Richard Wilson (Chairperson)

A senior executive with the Western Australian Government, I lead the Operations Stream at the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Shared Services program. My previous position was Executive Director, Corporate and Business Services, at Tourism WA.

A long time Board member of Relationships Australia (WA) and other organisations, I focus on organisation growth and development. I aim to see Relationships Australia (WA) recognised as the leading provider of relationship services to Western Australia and as an employer of choice within the sector.

Tony Dobbs

I joined the Board in August 2008, after fours years as adviser to the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and member of the Finance Committee.

A member of Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia, holding a Master of Business Administration degree from UWA, I have a range of company secretarial, financial and commercial management skills and experience, principally in the manufacturing and resources sectors.

I have been a senior executive of a major WA industrial company and have been a management consultant for the last eight years, specialising in commercial advice and financial management.

Rob Donovan
PhD Psychology

As Professor of Behavioural Research in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University of Technology, my interests include positive mental health promotion, the regulation of the marketing of ‘sin’ and unhealthy products, racism, violence against women, Indigenous issues and doping in sport.

I bring a background in research in several areas related to Relationships Australias work, along with general expertise in behaviour change across a variety of health and social policy areas. I am particularly supportive of Relationships Australia's (WA) role in building good mental health and wellbeing in its client base and the population in general.

My career has taken me from research at the University of Western Australia to Health Computing in WA and SA. After working in land information in both States I went on to General Management in Local and State Government. Though my background is in Information Services, I have an interest in organisational development, particularly in encouraging people to realise their potential.

It is important to imbue my work and private life with my personal values of fairness and social justice. I see my role on the Relationships Australia (WA) board as helping the organisation make a difference to our community.

Chris Lewis

I joined the Board in 2003 and was Chairman for five years from 2004–2008. In my professional career I have been a journalist in Australia and Asia, managing director of a leading public relations firm, and chief executive officer of organisations in the social services and mining support sectors. I am now a corporate consultant.
I bring a corporate and marketing perspective that has been valuable in shaping the organisation through one of the most significant periods in its history. My focus has been building on the strengths of the past to create an entity that can embrace change and meet new challenges.

Helen Shurven

I hold a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology, Master’s in Education and Bachelor of Laws. I have practised as a solicitor and worked as a Family Mediator. I have also taught at Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University in both law and education, and have worked for the WA Government for the past 10 years in various roles in independent statutory organisations.
I worked at RAWA from 1995–1998 in the family mediation unit, providing mediation services to families and in relation to other disputes, and also training mediators. I was in the team that won a Community Services Industry Award for mediation training. My experience in relationship building includes HR and ethics, project management, complaints management and mediation skills.