The team

Lyla Rogan

Lyla has a strong background in social policy and management. She is particularly skilled in facilitation processes that balance the needs and interests of multiple stakeholders around complex issues. Drawing on her experience of serving on voluntary boards and RPR’s work with many organisations, she has developed innovative thinking and new approaches to assisting Boards achieve leadership and effectiveness in governance. Lyla was previously the Deputy Director of ACOSS and held management positions with the Department of Community Services and the Home Care Service NSW. She has taught at two Sydney universities in Social Work and Community Organisation Management. Her work overseas includes health education and community development work for WaterAid in Tanzania, and social research and community development in England. Lyla has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of NSW.

Ann Porcino

Ann has extensive skills in mediation, consultation and facilitation, having studied and practiced in the USA and in Australia. Her strength in these areas has enabled her to assist numerous clients deal with complex and difficult issues to uncover solutions and build relationships and coalitions for change. Ann’s strong management credentials also include a Master in Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Management (Health Services and Administration) from the University of Massachusetts. Ann ran her own management consulting firm for five years prior to founding RPR, and has also been the Executive Director for the Australian Council for Health Care Standards and Director of the Research and Development Unit for Prince Henry and Prince of Wales Hospitals.

Penny Ryan

Penny has strong skills in social research, adult education, quality improvement systems and the articulation of good practice in human services delivery. Her social research capacity has been developed over 25 years through the design, conduct and analysis of large scale surveys, case studies, in-depth interviews and focus groups for a variety of clients including the Commonwealth and state governments, universities and other organisations. Previous work included senior management positions in the NSW Community Services Commission, the National Community Health and Accreditation Standards Program, and the NSW Family Planning Association. Penny has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of New South Wales and a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Deb Michels

Deb has worked extensively in the non-government sector developing, delivering and managing a wide range of programs targeting disadvantaged communities. She has specific expertise in the development of educational tools (such as videos and manuals), in community cultural development, and in the youth and health sectors. Prior to her work with RPR, Deb was National Training Manager for the Community Health Accreditation and Standards Program. She is highly skilled in community and consumer consultation and facilitation, and has substantial experience working with Indigenous communities. Deb is currently a Youth Justice Conference Convenor for the NSW Department of Juvenile Justice and is the Chairperson of an innovative youth service providing support to disadvantaged young people in the South Sydney area.

Lyn Stephens

Lyn has extensive experience in organisational review, the implementation of change in public and community sector agencies, workforce needs planning (with particular expertise in managing the age profile of the organisation), and the development of human resource strategies and programs to strengthen organisational capacity. She joined RPR from the ACT Department of Urban Services where she was Human Resources Manager and more recently an internal organisational change consultant. Lyn has also worked in the mental health and public housing fields and has degrees in Arts and Social Work. She has a Diploma in Corporate Management and is completing a Masters degree in organisational development at the University of Western Sydney.

Betty Hounslow

Betty Hounslow has 25 years experience in the community sector and strong skills in policy analysis, organisational development and communications. She has just completed a seven-year term as Director of the Australian Council of Social Service, and has previously worked in public interest law and community legal centres and in the women's services field, as well as in a non-profit social research and evaluation company. Betty has also worked extensively with migrant and refugee communities in Australia, and was a human rights officer with the United Nations in Cambodia. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education from the University of Queensland.

Toni Beauchamp

Toni has a strong background in community development and management, delivery of culturally appropriate services, and applied social research. Toni was Director of the Inner South-West Sydney Community Development Organisation before joining RPR. Previous roles include Co-ordinator of Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Services and project worker with the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW. She also has substantial experience in the development of programs and services for older consumers and people with disabilities. Toni has a combined degree in Arts/Social Work gained at Sydney University and is studying for a Masters in Policy and Applied Social Research at Macquarie University.

Candy Huang

Prior to joining RPR as the Administrative Manager, Candy worked as an early childhood teacher and was the Director of a community-based long day care centre for over five years. She has a Bachelor of Early Childhood from the University of Sydney.

Robin Webb

Robin provides project and office support to the Canberra office on a part-time basis. She has worked extensively in the disability field in Australia and the UK, with a particular emphasis on cultural diversity, sexuality and women's issues. Robin has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of New South Wales.

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