Ronda Held has extensive experience working in community services in governance, leadership, government positions, and as a consultant and educator. Her focus has been on facilitating good lives for older people and people with disabilities. In these roles Ronda has promoted citizen participation and direction in services, innovation, grass roots leadership development, research to inform practice, and has been engaged in national advocacy and capability building activities. Her most recent role was as CEO of COTA Victoria, an advocacy group for older people. Ronda has been involved with SRV groups since the early 1980’s, both at state level and with the Australian & NZ SRV Group. Together with Ray Lemay, John Armstrong and Susan Thomas she has edited the book “Ageing and the Good Things of Life: The Application of Social Role Valorization to Supporting People as they Age”, to be released in late 2020. Ronda is now a board member of Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria, representing consumer interests in the utilities sector, and of South West Healthcare. Ronda holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Postgraduate Bachelor of Social Administration, and a Masters in Policy and Administration.
Dr. Mike Rungie is on the Global Centre for Modern Ageing Board, Aged Care Financing Authority, Everyage Counts Coalition Steering Group, COTA SA Policy Council, SAHMRI Resilience and Wellbeing Strategic Advisory Board, SAHMRI External Stakeholders Reference Group, Dunstan Foundation Partners Group, Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Innovation Awards Panel, Global Access Partners Standing Committee on Productive Ageing, Longevity 4.0 and is a recent graduate of the Modern Elder Academy. His interest is in constructing and leading initiatives that position people to live productively in their 70s, 80s, 90s and for businesses, enterprises and governments to serve this market well. The Global Centre for Modern Ageing is currently constructing transformational strategies that create a Longevity economy - a Living Laboratory co-creating with people in their 70s, 80s, 90s and an ecosystem that creates and aligns the elements that drive a Longevity economy. Mike was previously the CEO of aged care provider ACH Group leading a focus on Good Lives for Older People.
John Armstrong has worked in government, non-government and in consultancy roles since early 70’s as a teacher, principal, adviser and team leader. He has also held statewide training roles – specifically associated with matters of fundamental service practice. He was for eight years a member of the Victorian Intellectual Disability Review Panel. Having been introduced to Social Role Valorisation in the early 80’s, he went on to train and receive recognition as a Senior SRV Trainer with Dr Wolfensberger and the Training Institute in Syracuse NY. Since 1991 he has worked as a self-employed consultant across Australia and New Zealand conducting training, consultancy and evaluation. He has evaluated many human services and provided detailed verbal and written reports that agencies have continued to reference even years later. He also writes material for various newsletters and journals, and conducts workshops and provides keynote presentations at national and some international conferences. John has a particular interest and provides training and articles related to the factors that promote the welfare of people and reduce the potential for neglect and harm. Apart from a long involvement in Citizen Advocacy, (as an advocate, board member and CAPE Team Leader) he is the inaugural chair of Citizen Advocacy Australia – a national fund raising body for Citizen Advocacy programs in Australia.