Our Board
The ACH Group Board comprises members representing a wide range of skills and expertise in the areas of healthy ageing, aged care, finance, law, health, business development, local government, property, public policy, media, quality, risk, housing and governance.
The Board is responsible for ensuring that the resources of ACH Group are used to the maximum benefit of older people. The Board has the following committees to give greater emphasis to its current strategic priorities: Governance, Risk and Compliance, Clinical Quality and Customer Safety, Audit and Budget, Nominations and Remuneration and the ACH Group Foundation for Older Australians.
Imelda Lynch
Chair
Imelda Lynch is an experienced administrator with more than 30 years of leadership across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
As a highly experienced nurse clinician with a broad clinical and educational background, including Australian Institute of Company Directors Course Certificate of Completion, Master of Health Services Management and a Bachelor of Nursing, Imelda is well placed to understand the needs of the aged care sector.
Other Board positions include the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board, the Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Bellberry Limited and the Glenelg Golf Club. Previous Board Positions have included Brain Injury SA, Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Cardiac Society of Australia and NZ.
Imelda believes that ageing well is about maximising what people can do, which in turn is beneficial for their good health and wellbeing. On her appointment to the ACH Group Board in 2021 she said, “I consider myself fortunate to be part of an organisation that is driven by supporting good lives for older people.”
Julie Mitchell
Deputy Chair
Julie Mitchell is a corporate social responsibility and communication specialist who believes in the power of words, and has a desire to change the narrative around describing ageing.
A skilled communications practitioner, Julie helps clients to navigate the complexities of communication in organisational settings to support business imperatives. Julie has designed and executed community investment programs in locations throughout Australia and Asia, including managing the needs of corporate and not-for-profit clients in her consulting practice.
Julie is the Chair of Common Ground and of the Targeted Lead Abatement Program in Port Pirie, a Director of the ACH Group Board, Housing Choices Australia, and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.
Mark Balnaves
Mark Balnaves is a non-executive director and business adviser to a range of private companies. He is chairman of Celsus, the company which designed, built, financed and operates the $3bn Royal Adelaide Hospital under a 35-year concession.
Mark has 30 years of advisory experience including advising on major business and property transactions as well as the development and implementation of strategic plans across a wide range of industries and organisations.
Mark holds degrees in Law and Economics and a Masters in Finance from London Business School.
Craig Holden
Craig Holden shares in the commitment of the ACH Group in promoting and supporting the many benefits of aging well by living an active, independent and healthy lifestyle.
Craig has qualifications in architecture, construction, real estate, project management and is a member of the Master Builders Association of South Australia, the Urban Development Institute Of Australia (SA) and Business SA.
Craig is Chair of the State Planning Commission and a member of the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) both roles contributing to the growth and sustainable prosperity of South Australia.
Craig also has an interest in the not for profit housing sector and a past board member of Common Ground Adelaide Ltd, the South Australian Housing Trust and Renewal SA.
Michael Luchich
Michael Luchich strongly supports creating positive opportunities for older people to live healthy good lives, as well as placing greater emphasis on promotion and advocacy for older people in our community.
He has over 30 years’ international, national and domestic senior executive leadership experience in Australia and New Zealand, in the technology sector, across a diverse range of industries and organisational structures in growing businesses across Australia and New Zealand, from start-ups, to SMEs, corporate, governments and multinationals, at CEO/MD and Board Directorship levels with the key focus in driving business and operational performance and exceptional customer service.
In addition to Michael’s non-Executive Director role with ACH Group, he is currently the Chair of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation; Chair of SA Health’s Statewide Clinical Services Committee; and Chair of the SA Skills Commission’s Industry Skills Council for Creative Industries, Business, ICT & Cybersecurity.
Celine McInerney
Celine McInerney is a strong advocate for vulnerable and older people being able to choose how they want to live their lives; how best to exercise and enjoy their choices; and how best to live independent and healthy lives either in care, or at home.
Céline is a seasoned and highly regarded senior executive and governance specialist, experienced in legal, risk and compliance disciplines, in both executive management and governance roles. She has served on a range of private and not for profit boards in health, education, technology, agriculture, wine and tourism, and the performing arts.
Following her distinguished and sustained service to the University of Adelaide, in early 2022 she was awarded the title Emerita Fellow after serving for 17 years as the University’s General Counsel and Executive Director of Legal and Risk.
She is a former State Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards; a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award from the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women, for her contribution to Law and Performing Arts; and was a Judge of the Telstra Business Awards for 2021-2022.
Céline is also a well-known performer in theatre, film television and radio.
Tracey Scott
Tracey Scott is a trusted senior executive with significant expertise in financial management, reporting and governance.
Tracey has held long-standing executive and non-executive roles with the Department of Treasury and Finance in South Australia and Northern Territory. This has included the position of Executive Director Financial Management Reporting and Policy, as well as serving as SA Lotteries Commissioner.
She has more than two decades’ experience on multiple boards and committees across the not-for-profit and Government sectors including serving as Deputy Chair and Treasurer of SIDS and Kids NT and Treasurer of Nightcliff Community Bank (part of Bendigo Bank Community). She leverages her vast knowledge and experience to support organisations build capacity and mitigate risk.
Tracey is also a member of South Australia’s Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) Risk and Audit Committee.
Beginning her career as a registered nurse, Tracey is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of older South Australians.
She is a Chartered Accountant, graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Business/Accounting from Northern Territory University.
Scott Long
Scott Long is an experienced legal practitioner with an accomplished background in regulation, corporate governance and commercial law.
He has held senior leadership roles in corporate firms as well as in-house general counsel across sectors including defence and higher education, most recently as General Counsel for the University of Adelaide.
Now a Director and Lawyer at PMDW, Scott’s focus includes commercial transactions, procurement, technology, software, licencing, compliance, insurance, industrial relations and dispute resolution.
Scott is a proven negotiator with a pragmatic approach to governance and an ability to cut through complexity to help organisations address challenges and confidently move forward. He is driven to make a positive difference in the aged care sector following family experiences in the system.
He was previously an Advisory Board Member with the University of Adelaide Law School and served as Chair of the Elizabeth Bowey Lodge Foundation responsible for managing funds for an NDIS not-for-profit organisation.
Scott is an Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
