Monica Ferrie
Chief Executive Officer
About Me:
I’m inspired by potential and possibility, for individuals, teams and community. My work is targeted to discover, facilitate and achieve them both in a number of capacities.
I am the GSNV Chief Executive in a part time capacity which allows me to also be the Director of Bold and Brave Consulting and Toilet Training Educators, Treasurer of the Balibo House Trust, Honorary Fellow of Melbourne University and member of the Central Queensland University Regional Engagement Committee.
Experience in senior leadership roles in Government, Education, the private sector, international projects, education including a Masters of Business Administration and a commitment to community provide a foundation for making a difference across a range of sectors.
What I’m good at:
My work has allowed me to develop many skills over the years and I continue to utilise these and build more:
- Business Mentoring
- Strategic Planning
- Facilitation and Training
- Leadership
- Learning
- Decision Making and Problem Solving
Things I love to do:
- Spend time with my family – I have two sons and a large family.
- Hiking – I’ve done part of the Camino, The Overland, Three Capes, Routeburn, The Heafy…
- Scuba Diving – I’ve dived in Australia, Phillipines, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.
- Anything to do with the ocean – looking at it, being in it, under it, on it
- All Sports – Love the Bombers, Cricket, Tennis, Soccer – watch a lot and should play more!
- Working in Emerging Countries – I’ve been involved in Timor Leste for years and love working with the challenges of emerging countries.
- Travel – So many places to go……
Louisa Di Pietro
Education and Advocacy Consultant
About me:
I am the former Group Leader of the Genetic Support Network of Victoria (GSNV) and currently hold the education and advocacy strategy advice portfolio. I’m an experienced researcher and educator with a particular interest in the testing and diagnosis of genetic and rare conditions, the psychosocial impact of diagnosis on individuals and families and the delivery of ethical medical services in a genomics era.
I am actively involved in professional and community engagement and sit on numerous professional boards and advisory groups within the genetic health space. I also employ my professional and ‘lived’ experience/knowledge of managing a genetic condition to assist in the continuum of care delivered to Australians and in linking them in with specialised support/services and assisting advocacy efforts. My current work also focuses much on the training and exposure of genetic health professionals to the ‘psychosocial impact and personal stories’ behind a diagnosis and living with a genetic condition, the understanding of patient needs and expectations in an increasingly sophisticated genetic services environment, equity of access and the ethical application of new and emerging health technologies.
In 2017, I was inducted into the Department of Health and Human Services Lifetime Achievement Honour Roll for services to the community. Honorary Academic – University of Melbourne
Role/Affiliations/Awards:
- Life Time Achievement Honours Roll – DHHS
- Working Group – Genomics Health Future Mission Steering Committee – Ethics Legal and Social Issues (ELSI)
- Member – Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance (MGHA) Consumer Advisory Group (CAG)
- Carrier Screening Reference Group – Cystic Fibrosis Victoria
- Lay Committee Member – Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
- Honorary Member – Italian Society of Human Genetics (SIGU)
- Member – Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) and SIG
- Former Group Leader – GSNV
- Former Coordinator – Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Victoria
- Former member – Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Education Ethics and Social Issues Committee
- Former Committee member – Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Tas/Vic Branch
Hollie Feller
Project Assistant
About me:
I work voluntarily as the co-founder and Director of UsherKids Australia. I am a fierce advocate for early diagnosis of Usher syndrome through genetic testing, the education of clinical professionals as well as support for families around the country to share research and information about the current generation of USH kids. I divide my time between work at the Genetic Support Network of Victoria, volunteering for UsherKids Australia, Paediatric Vision Impairment Alliance and is also on the Board at Genetic Cures Australia (www.geneticcures.com.au), a charity I established with my husband to further accelerate Australian research and therapies for genetic conditions such as Usher syndrome.
Daniele Noel
Communications & Volunteer Coordinator
Daniele brings diverse and well-rounded professional expertise in the health and ageing sector. Coupled with formal qualifications in Management, Marketing and Strategic Communications, Daniele delivers strategy and implementation across branding, communications and digital marketing. Her creative talents are complemented by diligent research and a focus on stakeholder engagement and the application of principles of health literacy to support vulnerable health and aged care consumers.
Daniele is currently implementing communication strategies and tools that support the GSNV’s advocacy initiatives to elevate the voices of Support Groups and individuals living with genetic, undiagnosed and rare diseases.
Malavika Vasanth
Policy & Projects Coordinator
As our Policy and Project Coordinator, Malavika designs and implements inclusive strategies and tools to ensure the GSNV is equipped to lead and offer engaging, inclusive resources and strategies for the GUaRD community.
New inclusive language guides are currently in the pipeline to be released in the coming months. The GSNV looks forward to promoting our resources in this field through Malavika’s project work.