Meet our leadership team
Dr Elisabeth Black
CEO + Director of Nursing
As Chief Executive Officer and Director of Nursing, Elisabeth is accountable for ensuring the delivery of mission based, safe, compassionate and holistic person-centred care at the Brown Nurses. Her role encompasses the development and implementation of quality approaches that improve client outcomes, client and staff experience and operational efficiency.
Elisabeth brings to our nurse-led service, a unique blend of clinical, operational, regulatory and leadership expertise. Since qualifying as a registered nurse and midwife, Elisabeth has developed an interest in advanced professional practice, models of care, education and nursing regulation. She has worked in a variety of clinical, managerial and leadership roles, and is committed to leading and influencing activities that will deliver an evidence-based, best practice approach to care for the clients we serve in the community.
Jessica Saayman
A/Clinical Nurse Consultant
As Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Brown Nurses, Jessica is instrumental in enhancing the organisation’s ability to deliver high-quality nurse-led care. She integrates the social determinants of health and primary healthcare principles to empower clients towards optimal well-being.
Jessica brings to the Brown Nurses a diverse background in refugee and Aboriginal health, mental health, child and family health, and private practice. Her professional interests in nursing advocacy, workforce safety, mental healthcare, primary healthcare, and leadership reflect her commitment to improving the nursing profession and client outcomes.
Simon Byerley
Education and Workforce Nurse Manager
As Education and Workforce Manager at the Brown Nurses, Simon is committed to workforce enhancement through innovative planning, strategic initiatives, and fostering professional development opportunities and pathways.
Simon brings a blend of leadership, management, clinical and education experience to the Brown Nurses and has held senior education and management roles in tertiary hospitals and community services. His commitment to quality improvement and the professional development of others influence the delivery of best-practice care to clients.
Roxanne Jimenez
Executive Support and Business Operations Manager
As Executive Support and Business Operations Manager, Roxanne oversees all business operations and provides executive support to the CEO and Brown Nurses staff.
Roxanne manages a range of operational responsibilities including: financial support, administrative tasks and office management to ensure streamlined business operations.
Roxanne has over 30 years of management experience in Aged Care and Human Resources. Her experience and commitment to the Brown Nurses’ mission and values ensures quality care and services are provided to the Brown Nurse’s team and clients.
Meet the board of directors
Dominic Sullivan
Chair
Dominic Sullivan has more than 20 years’ experience in range of property, investment, legal and commercial roles within the public and private sectors. He is currently the General Manager of Payce Consolidated, an ASX-listed property and investment company. Dominic is a former commercial lawyer with the Crown Solicitor’s Office and Mayor of Randwick City Council. He holds a Bachelor of Laws(Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Hons).
Katey Grusovin
Katey Grusovin is a consultant specialising in strategic planning, communications and stakeholder management within the human rights sector. She has more than 25 years’ experience in media, communications and advocacy via roles with UNICEF, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People. Katey is also an accomplished writer, producer and director in film and television. She is Convenor of the Alliance for Public Parklands, a coalition of community groups dedicated to protecting significant parklands in the Greater Sydney Region.
Gemma Rygate
Gemma Rygate has more than 25 years’ experience as an executive, manager, consultant and facilitator in the public and private sectors. She has extensive experience in business and educational administration, with a focus on leadership, strategic planning and project management. She is currently the Chief Executive of The Centre for Volunteering. Prior to this, she held executive roles with the Institute of Public Administration Australia and the Public Sector Management Program for NSW. Gemma holds a Master of Arts, a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma of Teaching.
Sr Suzette Clark RSC
Suzette Clark was professed as a Sister of Charity in 1969. She worked in Sisters of Charity education and health facilities in several states in Australia and in Zambia, Africa. Sr Suzette later moved into social justice ministry, working with the Australian Catholic Bishops national justice agency and Catholic Religious Australia’s justice network, both committed to working to change the unjust economic, social and political structures which determine how power and resources are shared in the world and in society.
In recent years, Sr Suzette was a member of the Sisters of Charity of Australia’s Congregational Council. She is now the Congregation’s Justice & Peace Network Coordinator. Sr Suzette has sat on various education and healthcare boards as well as a university ethics committee. Sr Suzette has qualifications in education, theology, leadership, pastoral ministry and spiritual direction.
David McKee
David McKee has more than 20 years’ experience in human resources across a range of industries and within the public and private sectors. He has lived and worked in the
United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia. David is currently Head of Human Resources for Australia and New Zealand at BNP Paribas, a European banking group. David holds an MBA from UNSW and a BA in European Studies from the University of Kent at Canterbury.
Bernadette Keenan
Bernadette Keenan has more than 30 years’ experience as a healthcare professional. She enjoyed a lengthy career at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, initially as a clinician and then as a senior manager, before establishing a healthcare consultancy in 2012. Bernadette has well-developed skills in strategic planning, business development and project management. She holds a Bachelor of Health Administration from UNSW and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She served as a non-executive director on the Karitane board from 2016 - 2023.
