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, finance, governance, management, and marketing roles.

Wendy’s first association role was with Life Saving Victoria (formerly the Royal Life Saving Society) to promote 100 years of lifesaving.

Wendy then took up a position as the inaugural Executive Officer at Asthma Australia (formerly the Asthma Foundations of Australia) in 1996. During Wendy’s time, she developed and implemented two national programs that have significantly impacted the education and health sectors. These programs were:

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

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 sixth national health priority, and Asthma Australia secured 2 million in funding to develop the Asthma Friendly Schools program. Wendy's work resulted in the development of the asthma management plan, which is still used today in every school and ‘under-fives’ service in Australia.

In 2015, Wendy moved to the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN) as the Executive Officer until 2020.

In February 2020, Wendy commenced with the Australian Hand Therapy Association as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer, where she continues to serve members and have an impact.

From 2021 to 2023, Wendy was a Director on the Board of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) Victoria.

In November 2022, Wendy received the Association's Hall of Fame Award, recognising excellence and accomplishment by outstanding individuals in the association's sector.

Wendy can be contacted via our Contact Us page.

Education Services and Conference Manager

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, meetings and the annual conference.

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.

Christina can be contacted via our Contact Us page.

Membership Services

Annabel Holliss

Annabel is a highly experienced association professional, having previously worked with leading member-based associations, and brings a wealth of expertise in member engagement, marketing, and service delivery.

In this new role, Annabel will help strengthen connections within our community and support the evolving needs of our profession.

Annabel has also spent many years as a conference manager working for professional conference organisers. Annabel will provide expertise and support in the delivery of our annual conference.

Annabel can be contacted via our Contact Us page.

Finance Accountant

Cheryl La Paglia

Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Business (majoring in accounting) and brings 15 years of experience in financial accounting and bookkeeping roles. She has strong not-for-profit experience, with responsibilities including full-function accounting, payroll, management of sponsorships and donations, PAYG and superannuation, audit preparation and compliance, budgeting, bank reconciliations, monthly reporting, BAS lodgement, Square and PayPal receipts, and cash flow forecasting.

Cheryl can be contacted via our Contact Us page.

Credentialing Officer

Rachel McDuff

BOccThy, Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the AHTA)

Rachel graduated as an Occupational Therapist from the University of Queensland in 2014 and began her career in hand therapy in 2015 in regional Queensland. She is an Accredited Hand Therapist and currently works privately in Brisbane. Rachel has presented at the national conference on relative motion orthoses. She has a special interest in complex finger fractures and tendon injuries and thoroughly enjoys working with athletes with upper limb injuries.

Rachel has assisted with the education portfolio since 2020 and provides support to the AHTA Credentialing Council and members.

Rachel can be contacted via our Contact Us page.