Board and Executive
The Board of Lifeline WA plays a vital role in the success of the organisation. Responsibility for day-to-day management and administration is delegated by the Board to the Chief Executive Officer, assisted by the senior management.
Lifeline WA has been deliberate in recruiting Board members who have complementary backgrounds and skills that are aligned to the organisations strategic objectives. Individually and collectively, Board Members strive to use their experience of business and community life to add value to the organisation as well as effectively monitor its operations.
Board Members
Sasha Pendal , Chair
Appointed as Lifeline WA’s Chairperson May 2019
Appointed to Lifeline WA Board August 2016
Fundraising & Sustainability Committee
With a 20 year career in senior positions with some of the most respected firms in WA, including Woodside, HBF and Synergy, Sasha is currently the CEO of Early Start Australia. In addition to her role as Chair of Lifeline WA, Sasha is also a Director of Bright Energy Investments and a member of the Curtin Graduate School of Management Advisory Board.
Chris Carey , Treasurer
Appointed to Lifeline WA Board August 2012
Deputy Chair & Treasurer
Chris is a Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in funds management, compliance, engineering, mining and chartered accountancy practice. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.
John Brearley , Board Member
Appointed in August 2017
Chair of Fundraising & Sustainability Committee
John is the General Manager Business Development and Research at Brightwater Group WA. John has extensive experience and qualifications in social work, education, mental health and leadership.
Nadia Mitsopolous , Board Member
Appointed to Lifeline WA Board August 2017
Fundraising & Sustainability Committee
Nadia Mitsopolous has been a journalist for many years, starting at GWN in Bunbury and Albany and working at the Ten Network, in London for Associated Press and Channel Nine News. She is now a journalist and producer for the Mornings Program on ABC Radio Perth.
Howard Knight , Board Member
Appointed in May 2019
Finance, Risk & Investment Committee
Howard Knight is Managing Director of Redgate Capital, a private investment advisory business. Howard has spent the majority of his career in investment banking or funds management, trading or investing in financial markets and involved in structured product development and distribution.
He holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Graduate Diploma in Finance, is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course and has been awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He is also on the Board of the CFA Society Perth and is responsible for developing the Women in Finance Network.
David Etherton , Board Member
Appointed in June 2018
Chair of Finance, Risk & Investment Committee
David Etherton has more than 25 years’ senior executive experience in the tourism, sports and events sectors, with the majority of this time working for the WA Government. As CEO for VenuesWest David currently oversees some of Western Australia’s biggest venues and events.
Rhys Taylor , Board Member
Appointed to Lifeline WA Board January 2021
Rhys is a Chartered Accountant with 19 years' experience across a range of industries including retail, financial services, education and mining. He has held roles at EY and RAC and is currently the Team Leader Corporate Accounting at Wesfarmers. Rhys is also an associate fellow of the Australian Institute of Management WA.
Lorna MacGregor , Chief Executive Officer
Appointed in January 2016
Ms Lorna MacGregor was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lifeline WA in January 2016. She is an experienced senior executive who has held senior roles in government, corporate and not-for-profit organisations including HBF, healthdirect Australia, Activ and Perth North Medicare Local.
Our Funding
Lifeline WA relies heavily upon community contribution, corporate partnerships and fundraising activities to deliver its core suicide prevention and crisis support services.
44% of our funding comes from fundraising activities, 32% from Government grants, 22% from contracted services and 2% from fee for service.
Lifeline WA is working towards being financially sustainable and to diversify revenue streams by creating long term, self-generated income to support our services.
The Mental Health Commission is the major funding body for the 13 11 14 crisis support service, and has been for four years to date. This financial investment will further enhance the accessibility of Lifeline’s suicide prevention services.
Long term financial sustainability is imperative for Lifeline WA and the 13 11 14 crisis support service requires ongoing funding to enable the training of more crisis support volunteers to build capacity and save more lives. Lifeline WA continues to increase its efforts on fundraising and diversifying its revenue.
Lifeline WA receives funding for the Department for Communities for its Separated Mums and Separated Dads counselling services.
The DV-Alert program has been funded by the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs through Lifeline Australia since 2013.