Our Board

Board & Executive

Rachel Tanny

Rachel Tanny

Chair

Rachel Tanny

Rachel Tanny was appointed to the Board of Parkinson’s NSW in November 2021. She brings a deep
understanding of both the aged care industry in Australia as it currently stands and insight into
forthcoming changes.
Rachel holds a Diploma of Business Governance from the Institute of Community Directors Australia as well as
a Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond.

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Stephen Schiemer

Vice Chair

Stephen Schiemer

Stephen Schiemer was elected to the Board of Parkinson’s NSW in October 2018. He is a fitness instructor and entrepreneur who has been living with Parkinson’s for the past fifteen years.

In addition to experiencing Parkinson’s himself, Stephen runs tailored fitness programs for other people living with the disease.

He has a Bachelor of Business degree and 30 years of experience in running his own businesses, including finance, risk management, logistics, people management, training, and digital marketing.

Margaret Board image

Margaret Scott

Director

Margaret Scott

Margaret Scott was appointed to the Board of Parkinson’s NSW in November 2019 and President in February 2021.

She has more than 30 years of experience in senior fundraising roles for a variety of health and disability related not-for-profit organisations. In addition, she has operated her own business as a fundraising consultant since 2013.

Margaret was on the Board of the Fundraising Institute of Australia from 1998 to 2008. She held a number of key roles on that Board over the years including Chair, Vice Chair, and Chair of multiple Committees.

She was also on the Bloom Asia Board from 2017 to 2019.

Andy Esteban web April 2023

Andy Esteban

Director

Andy Esteban

Andy Esteban was appointed to the Board of Parkinson’s NSW as an Independent Director in March 2023.

He has been in the financial services industry for 45 years – including 21 years as National Manager, Trust Services for Perpetual Trustees, one of Australia’s premier funds management and trustee organisations.

Andy left Perpetual to establish F. P. Esteban and Associates – a risk and compliance service consulting to the broader funds management industry.

In addition, Andy sits as an independent Director and member of compliance committees and audit committees for a range of managed investment schemes (both retail and wholesale).

Andy holds a Bachelor of Business Degree (Accounting Major), is a CPA, a Member of the Executor and Trustee Institute and a Member of the Institute of Company Directors.

Martin Ostrowski

Martin Ostrowski

Director

Martin Ostrowski

Martin Ostrowski was elected to the Board in November 2023. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017 and has a long family history with the disease.   He has first-hand experience of the positive impact that education and integrated care can have on the long-term outcomes for people living with Parkinson’s and their families.

Martin is an active participant in several Parkinson’s NSW Support Groups. He is a regular speaker at the Parkinson’s NSW Newly Diagnosed workshops and recently initiated a support group on Norfolk Island. He recognises the importance of peer support and is committed to ensuring that people living in rural and remote areas have the same level of access to care.

Martin is an accomplished Marine scientist with over 20 years of experience working in the Tertiary Education sector. He is also Chief Science Officer of the Walking Tall research group, established to develop the Walking Tall mobile phone-based application. It is a gait re-training tool which allows people living with Parkinson’s to set their own training time and pace before delivering a rhythmic metronomic beat designed to trigger movement.

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Mary Kay Walker

Chief Executive Officer

Mary Kay Walker

Mary Kay Walker joined Parkinson’s NSW in 2018 as the Chief Operating Officer,  responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all operational and financial-related activities of Parkinson’s NSW.

Mary Kay has a 32-year career in key finance and administration roles in Australia and the United States. Her sector experience spans superannuation, credit management, retail, commercial aviation, and accounting.
She holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Mathematics and Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Sydney. In addition, she has a Diploma in Securities and Financial Markets from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.