Meet our Board

A Dedicated Group of Professionals

Rebecca Nicholls 2023 NESA Board Headshots 300x300 - Our Board

REBECCA NICHOLLS​

APPOINTED: 17 NOVEMBER 2016

QUALIFICATION
Bachelor of Social Sciences

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Chair of NESA
Convenor of NESA Succession and Remuneration Committee

EXPERIENCE
Rebecca has 21 years of experience working in government funded employment services, 7 years experience in Occupational Rehabilitation and 3 years experience in private recruitment.

Karen Rainbow 2023 NESA Board Headshots 1 300x300 - Our Board

Karen Rainbow

APPOINTED: 25 NOVEMBER 2022

QUALIFICATION
Bachelor of Education

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee

EXPERIENCE
Karen has 30 years of experience in employment services including Workforce Australian and Disability Employment Services. Karen’s roles include 8 years as CEO Employment Services at APM.

Karena Newland 2023 NESA Board Headshots 300x300 - Our Board

Karena Newland

APPOINTED: 24 NOVEMBER 2023

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Member of NESA Succession and Remuneration Committee

EXPERIENCE
Karena has 20 years Executive level experience in Employment Services, in both not-for-profit and commercial organisations. Karena’s operational management roles include Chief Operating Officer, National Operations Manager and General Manager, and her executive roles include People and Culture and Quality, Audit and Compliance. Karena is the CEO of Jobfind and uLaunch.

NESA Board Headshots 300x300 - Our Board

KENNY BEDFORD

APPOINTED: 15 FEBRUARY 2024

QUALIFICATION
Bachelor Applied Health Science, Indigenous Primary Health Care, University of Queensland
Diploma of Australian Rural Leadership, James Cook University
Graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, Course 20
Completing Masters of Indigenous Business Leadership, Monash University (Graduate 2024)

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee

EXPERIENCE
Kenny has broad knowledge and a depth of experience working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities in a range of settings, from the most remote locations to urban environments. He has diverse Board and governance experience.

Kieren Kearney 2023 NESA Board Headshots 300x300 - Our Board

KIEREN KEARNEY

APPOINTED: 24 NOVEMBER 2023

QUALIFICATION
Bachelor of Applied Science
Master of Business Administration
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Fellow of the Institute of Employability Professionals

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Member of NESA Succession and Remuneration Committee

EXPERIENCE
Kieren has over 20 years’ experience delivering employment services in every state and territory of Australia with both private and not-for-profit providers. Kieren is currently the CEO of Workways, who provide employment and environmental services up the East Coast from Gippsland to Cairns.

Mark Hoffman Davis 2023NESA Board Headshots 300x300 - Our Board

MARK HOFFMAN-DAVIS​

APPOINTED: 3 MARCH 2023

QUALIFICATION
Graduate of the AICD

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Convenor of NESA Audit and Risk Management Committee

EXPERIENCE
Mark has over 25 years experience as an influential leader, executive and company director across multiple industries. Mark is the CEO of SYC, who provide employment, training, housing and disability services nationally.

Ron Maxwell 2023 NESA Board Headshots 300x300 - Our Board

Ron Maxwell

APPOINTED: 25 NOVEMBER 2022

QUALIFICATION
Bachelor of Business (Economics)
Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee

EXPERIENCE
Ron has 20 years experience in the commercial sector and has held a number of senior level management positions in the not-for-profit sector. Ron has been the CEO of VERTO for 8 years and is also a Director of the National Australian Apprentices Association and a Director of the Independent Tertiary Education Council of Australia.