Leadership team

The Council

The Affiliated Churches of Churches of Christ elect a Conference Council (Council).

The principal roles of the Council include appointing the Board, fostering the mission and objectives of the organisation through intentional prayer and encouragement, and ensuring Churches of Christ is represented in key civic and inter-church activities.

The Council also has three committees, with membership drawn from Council members, local church leaders, externally co-opted professional advisors, and/or relevant senior staff. Currently the committees are:

• Ministry Ethics Unit
• Healing and Redress Scheme
• Nominations Committee.

Churches of Christ in Queensland Conference Council members are:

• Kevan Denny – Chair of Council
• Ken Ewald – Chair of Board (ex-officio)
• Carol Joseph
• Geoff Runge
• Laura Snook
• Steve Peach
• Pat Hegarty
• Matt George (appointed 2021 AGM)
• Ben Zambra (appointed 2021 AGM)

The Board

The Board of Churches of Christ is appointed by the Council and is the legal Board of Directors for the organisation.

The principal roles of the Board include overseeing the governance of the organisation, approving and reviewing the strategic plan and generally undertaking whatever course of action is necessary to ensure that the objectives of Churches of Christ in Queensland are achieved.

The Chair of the Council is a full member of the Board, and the Chair of the Board is a full member of the Council. The Chief Executive Officer is the most senior paid member of the organisation and reports directly to the Board.

The Board has four committees, with membership drawn from Board members and relevant senior staff. These are:

• Finance and Property
• Mission, People and Culture
• Governance and Risk, and
• Remuneration.

Churches of Christ in Queensland Board members are: 

• Ken Ewald, Chair of Board
• Gary Edwards, Chief Executive Officer
• Dale White
• Doug Sparkes
• Nigel King
• Jill Gray
• Jill Carson
• Steve Slade
• Kevan Denny

Executive Group and Strategic Management Group

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for leading Churches of Christ and forwarding our mission; promoting our purpose and values; and inspiring all stakeholders – particularly the executive team, staff and local church leaders – to work together to achieve our collective vision and the strategic goals of the organisation as agreed with the Board and overseen by Council.

Reporting directly to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for promoting the purpose and values of Churches of Christ. This involves developing and implementing strategies to achieve a united mission-focused vision, while inspiring stakeholders to contribute to, and advance, these strategies through the wider community.

The Chief Executive Officer is supported by the Executive Group:

• Gary Edwards – Chief Executive Officer
• Michael Brand – Chief Financial Officer
• Rue Masunungure – Director of Governance
• Tim McMenamin – Director Church and Community Engagement
• David McConaghy – Director of Facilities and Infrastructure
• Jodie McAloney – Director People and Culture
• Steve Webster – Director Communications and Marketing
• Richard de Haast – Director Seniors Living
• Mike Folland – Director of Children Youth and Families 

With senior representatives from each of our mission, service and support areas, the Strategic Management Group is a functional leadership team ensuring delivery of mission and care services.

The team comprises of the following:

• Alicia Follent – General Manager Housing Services
• Chris Brunings – General Manager Financial Services
• Thomas Kitching – General Manager Information Technology Services
• Scott Bird - General Manager Property Group
• Judene Creedy - General Manager Seniors Living
• Donna Hart General manager Seniors Living
• Sue Bambling General Manager Seniors living business support
• Karen Dabner General manager Culture and Employee Experience
• Damien Finger General manager People and performance
• Darryn Hammond General Manager Risk and Assurance