COMPASS INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of People and Culture
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Member of the Board
David Dangerfield is the founder and CEO of the Compass Institute. His background includes many years' experience in the fields of business, the not for profit sector and disabilities.
He studied and worked overseas in the disability sector during the eighties and nurtured the vision of establishing a leading edge service for young people with disabilities in Australia - a dream he realised through Compass in 2003.
In 2014 David was awarded Sunshine Coast Australia Day Citizen of the Year and his work in disabilities and the community has also been recognised with a number of other honours.
Geoff is a doctor who specialised in haematology, medical oncology and palliative care. He worked on the Sunshine Coast at Nambour Hospital for 16 years before retiring from public practice. He is currently the senior doctor representative on The Australian Medical Association of Qld (AMA Qld) Council and has recently been appointed to the AMA Qld board. He is president of the Australian Senior Active Doctors Association (ASADA) where he is committed to a step-down registration for senior doctors, so their expertise is not lost.
He trained in Aikido in Brisbane for 15 years attaining a black belt. Geoff also has a Diploma in Hypnosis and is interested in financial markets with a Certificate in Financial Markets and a Diploma of Technical Analysis.
Ian has many years' experience in governance and brings extensive business, innovation and entrepreneurial skills to Compass along with a passion for small business, health and wellbeing. Ian and wife Sue have been involved in several medical practices here on the Sunshine Coast and now in Brisbane. Modestly, Ian says "Playing a small role in transforming the lives of people living with a disability and their families through the educational and family-based model of Compass is an honour and a privilege."
Ian is also a qualified Naturopath and Hypnotherapist and has for many years made valuable contributions to Compass's staff training in a variety of areas including Strategy, Leadership, Innovation and Stress Management.
Karis is passionate about working towards improving health and wellbeing for all by working with compassion, empathy and humility to make a positive difference in communities by advocating for accessibility and inclusion for inequity groups. Karis is an experienced public health and inclusion adviser, proficient in developing and managing projects both internationally and nationally. Karis is currently writing a PhD and has a Masters of Public Health from the University of Sydney's medical school, she also has a degree in Nutrition with a major in sport and exercises science and a minor in public health. Karis has worked in a variety of multicultural teams on overseas welfare contracts at an international and local community development level. Throughout her career, she has always advocated for inclusion and has a deep passion for improving inequities to make industries more accessible. She has experience in research, designing and developing health projects, as well as innovation and analysis of programs to help enhance inclusion and health for inequity groups.
Kurek has been well known around the world for over 3 decades as the premier expert in personal & professional development and self-discovery. His Fire Walking techniques have shown 1000's how to overcome their fears and embrace the mantra that anything is possible. He has given 100's of presentations and workshops and is the author of International Best Seller "How Would Love Respond".
Job Titles:
- Service Coordinator - Social Enterprises
Job Titles:
- of the Year Presented to Compass CEO, David Dangerfield Sunshine Coast Council
Job Titles:
- Head of Finance
- Secretary of the Board
Wendy holds two roles with Compass, one as Secretary on the Board of Management and the other as Head of Finance. The Head of Finance role sees her overseeing payroll, creditors, customers, financial reporting as well as managing upgrades to the different Education & Training centres.
The Secretary role sees her providing financial reports to the Board, preparing annual budgets and being part of the decision making for the future of the organisation. She is a born and bred Sunshine Coast girl and proud of it.