Committed to Transparency and Excellence in Social Service
Interact Australia stands as a thriving and forward-thinking not-for-profit organisation. As a public company limited by guarantee, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of corporate governance. We are dedicated to maintaining transparency and accountability to our valued stakeholders.
Our commitment to excellence drives us to continuously innovate and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of social impact. We believe in the power of collaboration and strive to foster strong partnerships with our stakeholders, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met.
Chair – John Gilmour
John worked in healthcare for over 35 years, both clinically and in management – primarily at the Mater Hospitals in Brisbane. Until March 2018, he was a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Mater for over 12 years.
A Physiotherapist by profession, he has worked primarily in paediatrics and completed his Doctorate in 2002 at UQ. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2015). Throughout his health career, he has had a focus on supporting people with disabilities and other socially disadvantage circumstances.
John has served in a range of Board Director roles over a 30-year period, including both health registration boards and a range of not-for profit boards with a focus on health care services, disability employment and social impact. Within the Intowork Group, he is currently the Board Chair of Help Enterprises and a Director of Interact Australia, both organisations supporting people with disabilities on a range of life services and opportunities. He is also Board Chair of Karuna Hospice Services Limited, Holy Cross Services Limited and City of Logan Charitable Trust, all operating in South East Queensland.
In June 2018, John was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the community related to infrastructure delivery in the not-for-profit health sector.
Director - Secretary – Poul Bottern
Poul Bottern (MBA Hons, GAICD) joined IntoWork Australia as Group CEO in 2012 having over 20 years experience in management and executive level roles across community, training and employment related services.
Poul has worked with the Board and Management Team in building IntoWork Australia into a large progressive employment, recruitment, training and community service provider with over 200 locations across Australia. He is actively involved in various forums and peak bodies, including his role as the President of the National Australian Apprenticeship Association.
IntoWork Group of Businesses employs over 2600 staff, and thousands of apprentices, trainees, and short term placements, and trains tens of thousands of students each year. As an Apprenticeship Network Provider the Group supports tens of thousands of people entering apprenticeships and traineeships, and also supports many disadvantaged young people and people with disabilities to enter the workforce and settle into the community as a DES and NDIS provider.
Director – Beau Vernon
Beau Vernon suffered a spinal cord injury whilst playing Australian Rules Football in 2012, leaving him a quadriplegic.
He uses this lived experience of disability to be an advocate for disability awareness and is an Ambassador for the Wings for Life World Run.
Beau is the Senior Head Coach of the Leongatha Football Club as well as a motivational speaker at schools, running personal development days with businesses, and sharing his inspiring story at awards nights.
Director – Christine Zechowski
Christine Zechowski is an accomplished executive with over 25 years’ leadership experience spanning the employment, skills development and education sectors. She has held several strategic governance roles, including Director and subsequently Chair of Wide Bay Group Training, where she led the successful merger with MRAEL in 2009.
Christine then served as Chair of MRAEL until 2011, overseeing the integration of operations and strengthening organisational performance through a period of significant reform. She continued as a Director of MRAEL until 2016.
Christine is deeply committed to advancing community-centred service delivery. Her focus on workforce development and vocational training is underpinned by strong regional connections and a proven ability to align business strategy with local needs.
She brings to the Board a passion for equitable access to service participation and a keen understanding of regional economic landscapes across Australia, making her a valued contributor to the Group’s vision and strategic direction.
Director – Nicolas West
With over three decades of experience in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, Nicolas West has extensive experience in the strategic positioning of organisations within the sector. Since joining the IntoWork Group in early 2017, Nicolas has worked with the Board of Directors, Group CEO, executive and management teams to place IntoWork as a leading provider of workplace participation services.
Prior to joining IntoWork, Nicolas held a number of senior roles involving the governance of organisations, including VECCI, Committee for Melbourne, as a Director of an industry association, CEO of a not-for-profit community organisation, leading the merger of two community organisations and advising on creating governance models for enterprises.
His motivation stems from a desire to make a real change in the lives of individuals.