CMSOLUTIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Bookkeeper / Payroll Service
Annie is our super-efficient Payroll and Bookkeeping Officer. She makes sure that staff are paid and the books are in order for a number of our members. She is also a very keen cyclist and rides with a group in Brisbane so keep an eye out for her on the roads.
Brian has over 25 years' experience, in Workplace Health and Safety and Occupational Rehabilitation, within a variety of Queensland Government departments including WorkCover Qld, Emergency Services, and the Department of Justice and Attorney General. Brian has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science majoring in Psychology, a Masters degree on Human services, and a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. Brian is available to provide consultation regarding Occupational Health and Safety, and Workplace Rehabilitation issues within the work environment.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Ex - Officio Member
Chris Hutton joined the board as an ex-officio member in 2019 and elected to the board in 2022. He is a senior Investment Adviser and Partner at Wilsons Advisory and Stockbroking. Chris has been with Wilsons for 14 years, and brings a wealth of experience in financial markets, superannuation and more broadly, client engagement and service. Chris completed a Bachelor of Psychology in 2002 and a Masters of Applied Finance in 2006 from Queensland University of Technology.
Christine Yates is self-employed and has over 5 Years of experience operating a small business that provides academic editing, proofreading and research services to students and academics throughout Australia and internationally. Before 2016, Christine worked in the university sector for 6 Years as a Research Assistant and Project Manager and has over 8 Years of experience working in government and the community sector in grant administration and social housing management. Christine's degree qualifications were awarded by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and include a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Information Technology {Information Management), and a Bachelor of Business (International Business).
Craig has over 20 years of experience include such roles as Senior Consultant for Jones Ross, Executive Officer for the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association of New South Wales and Member Services Advisor for the Printing Industries Association of Australia.
Craig has also worked as the Industrial Relations and Human Resources Manager for a multi national contracting company in the hospitality industry. His responsibilities in this role extended across all eastern states of Australia.
In addition, Craig has extensive workplace relations experience across a range of industries including engineering, manufacturing, construction, education, tourism, hospitality, community services, retail, building maintenance and contracting.
Craig provides specialist advice and representation to clients in the area of Award and legislative interpretation, enterprise bargaining, dispute settlement, unfair dismissals and discrimination/harassment issues in the workplace.
He has represented clients before the Fair Work Commission, State Industrial Relations Commissions, Magistrates Courts, Anti-Discrimination Commissions and Tribunals as well as in private mediation and arbitration.
Craig also has extensive experience in negotiating Enterprise Agreements and guiding employers through the maze of legislation which regulates this area of employment relations.
Dafydd is also another one of our enthusiastic Bookkeeper and Payroll officers. He has over 20 years experience within a family run small business. Managing hair salons and looking after the financial side of these businesses has given him valuable experience for his role here at CM Solutions. When he is not at work he loves spending quality time with his wife and 2 children, horse riding, football and camping.
Deborah Ponting joined the CMSolutions Board in 1991 and has served as President since 2015. Deborah had previously served as President between 2003 and 2008 and Vice President between 2008 and 2015. In 2019 Deborah was appointed to the marketing committee of NGS Super, and in 2022 a board member of NGS super. Deborah's associations with kindergartens and childcare, including Linfield, Vice-president of Beenleigh Family Day Care and life membership of Bethlehem Lutheran Kindergarten. Deborah holds Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Educational Studies and Post Graduate Diploma of Education degrees from the University of Queensland and a Master of Information Management degree from Queensland University of Technology. Deborah is also an Associate Member of ALIA and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She has extensive experience as a Secondary School teacher and librarian, and sessional lecturer and researcher at Queensland University of Technology.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Solicitor
Georgina is a Solicitor working primarily in Family Law. Georgina has a keen interest in complex parenting matters and the impacts of childcare on the development and wellbeing of young children. Georgina holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Queensland and has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
James graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology from Queensland University of Technology. James is employed as a Principal Engineer at software company Atlassian and brings 15 years of computing experience and technology experience.
Jennifer is our bubbly finance and audit manager here at Community Management Solutions and has been apart of our team since 2010. When Jen is not working she loves to keep active, in particular she is a strong contender for running, recently completing her 8th marathon. With over 20 years working with accounts we are very lucky to have Jen apart of our team.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Vice President
Jenny O'Brien has been a Board member since 2007 and was appointed Treasurer in 2008. In 2018 Jenny was appointed Vice President. Jenny has previously been a Board Member of Lifeline Brisbane. Jenny was employed as a Senior Manager in the accounting and advisory firm KPMG. She was with KPMG for more than 24 years. Jenny brings a wealth of accounting experience to the Board but also has experience serving on a C&K Kindy Committee for three years and a School-Age Child Care Service Committee. Jenny graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from James Cook University in Townsville and is a Chartered Accountant.
Kevin is highly experienced in the not-for-profit space and has held senior roles for the last twenty years with Legacy Brisbane, Scouts Queensland, Mercy Community Services, Uniting Care Queensland, The NSW Institute of Sport, Disability Providers, Southern Cross Care and Stamford Hotels and Resorts. Kevin has formal university qualifications in Justice Administration and Advanced Diplomas and Diplomas in Business, Human Resources, Workplace Health and Safety, Workplace Rehabilitation, Government, Risk Management, Security, Investigative practices and is a Justice of the Peace Qualified. He is also a licensed investigator with the Office of Fair Trading. Kevin is humbled to hold this role and to work with two highly effective teams at CMS being the HR/IR/Safety team and the Finance Team. He has a passion for delivering five-star customer service and ensuring that the organizations primary focus in on the service delivery model to our members and clients. Kevin is always striving to ensure an environment where continuous improvement is at the forefront of our philosophy and is constantly listening to our members to improve our services.
Kim Teague has been on the board for many years. He became a Board Member when involved in his daughter's kindergarten (more than 20 years ago) and has remained involved with Community Management Solutions at the Board level for many years since then and is a Life Member of Community Management Solutions. Kim has a Bachelor of Law from QUT and has been practising law for more than 30 years.
Job Titles:
- Associate Board Member
- Treasurer
Lyanna George has been an Associate Board member since 2016 and was appointed Treasurer in 2018. Lyanna has been employed as a portfolio administrator in the DNR Capital firm since February 2016. Lyanna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Pure Mathematics) from the University of Sydney and also holds Master's degrees in Applied Science (Macquarie University) and Business (Queensland University of Technology).
Mary-Jane is a part of our HR department as our friendly and knowledgeable Employment Relations Consultant. She is always happy and available to assist/answer any of our members enquiries. Mary-Jane is a mother of 5 children and enjoys cooking and playing tennis in her spare time.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Chief Financial Officer
Responsible for Financial Services
Responsible for Financial Services, Neale is a qualified Accountant and CPA and has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 40 years. Neale held senior roles with C&K Association before joining CMSolutions. He has specialist knowledge and experience with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander services, Community childcare and Kindergartens & P&Cs. This means that there is not much that Neale does not know about managing the finances or governance of non-profit organisations. As a father Neale has also gained a great understanding of the operations of P&C Committees, Kindergartens and Child Care Services over the years.
Pat has over twenty years' experience at the senior management level and has run and opened five-star hotel properties both in Australia and overseas. In these roles Pat has held the roles of CEO and General Manager and has been highly successful leading a team of professionals to prosperity. Pat has skill in all facets of management, sales, marketing, finance, human resources, governance, risk management and compliance and assists CMS with services such as Management Consultancy, Governance, Human Resources and Industrial Relations.
Pete has been a part of Community Management Solutions for almost 50 years providing quality support for both our team and members. He is very loyal to our organisation and offers a Can Do attitude at all times. Pete's hobbies include sunbathing and special occasion dress ups in his spare time.
Peter Hoens joined the Community Management Solutions Board as an ex-officio member in 2017 and was elected to the Board in 2018. Peter was a Secondary School English teacher for 16 years and taught in Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. He sat on the management committee of ETAQ (English Teachers Association Queensland) in 2003 and 2011, and between 2004 and 2010, he was Secretary of ETAQ's Townsville Branch. Peter graduated from the University of Queensland in 2002 with a dual Bachelor's degree in Arts and Education and with a Master's of Education Studies, specialising in Leadership, in 2015. In 2020 he Graduated from Griffith University with a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management.
Prior to working with CMSolutions Finance Team Serena clocked up over 10 years' experience in Business Services, working with a variety of clients from different industries. She is a Chartered Accountant who more recently worked for 3 years as the P&C Business Operations Manager for her children's primary school. She is still a part of her P&C as a Sub-Committee Treasurer and enjoys volunteering alongside other like-minded parents/carers.