Staff

Chief Executive Officer

Wendy Rowland

B.Ed Grad.Dip Bus. Man.

Wendy is a specialist in the not-for-profit sector with 25 years of experience in national and state-based sport and health associations in leadership, governance, management, and marketing roles. 

In 1993, Wendy accepted her first role in an association, a 12-month contract with the Royal Life Saving Society to promote 100 years of lifesaving. She stayed with the Society for three years in a Marketing role.

Wendy then took a position as the inaugural Executive Officer at the Asthma Foundations of Australia. Wendy developed the national office from a non-existent entity to a solid national peak body, which remains a highly successful association today. During Wendy’s time, she developed and implemented two national programs that have significantly impacted the education and health sector. These programs were:

1. Asthma Friendly Kindergartens and Childcare Services Program, and 
2. Asthma Friendly Schools Program

The catalyst for the development of these programs was a parent who contacted Wendy concerned because her child was about to commence preschool, and the sector did not have a system to manage the child’s asthma whilst in care. 

The establishment and implementation of these programs required collaboration with many peak bodies (in the early learning and childcare sector) and the school sector (catholic, independent and government schools). 

During this time, the federal government recognised asthma as the 6th national health priority, and Asthma Australia secured 2 million in funding to develop the Asthma Friendly Schools program. 

Since then every school and ‘under-fives’ service in Australia continues to use an Asthma Management Plan, which was developed as a result of Wendy's work.

Wendy had time with children and resumed her career as Communications Manager of Home Economics Victoria for three years. Yearning to make an impact nationally again, she took on a role as Executive Officer with the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN). 

Wendy is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Hand Therapy Association, and a Director on the Board of ACHPER Victoria, and she continues to have an impact.

In November 2022, Wendy was inducted into the Association's Hall of Fame. 

Wendy can be contacted via our Contact Us page.

Education and Membership Services

Michelle Albert 

Michelle Albert worked in a professional association as the secretariat for six years before establishing a major events company where she delivered national and international conferences for her clients.

Michelle will be the main point of contact for all members requiring assistance with courses, webinars and events and membership. 

Michelle can be contacted via our Contact Us page.

Education Manager

Christina Harwood

BSc, MOccThy, Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA)

Christina graduated with a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of Queensland in 2001. She worked in a variety of settings throughout the UK and Australia, before focusing on Hand Therapy full-time in 2004. Christina became a Member of the AHTA in 2006 and has previously served on the AHTA board as State Representative and Membership Secretary.  Christina has completed research projects on scar management, splinting for rotation deficits of the forearm, and midcarpal instability, all of which she has presented at both national and international conferences.  She was co-author of her first published paper in November 2015.

Christina has a special interest in wrists, trauma and sports injuries and loves to teach. She began teaching the AHTA Fundamentals course in 2015 and remained on the presenter team, now teaching the Closed Trauma and Introduction courses.  She has worked in both public and private settings in both management and clinical roles.

Chris now balances her role as Education Manager, with clinical work and a young family.  She is responsible for the continuous improvement of the Education portfolio and is the main contact for queries about course content.

EDUCATION MANAGER

Luke McCarron

BOcc.Thy, MSc.Hand, Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA), Certified Hand Therapist (as awarded by the HTCC)

Luke graduated as an Occupational Therapist from Southern Cross University in 2012, before gaining employment in a private practice Hand Therapy clinic on the Gold Coast. Luke achieved the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential in 2017, and Accredited Hand Therapist (AHT) credential in 2018. Luke completed the Master of Science in Hand Therapy degree from the University of Derby in 2018, then commenced a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Griffith University in 2019. His PhD topic, and special interest area, is rehabilitation following Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) injury.

Luke left his clinical role in 2019 to become an Assistant Professor in a conjoint academic position shared between Bond University Occupational Therapy and the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) Orthopaedic Departments. Luke was the GCHHS Orthopaedic Research Coordinator from 2019 to 2023, and currently sits on the GCHHS Human Research Ethics Committee.

Luke has published multiple peer reviewed journal articles as lead-author and co-author. He was also featured in IFSSH-Ezine November 2021 and February 2022 editions “Understanding the TFCC”.