BHCI Board

Chair

Jenny Monson

Jenny has been on the board of BHCI since 1989 and has been an active contributor to end of life care since she completed her Certificate in Palliative Care Studies. She has been involved during that time in the training of the Hospice volunteers and has also conducted training for Health professionals and facilitated workshops and seminars for community members.

Coming from a Counselling background, Jenny has specialised in work with the dying and in grief, loss and bereavement. She has worked as director of South West Counselling and has had her own counselling practice. Jenny has a real commitment to the principle of compassionate palliative care and of the inclusion of volunteers in clinical care at the end of life as it ensures that those receiving care experience a feeling of community inclusion.

Vice Chair

Dr Tamsin Coutts, BMBS, FRACGP

Tamsin is a General Practitioner who has been working in Busselton since 2014. She has clinical interest in Palliative Care and is passionate about improving access to End-of-Life and Bereavement services within the Busselton community. She has seen the positive impact that the work of the dedicated BHCI volunteers and staff has had on her own patients and families. As a result of this recognition, she joined the BHCI Board in 2021 so that she could help develop the services for the community and retain the essential connection between the organisation and Primary Care.

Tamsin recently completed six months’ full time work in the inpatient Palliative Care unit in St John of God Bunbury and is studying for Clinical Foundation in Palliative Medicine. She has taken an active interest in the governance of the organisation and is a member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia.

Treasurer

John Hanlon

John is a recently retired Chartered Accountant who has lived in Busselton since 1981. He initially worked for two Perth Accountancy firms, J Wade & Co and Ernst & Young, before moving to Busselton to work for Ernst & Young, Busselton branch.

In 1991, he joined John Davies in partnership commencing Hanlon Davies Chartered Accountants after buying out the Ernst & Young local branch. His whole working career has been in the Business Advisory Tax area, acting for a diverse range of clients.

John’s early years were spent on the family farm at Bruce Rock and his final schooling was completed at Trinity College, Perth. He graduated from Curtin University in 1974 having completed an Accountancy Degree.

Community involvement over the years has included membership of the Busselton Apex Club (president 1987), Board Treasurer at St Joseph’s Primary School, and Treasurer of the Busselton Tennis Club. His current interests include golf, following AFL and cricket, as well as travelling.

Secretary

Rose Gibbons

Rose Gibbons has recently retired, and brings her extensive experience as a Medical Practice Manager and Executive Assistant to the position of Board Secretary.

Committee Member

Kimball Powell

Kimball is a passionate and motivated Human Resources professional with over 20 years’ experience in the Human Resource and Industrial Relations (HR-IR) field across the Government, Mining & Resources, Transport & Logistics, and Hospitality sectors.

Kimball relocated to Busselton in early 2020 with his wife and two young children and loves being part of the community in the region. Kimball’s belief in giving back to his local community is his motivation for becoming a member of several sporting, day care and school committees.

Kimball loves his sport however admits these days most of his time is now spent spectating rather than participating.

Committee Member

Tim Baker

Tim is a recently retired educator, who grew up in Busselton. He spent his career as a teacher and principal across WA, in places including the Central Desert (Warakurna), Pilbara, Southwest and most recently, Esperance.

Tim returned to Busselton with his family in 2000, and served as principal at Busselton and Geographe Primary Schools. He loves the ocean and is a keen (but slow) swimmer, fisherman and boater. Having now retired, he is looking to contribute more to the community of Busselton which served him so well in his childhood, and working life.

He has a wife Karen, also a retired teacher, three adult sons and four grandsons (so far).

Committee Member

Cassandra Armstrong

Cassandra has had a long career in Finance and Social Services. She spent the first 15 years of her career in Personal Finance with the National Australia Bank before branching out on her own as a licenced Mortgage Broker. After having two children and moving to the Southwest, she then spent the next 10 years as a Financial Counsellor working for several different Not for Profit Agencies. She then spent some time in Community Development with the City of Busselton and has most recently set up her own Private Practice as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (Mediator) and specializes in Consumer law, Employment and Family Law. She also provides consultancy services assisting small business with Business planning, Financial Management, Strategic Planning, and facilitates workshops in Grant Writing and Conflict Resolution, among others. Cassandra is a member of numerous Networking groups and continues to maintain close connections with the Agencies and Social Services across the Southwest.

Cassandra is passionate about social justice and creating a strong & resilient community. After experiencing the loss of her Mother a few years back, she decided she wanted to use her skills and knowledge to assist the Busselton Hospice Care Board in providing quality services and support for those experiencing grief and loss.

Cassandra enjoys the arts, gardening, cooking, music (live bands) and spending time with close friends and family. She hopes to undertake more travel in the years to come.