Following the Annual General Meeting of 11 November 2018, we welcome the new Board for 2018-2019 and in particular welcome two new volunteer directors, Kate McKeand and Wayne Pointon.

Prof W Ted Brown, President
Prof Brown MD is the recently retired Director of the New York State Institute for Basic Research (IBR) in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York. Upon retiring, he moved to Sydney and married paediatrician Dr Jacqueline Small, who runs a clinic for children with developmental disability. He has an appointment as Visiting Professor at the University of Sydney. Much of his 35 year research career has focused on Fragile X syndrome and on autism. He was the first to describe a relationship between autism and the Fragile X syndrome. His team was the first to demonstrate the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis for Fragile X, and subsequently have provided prenatal diagnosis for more than 1,400 known carriers. His laboratory has developed a sensitive antibody test to
quantify the Fragile X protein levels in blood spots. His clinic was a participant in the Fragile X drug trials sponsored by Seaside, Novartis and Roche. Prof Brown is based in Sydney.  He was re-appointed to the Board at the AGM on 11 November 2018.

Judith Lenart, Treasurer
Judith is an experienced director with a background in business, education and health. She has served on the boards of several companies and charities in Australasia. Judith joined the Board of Fragile X Association in 2014 and has served as both Secretary and Treasurer. She is a registered valuer and has served on the finance committee of CatholicCare Broken Bay, New South Wales. Judith is based in Sydney. Judith was re-appointed to the Board at the AGM on 11 November 2018.

Christine Kelleher, Secretary
Christine has been involved with Fragile X Association for nearly twenty years, including serving on the Board and the executive committee several times.  She is a mother of three adult children, two of whom have full mutation Fragile X. Christine is passionate about seeing the Association succeed and sharing her knowledge of raising affected children within the Fragile X community. She is based in Sydney. Christine was re-appointed to the Board at the AGM on 11 November 2018.

Graham Hook, Director
Graham’s son James is an adult who has Fragile X syndrome.  Graham re-joined the Board in May 2016, having previously served as a director, Vice-President and President.  Graham has also served on the board of Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and Life Be In It (NT). He is a current member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Graham spent the majority of his career in the Air Force and now serves as a business manager within the Department of Defence.   Graham also volunteers with Special Olympics Queensland as a basketball coach for one of the Brisbane teams.  In his spare time Graham enjoys gardening, cultural events, catching up with friends or just being with his wife Amanda.  He is an amateur artist who enjoys doing landscapes and portraits in oils. Graham is based in Brisbane, and was re-appointed to the Board at the AGM on 11 November 2018.

Katherine Brown, Director
Katherine is English and moved to Australia in 2006 with her husband David. Together they have two children: Samantha is 9 and has not been tested for Fragile X; Andrew is 7 and has Fragile X syndrome. Katherine joined the Board in 2016. She has worked in the finance industry for over 10 years. Before moving to Australia she was supervising a debt recovery team for a stock broker,  representing the company in court during disputed claims. Katherine built on her public speaking experience in 2012/13 before returning to the finance industry in a sales role. She has recently taken up running and likes to run for fitness with friends. Katherine is based in Adelaide and has taken part in several organised running events and has used these events to fundraise for Fragile X Association on several occasions. She was re-appointed to the Board at the AGM on 11 November 2018.

Kate McKeand, Director
Kate is a disability advocate and mother of two children who have Fragile X full mutation. She is based in Melbourne and is a director of a consulting organisation that specialises in supporting and empowering participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.  Kate has represented families of children with disabilities on a number of consumer and advocacy bodies, and has presented at a wide range of forums on inclusion of people with disabilities, disability supports and NDIS. Originally an environmental engineer, Kate has experience working in board and management roles in the not-for-profit, government and consulting sectors. Kate loves yoga and the Australian bush, and is attempting to establish a sensory garden at home with the help of her children and husband Stuart. Kate was appointed to the Board at the AGM on 11 November 2018.

Wayne Pointon, Director
Wayne lives in Busselton, Western Australia with his wife Lisa, their daughter Emma (9) and twin boys Ben & Zak (6). Zak has Fragile X syndrome whilst his siblings are unaffected. Wayne has held several senior positions in the public sector in analytics and investigations, and in enforcement and compliance operations. He currently holds an operational leadership position within the mining industry. Wayne enjoys spending time fishing and camping with his family. Wayne was appointed to the Board at the AGM on 11 November 2018.

Mike Tozer, Director
Mike is originally from the UK and is married to Helen who is from Sydney. They have two children, Josiah aged 6 and Hannah aged 8. Josiah has Fragile X syndrome while Hannah is not medically affected. However, she does point out that she is still indirectly affected as a sibling of a brother with Fragile X! Mike has worked in the technology and social impact sectors for 20 years. He is the founder of Xceptional, a technology services firm that employs people with autism and was featured on the ABC’s ‘Employable Me’ series. Mike holds a masters from Harvard and a BA from Oxford. Mike is also a runner and has recently broken the world record for the fastest half marathon in a business suit! He took on the record to raise funds and awareness for Fragile X in Australia and internationally. Mike lives in Sydney.  Mike was re-appointed to the Board in December 2018.