Our Leaders
Mercy Community is run by an exceptional group of individuals who ensure our services remain relevant and responsive to your needs.
Our Executive Team
Fritha Radyk
CEO
Fritha was appointed CEO of Mercy Community in July 2019. She is a successful executive with impeccable leadership credentials, having led complex projects and operations for a large management consulting, healthcare and community services organisations in Australia and overseas for more than 20 years.
Justin Lorenz
Chief Financial Officer
Justin has over 20 years financial management experience through a combination of both external advisory and in-house corporate roles.
Kym Langill
General Manager, Families & Young People Services
Kym commenced in the role of Executive Director Families & Young People Services in November 2017. Kym is responsible for leading this portfolio in mission, vision and values; strategic and high quality operations of the service delivery; and communication and engagement of stakeholders.
Bernadette Praske
General Manager, Disability Supports (incoming)
Bernadette Praske has worked in executive and senior management operational roles for health and social care providers as well as in health service planning and engagement for PHN and West Moreton Health.
Anne Skordis
General Manager Disability Supports
Anne Skordis commenced in the role of Executive Director NDIS Services in February 2018. Anne is regarded as one of the leading experts in the NDIS across Australia and thus brings significant experience in relation to disability policy and services to Mercy Community.
Shanelle Bennett
General Manager, Mission Integration
Shanelle Bennett was appointed to the Director Mission Integration role in November 2018, a vital role in our organisation, which is responsible for integrating Mercy Community’s mission and values.
Tim Nayton
General Manager, Governance & Risk
Tim has a passion for achieving excellence in health, aged and community care services through the development and implementation of clinical governance, enterprise risk and quality management systems.
Janet Rhodes
General Manager, Aged Care Services
Janet has held senior executive roles since 2005. From 2005-10 she worked in the UK as a senior public health manager, across primary and secondary care.
Shannan Quain
General Manager, People & Culture
Shannan, our newest executive team member, commenced in the role of General Manager, People and Culture in February 2022. Regarded as a leader in her field, Shannan is often being asked to speak at National and International conferences on topics such as employee experience, leadership development and change.
Melanie Steele
General Counsel
Melanie commenced her journey with Mercy Community in July 2022 with a desire to apply her legal and non-legal skills and experience to support the Mercy Community team in its mission.
Barry Lenihan
General Manager, First Nations
Barry Lenihan is a Yuin and Dharawal man with nearly 20 years’ experience in roles specialising in matters impacting Aboriginal people and communities.
Our Board
Rowena Mcnally
Chair
Rowena has over 25 years’ experience as a board director and board chair. She has served on a number of national and regional boards across a broad range of areas including Catholic and government hospital, health and aged care services, disability, water and energy infrastructure and professional membership organisations.
Jeff Carlos
Deputy Chair
Jeff joined the Board as Deputy Chair on 24 February 2021. He is also chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Dr Steve Hambleton
Non-Executive Director
Dr Steve Hambleton is a General Practitioner in Brisbane. He is a former State and Federal President of the Australian Medical Association and is the Chief Clinical Advisor to the Australian Digital Health Agency and Chairs their Clinical Governance Committee.
Mary Lowcock
Non-Executive Director
Mary Lowcock is a Sister of Mercy of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG) and has a broad range of experience in various sectors within the Catholic Church.
Patrick O’Sullivan
Non-Executive Director
Patrick O’Sullivan is the Corporate Services Executive at Brisbane Catholic Education, a position he has held since March 2020. Patrick is a seasoned senior executive with a strong background in financial services, asset and infrastructure services, procurement services and governance.
Dr Christine Foley
Non-Executive Director
Christine (Chris) has worked in the healthcare industry since 1985. She is a hospital trained Registered nurse and holds an undergraduate degree in nursing and a range of postgraduate qualifications in management, built environment and a Doctor of Philosophy.
Michael Keir
Non-Executive Director
With over 25 years experience, Michael Keir (Keir Steele Waldon Lawyers) practices law primarily in the areas of rural, commercial, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, health industry, and property development.
Peter Forday
Non-Executive Director
Peter Forday’s career spans four decades and has included roles ranging from direct service delivery, program and policy development and management through to executive leadership roles at CEO and Board level.
Our Governance
Mercy Community (the ministry) is governed under the sponsorship of Mercy Partners. The ministry was entrusted to Mercy Partners by the Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation in April 2018.
The Mercy Partners ministerial Public Juridic Person (PJP) assumes the role of the canonical sponsor of Mercy Community. The civil relationship is that Mercy Partners Limited is the sole Member of the organisation that operates the Ministry. The day-to-day operations of Mercy Community remain under the governance of the Mercy Community board.
Mercy Partners commits to ensure that their ministries flourish as a Catholic ministry that contributes to the emergence of a world where the healing, liberating and life-giving mercy of God is experienced.
