Prof. George Mellick
President
George is the current President of the Management Committee, elected to the current role in 2015. George has served PQI for many years and has been a member since 1999.
George is a Professor of Neuroscience and the Head of the School of Environment and Science, at Griffith University in Queensland and an interdisciplinary scientist who is a Research Leader in the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD).
George performs research into all aspects of neurodegenerative disease with an emphasis on Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. He has also authored a vast number of research publications and is a regularly sought-after reviewer for International Granting Agencies, Advisory Groups and Research Journals.
In addition, George has for many years, been an advocate for people affected by neurological disease and is currently the Vice-President of Parkinson’s Australia.
Mr William Ulyate
Vice President
Will heads up a Cyber Security company in Brisbane and has been on a number of boards including the national board of a children’s cancer charity.
He is well connected into senior Corporate and Government networks and hopes to leverage those connections to benefit the Parkinson’s community. Will’s Parkinson’s story is linked to his father who was diagnosed two years ago.
Marion Koster
Treasurer
Marion is an experienced finance and governance professional with a career spanning 30+ years. She is currently Chief Financial Officer of a Brisbane-based biotechnology company.
Possessing keen financial management and analysis skills and experience in strategic planning, often in cash-scarce environments, Marion brings the skills necessary to help Parkinson’s Queensland achieve its strategic initiative to focus on financial and business imperatives to ensure sustainability.
Mrs. Paulette Montaigne
Secretary
Paulette moved to Ipswich in 2014 where she became involved with several community organisations and has become a strong advocate for the Parkinson’s community.
She was the Coordinator of the Ipswich Support Group of Parkinson’s for several years. In 2015, Paulette joined the Management Committee of PQI taking on the roles of Vice-President and currently Secretary.
For a couple of years, Paulette was a member of the Ipswich Community Reference Group of the West Moreton Hospital and Health Care Services; a valuable forum for People with Parkinson’s and their carers. She was also President of U3A (University of the Third Age) Ipswich and SeniorNet. For the past 3 years, Paulette has been the Secretary and Treasurer of the Northern Suburbs Leagues Club of Ipswich, aka Norths.
Paulette brings to her role her extensive experience of project management and public relations. Over a period of 15 years, Paulette worked as a locally-engaged staff member of the Canadian High Commission in Canberra as Academic & Public Affairs Officer and followed by 6 years as Official Travel Coordinator for the Canadian Embassy in Paris.
In October 2022, Paulette and her husband John relocated to the Sunshine Coast (Bli Bli) where she remains committed to her favourite community organisations thanks to Zoom and tele-volunteering.
Paul Judge
Member
Paul brings over 25 years experience in digital marketing and online engagement. He has advised Committees and Boards of not for profits on digital marketing, communications and advertising strategies including: Cancer Council, Youngcare, Dementia Australia and the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Recently Paul’s mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and he found himself at a loss as to its history and prevalence in our community.
Paul’s interest in Parkinson’s Queensland’s advancement is to offer both a higher profile to Parkinson in the wider community and to attempt to ensure that Parkinson’s awareness is raised.
Mrs. Ruth Coleman
Member
Ruth became a Member of PQI in 2010 and has served on the Management Committee since October 2012.
Ruth has also been a passionate Support Group Coordinator since 2013, and a person with Parkinson’s, and feels she can contribute to the Parkinson’s Queensland team in many diverse ways.
Ruth committed to the term saying that she would like to ‘complete the tasks I have undertaken to guide Support Groups and their Coordinators to an improved pathway, as we continue to strive towards our Strategic Plan. My understanding of the governance function and experience at Management Committee level has been gained from being a Committee Member of PQI since 2012.’
Ruth’s unwavering commitment to PQI stems from not only being a person living with Parkinson’s, but from connecting with like-minded people at our support groups.
Ruth says, ‘To be told you have Parkinson’s is life changing and finding a Support Group was my lifesaver. My mission now is to promote these groups and to reach out to support people living with Parkinson’s.’
Mrs. Judy Learmonth
Member
Judy sees the role of Support Groups as important to PWP, Carers and Family members.
Judy’s experience as a Support Group Coordinator strengthens this claim as many, given the devastating news, know little about Parkinson’s or what to do next.
Judy has followed many Support Group members as they endure the impact of Parkinson’s, not only on their life, but the lives of family members and friends.
Judy’s husband had Parkinson’s and this has given her a greater understanding of their trials and tribulations. Judy works closely with PQI as a Support Group Coordinator and she supports PQI’s Strategic Plan and identifies strongly with the key characteristics enabling PQI to one day reach out to all Persons with Parkinson’s to offer the required support.
Judy has extensive work experience with private business enterprises and with Local Government and holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Management and Marketing.
For over 7 years she has been Support Group Coordinator of the Elanora Support Group (Gold Coast) and routinely travelled to Elanora from Bargara (Bundaberg) to chair their meetings. Why? As the group was unable to find a replacement coordinator, Judy’s unwavering commitment to people with Parkinson’s on the Gold Coast, meant that Judy continued to run the group she helped to found.
As a wife and carer of many years (Judy’s husband deceased 2015), Judy has travelled the Parkinson’s journey and can offer members the understanding, sympathy and hopefully guidance during difficult times.
Stuart Godsall
Member
Stuart is one of the newest members of the Parkinson’s Queensland management committee. He brings with him a professional skillset of finance, sales and commerce and has a background of executive roles across a range of international organisations.
Stuart is married with two children. He has a keen interest in sport, playing rugby, running and golf. He also engages in health and wellbeing, in activities such as meditation and yoga. Stuart is an avid reader.
Dr Alexander Lehn
Member
Dr Alexander Lehn attended medical school in Germany (Regensburg and Munich) and conducted his residency and basic physician training in the United Kingdom (Bristol) and Australia (Nambour and Brisbane). After a Fellowship in movement disorders at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Dr Lehn undertook a further Fellowship in movement disorders and dementia in Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom.
Dr Lehn is a consultant neurologist with a strong clinical and research interest in movement disorders and Functional Neurological Disorders. He heads the movement disorder service at Princess Alexandra Hospital and together with Dr Sarah Olson he runs the deep brain stimulation service at PA Hospital and Mater Hospital Brisbane. Dr Lehn is also a senior lecturer in Medicine at The University of Queensland.
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