Board of Patrons

The Board of Patrons was established by the Board of Directors to give The Shepherd Centre access to a group of individuals who would publicly endorse the work of the Centre and offer advice on specific issues. This group has no statutory or governance responsibility.

The Charter of the Board of Patrons is:

"To assist and support the work of The Shepherd Centre through the endorsement of the Centre in the general community, with potential benefactors and with government. At times it may be asked to assist with introductions to people and organisations that may in turn support The Shepherd Centre."

Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO - Official Patron

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Companion of the Order of Australia, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor of the State of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Dr  Brendan Nelson

Dr Nelson is currently Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO.

A general practitioner by training and a graduate of Flinders University in South Australia, Dr Nelson served as President of the Australian Medical Association from 1993 to 1995; served in the Australian Parliament as the Member for Bradfield since March 1996 and was the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party from November 2007 until September 2008.

He was Australian Minister for Defence from 2006 to 2007; Minister for Education, Science and Training from November 2001 to 2006; and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from December 2000 to 2001.

Mr Maurice Newman AC

Mr Newman is currently Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; an Advisor to the Marsh Group of Companies; a Director of the Queensland Investment Corporation; Honorary Chair of the Macquarie University Foundation; Chairman of The Australian Fathers' Day Council; Chairman of the Taronga Foundation; and Director of The Bradman Foundation.

Mr John Fraser

Mr Fraser was appointed as chairman and chief executive officer of the Global Asset Management Business Group of UBS in late 2001. Prior to that, he was president and chief operating officer of UBS Asset Management and head of Asia Pacific; Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SBC Australia Funds Management Ltd from 1994 to 1998.

Associate Professor Jim Patrick

Associate Professor Jim Patrick was one of the original engineers pioneering the development of the multi-channel cochlear implant and is recognised as a world authority on cochlear implants. He led the successful development of "UMDOLEE", the ten channel cochlear implant developed by the Departments of Otolaryngology and Electrical Engineering.

Ms Cathy Harris AO PSM

Ms Harris currently holds the positions of Director of The National Gallery Foundation; Director of the Australian School of Business UNSW; and Commissioner of the Australian Rugby League and Honorary Consul General for Bhutan.

Previously held positions include the Deputy Chancellor of UNSW; the Federal Director of the Affirmative Action Agency; Board Member to the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust, The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Australian Defence Force Academy and The Australia Japan Foundation.

Dr John Mangos

Popular television newsman John Mangos has been a familiar face on Australian television screens for almost thirty years.  John is currently a senior anchorman with Sky News Australia, a post he’s held since the 24 hour news channel was launched in 1996. He is also a weekly regular on Australia’s leading breakfast program, the Seven Network's Sunrise and a regular afternoon host on radio station, 2UE.

Mr Paul Roos

AFL premiership-winning coach Paul Roos is one of Australia's most admired sporting personalities.  A former coach of the Sydney Swans and current Head Coach of the Swans Academy, Mr Roos is a Newspaper columnist and professional speaker, and is regarded as one of Australia's leading motivational keynote presenters.