 2023.

Jonathon Grech
Board Member
Jonathon is an experienced executive who has spent time in the Telecommunications and Professional Services industries, leading teams focussed on data and IT implementation, as well as commercial development and operational execution. Jonathon is currently a General Manager at Telstra, establishing separate infrastructure businesses as a part of an enterprise wide transformation agenda.
Jonathon is a leader in how organisations transform themselves to capture the opportunities presented by industry shifts and developments in technology. He has a passion for creating positive outcomes for society using technology and his collection of skills and experience

Kate Murray
Board Member
Kate is a Director with Deloitte’s Human Capital Consulting practice who has significant experience leading organisational transformation. Kate leads with a positive, engaging and caring style, focusing on creating a compelling vision for change and supporting people to make it happen. Kate has led operational, technology and culture change programs that have engaged up to 70,000 employees and 4 million customers. Kate is a skilled coach, an organisational psychologist by training and an advisory board member at CHASE since 2018.

Eresha Abenayake
Board Member
Eresha is a Management Consultant who has worked within Deloitte Risk Advisory and Deloitte Human Capital Consulting. Through consulting and previous industry experience, Eresha brings cross-sector and industry expertise in risk management, leadership, learning and capability. Eresha joined the CHASE Board in 2021 and previously served as the Senior Programs Manager at CHASE in 2017.
Eresha has a Double Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Science & Science as well as a Master of Public Health. Eresha’s studies in this field and lived experience have made her passionate about improving health equity for all Victorians.

John Coulson-Silva
Board Member
John is an experienced educator who has worked in various education leadership roles across Queensland, Thailand, and Victoria. He is currently a member of the Principal Team at a large government high school in Melbourne's western suburbs, leading work in education, wellbeing, inclusion, and student support and management. John has an in-depth understanding of strategic leadership, organisational governance, and risk management with over 15 years’ experience leading teams in frontline education workforces. In his current role for the Victorian Government, he works in partnership with Department of Education staff and external stakeholders to improve outcomes for students in learning and wellbeing. He also has extensive experience in leading the implementation of whole school wellbeing and allied health programs and policies.
John is an advocate for using education and compassionate leadership to support all students, without exception, to thrive, fulfil their potential and achieve positive learning, social and emotional outcomes. As a values-based leader, John ensures young people and their diverse voices are always at the centre of his work. John is also a passionate trauma-informed practitioner and combines his experience with post-graduate qualifications in Education Leadership to drive change and create positive learning environments for young people.

Ruth Aston
Board Member
Dr Ruth Aston is a Senior Lecturer at the Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre and Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Adolescent Health at Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Ruth has a background in public health, including working on a three-year national project investigating the workforce effectiveness of health promotion workers in New Zealand, and was awarded the Emerging Talent Award in 2014 by the Australasian Evaluation Society for her contribution to evaluation. Ruth completed her PhD in 2018, focussing on understanding implementation indicators of complex public health interventions taking action on the social determinants of health. She developed success criteria for articulating success in achieving outcomes in complex multi-level, multi-site interventions in communities aiming to achieve social change in health outcomes.
Ruth is currently researching health promoting schools initiatives, school facility sharing with community and conducting several other education reform evaluations including a professional learning program for early childhood educators to support school readiness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Victoria and the Northern Territory. She also teaches research methods and evaluation practice in the Masters of Evaluation.