The Board provides purpose, leadership, direction and overall strategy for No Strings. Board members ensure that finances are sound, that the operations are legal, that procedures work, that assets are safeguarded and that all tasks are carried out in the public interest.
Janis Lowe
Jan has extensive experience in senior Government roles in community services, social
justice, higher education and local Govenment, as well as in founding and overseeing
social enterprises. Jan currently runs JL Consulting, a business that works
in organisational change, govenance, workplace relations, international disability
service relations and delivery of community services. Jan has served on a range of not-for-
profit boards and was a Director of Every Voice Australia and Life Without Barriers.
Marc Makrid
With many years' experience in senior executive positions Marc founded his own
consultancy in 1993. His previous management positions include Director of Marketing
SA Brewing, and Deputy Managing Director of Dairyvale Foods. Marc has consulted
previously in the Human Resources field as a partner of Robins Whyte Makrid.
Marc advises companies nationally on high level business and marketing strategy. He
consults to a wide and varied client base across multiple industry sectors.
Marc is the Chairman of Neutrog Fertilisers, Isoton, SA Heart (Consultant Chair),
Campion Education Group, Lifestyle Bakery, FP-AG and Green Hat. He is a board
member of Cold Logic, Tristar Electrical, Power Health Solutions, Humanihut and ech.
Fij Miller
Fij has served on numerous board and committees at Federal, State and Local
Government level, including as chair of No Strings from 2008 to 2013. Her qualifications
include an MBA (Advanced) at Adelaide University and she is also an alumni of Flinders
University and University of Adelaide. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of
Company Directors. Fij was a Telstra Business Woman's Award SA Winner in the
Business Owner Category, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2001 and received a
Centenary Medal for services to small business in 2003.
Joan O'Connor
Joan is the founding director of Global Communities for People Inc., an NGO that works
in Nepal with partners to develop programs that educate and support women and
children to become financially independent and have secure futures.
Joan has over 40 years’ experience in the education and overseas aid sectors.
Previously in her role as the Australian programs manager for Save the Children
Australia, Joan worked with partners locally and globally that developed inclusive
programs and delivered educational outcomes for children with different abilities through
the Arts. Joan has also worked as the education advisor for Overseas Aid and
Development for Caritas Australia.
Stephen Sheehan
Stephen Sheehan is a performer, director and theatre maker who is known for his
creation of small-scale comic theatre works. His self-authored works include Stevl and
his Translator Fatima (Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy) and Steve Sheehan’s Tristan and
Isolde (2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival) with a cast that included a miniature horse. He
has worked with numerous SA theatre companies and his performance work includes
Slingsby Theatre’s Tragical Life of Cheeseboy, and Patch Theatre’s Pigs, Bears and
Billy Goats Gruff, Special Delivery and Cranky Bear as well as SA State Theatre’s End
of the Rainbow, Twelfth Night and Waiting for Godot. He has directed sketch comedy
troupes The Golden Phung and Gravity Boots and performance poet Caroline Reid in
Siarad.
Stephen studied music at the Sydney Conservatorium before graduating from Flinders
Drama Centre and has pursued further training at Ecole Philippe Gaulier (UK) and the
Theatre Resource Centre, Toronto.
Stephen was the administrator of the Association from 2001-2004 and also worked as a
tutor and director for the Association from 1995-1998. He assisted Helen Flinter Leech,
the founder of the Association, set up many of the early governance structures and
helped her raise funds to grow the Association from being project-based to a funded
organization. He was study mentor for Rachel High in her Bachelor of Arts degree and
works with her as a support person on creative projects.
Howard Coombs
Howard is an experienced executive director, specialising in finance and strategy. He
has extensive experience serving as a board member of private companies, community
groups and not-for-profit organisations. Howard also cares for immediate family
members with a disability and is passionate about providing opportunities for
involvement for those with a disability in the community.
Jill Gael
Jill is a highly regarded management consultant in the areas of public sector and non-
Government organisations, with over 30 years’ experience in leading teams and
advising Boards and leaders of organisations. Jill is a former chair of No Strings (6
years), overseeing a major change process.
Skilled in management, business planning, problem solving and strategy development,
Jill has a strong capacity for developing practical solutions and innovative thinking. This
is complemented by her extensive leadership experience.
Jill focusses her professional experience and knowledge to support organisations with
strategic insight and advice on priorities identified by the organisation. She has a special
ability to bring people along through change processes.