Epilepsy Action Australia announces the appointment of five new board members

Strengthening their Board with strong commercial expertise partnered with lived experience of epilepsy.

Epilepsy Action Australia proudly announces the appointment of five new non-executive directors to the not-for-profit board of directors.

New board members Jeff Fryer, Jayne Meyer-Tucker, Alan Shields, and David and Erin Oudshoorn all bring lived experience of epilepsy as either a person living with epilepsy or through supporting a child with epilepsy.

“I am excited about the passion, perspectives and deep knowledge our new board members will bring,” said Chief Executive Officer, Carol Ireland .

“The commercial experience our new additions will bring is critical as we enter our next phase of strategic planning for Epilepsy Action Australia to help future proof our services, stay relevant to patients and continue to exceed their expectations with our services and support.”

Jeff Fryer is a senior manager in the medical device and pharmaceutical industry, currently leading the Commercial Excellence teams at Medtronic. Jeff is passionate about driving change and improving business performance through organisational transformation initiatives. He is recognised as a leading communicator and facilitator. As a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Jeff brings a desire to help EAA grow and thrive through application of Risk Management and Governance.

“I’m looking forward to using my commercial strengths to make a real difference for a cause I am passionate about. Having a son with a significant intellectual disability and having recent experience as a family dealing with a diagnosis has seen us navigate the NDIS scheme. Joining the board of Epilepsy Action Australia feels like an ideal opportunity to help others navigate their journey and bring awareness to the challenges families like our have faced.”

Jayne Meyer Tucker is an experienced non-executive director from various sectors and is a person living with epilepsy. Jayne has also been an EAA Ambassador since 2020 helping raise awareness about epilepsy for many years. Working both internationally and within Australia, across many sectors, including as a CEO of a national charity Jayne led a merger between a national and international charity. Jayne brings lateral thinking to decision making at all levels through asking insightful questions.

She also has commitments with the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Council and is an Advisory Council Member for the Centre for Social Impact.

Jayne was appointed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Governance and Policy from the Australian National University as well as holding her Masters in Public Health, Health, Health Care Administration and Management with Canterbury Christ Church University.

“I am proud to join the board and bring my expertise to Epilepsy Action Australia’s board during this critical time of planning which strongly align with my own passions and purpose. As a person living with epilepsy, I have a strong desire to raise awareness and remove the stigma around epilepsy.

The perspectives I can bring and the decision-making frameworks I can introduce will help EAA with their strategic planning now and well into the future.”

Alan Shields is an experienced entrepreneur, director and business leader with a track record of successfully growing products and businesses. With over 20 years’ of experience in financial services, research and consultancy, his career has taken him from London to Singapore and onto Sydney where he co-founded RFI Global in 2006. Over the last 17 years, RFI has grown from a start-up of 2 people to a global brand relied on by the world’s largest banking and technology companies.

Alan is a strategic thinker, a regular speaker at thought leadership events globally and authors commentary on global consumer banking trends.

Alan has a daughter with a rare genetic condition that causes seizures. He is eager to raise awareness about epilepsy and to help advocate for medicinal cannabis which has helped transform his daughter’s life.

He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham and studied his License de Physique at the Université de Bordeaux I.

“I’m looking forward to combining my deep personal connection to epilepsy and shining a light on the impact it has on people’s lives. I know I have some interesting perspectives to bring as a business owner, having bootstrapped a business, requiring strong strategic thinking. I feel a powerful alignment to EAA’s mission and feel connected to their support for medicinal cannabis. I look forward to introducing EAA to a range of new corporates and hopefully some much needed funds.”

David Oudshoorn is a well-respected banking and funds management executive currently leading the NSW & ACT business for MaxCap Group as their State Director. He has more than 20 years of experience in investment and development finance in both Australia and the UK.

David and his wife Erin (profiled below) have a daughter with a severe form of epilepsy that remains largely uncontrolled. This has inspired David and his wife to raise awareness and funds to support paediatric epilepsy to help ensure other families like theirs will not have to endure the heartbreak they are currently going through.

David holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Information Systems (E-Commerce) from the University of Tasmania.

“I’m extremely proud to be joining Epilepsy Action Australia. Their work helps so many families dealing with epilepsy and that is something extremely personal to me and close to my heart.  I look forward to helping the organisation build meaningful corporate connections aimed at raising awareness about epilepsy. These will help drive purposeful partnerships and funding for research and innovations that will help people living with epilepsy.”

Erin Oudshoorn had a very successful career in real estate across Sydney and Melbourne before her family’s life was turned upside down by an epilepsy diagnosis. Initially diagnosed with the severe form of paediatric epilepsy, Infantile Spasms, which has now developed into Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, Erin has now become a full-time carer to their daughter due to her complex special needs.

Initially appointed as one of our Ambassadors, Erin has become one of our leading advocates for families dealing with childhood epilepsy. Erin and her husband, David have founded the Lulu Love Project, which has raised close to $500,000 amassing a following of inspired supporters across social media along the way. Funds raised by Lulu Love Project have helped fund our CanGuide website, providing trusted information on medicinal cannabis for patients and health care professionals.

“Although no one would wish for a life impacted by epilepsy, I feel honoured that we have the opportunity to help raise awareness about paediatric epilepsy, specifically infantile spasms and Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and be part of identifying solutions to make the lives of those affected by epilepsy easier.

I am passionate about everything EAA stands for! They have become a critical channel for support and offered us a platform to share our story enabling us to raise vital funds ensuring they will continue to deliver their services for families across Australia.”