Board & Governance

Corrin Bischoff, with over 25 years of experience, excels in people and project management, partnering with stakeholders to navigate complex organisational challenges. Specialising in holistic planning, governance, risk management, and business transformation, Corrin’s expertise is focused on elevating performance and efficiency. A seasoned company secretary, Corrin brings technical proficiency in governance, compliance, human resources, auditing, and strategy development. Known for a meticulous approach, Corrin is dedicated to fostering environments where businesses and people thrive, ensuring robust corporate governance while adeptly balancing customer, employee, and operational needs.

Nicole Bennett is an accomplished finance professional with over 25 years of experience across finance, governance, and strategic risk management. A qualified Chartered Accountant, she has held senior financial leadership roles across a range of sectors, consistently contributing to organisational growth and resilience. As a Non-Executive Director, Nicole brings independent oversight, sound financial judgment, and a strategic mindset to the boardroom. She offers extensive expertise in financial reporting, audit, risk management, and regulatory compliance, always with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value, aligning with business objectives, and upholding strong governance standards.

Dr Stephen O’Kane is a Counselling Supervisor, Family Relationship Counsellor, and a Specialist Family Violence Counsellor. He currently works as a volunteer at East Burwood Care, working with clients who have experienced trauma, violence, homelessness, food insecurity and related issues. Steve has worked extensively with crisis clients, within the Magistrates Court assisting men with intervention orders, in community agencies supporting women and children fleeing family violence and is also an Authorised Family Law Counsellor. He has previously worked as a senior leader in several government organisations and was a private consultant specialising in mentoring and coaching. Stephen is a member of the ACA Ethics & Professional Standards Committee, the ACA College of Supervisors, and is an alumnus of the Williamson Community Leadership Program. He is an experienced Company Director and has chaired and served on several not-for-profit boards.

Sara Edwards brings over 22 years of expertise in the non-profit sector, excelling in leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. She has guided multidisciplinary teams and crafted impactful initiatives, thriving on cultivating relationships and pioneering solutions to complex challenges. Holding a Master of Counselling, ACA Level 4 membership, member of the ACA College of Supervisors, Sara’s deep knowledge of healthcare ensures compliance and robust risk management. She has over 15 years of board service across various sectors, including sports and education, and has a comprehensive understanding of governance and strategic oversight. A staunch advocate for the counselling profession, she is dedicated to supporting counsellors at all career stages and is excited to contribute to the ACA’s mission and objectives.

Will brings over three decades of leadership from service in the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army, alongside a deeply informed understanding of mental health, recovery, and personal change shaped by lived experience. He has worked in the Alcohol and Other Drugs sector, including managing residential rehabilitation and providing counselling for individuals with complex needs. Combining practical experience with evidence-based approaches, he supports lasting outcomes for individuals and communities. Will is committed to strengthening the counselling profession through high standards of governance, professional development, and alignment with ACA’s strategic goals to enhance counsellor capability and community wellbeing.

Dr Tom Edwards brings over 15 years’ experience as a counsellor to the ACA Board, recognised success in not-for-profit governance, and expert knowledge pertinent to the ACA’s mission. For the last two decades, Tom has taught in the Higher Education sector, including leading large student cohorts and delivering degrees and programmes across counselling and allied disciplines. This has given him an unparalleled understanding of how our profession is changing, and the vital role educational institutions play in guiding this change. Tom is also an experienced scholar who works at the intersection of “brain and behaviour”. This work has significant implications for both teaching and clinical best practice. Clinical, teaching, and research roles have provided Tom with a deep appreciation for our profession as one sustained by multiple stakeholders, each contributing to the development of counsellor identity. This integrative awareness and focus on the counsellor as a person will greatly assist our Association as it navigates its next phase of growth.