Kate Kavourakis

• Kate Kavourakis is an accomplished finance and risk specialist with a distinguished career in banking, strategic delivery and organisational governance. With advanced qualifications—including an MBA and degrees in Business Management and Economics—Kate brings a powerful combination of analytical capability, strategic insight and risk leadership to her work. She will further expand her governance credentials in 2026, commencing the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Company Director Course.

  Kate’s career includes extensive experience at ANZ, where she most recently led the strategic delivery of credit and lending risk integration for ANZ’s acquisition of Suncorp Bank. Her work involved harmonising lending policies, reviewing risk frameworks, identifying best-practice solutions, delivering cost synergies, and leading high-impact policy and process alignment across two major financial institutions.

  With deep expertise in credit risk, operational risk, regulatory requirements, control environments, portfolio optimisation and financial analysis, Kate is highly skilled in interpreting financial statements, budgets and cash-flow forecasts. She is known for her clarity, integrity and transparent communication style, and for her ability to navigate complex information, ask considered questions and engage in strategic, future-focused decision-making.

  Kate is now transitioning from executive leadership into governance, bringing a modern, risk-aware and strategically minded perspective to board roles. Her strong financial acumen, banking expertise and commitment to ongoing professional development make her a valuable contributor to organisations seeking strength, accountability and long-term sustainability.

Dr. Charles Blair

• Dr Charles Blair is a retired Rural Generalist Surgeon with extensive experience in surgical, emergency, general practice and community health across regional and remote Queensland. With a career spanning more than a decade in frontline medicine, Charles has served in diverse clinical environments — from small rural hospitals to multidisciplinary regional services — bringing deep expertise in procedural care, crisis leadership and community health system delivery.

  Charles founded, operated and later sold the Kaleidoscope Skin Cancer Clinic in Bundaberg, where he led clinical governance, accreditation, staffing, and operational oversight. As Principal Medical Officer, he provided surgical and dermatological services while mentoring medical officers and managing a regional healthcare team. Previously, he served as Emerald Hospital’s only resident surgically trained doctor, delivering surgical, endoscopy, emergency and remote outreach care to the Central Queensland community. His earlier training included rotations in surgery, ICU/anaesthetics, paediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics and general medicine across hospitals in Bundaberg, Redcliffe and other Queensland regions.

  Alongside his medical career, Charles has contributed to numerous hospital committees, including Infection Control, Postgraduate Medical Education, Fatigue Risk Management and the Residents Council. He also brings experience as Treasurer of the Bargara Progress Association and as a long-standing member of Parkinson’s Queensland.

  Living with early-onset Parkinson’s disease and having recently undergone deep brain stimulation surgery, Charles offers a unique combination of professional clinical expertise and lived experience. His perspective spans both metropolitan and remote settings, informing his advocacy for improved access to care, stronger community supports and enhanced pathways for people living with Parkinson’s.

  Charles holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Flinders University, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from QUT, and Rural Generalist Fellowship (ACRRM) with an Advanced Skill in Surgery. He also holds GESA certification in upper and lower GI endoscopy and maintains ALS2 certification.

  Committed, compassionate and community-focused, Charles continues to contribute as a writer, advocate and active PQI member, helping to strengthen the voices and visibility of people living with Parkinson’s across Queensland.