CEO
Sarah Yeates
Meet Our Leadership Team
Our dedicated staff members are committed to providing a safe, stimulating, and professional environment for every individual in our care.
Daniel Durik
Executive Manager
Ellie McSkimming
Quality & Service
Development Manager
Nicola Weeks
Operations Manager
Lin Sun
Finance Coordinator
Katrina Wixoe
Business Services Coordinator
Our Board of Directors
The Caladenia Board of Directors provides strategic governance and oversight, ensuring we remain committed to our mission of providing compassionate dementia care for our community.
Mark Raberger
Chairperson
Mark joined the Caladenia board in 2026 as the Board Chair. Mark is an experienced Board Chair and executive leader with more than 30 years’ experience spanning healthcare, insurance and regulated financial services. He brings deep governance capability and a practical, operations-led approach to strategy, risk and performance. Mark previously served as Board Member and Chair of ALUCA, strengthening governance, membership and risk frameworks. He has also held senior executive roles overseeing complex member and claims operations, with accountability across claims, underwriting, contact centres, member services and risk education. With a clinical foundation as a qualified physiotherapist and experience developing health and virtual care programs, Mark combines health sector insight with disciplined governance, financial stewardship and a commitment to high-quality, person-centered care. Mark is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Sarah Yeates
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Yeates joined the Staff team at Caladenia in May 2001.
With more than 30 years of experience in dementia support, community development, and not-for-profit leadership, Sarah has overseen the growth of Caladenia into a highly respected provider of respite, social programs, and carer support. She is committed to embedding “The Caladenia Way” – a relational, person-centred and community-connected approach that has shaped Caladenia’s culture since 1983. Sarah is also an active contributor to regional networks and community organisations, advocating for innovation and collaboration in dementia care. Her passion lies in coaching, mentorship, and building capacity across the sector to ensure people living with dementia and their families receive meaningful, dignified, and localised support
Sarah chairs the Eastern Dementia Network, the Dementia Knowledge Network and the Eastern Social Support Network.
Ronda Jacobs
Director
Ronda joined the Board in 2023 to assist with recruitment and retention of Board Members, and was appointed as Chair the same year.
Ronda is an experienced Non Executive Director, with particular expertise and a passion for developing strategic direction and then implementing and measuring progress; fostering business development and innovation; building stakeholder relationships and valuable partnerships; and governance for both risk and opportunity. Her background includes a range of Board experiences including for purpose, statutory government authority and peak body organisations, all related to the health and wellbeing of Australians. These Board positions were in parallel to a successful career in C-suite roles in the public and private sectors across a range of healthcare and wellbeing organisations within Australia and South East Asia. Ronda is now turning this wealth of experience to further Board roles, mentoring, and other interesting projects.
Hannah Sutherland
Chair - Finance Committee
Hannah Sutherland joined Caladenia in January 2015 as a member of the Board of Directors and Finance Committee. Hannah's qualifications include a Bachelor of Business (Law) and a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting. She has twelve years experience in Public Practice accounting and auditing services, and has recently moved into a company accountant role within a mid-sized business in the entertainment industry. She currently lives in Lilydale, and has lived in the Shire of Yarra Ranges her whole life. In her free time, Hannah enjoys gardening, walking her dog, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr Kerrie Milburn
Board Member
Kerrie lectures in Public Relations in the School of Media and Communication at Swinburne University, and supervises students undertaking professional placements/internships with industry. She also consults privately on strategic communication and issues management.
Kerrie has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (German Studies), Graduate Diploma in Languages, Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Politics), and Associate Diploma in Professional Writing.
Prior to joining Swinburne, Kerrie had a highly successful professional practice career in public relations as both a consultant and in-house employee, with ASX Top 100 companies, government, and non-profit organisations. She has Board experience with Kimberly-Clark Australia and BreastScreen Victoria. Kerrie is a Fellow of Communication and Public Relations Australia and a former Victorian President of the association.
Robert Telling
Board Member
Robert has worked in the building trade as a self employed tradesman for many years.
He has worked for the last ten years at an aged care facility as building manager and maintenance. Robert is also a trainer teaching fire safety and evacuation procedures.
Robert's relationship with Caladenia has come through the Mooroolbark Bowls Club, where the two organisations have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for over 30 years.
Naomi Alefelder
Board Member
Naomi is an experienced governance leader with more than a decade of experience across hospital, aged care, disability, respite, and community health sectors. She specialises in clinical governance, quality systems, risk management, regulatory compliance, data analytics, and evidence-based healthcare.
Naomi holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Business Administration (Business Analysis, Operations & Strategy). She is a certified Lead Auditor and has completed the AICD Foundations of Directorship.
With extensive experience in highly regulated healthcare environments, Naomi has supported health care providers to maintain accreditation. Her work focuses on translating complex regulatory obligations into measurable, evidence-driven governance systems that promote accountability, continuous improvement, and long-term sustainability.
Drawing on her clinical experience, Naomi is committed to advancing holistic, person-centered dementia care that upholds dignity, safety, and quality of life. She ensures governance decisions remain closely connected to the lived experience of residents, families, and carers.
Lyndal McNamara
Company Director, Caladenia Dementia Care
Chair, Governance Committee
Lyndal is an aged care executive with extensive experience in governance, accreditation, quality and risk management. She began her career as an allied health professional working in Australia and overseas, later moving into senior management roles across community health, aged care and quality accreditation. She holds undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Podiatry and Management.
A graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course, Lyndal currently serves as Company Secretary at mecwacare. Her commitment to the not for profit sector, combined with lived experience of Dementia, motivates her contribution to Caladenia’s governance.
Lyndal values diverse viewpoints and provides considered, evidence informed insights. Her interest in emerging governance trends strengthens decision making and supports the organisations with which she works.
Interested in learning more about our governance or joining our mission? Reach out to our board secretary for more information on upcoming meetings and opportunities.