The new Board has been appointed to lead a merged Merri Health and Banyule Community Health
Our Board of Directors govern the organisation with a strong commitment to serving the community. The Board Directors are:
Tass Mousaferiadis, Board Chair
Tass has held leadership roles across a multitude of sectors. He is currently the Board Chair of Eastern Health, Acting Board Chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and a Board Director of Foodbank Victoria.
Tass is a proud member of the Hepburn Shire Council LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee, was involved in the establishment of the Victorian Pride Centre and has volunteered with JOY 94.9 – Australia’s only LGBTIQA+ community radio station.
Tass is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has a Graduate Certificate in Business Management, a Graduate Diploma in Health Education, and a Bachelor of Education.
Stephen Bendle
Stephen is an experienced executive within the public health and community development sectors. He was the National Director of the peak body for organ and tissue donation, CEO of YMCAs in Victoria and NSW, and ran his own national consulting business in the corporate health field.
Stephen is the Senior Advocacy Advisor for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, and a former Banyule Community Health Board Director.
He has a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Science and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Sam Garrasi
Sam has over 20 years’ experience in the Victorian acute health sector in a range of senior management and executive roles. Until recently, he was the Chief Financial Officer at the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Sam has been a Merri Health Board Director for over four years. He is the Chair of the Board’s Finance and Audit Risk Management Committee and a member of the Recommissioning Committee.
Sam is a qualified accountant, a Fellow of the CPA, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Shannon Gleeson
Shannon is a proud Wiradjuri woman who has had a successful career in leadership roles within the public health system and not-for-profit space. She is currently the Strategic Projects Manager at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).
Shannon was a Banyule Community Health Board Director between 2022 and 2024.
Shannon has a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing.
Anne Jungwirth
Anne has worked in health education and health services for over 30 years, including in policy development, primary care systems improvement, and as CEO of a rural community health service.
Anne has been a Merri Health Board for four years and is a former Chair. She is also a Board Member of Ralac, a community-based housing and aged care provider; and a former Board Director at DPV Health (formerly Dianella).
Anne has Graduate Diplomas in Social Psychology and Librarianship, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Diploma of Education.
Chiara Lawry
Chiara is a qualified lawyer, former public policy advisor and current CEO of management consulting firm, Right Lane Consulting.
Chiara was a founding volunteer and board member at the Oaktree Foundation and has worked with indigenous organisations in the Cape York Peninsula and the Tiwi Islands. Chiara previously served as Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair at Environmental Justice Australia and joined the Merri Health Board in 2023.
Chiara has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Law (Honours), and is a Master of Public Administration.
Dr. Danielle Panaccio
Danielle is a specialist general physician and an experienced medical educator, teaching medical students and supervising physician trainees.
Danielle is a Merri Health Board Director and is a member of both the Australasian Institute for Clinical Governance and Australasian Institute for Clinical Governance.
Danielle is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has a law degree and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2016.
Michael Smith
Michael has extensive professional experience in youth work, homelessness, local government, community development, health justice and management. He is the CEO of Eastern Community Legal Centre and Board Chair of knowmore, a national community legal centre providing free legal advice and support to the survivors of child sexual abuse.
Michael was the former Chair of Banyule Community Health, and the National Association of Community Legal Centres.
Michael is a Master of Social Work and graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jessica Walker
Jessica has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership roles in the Federal and Victorian Government, and in the not-for-profit sector. She brings expertise in policy, communications, and government relations.
Jessica is a former Banyule Community Health Board Director.
Jessica has a Bachelor of Media Studies (Journalism) and is a Master of Communication (Public Relations).