Board of Directors

Experienced philanthropic leader and regional strategist with over 15 years of experience in community engagement, fund development, and place-based giving. Annabel has a focus on community philanthropy and collaboration to drive systems change, and deliver enduring impact in rural and regional communities. Annabel has been recognised for governance leadership, cross-sector partnership building, and deep commitment to strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem.

Cameron has held various executive roles, including with Education Services Australia, Brotherhood of St. Laurence and with the Australian Red Cross (Humanitarian Division).

Whilst with Red Cross, Cameron was responsible for the development of strategic foundations around financial sustainability, property master plan, and risk management. Prior to his role as CFO at Red Cross Humanitarian division, Cameron was a senior manager at the Red Cross Blood Service (now Lifeblood) where he implemented multiple systems and processes to help enable the Blood Service to become a world class and leading edge organisation.

Cameron is a fellow of the CPA, holds a Master of Business Administration, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  As a passionate humanitarian, Cameron is focused on helping are-able achieve its vision to create strong communities that support individuals, families, and local businesses.

Michael is a Warrnambool-raised lawyer whose involvement in the Board is driven by an interest in “giving back” to the community in which he grew up. He particularly values the social connectedness and sense of purpose that work and employment provides to people with disabilities, and says he is proud to help grow an organisation which delivers these benefits for the local community.

Anita brings an extensive background in strategy, governance and organisational development to are able, having worked in federal, state and local government for 30 years. Anita has recently been consulting and using this experience to support individuals, teams and organisations to maximise their potential. Anita is currently the Executive Officer Governance with Colac Otway Shire and also volunteers with Down Syndrome Victoria.

Anita holds an MBA (specialising in Planning and Strategy), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds accreditation in coaching and as a Human Synergistic consultant. Her role on are-able’ Board provides Anita an opportunity to use her skills to support and be involved in her local community.

Mark has held a number of C-Suite, Executive Director, and Non-Executive Director roles across multiple sectors. His executive experience was in the Automotive industry, serving as President, CFO and VP of Strategy across roles in the U.S., China and Australia.

He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Practice at the Monash University Business School. He is a Non-Executive Director with U Ethical Investors and the RACQ Limited. Previously, Mark served as a Non-Executive Director of Uniting Vic-Tas and Australia Battery Industry Association.

Mark holds degrees in Business and Engineering from the University of Michigan.  He is a graduate member of the Australia Institute of Company Directors.

Rex Validakis-Betar, was born with cerebral palsy and an NDIS participant, has forged a distinguished career path centered on driving value creation, particularly around consulting and Private Equity. With a wealth of experience spanning transformative leadership, meticulous diagnostics, business enhancement, and strategic visioning, Rex has consistently demonstrated his aptitude for orchestrating both large-scale and nuanced transformations.

Currently, Rex serves as a Non-Executive Director for Access Care Network Australia, contributing his expertise to enhance accessibility and care provisions. Previously, he dedicated 4.5 years to the Board of the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN), where his strategic insights and advocacy significantly impacted the disability community.

Educationally, Rex holds a diverse academic background, with degrees in Philosophy and Law from the University of New South Wales, a Master’s in Human Rights Law from the University of Galway. Further enriching his qualifications, he obtained an MBA from the University of Oxford, solidifying his multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and value maximisation.