Board

Karen Toole

Karen joined the Board in 2017 in the role of Treasurer, and became President at the AGM in 2020. Karen has experience in senior roles in a Chartered Accounting firm and Federal Government Department. Karen joined the Board to provide her financial skills in an important area of the community. She was drawn to Perinatal Wellbeing Centre for the key role they can play in supporting mothers in the early years of their child's life, particularly in navigating this oft-tumultuous period of challenges and joys.

Outside work, Karen can be found planning the family's next holiday or enjoying a hot cup of tea with chocolate and a good book in the sun.

Tania Brown

Tania joined the Board in 2020, and became Vice President the same year. Tania was born and raised in Canberra, the youngest of three children to an Aboriginal father and a non-Indigenous mother.  Tania’s cultural connection are with the Wonnarua Nation of the Hunter Valley NSW.

She has worked within Aboriginal Affairs for 29 years within the Public Service and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Tania is committed to utilising her policy and research skills in supporting better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and working towards eliminating the health disparities across the board within Australia’s mainstream health services.

In 2015 Tania and her husband moved to Medowie for a bit of a sea change (Port Stephens) which is an amazing community.

Meredith Cale

Christine Spicer

Christine joined the Board in 2012, and was President from 2014 to 2020.  Christine’s passion is to ensure Canberrans are aware of the vital work undertaken by Perinatal Wellbeing Centre and feel the courage to do what she didn’t: to get support if they need it, when they need it. 

 Christine’s background in the community, private and government sector assures she is a versatile president who uses her skills to ensure the board fulfills its governance responsibilities and operates in an effective and efficient manner while being accountable for their performance.​

In her spare time Christine enjoys cooking (particularly on the weekend when there isn’t the rush to get dinner on the table!), watching her daughters play soccer and reading/podcasting/audiobooking.

Elizabeth Sarofim

Elizabeth joined the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre board in 2020. She held senior roles in State and Federal Government agencies before entering private commercial legal practice in 2010. She was appointed a Senior Associate in 2014 and a Partner in 2019 and has worked at Ashurst, Baker McKenzie and Dentons.  She handles both front and back end commercial matters and has acted for clients including Google, AGL, Coca Cola Amatil, Mitsui, Unilever, Afterpay, Bauer Media, Amazon and Government agencies and regulators, including Air Services Australia, ANSTO, NSW Health and the ACCC.

Elizabeth assists private, public government and NFP clients conduct regulatory audits, risk reporting to Boards and with governance. She is a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws from UNSW.

Katie Puttock

Katie is an experienced communicator with more than 12 years’ experience working on national social policy to support communities.

With a strong background in strategy and social marketing, Katie has worked with government in both political and policy roles within Indigenous affairs, finance, health, aged care, social services and digital transformation portfolios.

She has an extensive network and demonstrated ability to effectively work with stakeholders across a range of sectors to achieve community led solutions to local or national issues.  Her strength in community engagement brings strong grassroots focus to effective public relations campaigns, particularly in the area of behaviour change.

Katie’s experience in senior management and advisory roles provides an ability to analysis and understand our client’s objectives. As a former media adviser, she also has a detailed knowledge of the national and local media landscape and producing effective media and digital strategies and products.  

As a young Canberra based mum, Katie brings to the Board her passion for community support. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, specialising in Not for Profit organisations.