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Our Team

Meet Invictus Australia Patron, Ambassadors, Board, Research Advisory Committee and Staff

Patron & AMBASSADORS

General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd)

Patron Invictus Australia
General Cosgrove was instrumental in bringing the Invictus Games to Australia, being involved from the very outset of the bidding to secure the Games in Sydney right through to the closing ceremony. Sir Peter Cosgrove said upon his appointment as Patron Invictus Australia. “The Sydney Invictus Games shone a light on plight of our veterans and their families. At the closing ceremony I urged all Australians not to turn off that light.” “Invictus Australia is about using the power of sport to improve the quality of life of veterans and their families. I’m delighted to be supporting their important work as Patron.” “The men and women who have served our country need our support, particularly as they return to the civilian community. The Australian public responded wonderfully to the Invictus Games in Sydney. The challenge is to now keep that level of support and understanding going.We must all commit to promoting ways of rehabilitating the servicemen and women who have served our nation and who now need our support. Sport is a powerful vehicle for rehabilitation and reintegration but importantly is also one that can proactively support the general wellbeing of our community.”

Gwen Cherne 

Invictus Australia Ambassador and Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner (Repatriation Commission)
Gwen Cherne was an Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Ambassador just a year after her husband Pete died by suicide, calling for greater understanding of the challenges faced by defence personnel and their families, who often grapple with public misconceptions about the challenges of service life. Appointed as the inaugural Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner on the Repatriation Commission in August 2020, Gwen is the daughter and granddaughter of veterans, a contemporary Australian War Widow and the mother of a currently serving Defence member. Since the death of her husband she has dedicated herself to advocacy for Australian war widows, defence and veterans’ families, suicide prevention and mental health awareness. “I want to share my story, raise my voice and be in the space, so that when others are willing and able and ready to raise theirs, people listen,” said Cherne. “The Games encourages resilience and connection. Veterans can take something tragic and do something really good with it.  They prove how much they can grow from it, gain acceptance, find purpose and inspire those around them. They often find support from their community that they didn’t think was there.” Gwen grew up as a competitive ice skater in the US until she was injured in a car accident and had to give up her skating career.  She is no longer a competitive athlete, but sport is a key part to her own mental and physical health.  She kayaks with her young children, runs, practices yoga and occasionally signs up for things like the 50k Ultra Marathon to keep her motivated and healthy. In November 2022 she trekked the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Kokoda campaign with the goal of “gaining a glimpse into the experience endured by our WWII veterans.” Gwen accomplished this goal, noting that she “couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for those who had gone before us, offering guidance and inspiration on this challenging path.” This journey was not only an exploration of history but also a step forward in her own healing process.

Matt Formston

Invictus Australia Ambassador, Paralympian, World Champion blind surfer and Cyclist.
Matt, a blind (5% vision) Paralympian, world champion surfer and cyclist, is the epitomy of unconquered, having lost 95% of his vision by the time he was five and told by teachers and doctors that he would never play sport. Matt has been a professional athlete for over a decade, sponsored by some of the global sporting brands by fostering the right mindset, behaviors and work ethic. Matt is an athlete, speaker and executive coach, Chair of the Macquarie Business Park Community Partnership and an Executive Board Member of Blind Sports NSW. With an unconquerable mindset, belief in the healing power of sport and passion to help others, Matt is a perfect ambassador for Invictus Australia.

Curtis McGrath OAM

Invictus Australia Ambassador, Gold medal Paralympian, Invictus Games competitor 
Curtis served in the Australian Army as a combat engineer for six years. In 2012 Curtis stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) while on patrol, taking both his legs. 20min after the explosion, Curtis famously said that “you will see me in the Paralympics.” The Invictus spirit runs through Curtis’ veins. Having captained the Australian team at the inaugural Invictus Games in London, Curtis went on to compete in the 2016 & 2017 Games, and was an ambassador at Invictus Games Sydney 2018. “The Invictus Games became an important part of my life and my rehabilitation,” he said. “For me, it gave me a purpose. I’d been thrown this huge curve ball, and sport opened up this world of opportunities to me that I never knew was coming, and that became my life. And it is my life now.”

Erin Molan

Invictus Australia Ambassador, Australian TV Presenter and Sports Commentator
Erin Molan is the proud daughter of Major General Jim Molan, a former Australian Army officer, and as such has a profound understanding of the issues Defence families face and the vision of Invictus Australia. That is, a world in which all members of the Australian Defence community are active and connected through the power of sport and recreation to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing throughout their lives. Sport is in Erin’s blood, she spent over a decade as a sports and news presenter on Channel 9, including as the first female in the shows 22 year history to co-host and be a panellist on the hugely popular and Award Winning NRL Footy Show. She also competed in the gruelling Sydney to Hobart Yacht race in 2015, raising over 5 million dollars so far for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation – a charity that provides much needed equipment for sick children in hospital. Erin is the host of her own prime time show, ‘Erin’ on Sky News and is a columnist for the Daily Telegraph and Stellar Magazine. Trailblazing, fearless and unconquered, we couldn’t think of a better fit for an Invictus Australia ambassador. Now Erin travels the country sharing her story of persistence, resilience, failure and always ‘fronting up’ regardless of what’s thrown her way… plus ensuring negative experiences become a catalyst for change… always with a laugh along the way! Molan, a passionate Raiders fan who hails from Canberra, calls Sydney home, and she will travel just about anywhere to watch and be part of a good sporting contest. She plays a passable game of netball, touch and badminton, which she mastered while growing up in Jakarta. Erin considers inspiring and empowering the next generation of Australians as a genuine privilege and responsibility.

Dave Williams

ZERO600 Ambassador and Former Rugby League Star
Dave ‘Wolfman’ Williams is a former rugby league winger, playing for over 8 years in the NRL. During this time, Dave became a fan favourite, representing both NSW and Australia, and winning a premiership. In 2011, Wolfman broke his neck, causing him to miss his teams 2011 premiership win and eventually ending his career in the NRL. Since his injury, Dave has discovered the power of adaptive sports, channeling this into a new career as a fitness coach with a focus on rehabilitation, sport-specific training, workplace wellbeing and kids fitness. He is now the Civilian ZERO600 ambassador for 2024, encouraging others to reap the benefits of consistent physical education while supporting Invictus Australia’s commitment to strengthening the lives of veterans and families through sport.

Rodney Cottam 

ZERO600 Ambassador and Army Veteran
Rodney served in the Australian Army for more than four years before an accident turned his world upside down. In 2004, he was involved in a serious motor vehicle crash while driving to his barracks in Sydney. The crash left Rodney with a permanently paralysed left arm. Refusing to let this stop him, Rodney used running as his tonic. 20 years on from his accident, Rodney runs up to 100km a week. Since his injury, Rodney has ran hundreds of kms for Invictus Australia, raising close to $100,000 for veterans and their families. He is now the veteran ambassador for our annual fundraising campaign, ZERO600, rising each June for our heroes, and encouraging others to do the same.

OUR Team

Michael Hartung OAM

Chief Executive Officer
Michael was the Chief Delivery Officer for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, and a member of the 2018 Invictus Games Bid Steering Committee. Prior to his time working on the Invictus Games, Michael spent 10 years with the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC), carrying out roles including Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Sport. During his decade with the APC, he held management positions on four Paralympic Teams (including Chef de Mission in 2010 and Deputy Chef de Mission in 2012). In 2020, Michael received the Order of Australia Medal for service to sport for people with a disability.

Toni Cumpston

Director, Community Participation and Impact
Toni is an experienced sports administrator who has worked in high performance sport in Australia and New Zealand for over 20 years.  As a former athlete, coach, performance manager and director she has a wealth of knowledge and experience across a wide variety of sports nationally and internationally.  She is passionate about the many benefits engagement in sport brings particularly the connection, sense of community, and the health and wellbeing sport offers. Representing Australia, whether through sport or serving as a member of Defence is a great privilege and honor.  With former and current serving family members Toni understands the challenges that defence personal can face and is excited at the opportunity to bring her knowledge and sport experience to the team at Invictus Australia and work with the defence community to strengthen the wellbeing of veterans and their families.

Adam Pine

Director, Teams, Pathways & Alumni
Adam is a former elite swimmer who has represented his country in numerous international competitions, earning several medals and setting national records. After retiring from competitive swimming, Adam transitioned into a career as a sports administrator and high performance leader. He is highly respected and well-regarded in the swimming and paralympic community, known for his dedication and passion for success. Adam is also the founder and former chair of the Physical Activity Foundation a non-profit organisation that focuses on promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities. The foundation works to create opportunities for people to engage in sports and other forms of physical activity through programs and initiatives that are designed to make it easy and accessible for everyone. Adam is a strong advocate for the importance of sport for personal development. He believes that sport plays a vital role in promoting physical and mental well-being and has the power to bring people together, regardless of their background or abilities.

Vanessa Bernardo

Director, Strategic Partnerships & Brand
Vanessa has enjoyed sport her entire life, as a competitor in younger years and now as a passionate participant in ocean swimming, yoga and most recently running. She believes unequivocally in the healing power of movement, particularly when combined with nature and community connection. Vanessa has a BA in Communications and Diploma of Business Marketing specialising in Sports Marketing, and worked at the Sydney Olympic Games liaising with international broadcasters and athletes. Having previously worked in the commercial sector, Vanessa made a deliberate shift in the past few years to For Purpose organisations, with a focus on mental health and the power of connection and sport in positively impacting wellbeing.

Neil Burgin

Director, Strategy and Research
Neil is a seasoned sport administrator and proud Army veteran with a passion for strategy design and problem solving. Prior to joining Invictus Australia, he worked at the Australian Sports Commission leading several key national projects including Participation Investment, National Volunteer Strategy, Sporting Megatrends and the National Sport Research Agenda. He also has National Sporting Organisation experience, employed at Football Australia designing the Project Plan for the Asian Cup in 2015. Outside of work, Neil enjoys trail running and rugby.

Anne Rutlidge

Manager, Veteran Teams and Events
Anne has been involved in sport for most of her life. A lifelong competitor and rugby tragic, she is passionate about the benefit of sport and recreation for physical and mental wellbeing. Anne has a Master of Athletic Administration from Central Washington University; completed while coaching the university’s nationally ranked women’s varsity Rugby team. Anne has a range of professional experience managing teams at domestic and international competitions.

Charlotte Hayes

Chief Financial Officer
Charlotte was appointed as CFO for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Organising Committee and has remained involved managing our financial operations ever since. A background in sport and major events, Charlotte has held similar roles at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Netball Australia and Motorsport Australia.

Ceridwen Pillai

Coordinator, Operations & Program Services
Ceridwen possesses broad experience working in the sports industries in United Kingdom, Canada and Australia and has a Masters of Sports Administration and Bachelor of Event Management. She performed the roles of Games Delivery Coordinator and Sports Information Manager at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, where she witnessed the positive effect sport and recreational activities can have on veterans and their families.

Kate Holland

Manager, Marketing
Kate has extensive media, marketing and communication experience having worked in the not-for-profit space over the past four years and in media agencies prior to that. Kate has a passion for mental wellbeing having completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health and acting as Co-Chair of the Mentally-Healthy Change Group, a volunteer group dedicated to tackling mental health issues in the media, marketing & creative industries. Sport has always been a big part of Kate’s life, she grew up playing netball and cricket, moving into triathlons more recently. Through her community sports involvement, Kate has seen first-hand the power that sport plays in creating a sense of community and a feeling of connection.

Sara Pizzinato

Coordinator, Social Media and Digital Marketing
Sara has strong experience working in the not-for-profit sector, delivering social media, fundraising and digital marketing campaigns for a variety of organisations and has completed a Bachelor of Psychology. Passionate about protecting and improving the mental health of vulnerable population groups, Sara appreciates the positive effect factors such as sport and recreation can have on the mind, by providing social connections and improving physical wellbeing.

Vanessa Broughill

Regional Manager, Veteran Engagement (South Australia)
Vanessa joined the Australian Army in 2005, transferring to Royal Australian Navy in 2009 before transitioning to the Navy Reserves in 2019 and eventually medically discharging in 2022. During her recovery, Vanessa was fortunate enough to be selected in Team Australia for both the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and Invictus Games The Hague 2020. The journey to these games was a life changing experience for Vanessa, experiencing firsthand the healing power of sport. Vanessa is truly passionate about ensuring these life altering opportunities are available to all veterans and their families – not just those selected for the games. At home, Vaneesa is part of a very active family, enjoying sport of all kinds with husband Craig and children, Zachary 11, Avyanna 9 and Hamish 8.

Chris Burson

Regional Manager, Veteran Engagement (Victoria)
Chris joined the Army in Dec 2002 as a Combat Engineer at 3CER. He then moved to a reserve unit where he reintegrated with his civilian mates playing footy (aussie rules) and basketball. He realised his life had been Army full time and nothing else since joining, and that he needed to still be part of the wider community for his mental wellbeing. Leaving Melbourne to head to Sydney as a Loadmaster at 171 Anv Sqn, he continued to take part in footy (during the season playing cameos) and surfing, when not deployed or out-field. After discharging and joining the police force, the footy club provided a safe environment that enabled him to go from one uniform family to another whilst finding his feet moving into a new role. As a negotiator at the Critical Incident Response Team, Chris came across veterans who were struggling to integrate and fit in with society post service. Sport provided the easiest pathway to finding a new purpose and mates. Chris enjoys basketball, archery, football, beach volleyball and generally any sport that leads to some banter and enjoyment.

Debbie Dimmock

Regional Manager, Veteran Engagement (Southern NSW and ACT)
Debbie was previously the ACT Centre Manager and Programs Officer with Soldier On, generating and implementing a diverse range of wellbeing activities and events, both locally and nationally for the Defence Community. An Army spouse of 26 years means she has a good insight into all aspects of Military life. She and her family have enjoyed postings to the UK, The Netherlands, Germany and have now settled in Australia. Debbie maintains a fit and healthy lifestyle.  Her sport is Dragon Boating, and she is always looking to recruit new paddlers and share her passion.

Justine Lugg

REGIONAL MANAGER, VETERAN ENGAGEMENT (South East Queensland)
Justine joins Invictus Australia after several years supporting the Queensland Defence community as the Toowoomba Defence Families centre coordinator. As a successful event planner, Justine has delivered a range of exciting programs and events for veterans and their families. As an Army wife for more than 12 years, Justine appreciates the opportunities and sacrifices military life entails. She and her family have completed postings across the eastern coast of Australia, and following her partners recent discharge have return to the South East Queensland region for a new adventure. Justine loves the outdoors and in her spare time, you can generally find her bushwalking, cycling or at the beach with her family.

Megan Wedd

Veteran Engagement Coordinator, South Coast NSW
After 14 years as a Defence Spouse where she saw multiple deployments, overseas and interstate, Megan is excited to be settling back into life on the South Coast, where her family has lived for the past 9 years. She has 10 years experience working as a Registered Nurse where she developed great relational skills and a love and passion for wellbeing. During her time away from nursing she has volunteered for community organizations such as the East Sale Family Group and Shoalhaven Defence Family Association where Megan enjoyed sharing the stories and experiences of others. She looks to bring her skills in forming strong friendships and partnerships to her new role and the Invictus Australia community.

invictus australia Board

Glenn Keys AO

Chairman
Glenn is the founder and Executive Chairman of Canberra-based Aspen Medical, one of the world’s leading providers of outsourced healthcare solutions. Prior to building and leading businesses in the private sector, Glenn had a distinguished career in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Glenn sits on a number of Boards including the National Disability Insurance Agency, the University of Canberra Council and Project Independence.  Project Independence is a not-for-profit that Glenn founded in 2012 to provide homeownership for people with an intellectual disability and is the only homeownership programme of its kind in Australia.  In 2017, Glenn was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for both his philanthropic leadership in the business sector and his work as an advocate for people with an intellectual disability. Glenn is a graduate of the University of New South Wales and the International Test Pilots School in the UK. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Project Management, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia.

Corene Strauss GAICD

Board Member
Corene Strauss is a cause related CEO, leading the Australian Disability Network since July 2021. Passionate about improving the lives of others and building communities for good, Corene has led the transformation of multiple organisations including CEO of Special Olympics Australia, part of the world’s largest disability sports organisation and prior to that the first female CEO appointed to the NRL’s Men of League Foundation responsible for the welfare of the rugby league community. Strauss was also the inaugural National Marketing Manager at Legacy Australia, caring for the families of the fallen and ill Defence force Veterans. Corene is dedicated to a life of purpose which drives change, equality and inclusion for those who have previously struggled to find a place in everyday society.

Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC (Retd)

Board Member
Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC (Retd) is a highly decorated and respected senior executive and leader in the national security, defence and aerospace sectors. He was Chief of the Defence Force of Australia from 2014-2018, Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011-2014) and Chief of Air Force (2008-2011). He is currently Chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,  Chair of the Australia Pacific Security College Advisory Board, Deputy Chair of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, on the Boards of the Western Parkland City Authority and the Australian International Military Games, a member of the Governing Committee of the Temora Aviation Museum and is a Non-Executive Director with BAE Systems Australia and Nihon Cyber Defence. Air Chief Marshal Binskin (Retd) has provided specialist advice to the highest levels of governments, industry leaders and international stakeholders and his aerospace knowledge and expertise is extensive. As Chief of Defence, he successfully led the Australian Defence Force, comprising 80,000 permanent and reserve personnel, to significantly improve capabilities and responses to major global events and championed organisational change across areas of national security, culture, diversity and leadership performance. Air Chief Marshal Binskin (Retd) has completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Graduate of Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, AICD

Sonia Bijelic

Board Member
Sonia is an experienced senior leader with a demonstrated record of success in strategy, business management and marketing. Sonia has worked with some of Australia’s and the world’s leading organisations and brands, and has extensive experience across numerous industries, including sport, entertainment, hospitality, telecommunications, consumer packaged goods, financial services and not-for-profit. Sonia current role is Global Director of Campaigns at Movember – the leading charity changing the face of men’s health – prior to which she worked as Director of Group Strategic Planning at the Guild Group. Sonia is a graduate of Monash University, holding Bachelors of Arts and Business, and a Masters of Marketing.

Brigadier Patrick Kidd OBE OAM (Retd)

Board Member
Patrick Kidd was appointed as the CEO of the AIMG in Jan 2017 and was on secondment from Deloitte until the Games concluded in October 2018. Prior to joining Deloitte in 2015, Patrick served in both the British and the Australian Army serving in a variety of key appointments until he retired from the Australian Army in 2014 with the rank of Brigadier. Patrick has seen operational service in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and received the Order of the British Empire for his services as the Commander of The Royal Tank regiment, in Iraq in 2003 and an Order of Australia Medal for his role conceiving and delivering the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and service to disability sport.

Previous Board Members

  • James Brown (June 2020 – November 2024)
  • Peter Leahy (Chairman, April 2016 – June 2020)
  • Lynne Anderson (April 2016 – Dec 2018)
  • Stewart Cameron (April 2016 – Dec 2018)
  • Dave Chalmers (April 2016 – Dec 2018)
  • Geoff Jones (April 2016- Dec 2018)
  • Cheryl Bart (Sept 2016 – June 2020)
  • Angela Diamond (May 2018 – March 2020)
  • Phillip Prior (Sept 2016 – Jan 2018)
  • Campbell Rose (Sept 2016 – Dec 2018)
  • Janine Kirk (Sept 2016 – Dec 2018)
  • Brian Thorburn (Sept 2016 – Dec 2018)
  • Peter Collins (July 2017 – Dec 2018)
  • Gayle Anderson (March 2018 – Dec 2018)
  • Renee Wilson (March 2018 – Dec 2018)

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