Board Of Directors
Ms Louise McCann
Chair
Louise McCann is the Managing Director of Health and Human Services at Judobank. Louise is a financial services executive with over 26 years of banking and finance experience across some of Australia’s largest banks. She has a passion for supporting the success of small to medium companies in the profit and for-purpose sectors. Louise holds a Bachelor of Business Degree and has served on several not-for-profit boards and committees. She is the immediate past President and Board Chair of Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter and current member of the ADRF finance committee.
Dr P. Hugo Sachs
Chairman
A New South Wales rural practitioner who graduated from the University of Sydney in 1979, Hugo received a Master of Dental Surgery in 1993. Holding fellowships with several organisations including the International College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International and Pierre Fauchard Academy. Hugo has been a Federal Councillor for the ADA from 2003 to 2019 serving as President 2017 – 2019 and was an ADA NSW Councillor from 1999 to 2021 (NSW President from 2003-2004). He continues to hold various roles on ADA Committees. In addition, he has been a tutor at the School of Dentistry at Charles Sturt University since 2010. A Rotarian since 1985, he has twice served as Rotary Club President.
Dr F. Shane Fryer OAM
Treasurer
Shane is the past president of the ADA (2010-2012) and also served as the ADA NSW Branch President in 1997. In addition to his position with the ADRF, he currently operates a specialist Orthodontic practice in Wollongong. A fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDFS) Shane has also been awarded honorary fellowships in the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the Academy of Dentistry International and the International College of Dentists.
Mr Damian Mitsch
Secretary
Damian Mitsch is currently the National Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Dental Association and an adjunct senior lecturer in clinical leadership and management at Monash University. Damian has held executive roles in some of Australia’s largest allied health membership organisations. Damian’s previous company directorship experience includes positions on the Board of Austin Health, The Butterfly Foundation, Chair of the National Primary Health Care Partnership, a director of Allied Health Professions Australia and President of The Bridge Inc. Damian is passionate about innovation, change and leadership. He holds an MBA and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2021, Damian was appointed to The Insolvency Practitioner Registration and Disciplinary Committee.
Eithne Irving
Secretary
Eithne Irving has been at the ADA for 13 years and over that time has had responsibility for a wide range of issues affecting the dental profession. With extensive experience in clinical practice, state and federal government roles, Eithne has unique access to government and regulatory bodies bureaucracy that ensures the ADA’s voice is heard at all levels. She represents the ADA on a number of external bodies where she is a knowledgeable and articulate advocate for the dental profession. She holds an MBA and is a Certified Association Executive.
Mr Kym De Britt
CEO, Australian Dental Industry Association
Kym De Britt is an experienced, versatile Executive with a track record of building businesses and business culture through change management and leadership across a range of sectors. Kym holds a Master of Business Administration (HR), a Bachelor of Business Management (Finance), completed a Kaplan Norton Strategic Planning Course, and is an associate member of CPA Australia. Kym’s previous experience includes working as the General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and Financial Manager at the Franchise Council of Australia, the Chief Executive Officer of Brazilian Butterfly Franchise Group, as well as the Melbourne Airport Manager for Jetstar.
Ms Tanya McRae
Chair, Marketing & Fundraising
Tanya McRae is the Immediate Past National President of the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) and has been on the board of the ADIA for a number of years. Tanya is the sole owner of Dental Installations (Australia) Pty Ltd and one of her passions is supporting dental professionals with the knowledge and equipment their businesses require to succeed and Tanya sits on a number of not-for-profit boards. Tanya holds an MBA and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In her spare time Tanya likes to spend time with her two sons going skiing, she loves netball and spending quality time with friends and family. She also has a passion for continuing education and is a certified NLP, Timeline Therapy practitioner and hypnotherapist.
Dr Rachel Martin
Director
Rachel is a registered dentist and specialist in Public Health Dentistry. Passionate about health equity, she is director and co-founder of the Network for the Integration of Oral Health (NIOH). NIOH is committed to improving the oral health of Australians through collaboration to build the evidence base and translation into practice of oral health within general health. Rachel chairs the ADAVB Public Dentists Committee and co-chairs the National Notification and Immediate Action Committees of the Dental Board of Australia. In 2020 she was awarded a Fellowship of the International College of Dentists, and a Fellowship of the Pierre Fauchard Academy for outstanding leadership in the profession of dentistry.
Conjoint Professor Deborah Cockrell AM
Chairman, Research advisory committee
Deb is an experienced national and international specialist dental practitioner with over 25 years of leadership experience in a range of sectors including tertiary education, NFP and professional associations. An accomplished teacher, a people person, an empathic communicator and a successful leader. Through vision, creativity and problem solving, a committed, passionate and conscientious team player who inspires colleagues to follow the lead.
Mark Hutton
Director
Mark has worked in general practice in Mount Gambier since 1975 and has held the roles of ADASA Country Councillor since 1996, ADASA President 2004 and 2007, ADA Councillor since 2004, ADC Board Member 2016-2019, and ADA President 2021-2022. Mark was also ADC Examiner 2009-2016, a member of the DRISS Assessment Committee 2013-2014, and was involved in organising the Limestone Coast Dental Partnership in 2001.
Professor Alastair Sloan
Director
Alastair is Head of School, Melbourne Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences at University of Melbourne. He has 23 years’ experience as a research principal investigator / group leader and teaching academic in the fields of oral biology and pathology, bioengineering and mineralised tissue infection. An experienced negotiator for national and international education / research partnerships and development of transnational education programmes and an established background in University / Institution reviews.
He has 17 years international leadership experience through strategic management committees of international professional societies and 6 years non-executive board member experience.
Nigel Davis
Director
Nigel has 50 years of experience in sales and marketing, Executive Management, and Board involvement in not-for-profit organizations across Australia and Internationally. Through his career, Nigel founded and successfully managed several private companies in the dental and radiographic imaging healthcare sectors. He is a Life Member of the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA), an Honorary Member of the Australian Dental Association ADA(SA) Branch and was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019.
Nigel has broad experience representing Australian healthcare suppliers and manufacturers, working with the Federal Government, Standards Australia and the International Standards Organization ISO. He has a proven track record of negotiation and advocacy within this context. All of Nigel’s previous roles have culminated in a strong awareness of Governance, regulations and policy.
Retired from full time employment, Nigel continues his active involvement with Australian and International Dental and Medical Standards. He is a Member of the Board of Directors of Enhanced Lifestyles, an NFP disability services and support organization in South Australia and recently joined the Board of the Australian Dental Research Foundation ADRF.
