Board & Governance

Corrin Bischoff, with over 25 years of experience, excels in people and project management, partnering with stakeholders to navigate complex organisational challenges. Specialising in holistic planning, governance, risk management, and business transformation, Corrin’s expertise is focused on elevating performance and efficiency. A seasoned company secretary, Corrin brings technical proficiency in governance, compliance, human resources, auditing, and strategy development. Known for a meticulous approach, Corrin is dedicated to fostering environments where businesses and people thrive, ensuring robust corporate governance while adeptly balancing customer, employee, and operational needs.

Nicole Bennett is an accomplished finance professional with over 25 years of experience across finance, governance, and strategic risk management. A qualified Chartered Accountant, she has held senior financial leadership roles across a range of sectors, consistently contributing to organisational growth and resilience. As a Non-Executive Director, Nicole brings independent oversight, sound financial judgment, and a strategic mindset to the boardroom. She offers extensive expertise in financial reporting, audit, risk management, and regulatory compliance, always with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value, aligning with business objectives, and upholding strong governance standards.

Katherine Nelson holds a proven history in business building, marketing, education, curriculum development, and implementation. With expertise in registration and compliance for RTO development, Katherine excels in guidance, career counselling, supervision, and training. Demonstrating a proficiency in governance, innovation, and strategy, Katherine’s skills extend to emergent enterprise and leadership, both in the international public and private sectors. Katherine’s qualifications including a Master of Education in Guidance, Counselling, and Leadership, a Postgraduate in Business, Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education, and Diploma in Business. Katherine brings a robust educational foundation to her role on the ACA Board.

Serving as a Board Director with a focus on Students, Adam McIlvanie holds a leadership position for an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service. As of June 2025, Adam stepped into the role of Executive Manager Community Health Services looking after Family Wellbeing & Family Participation funded programs under Department of Child Safety to provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families & Children in contact with Child Safety, to prevent families from having intervention from the Department and to assist in the Reunification of children that are in care of the department, back to parents or Kincare. Adam has over 14 years working in a discrete Aboriginal Community in Employment & 6 years in Social Health Services programs within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and 4 years managerial experience in this setting. Qualifications Cert IV Human Resources, Cert IV Mental Health, Diploma Leadership & Management, Level 1 Narrative Therapy Certificate & currently studying Diploma of Counselling.

Sara Edwards brings over 22 years of expertise in the non-profit sector, excelling in leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. She has guided multidisciplinary teams and crafted impactful initiatives, thriving on cultivating relationships and pioneering solutions to complex challenges. Holding a Master of Counselling, ACA Level 4 membership, member of the ACA College of Supervisors, Sara’s deep knowledge of healthcare ensures compliance and robust risk management. She has over 15 years of board service across various sectors, including sports and education, and has a comprehensive understanding of governance and strategic oversight. A staunch advocate for the counselling profession, she is dedicated to supporting counsellors at all career stages and is excited to contribute to the ACA’s mission and objectives.

Georgina Akers, ACA Level 4 Counsellor and a member of the College of Supervisors, brings extensive experience and dedication to the ACA Board. Georgina has completed a Bachelor of Social Science, a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and currently pursuing a PhD in Counselling. She has worked in diverse settings including Bandyup Women’s Prison, schools, and private practice. As a counselling academic since 2017, she designed an online Master of Counselling program, earning the 2023 Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Georgina is committed to advancing education and advocating for inclusive policies and ethical standards in the counselling profession.

Dr. Stephen O’Kane, ACA Level 4 Counsellor and College of Supervisors Member, is a specialist in family violence and relationships counselling and a Counselling Supervisor in private practice with expertise in trauma and violence-related issues. With a Master of Counselling, Stephen has extensive experience working with crisis and homelessness clients, assisting men with intervention orders, and supporting women and children fleeing violence. Stephen has chaired the board of a disability services organisation and holds a Company Directors Diploma. Stephen is a member of the ACA Ethics & Professional Standards Committee. With over two decades of experience in government policy and allied health workforce planning, his expertise will be instrumental in advocating for the counselling profession at the national level.

Philip brings extensive senior operational and board experience across both private and NGO sectors, along with over 18 years of dedicated work in the mental health field. Since entering private practice in 2017, he has delivered counselling, facilitation, and supervision in both correctional and community settings. His approach is practical and trauma-informed, drawing on a range of multimodal therapies. Philip is an ACA Level 4 registered counsellor, a member of the College of Supervisors, and a Victims Services approved counsellor. Deeply committed to professional standards, he is honoured to support ACA’s mission in his role as a Board-appointed Director.