Our Board

PBF Board

Sheila McHale

Chair

Sheila has over 25 years’ experience on boards and committees at a state and national level, as a Minister of the WA Parliament and non executive director. Sheila holds a number of board positions. She is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, and AIM WA ,and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As a former Minister in the State Government, she was privileged to have held the portfolio of Disability Services for seven years.

Rob Pike

Director

Robert is an accomplished leader with over 15 years in business development, sales, and public speaking experience. He has been a key advocate for injury prevention with the Paraplegic Benefit Fund (PBF) Australia since 2012, delivering presentations on road safety and spinal cord injury awareness. Currently as a Regional Manager for WA Return Recycle Renew, Robert successfully helped launch the container deposit scheme in WA in 2020 and led initiatives within Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley.

A double below-knee amputee from a car accident in 1999, Robert is passionate about safety and resilience. He is also a gold medalist in wheelchair basketball and  currently an assistant coach for the Gliders (the Australian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team).

Esme Bowen

Director

Esme is a Director of Volunteering Australia, and Chair of the WA Carers Advisory Council reporting to the Minister; and a member on both the Ministers Community Volunteering Reference Group and the Ministers Single Use Plastic Action Group. She is Deputy Chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA and a Board member of Disability Assembly WA.

She is an RAC Honorary Life Member, RAC past President and Council member retiring in March 2020, and previous director of the Australian Automobile Association. Esme is also a life Member of Wheelchair Sports WA – now Rebound WA .

Esme has been a company director of, and remains involved in, a Perth-based family surf business. She has been involved in tourism and hospitality ventures in the Kimberley region of WA. Esme has almost 30 years of nursing and disability experience and has worked as a community road safety advocate for many years. She holds BSc (Nursing), FAICD.

Robin Piesse

Director

Robin has held senior management and executive roles within State Government and the Non Profit sector, specialising in the service delivery of product, marketing communications and customer facing functions.

Robin has a Bachelor of Arts (Geography) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business.

Craig Serjeant

Director

Craig Serjeant has been associated with PBF for over 15 years; either as a Board director or consultant, and recently as acting Chair person. He has Chaired the Compliance committee for the majority of his time on the Board.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Pharmacy) and a Graduate Diploma Applied Finance and Investment(1987). He has spent the last 30 years working as a financial advisor, now retired.

Simon Terry

Director

Simon is Managing Director of Porters CA – Chartered Accountants, holds Bachelors of Law and Commerce and has completed post graduate study with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Simon brings broad commercial experience through various roles with BHP and South 32 including that of Risk, Investment and Planning Manager for the Aluminium, Manganese and Nickel business group.

Simon is the parent of a teenage son who recently suffered a C7 spinal injury at Perth’s Trigg Beach resulting in permanent paraplegia.

Simon is Treasurer of the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation and has previously held roles as the Treasurer of Rebound WA and the Osborne GP Network.

Neha Patel

Neha is an accomplished technology and governance leader with over 13 years of experience driving strategic growth and innovation. A former Telstra Young Businesswoman of the Year (WA Finalist, 2016), she brings expertise in stakeholder engagement, financial stewardship, and operational excellence.

As a Non-Executive Director at Astley Care and Head of Technology Services at Telstra Purple, Neha is skilled in creating collaborative, high-performing teams and delivering impactful results. Her strategic acumen and dedication to fostering inclusive leadership align with PBF Australia’s mission to drive meaningful community impact.

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