7 minute read
Meet the Senior Leadership team
Samantha Hunter – Chief Executive Officer
Sam was appointed to the role of CEO by the Board of Directors in September 2018 and given the mandate to drive transformation and growth in the association to ensure longevity, ongoing contemporary relevance and increased influence through representation and advocacy.
Over the past four years Sam has led, developed and grown a highly skilled team who have successfully achieved solid growth and increased awareness and representation of the profession with key stakeholders, agencies and government agencies and ministerial portfolios.
Sam has over 25 years of experience as both a senior leader and board director working across corporate, professional services and not-for-profit organisations. She has a breadth of experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams across sectors and understands the nuances of complex and competing political environments. Sam strives to work with members, government and stakeholders to create collaborative solutions for an engaged and resilient profession.
Sam is a natural communicator with high level business development skills demonstrating consistently strong growth, with a strong focus and belief in continual learning and development and looks for opportunities to develop her team to be inspired leaders and to be at the forefront of innovation in their sectors.
In her spare time Sam is an enthusiastic but inconsistent golfer, sings in a choir, collects art and has her hands full wrangling office dog Rosie, the wild dog Poppy, and the real boss Kitty. She is the very proud mum of Tom.
Brooke Carter – General Manager, Divisions
Brooke joined OTA in February 2020 as Queensland Divisional Manager and spent her first two years navigating the complexities of a global pandemic and contributing to policy initiatives and activities to support occupational therapists in Queensland.
Now, as General Manager Divisions, Brooke leads a team responsible for driving the association’s work at the state/territory level. This includes developing strategic stakeholder relationships, monitoring industry trends and topical issues and delivering Hot Topic events. She works closely with Divisional Councils and OTA members to provide advice and recommendations to support occupational therapists across the country.
Brooke has worked across a range of industries in Australia and the UK. Following a Bachelor of Exercise & Nutrition Science, she worked in nutrition. She then completed postgraduate studies in Business/PR and refocused her energy on contributing to initiatives which improve health and wellbeing for people and organisations. Brooke has worked in a variety of roles in training & development, stakeholder engagement, people & culture, governance, and membership associations.
Originally from New Zealand, Brooke now lives on the Sunshine Coast and spends her spare time at the beach, tinkering with the veggie garden, on creative pursuits such as pottery and painting, and exploring local places.
Erin is an experienced occupational therapist who has worked across a range of health areas including public health, community practice and private practice. Erin’s clinical experience is predominately in the area of spinal cord injury, in both adult and paediatric settings. Erin has been involved in several research activities and publications, and holds a Master of Advanced Occupational Therapy, as well as a Master of Business Administration.
Erin is the lead clinical expert at Occupational Therapy Australia, leading a team responsible for the provision of clinical oversight of professional practice for occupational therapists including practice scope and standards, and learning and development.
Erin is an experienced leader, having held a number of senior management positions at major public hospitals, following a solid grounding in various clinical roles.
Outside of work, Erin loves trail running, food and family. Erin has lived overseas and speaks two languages.
Lea Rawlings – Chief of Staff, Executive Advisor
Commencing with OTA in 2016, Lea Rawlings is experienced across the association with roles as WA Divisional Manager, Special Project Manager, and General Manager, Divisions. Currently as Chief of Staff in the Office of the CEO, Lea works closely with CEO Samantha Hunter, the Office of the CEO team members and Senior Leadership team to represent and collaborate with the portfolios to ensure delivery of the current Strategic Plan and supporting the development of our next strategy. Lea plays a key role in embedding organisational strategies into the day-to-day operations of OTA, including the Reconciliation Action Plan and the OTs in Action social justice groups.
With a bachelor’s degree in Health Science and qualifications in Workplace Training and Assessment combined with Lea’s 20 years of experience, particularly in public
health settings, high level stakeholder management, membership and project management, she ensures that OTA is always performing optimally and serving our members, stakeholders and profession with utmost care and professionalism.
When Lea is not juggling kids sport and dog walks, she likes to get on the tools and enjoys a hands-on approach to home renovating.
Rebecca Meyer – General Manager, Membership and Engagement
Rebecca joined OTA in 2014 as National Manager, Conference Events and Business Development, setting up the inaugural team that brought management of OTA’s national conference, sponsorship and advertising in-house.
Her role developed in 2019 to Head of Events and Business Development and again in 2021 to General Manager of Events and Business Development.
In July 2022, Rebecca’s role was further expanded to General Manager of Membership, Marketing/Communications, Events and Business Development. Leading a team of 15, Rebecca has accountability for strategy, structure, communications, budget, stakeholders and ensuring the teams operational plans are aligned to the OTA Strategic Plan, while working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership team.
Rebecca is a strong business professional with a Bachelor of Business Management from La Trobe University. Prior to joining OTA, Rebecca had over 15 years of experience working in Australia and overseas in event and conference management, including national conference meetings and large, complex projects.
Rebecca has developed a thorough and detailed understanding of the association and her passion, enthusiasm and attention to detail drive her to bring innovative growth to OTA.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys running, baking sweet treats, solving Sudoku puzzles and beach time with family.
Erin Eades – General Manager, Corporate Services
As a qualified Company Secretary, Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Erin brings to OTA a wealth of knowledge in connecting governance processes and improving procedures.
In her previous role at the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Erin led the HR function supporting the CEO to ensure impact and outcomes for the organisation. She also led a digital transformation of data management, marketing and fundraising capability. At the CFA, Erin gained expertise in identifying potential conflict situations, connecting executives on cross directorate issues and developing solutions to progress key outcomes.
Erin is a member of the AICD Not-for-Profit Committee and a Director of Flemington Financial Services Ltd and has held roles as Company Secretary for the Melbourne Women in Film Festival and Flemington Association. She also provides her services to smaller charities and consults for larger organisations.
Erin has a keen interest in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. She has volunteered for organisations such as Foundation House and completed an honours thesis in communicating risk to CALD communities. As a bit of an Italophile, Erin enjoys returning to Italy to brush up on her language skills.
As General Managers of Government and Stakeholder Relations, job share partners Alex Eather and Alissa Fotiades work in collaboration with the CEO and the Senior Leadership team to lead OTA’s engagement with its key stakeholders and advocating for its members. Alex and Alissa’s goal is to make sure that OTA is talking to the right people at the right level on the right issues to get the greatest impact for OTA members and the profession. They enjoy working with members and stakeholders to understand the complex challenges the sector faces and leading their team to develop policy and advocacy solutions.
Alexandra Eather
Alex worked in Victorian state government for nearly 20 years and brings a wealth of experience in government relations and communications. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts/ Commerce (Hons) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Communications and Media Studies. Before working at OTA, Alex worked with Alissa to manage the government relations team at the Environment Protection Authority. Before that, Alex worked in government relations at WorkSafe Victoria for several years, where she worked on many complex and controversial policy and stakeholder issues.
Alex enjoys baking cakes and reading cake recipe books, sewing and drawing. She is learning French in hopes of visiting Paris soon. She is usually reading a hardcopy novel and a couple of audiobooks at any one time.
Alissa Fotiades
Alissa holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons) degree and has extensive experience as a senior lawyer and policy advisor across a range of government, health and insurance settings. She has over 20 years’ experience across the health portfolio gained through working in a diverse range of clinical and government sectors. Prior to joining OTA, Alissa worked with Alex to lead the government relations team at the Environment Protection Authority and was an advisor in external affairs and health policy at WorkSafe Victoria.
Alissa enjoys going on family holidays and lunching with friends. On the weekend, she enjoys watching junior sport and in the summer, she can be often found on a beach ignoring everything but her book.
