ABOUT US
Barkuma is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of supports for people with disability. For over 50 years, Barkuma has supported South Australians with disabilities Live their All. Together, we establish the capacity and confidence to transition out of high school and continue to build a life of independence that makes quality employment and accommodation outcomes achievable.
OUR MISSION
To partner with the community to deliver support and services designed to improve the lives of people with a disability.
OUR VALUES
- Rights – We listen and support the aspirations of our people, clients and staff.
- Inclusion – We believe everyone has a valued contribution to make and the right to feel safe in all environments.
- Collaboration and partnerships – Are the keys to achieving great outcomes. We encourage others, look for win-wins, and celebrate our success and that of others.
- With, not for – We aim to develop capability, not create dependence.
- Impact – We believe in accountability, doing what we say, and getting things done. We set goals, make plans and meet deadlines.
- Learning – We are always learning and are well-placed to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
OUR HISTORY
In February 1967, Barkuma was incorporated under the name ‘Central Districts Mentally Handicapped Children’s Association’.
The founding members were parents who had been providing disability services to their community. The first employment workshop and Training Centre opened in 1970, with residential care supporting 8 people in 1975.
1980 is when the association changed its name to Barkuma. By now the newly named Barkuma was supporting 110 people with Intellectual Disability, but doing so reliant on donations, fundraising and volunteers. In 1986, ‘Project employment’ was the first open employment service in South Australia, supporting people with disability to work in the mainstream workforce.
‘Project employment’ was renamed ‘Personnel Employment’ in 1989, then ‘Barkuma Employment’ in 2016. In the late 80’s the Smithfield factory was relocated to Salisbury and Para Hills, under the names Silkwood Fine Furniture and Northpack.
In 1999 Barkuma obtained RTO status and established Disability Training Australia. Barkuma opened the Elizabeth site on Philip Highway in 2000, and Holden Hill in 2011.
2015 saw Barkuma register as an NDIS provider and a year later in 2016, Barkuma is awarded the inaugural Telstra Business Awards South Australian Charity.
November 2023 Barkuma wins Service Provider Award (for businesses with more than 15 FTEs) at the South Australian Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards.
Barkuma is proud of our history of supporting South Australians with disability, and looks forward to a future partnering with people on the journey to their best life.
MEET THE BOARD
The Board of Barkuma Incorporated accepts overall responsibility for the corporate governance of the organisation. The Board directs and monitors the business and affairs of Barkuma and delegates the responsibility for the management of the organisation to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The Board operates in accordance with The Constitution of Barkuma Incorporated and reports to members through the Annual Report, Annual General Meeting and such other meetings as may be called by the Board or the membership.
CHAIRPERSON
Ursula Hickey
With over 36 years in Local Government, Ursula Hickey is a respected leader in community services, infrastructure, and organisational management.
Ursula currently serves as Chair of Barkuma, where she provides strategic leadership and governance oversight to support financial stewardship, risk management and long-term organisational sustainability.
Ursula has led executive roles across Adelaide, Burnside, Campbelltown, and Mitcham Councils, overseeing community, economic, and infrastructure portfolios, managing budgets up to $20 million, and delivering major projects including six public libraries.
Ursula joined Barkuma in 2021 and served as Director, Deputy Chair, and Chair of Board sub-committees before her appointment as Chair in 2025.
Ursula holds degrees in Libraries and Information Management, Management, and Innovation for Transformation. She has also volunteered with Down Syndrome SA, RSPCA and Barkuma.
Ursula’s experience growing up with a brother with a disability deepens her understanding of the challenges faced by people with disability. This personal connection underpins her dedication to Barkuma’s mission and continues to influence her inclusive approach to leadership and governance.
DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
Ian Woollastan
Iain Woollaston has over 25 years of leadership in construction, project management, and the not-for-profit sector, helping strengthen Barkuma’s Board with his experience.
Iain has held executive leadership roles, including General Manager and Commercial Manager, across private, government and not-for-profit organisations. His career has focused on delivering complex projects and leading large, diverse teams, with emphasis on financial performance, safety, risk management and operational efficiency. He is highly experienced in strategic planning, negotiation and the implementation of systems for sustainable growth and innovation.
Iain’s governance experience spans over a decade. He served on the Board of YourPlace Housing as Property Committee Chair and a member of the Finance, Risk, Audit and Compliance Committee, contributing to the merger of IDAA and Accessible Housing. He also served on the Board of Community Support Inc, chaired the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee, and supported services for over 1,000 clients.
Iain holds an MBA and an Advanced Diploma in Management. He completed governance training with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Nexus and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders.
Iain’s experience as a parent of a child with a disability drives his commitment to Barkuma, directly contributing to more inclusive, person-centred outcomes for individuals.
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Jodi Wright
With more than 20 years of leadership experience across the not-for-profit and local government sectors, Jodi Wright contributes strategic insight and executive expertise to the Barkuma Board.
Jodi currently works for the South Australian Government as Manager, Financial Accounting and Systems at the Department for Education, where she drives financial reporting, systems, and governance functions to enhance organisational performance and accountability.
Jodi joined the Barkuma Board in 2021. Since November 2023, she has served as Chair of the Finance, Strategic Assets and Investments Committee, contributing to financial strategy and investment decisions in support of sustainable growth.
Her background includes senior leadership roles with the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation and the City of Playford. She also ran her own consultancy, delivering outsourced financial management, governance, and HR services to government, not-for-profit, and small-business clients.
Jodi has delivered long-term financial plans, led major capital projects, and driven cultural transformation. Her collaborative leadership is valued for building strong relationships and integrity.
Jodi is a Fellow of CPA Australia and the Governance Institute of Australia. She has contributed to her profession through roles on the CPA Australia Board Nominations Committee, – the Appointments Council, and through six years on the South Australian Divisional Council.
Jodi’s expertise in finance, governance, and leadership strengthens Barkuma’s Board and supports sound decision-making.
BOARD MEMBER
Martine Feckner
Martine Feckner brings more than 20 years of experience in legal and commercial roles across private practice and the defence sector.
Martine currently serves as a Head of Commercial at BAE Systems Australia, where she manages the commercial aspects of high-value, strategic defence contracts and leads a team responsible for delivery across complex programs.
Martine began her career as a private practice lawyer specialising in financial services, insolvency and disputes before moving into an in-house legal role with ASC Pty Ltd (formerly the Australian Submarine Corporation). She has since held senior commercial roles supporting contract strategy, governance, risk oversight and customer engagement within highly regulated environments.
Her expertise in contract management, commercial strategy and governance strengthens Barkuma’s Board capability and supports responsible, sustainable decision-making.
Martine holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a current practising certificate, as well as Bachelor of Finance and is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors course.
Martine’s experience in complex, highly regulated environments, supports strong governance and informed decision-making across Barkuma’s operations.
BOARD MEMBER
Stephen Diprose
Stephen Diprose has more than 30 years of experience across engineering, finance, strategy and commercial operations within publicly listed organisations.
At Coles Supply Chain Finance, Stephen has led industrial scale building projects, developed and implemented efficiency improvements that have positively impacted organisation profitability. He previously managed finances for large scale IT projects, achieving cost savings and process automation.
Stephen has developed and executed business strategies that have led to measurable performance improvements, including steering major digital transformation initiatives that reduced payroll processing time and improved supplier payment accuracy. He managed finance for a $300 million budget, negotiated multi-million dollar supply contracts, and implemented statistical analysis and Lean Six Sigma principles to increase operational efficiency.
Stephen’s governance experience extends beyond Barkuma. He served as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Finance Committee at WEA, where he strengthened financial oversight and introduced forecasting during Covid-related business closures. He has completed the GAICD program.
Stephen holds a Bachelor of Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Accounting and is a Fellow of CPA Australia.
Stephen’s expertise in financial oversight and performance improvement contributes to Barkuma’s ongoing sustainability and strategic growth.
BOARD MEMBER
Melanie Ottaway
Mel Ottaway brings extensive executive leadership experience across aged care, community services and not-for-profit sectors to the Board of Barkuma.
Mel currently serves as Executive Manager, Community Services and Retirement Living at Resthaven, a role she has held for the past three years. Her leadership focuses on service quality, operational performance and ensuring services respond to the evolving needs of the community.
Prior to this, Mel spent eight years with Uniting Communities, where she held an executive leadership role overseeing a diverse portfolio of services. This included support for older people, specialised disability accommodation and a range of commercial operations, providing her with broad experience across service delivery, organisational strategy and business operations.
Mel brings strong governance experience through her involvement with a range of boards and governance committees. She currently serves on a regional Local Health Network Board and has previously contributed to the Nursing and Midwifery Board, SACOSS, Multicultural Aged Care and a local council governance committee, where she held the role of Chair.
Mel holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Nursing and is a Registered Nurse. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Certificate in Clinical Governance.
Mel’s experience across health, ageing and community services strengthens Barkuma’s governance and supports the organisation in delivering responsive, high-quality services to the community.
BOARD MEMBER
Neil O’Reilly
With over 20 years of experience, Neil O’Reilly has held executive leadership and financial roles across professional services, mining, media and construction.
As Chief Financial Officer at Helping Hand Aged Care, Neil is responsible for financial strategy, organisational performance, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Neil has shown strong commercial leadership, guiding organisations through growth and change. He excels in strategic financial management, performance oversight, and executive decision-making.
Neil brings governance experience as a Board member of SIDS & Kids SA, a not-for-profit organisation providing bereavement support and education. He also previously served on the Board of Brand South Australia.
In July 2025, Neil joined Barkuma as a Non-Executive Director.
A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Neil holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Certified Practising Accountant, and has completed a MBA.
Barkuma benefits from Neil’s financial and commercial expertise, which supports the organisation’s ongoing sustainability and its ability to deliver meaningful outcomes for the community.
BOARD MEMBER
Nancy Penna
With over 35 years of experience in senior executive roles spanning government and non-government human services, Nancy Penna brings deep expertise to the Barkuma Board.
Nancy currently works as Principal Consultant of NPC Consulting, where she provides strategic advice, executive and board mentoring, and service and system reviews for community sector organisations. In this role, she supports Boards and senior leaders to navigate reform, sustainability and complex service environments.
Throughout her career, Nancy has held senior leadership roles in South Australia’s human services sector, including executive roles at one of the state’s largest non-government organisations. Her expertise spans child protection, foster care, youth services, disability and community programs, where she delivered sustainable, integrated services, reformed the workforce, and improved client outcomes. She led organisational turnarounds resulting in stronger financial performance and higher service quality.
Nancy has held senior roles at Disability SA and Families SA, overseeing statewide policy, funding, service delivery, and reform across child protection, disability, guardianship, youth justice, and family services. She led reform teams to improve service outcomes, managed crisis responses to protect vulnerable populations, and worked with Ministers, Boards, and sector partners to address high-risk challenges.
Nancy’s governance includes extensive board and advisory roles. She has been Chair of Child and Family Focus SA, is the current Chair of Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA and recently stepped down from a 6-year term as a Board Member of the SA Council of Social Services, as well as holding other state and national advisory roles.
Nancy holds a Bachelor of Social Work and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She received the 2023 Child Protection Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to the sector.
Nancy’s leadership, system reform, and governance expertise support Barkuma’s focus on delivering high-quality, responsive community services.
BOARD MEMBER
Tom Sullivan
Tom Sullivan brings 25 years of senior executive experience in manufacturing, international business, and commercial leadership to the Barkuma Board.
Tom is CEO of Vili’s Family Bakery, overseeing strategic growth, transformation, and expanding into national and international markets. As the first non-family leader, he emphasises innovation, operational performance and brand development.
Previously, Tom held executive roles at leading South Australian organisations, including serving as Group CEO of QLM Label Makers and holding senior positions at Detmold Group. His expertise spans manufacturing, technical operations, sales and marketing across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, giving him a broad commercial and operational perspective.
Tom also brings strong governance experience through his involvement in board and advisory roles. He currently serves as Chair of the Eckermann Group and has previously held a director role with the Vietnam-Australia Chamber of Commerce. He recently joined the Barkuma Board, contributing his commercial insight and strategic expertise.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tom’s leadership experience and commercial expertise help drive Barkuma’s ongoing growth and enable the organisation to establish and strengthen sustainable partnerships that benefit the community.
OUR AMBASSADOR
MATT TARRANT
Australia’s Best and Most Popular Magician