Executive Team and Board Members

Lutheran Care

Executive Team

Ian Byrne | Chief Executive Officer

With a compass set firmly on purpose, and occasionally a map and hiking boots to keep him on track, Ian Byrne brings over 25 years of executive leadership across aged care, health, disability, community, and financial services to his role as Lutheran Care's Chief Executive Officer. A Certified Practising Marketer, Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, and member of the Australian Institute of For Purpose Leaders, Ian is known for his genuine commitment to people and his grounded understanding of how to serve communities with dignity, compassion and respect. Outside work, Ian enjoys spending time with family at the footy and exploring the natural beauty of SA and NT.

Susan Richards | Executive Manager Services Northern Territory

Whether it’s pounding the pavement to raise money for people doing it tough, or strategic leadership to improve the lives of Lutheran Care clients, Susan Richards approaches everything she does with passion and with her values right up front. Susan has over 12 years’ leadership experience in the community services sector, and in 2021 joined Lutheran Care, where she found an alignment with her values. Her experience includes a range of Board and alliance roles. Susan’s approach is consultative and strengths-based and she is passionate about driving a culturally responsive workplace. Outside work, Susan loves spending time with family, participating in charity walks, attending theatre and online shoe shopping!

Michelle Keane | Executive Manager People, Culture & Engagement

Michelle Keane is a HR professional with a passion for working in the NGO sector. Her role with Lutheran Care is more than a job for Michelle. It’s a source of great pride to support Lutheran Care’s people to do what they do best: make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families in need. With more than 10 years’ experience in the community services sector in both regional and metro areas, Michelle has a good working knowledge of sector services and funding arrangements, as well as qualifications in Management and Training and Assessment. Michelle loves having adventures with her family, reading, a good G&T, laughing with friends and a walk along the beach to wind down at the end of the day.

Ashleigh Hosking | Executive Manager Services & Practice Quality South Australia

With 15+ years in community services, Ashleigh is a strategic, values-driven leader focused on quality, practice excellence, organisational improvement and service innovation. She builds systems and teams that create outcomes for individuals, families and communities. She has led work across governance, continuous improvement, workforce capability, safeguarding, service design and operational leadership. She is known for turning complex challenges into practical, person-centred solutions. Her work is grounded in evidence-informed practice and governance. She is committed to empowering teams and fostering environments where innovation and accountability thrive. Outside work, Ashleigh enjoys painting, illustration, and time with family and friends.

Adam McCallum | Executive Manager Commercial Services

Driven to make a real difference (and make the numbers work to support it), Adam blends smart commercial thinking with meaningful impact. With 15+ years’ experience in operations, strategy, and commercial management, including Chief Operating Officer and General Manager roles across health and insurance, he’s known for his calm, collaborative leadership and focus on sustainable, high-quality outcomes. Passionate about mental health and wellbeing, Adam chairs Skylight Mental Health. Outside work, he’s a long-suffering (but hopeful) Crows fan, keeps active, and enjoys time with his family.

Lutheran Care

Key Leaders

Katrina Ranford | Head of Brand, Communications & Partnerships

Katrina is an enthusiastic manager with business skills acquired from a colourful 25 year professional background in sales, marketing, communications, operations, project management, sports administration and community development. It’s a CV that’s given Katrina a balanced strategic and operational perspective to create strong stakeholder and brand relationships, champion customer experience and advance social equity and responsibility. Passionate about learning and celebrating the value of lived experience, Katrina is always up for a yarn. Don’t let her height fool you. Basketball is an integral part in her life. While no longer on court, Katrina coaches, sits on her club’s exec and commentates for NBL1.

Shaya Nettle | Alliance Senior Manager, Toward Home

Shaya brings 20 years’ experience working in South Australian, national and international not-for-profit communities. Having been involved in major change initiatives like NSW’s Going Home Staying Home reform, implementation of the NDIS as well as poverty reduction initiatives in developing countries, Shaya is passionate about inclusive change processes that combine deep listening and collaboration, with evidence and truth telling. She is excited to be part of a once in a generation reform opportunity and committed to working collaboratively with Toward Home Alliance partners, staff, clients and the greater community and homelessness service sector, to draw on the collective wisdom of those with lived experience and work toward preventing and ending homelessness.

Lutheran Care

Board Members

Sylvia Andersons | Chair

Sylvia Andersons is a passionate, values-driven leader who helps organisations to bring their visions to life, ensuring long term sustainability and profitability. With an MBA and Bachelor of Science (Honours), Sylvia has worked with multinational businesses across the medical, pharmaceutical, fast moving consumer goods and wine industries and has led a not-for-profit organisation. Her specialties are strategy, organisational analysis and management, marketing and business development. In addition to being a Fellow of the Governors’ Leadership Program and Institute of Managers and Leaders, Sylvia understands governance, having served on Boards including Community Business Bureau, St John’s Lutheran Church and Concordia College as chair. Sylvia enjoys spending weekends in the Barossa, sharing a glass of good wine and good times with friends.

Tanya Newhouse

Tanya Newhouse is a dedicated and passionate leader with a wealth of experience in motivating teams to make a positive impact in the lives of others. She has a special interest in innovation and technology development, with a focus on understanding how to create optimal customer experiences. Tanya is deeply committed to the benefits that technology can bring to populations in the health and human services sectors, and has extensive experience in commercialising university technology to achieve growth and scale. Her experience in not-for-profit business leadership has been foundational in her values-driven approach to business. Tanya holds a Master of Commerce (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and in her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, particularly in the mountains and by the ocean.

Michelle Sawade

Michelle Sawade has extensive experience leading the finance functions of organisations, with a strong background in high-growth and ASX-listed environments. During her consulting career, she assisted numerous not-for-profit organisations with governance issues and has previously served as Treasurer for St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Michelle is passionate about making a positive contribution to the community and is focused on upholding the values of Lutheran Care. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and the Taxation Institute of Australia. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys gardening, walking, tennis and travelling.

David Kelly

David Kelly has an astute head for business and a kind heart for people. David is an accomplished non-executive Director and executive and is currently CEO of the District Council of Coober Pedy. He has over 37 years' experience in local, national and global roles for multinational companies, and has also run his own management consultancy. David has been a member of 10 Boards, with a focus on supporting people living with disability and experiencing disadvantage. He brings special commercial, and information communications and technology skills to our Board. David is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and Professional Member of the Resolution Institute of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. He is very focused on upholding the values of Lutheran Care while serving the Board, organisation and broader community.

Emma Brew-Bevan

Emma Brew-Bevan is a proud and passionate young academic, who embodies the act of service with her willingness to give her time. She has worked in fashion retail, LCA administration, sports coaching, treasury, tertiary education and research, and thrives in fast-paced and innovative work environments. Emma has Bachelor degrees in Science (Forensic and Analytical) and Criminology (Honours). She is pursuing a PhD in Criminology, and through her work, shares the stories of women in custody as a way to positively impact women's lives during periods of incarceration. Outside work, Emma is chair of her congregation, enjoys spending time with family and friends and stays active through tennis and dance.

Andrew Vanderwal

Andrew Vanderwal is a Pastor of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand, currently serving the faith community of St Peters Lutheran Church Blackwood and the school community of Concordia College – St Peters Campus. He has served the church in a variety of roles and settings; most recently assisting the Ceduna Lutheran Parish and Indigenous communities of the far-west coast of SA. For a number of years Andrew served on the SA/NT Lutheran District Church Council and is currently a member of the LCANZ Standing Committee on Constitutions. Andrew enjoys the opportunity to be on the Board of Lutheran Care, an entity that brings love to life in real and significant ways.