about
the
board
DEA BOARD
Disability Employment Australia is governed by a Board of directors elected in staggered two-year terms.
Delegated authorities from member organisations are eligible to run for election to the Board.
The current Board is comprised of:
Mathew McIntyre, The Disability Trust – Chair
John Gibbons, The Personnel Group – Vice Chair
Ashley Williams, Real Futures – Treasurer
Nicole Grainger-Marsh, Asuria
James Herbertson, Flourish Australia
Lisa McPherson, Nexus Human Services
Peter Bacon, CEO DEA – appointed Secretary
Mathew McIntyre
Chair
Mathew is a proud First Nations man having extensive experience working across the Disability and Employment Service sector.
Prior to joining The Disability Trust, Mathew has held senior management and executive leadership roles across regional, state and national footprints where he was responsible for leading high-performing teams, developing emerging leaders and implementing strategic change initiatives.
Mathew is passionate about advocacy and policy and the social impact of employment of people with disability.
John Gibbons
Vice Chair
John Gibbons, the CEO of The Personnel Group, is dedicated to making a positive impact. He is AICD trained, holds an MBA, and has extensive experience serving on not-for-profit boards.
Throughout his career, John has been actively involved with Disability Employment Australia (DEA) and ACE, where he has built numerous relationships and established a strong presence within the industry.
John’s dedication to the sector is evident in his efforts to preserve its essential aspects and foster collaboration among providers, even in a competitive environment. His leadership at The Personnel Group is marked by a commitment to finding innovative solutions for the people they serve.
Ashley Williams
Treasurer
Ashley is a proud leader of Real Futures, one of Australia’s few First Nations owned Inclusive Employment Australia (formerly DES) providers, operating in New South Wales and Western Australia.
His work is driven by a deep commitment to supporting individuals who are often overlooked and entrenched in disadvantage. Ashley is committed to practices that promote dignity, empowerment, and self-determination in the workforce.
With over a decade of governance and board experience in local government as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor in Kempsey New South Wales, Ashley has witnessed firsthand the challenges that many in his community face.
Nicole Grainger-Marsh
Board Member
Nicole Grainger-Marsh, CEO of Asuria, has over 20 years of leadership experience in employment services, disability inclusion, education, and corporate governance. At Asuria, she oversees one of Australia’s largest employment services providers, focusing on inclusive employment opportunities and workforce participation for people with disabilities.
She has led transformation programs, managed Government reforms, and driven sustainable outcomes for underserved communities. As a Non-Executive Director at the University Admissions Centre (UAC) and MariBaya, she has contributed to governance, strategy, and innovation, particularly in education and services for First Nations and disadvantaged communities.
Nicole is dedicated to advancing Disability Employment Australia’s mission and leveraging her expertise to support inclusive employment services across Australia.
James Herbertson
Board Member
With over 30 years’ non-profit experience across Australia and Europe, James is a passionate ethical leader, focused on sector collaboration and helping people with disability and mental health challenges live fulfilling, connected lives.
He is currently part of the executive leadership team at Flourish Australia, one of Australia’s largest non-profit providers of psychosocial supports, supporting over 10,000 individuals through 137 contracted services per year.
James holds an MBA and GAICD membership, with current board experience as a non-executive director of the Sydney based NDIS provider, The Housing Connection, and a previous board appointment as European Director with C3i Global.
Lisa McPherson
Board Member
Lisa McPherson, CEO of Nexus Human Services has spent over 30 years working in the disability employment and community sector.
Lisa has extensive governance experience and currently serves on the Boards of Canberra Women in Business and the ACT&SNSWRU (Brumbies) as well as the ACT National Disability Services Committee and the ACT Corrective Services Disability Reference Group.
A Fellow of the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Lisa is a pragmatic, collaborative and results focused leader, experienced in engaging stakeholders across government, business, and community sectors and bring a balanced and inclusive perspective to policy and operational discussions.
Peter Bacon
DEA CEO
Peter started as Chief Executive Officer at DEA in March 2023, having spent over 15 years in the disability
employment sector.
He began his career on the frontline as an Employment Advisor to claimants of health-related benefits in East London, before moving into a range of business development and strategy. He has always been passionate about the transformational impact that decent work can have on people’s lives.
Outside of work, Peter is the proud father of two young daughters and follows Fulham Football Club in the English Premier League.
OUR PARTNERS
We are immensely proud to collaborate with our dedicated partners, who play a crucial role in advancing our mission.
