Chief Executive Officer

The organisation

The Kyeema Centre opened in June 1967 in the Portland Guide Hall following a small group of parents advocating for their sons and daughters. The temporary premises were used until funds could be raised to build on the land the Portland Town Council gave for this project. The name was derived from a competition held amongst the local schools. The winning entry chosen from over 200 options, was Kyeema, the aboriginal word for “dawn”.

On 23 November 1969 the new building was built on the corner of Lalor Street and Bridgewater Road and was officially opened by the Hon. Malcolm Fraser. This facility provided services to children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Kyeema employs approximately 85 staff (this includes full time, part time and casual staff) who support over 220 individuals and their families mostly in the Glenelg Shire, and over the years has broadened and developed services in response to peoples’ needs. Services for adults include individual and group supports in people’s homes and in the community. Supported employment is offered through Seawinds Nursery, Windward Industries and Green Fingers Gardening enterprises.

Services for children include group activities, school holiday programs, teenage recreation and respite.

The brief

Following the announcement of the CEO’s intention to retire in 2024, Brooker Consulting has been kindly invited by the Chair, Cathi Bawden to submit a confidential proposal to assist in the search and selection of a worthy successor to the outgoing, long-serving CEO.  With a strong management team and a cohesive, well-run board, the mandate was to identify an experienced executive in the disability sector, who would work on innovative participant recruitment strategies and the exploration of alternate revenue streams.

The process

A detailed briefing was conducted with the Board of Directors in Portland Victoria and a clear candidate profile drawn up after the lead consultant met with members of the Board, the Senior Leadership Team, participants and parents.  An extensive strategy was outlined, and the campaign was launched utilising print media and online advertising, Brooker Consulting’s proprietary database and our impressive network of referral partners and sector specialists.   The opportunity was disseminated to as wide an audience as possible. The Brooker team of Lesley Lightfoot and Rachel Cameron generated an impressive level of interest and a high-quality shortlist was presented to the Selection Committee.

The outcome

After the presentation of eight worthy applicants to the Committee, it was decided to interview four  of them. From these interviews, two candidates emerged and were taken to a second round where they responded to a strategic question on notice from the Board.

Comprehensive reference and background checks were conducted and Mark Koch was ultimately appointed to the role after a unanimous decision was reached by the Selection Panel.

Mark brought extensive experience in executive management roles within the not-for-profit sector (NFP), particularly in regional areas.  His expertise in financial management, business strategy, and risk management was complemented by a strong commitment to mentoring and developing talent within the disability organisations in which he served. He was particularly knowledgeable about the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).