Meet Our Board of Directors
The EDFA Board of Directors is committed to supporting families and carers of people with an eating disorder. All current EDFA directors have lived experience as carers.
David Quilty
Acting Chair
David Quilty has experienced firsthand the struggle of supporting a child with an eating disorder. He is passionate about EDFA and the vital role it plays in the family and carer journey.
Jennifer Paterson
Deputy Chair
Jennifer Paterson is passionate about EDFA as a way to advocate for better services, promote evidence-based research for better treatment, and give families and carers a community to feel educated and empowered.
Jane Rowan
Executive Director
Jane is a senior communications, marketing and stakeholder engagement leader with over 20 years of management experience across various sectors including health.
David recognises that parents and carers need to know there are other people just like them, and by sharing their experiences and knowledge they can be better equipped and more confident to take on the challenges of caring for someone they love with an eating disorder.
David is Managing Director and Co-Founder of National Advisory, a small strategic advisory firm.
| “I am a parent who has supported a child with an eating disorder. My expertise is in governemnt and stakeholder relations. Along with Jane Rowan, I represent EDFA on the Eating Disorders Alliance Australia, working with other organisations like the Butterfly Foundation. I also sit on the TBT-S Committee, and represent EDFA members with the ACT Government." “EDFA was formed because there was no organisation interested first and foremost in representing and supporting the families and carers of people with eating disorders.” "Often, carers can fall between the cracks and it is no different with the families and carers of people with eating disorders. For many people with eating disorders particularly those who are young, the journey to recovery can require 24/7 carer support." "EDFA is a special organisation because it achieves so much through the passion and commitment of its Board members and its great volunteers." "Any family with a loved one with an eating disorder knows t it is a whole-of-family shared experience. Too often the challenges of caring for someone with an eating disorder are taken on without any support or access to the information and resources that are so vital to a lasting recovery." "EDFA fills the gaps and complements other great eating disorder organisations, which are focused more on the person living with the eating disorder than the families and carers." "I like to take on challenges and find ways to solve challenging problems. I get great satisfaction from setting goals and achieving them... and when others are happy around me." "I feel privileged to play a small part supporting great people who take on one of the toughest challenges that life can throw at them. I want to make a difference, and I enjoy surrounding myself with people who make a difference." |
When he's not juggling his work and family life. David enjoys getting away with family to the coast, as well as sports, gardening, and travel.
Jennifer’s background is in public health and non-profit organisations, which allows her to contribute to EDFA’s fundraising and stakeholder development. When not at home with her two whippets, Jennifer is busy keeping up with her family of five. She enjoys wakeboarding, gardening, practising yoga, and travelling overseas to visit friends and families.
“My daughter was diagnosed with Anorexia at 15. We were devastated, as we quickly understood the ramifications of this horrific disease. It was an unimaginable journey from community-based care to family-based therapy then repeated hospitalisations, a day program, weight restoration and finally – recovery. “I know how lucky our family is to have survived. Rather than closing that traumatic chapter in my life, I felt it was important to share our lived experience and help others navigate an under-resourced system under incredible demand. We could never have supported our daughter’s treatment without the help of others and a treatment team that valued our contribution as intuitive parents. I remain incredibly grateful to the researchers and families before us who contributed their knowledge and experience. It helped us every step of the way.” “I wish we had known more about the risk factors of an eating disorder before our daughter became unwell. I strongly believe awareness and education for carers as well as clinicians and schools are critical for prevention and early intervention.” |
Jane is a passionate advocate for mental health reform, who has worked in business and non-profit sectors. She is a Non-Executive Director of Upbeat Arts Australia and the Somerville House Foundation. A Graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Jane is also a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia, the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association and the peak body for community and stakeholder engagement, IAP2 Australasia. A mother of four children, Jane is a parent with lived experience, having cared for a daughter with Anorexia Nervosa.
Fiona Mitchell
Director
Fiona is senior executive with over 20 years of experience in strategic and operational management within the not-for-profit health sector. As a senior executive Fiona has worked across the policy, regulatory and program management domains of the health sector, securing agreements between industry and government, and providing high level strategic advice on policy, regulation, and program design.
Genevieve Pepin
Director
Professor Pepin is an experienced mental health occupational therapist and a proficient academic. Built on almost 20 years’ work in the area of mental health and eating disorders in Canada and in Australia and including partnerships with national and international leaders in the field, Prof Pepin has established herself as a significant contributor to eating disorders research.
Janis Carren
Director
Janis is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment, sports, and tourism industries. She brings extensive public sector and commercial experience from working in various Western Australian statutory authorities over a 30-plus year career.
Fiona is a parent of a child living with a life-threatening chronic illness who was diagnosed with an eating disorder in her late teenage years. Using her experience in the health sector, Fiona enjoys the opportunity to work with EDFA and contribute to the work of supporting families and carers.
Fiona holds both a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Business Law and is recognised as a Fellow by the Governance Institute of Australia.
“Although our family had spent a lifetime navigating the health system, and the complexities of caring for a loved one with an illness, the realities of living with an eating disorder became some of the most anxious and overwhelming days we had experienced. “One of the things that provided comfort, especially in the early days when we were left feeling quite alone, was connecting with other people who had a shared experience.” |
Professor Pepin is an experienced mental health occupational therapist and a proficient academic. Built on almost 20 years’ work in the area of mental health and eating disorders in Canada and in Australia and including partnerships with national and international leaders in the field, Prof Pepin has established herself as a significant contributor to eating disorders research. Genevieve’s expertise and passion are in research co-produced with carers of people with an eating disorder, understanding the impact of eating disorders on function and the daily activities of those with an eating disorder and their family, and the development of innovative interventions promoting best health outcomes.
Some of her work includes completing the first Australian studies exploring the effectiveness of the Collaborative Care Skill building Workshop (CCSW), an evidence-based intervention for carers of people with an eating disorder developed by Professor Janet Treasure and colleagues in the UK. She also developed a training program to ensure CCSW is delivered effectively across eating disorder services and organisations.
Her research is impactful and translational, leading to changes in practice and services as demonstrated by an invitation to join the Advisory Committee for the Development of the Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Strategy 2021-2031. She is a member of the executive group of the Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Centre. She is the co-lead of the Lived-Experience and Co-Production stream of the Centre and a member of the National Eating Disorders Research Consortium.
Genevieve is a strong believer in multidisciplinary approaches to understanding eating disorders. She believes in best practice and is curious about emerging knowledge and interventions about eating disorders.
Janis is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment, sports, and tourism industries. She brings extensive public sector and commercial experience from working in various Western Australian statutory authorities over a 30-plus year career.
Before becoming CEO of the Arts and Culture Trust, Janis was the Director of Strategy and Partnerships at VenuesWest. Janis holds a Masters of Business Administration and is an Institute of Public Administration WA Council member.
“Following my daughter’s diagnosis with Anorexia Nervosa at the end of Year 12, we were terrified as a family that we were losing her to an illness that we couldn’t reason with. As a parent, we had to learn fast about eating disorders, pour our energies into supporting her, and ensure our other three children were also receiving love and attention. Finding EDFA and the resources that they have to offer has helped us not feel so alone in juggling the needs of our ill child along with the competing needs of work and family.”
Nick Steele
Director
Nick Steele is an accomplished senior executive with over 23 years of experience in public health systems in both the United Kingdom and Australia. With a profound background in engaging and collaborating with health service executives, clinicians, and external providers, Nick excels in developing innovative funding models that promote service and system sustainability, ultimately leading to improved patient care.
Palmyra De Banks
Director
Palmyra De Banks is a distinguished General Practitioner with an extensive background spanning over two decades in the healthcare sector. She currently serves as the Clinical Director and Head of Performance at ForHealth Group, showcasing a remarkable commitment to advancing healthcare practices and elevating patient well-being.
Kathryn Hutchins
Director
Kathryn Hutchins has accrued over 20 years of business leadership experience, holding senior executive positions in Operations, People, and Culture within various industries. For the past decade, Kathryn has been dedicated to the early education sector, recognising the crucial role early education plays in the development of young children. Before this, she worked in a senior human resource position in the financial services industry.
Nick Steele is an accomplished senior executive with over 23 years of experience in public health systems in both the United Kingdom and Australia. With a profound background in engaging and collaborating with health service executives, clinicians, and external providers, Nick excels in developing innovative funding models that promote service and system sustainability, ultimately leading to improved patient care.
In Australia, Nick served as the Deputy Director-General of the Healthcare Purchasing and System Performance Division for six years. Currently, he holds the position of Deputy Director-General for Queensland Public Health and Scientific Services (QPHaSS). In this role, he oversees statewide services with an operational budget exceeding $800 million and manages a staff of over 2,500 individuals.
Palmyra De Banks is a distinguished General Practitioner with an extensive background spanning over two decades in the healthcare sector. She currently serves as the Clinical Director and Head of Performance at ForHealth Group, showcasing a remarkable commitment to advancing healthcare practices and elevating patient well-being. Palmyra's dedication extends beyond the clinic, where she fulfils the role of a part-time Medical Doctor and Authorised Prescriber at Cann I Help.
In addition to her clinical roles, Palmyra brings a wealth of experience to her position as a member of the EDFA Board. Her diverse professional journey includes serving as a Regional Clinical Officer at Healius Limited and contributing as a Clinical Tutor at the University of Melbourne. Palmyra's academic achievements include a Master's in Health and Medical Law from the University of Melbourne, underscoring her unique ability to integrate clinical expertise with legal insights, thereby enhancing her valuable contributions to the EDFA community.
Kathryn Hutchins has accrued over 20 years of business leadership experience, holding senior executive positions in Operations, People, and Culture within various industries. For the past decade, Kathryn has been dedicated to the early education sector, recognising the crucial role early education plays in the development of young children. Before this, she worked in a senior human resource position in the financial services industry.
Drawing from her personal experience with a family member affected by an eating disorder, Kathryn understands the profound impact it has, not only on the individual but also on the entire family unit. For a year, she navigated significant life changes while prioritising the care and treatment of her loved one.
"Throughout my journey, I've encountered incredible and passionate specialists working toward the common goal of supporting young individuals impacted by the illness. Meeting other families going through similar experiences has provided strength and reinforced the belief that recovery is possible.
Through my readings and research, I've come to realise the need for more support for those affected by eating disorders and those caring for a loved one. This is why organisations like EDFA are critically important."
Kathryn is passionate about increasing knowledge of eating disorders within the medical field, particularly in general practice, the first point of contact for many families. She is committed to raising awareness and promoting education on a broader scale.
Kate Parsons
Director
Kate Parsons is an ardent advocate for people experiencing an eating disorder and supporting their loved ones. She is passionate about endorsing full recovery from an eating disorder as a real and possible outcome. Kate co-founded and established the Eating Disorders Association of SA as a stand-alone service providing support, information and advocacy to people experiencing an eating disorder and their friends and family.
Freya Shaw
Treasurer and Company Secretary
Freya May Shaw is the Treasurer and Company Secretary for EDFA. She has over two decades of experience in senior management roles. She is a small business owner, a fellow of CPA Australia, a NFP Non-Executive Director and a former CEO/CFO. Freya brings a comprehensive perspective to Governance, Risk, Operations and Finance.
Freya is passionate about mental health, the research and education of eating disorders, and supporting families caring for loved ones with an eating disorder. As the mother of someone with an eating disorder, she knows firsthand the challenges of the recovery journey. When the diagnosis was first made, the EDFA community was the only group that fully understood the responsibility and challenge of being a carer.
Now that her daughter is on the road to recovery, Freya is happy to be able to support the EDFA & the EDFA community.
As Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody sang in the 1990s, “From Little Things Big Things Grow”. This classic Australian ballad very much epitomises the evolution of Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) since 2016.
Born out of a handful of parents frustrated about the lack of support for carers of loved ones with eating disorders, EDFA has grown into a national not-for-profit organisation providing practical assistance to thousands of Australian families.
I was pleased to take on the role of acting chair at the beginning of 2024 after being an EDFA board member since 2019. I say acting because, like so many others, our family continues to care for our eldest daughter who has been on this challenging journey for a number of years. This means I am very reliant on our Deputy, Jennifer Paterson, and other fellow EDFA directors.
EDFA remains squarely focussed on our core purpose of supporting families and carers of loved ones with eating disorders. Our founders were all volunteers, and to this day we continue to rely on our amazing band of trained volunteers who help us to deliver our support services. The vast majority have their own lived experience caring for a loved one with an eating disorder and this is key to understanding and empathising with other families and carers in a similar situation.
With the generosity of our funders, sponsors, and donors, EDFA now has a small team of employed staff, very capably led by our Executive Director, the incredible Jane Rowan. Many of the EDFA team have their own lived experience as eating disorder carers as do the directors on the EDFA board. While our staff, volunteers, and directors come from all over Australia, we share a common passion to make a genuine difference for families and carers of loved ones with eating disorders.
We understand that caring for someone with an eating disorder is a lonely and exacting journey. However, please be assured that you are not alone. We encourage you to utilise EDFA’s online support groups, our Facebook community, our information and education resources, and our free online counselling service. If you’re struggling, you simply need to find something out, or you want to talk with someone who understands and is there to listen, please reach out. EDFA is here to help.
Finally. please be assured that EDFA will continue advocating for greater recognition of the well-being of families and carers of loved ones with eating disorders. No one chooses this incredibly difficult role. It is thrust upon you and in order to do it well, you need and deserve every available support.
David Quilty
Acting Chair
Eating Disorders Families Australia
EDFA's Strategic Plan
EDFA’s 2024 – 2028 Strategic Plan – available for download here
2023 Annual Report – available for download here
2022 Annual Report – available for download here
