Our Leadership Team

Chris brings a wealth of health management experience and expertise to NextSense, having held senior roles within a range of public and private sector healthcare organisations. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive in 2010, Chris was General Manager of the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, which merged with RIDBC in 2014 to create Australia's largest cochlear implant program. He is a Harvard Club Australia Non-Profit Fellow.

Shy is an accomplished financial executive, having held a number of senior financial management roles with multinational organisations. She joined RIDBC (now NextSense) in 2016 from BAE Systems, where she spent 10 years in senior finance roles. Shy has extensive experience and a proven track record in financial management and business transformation, and is a people-focused leader, with a passion for coaching others.

Melissa is a passionate people leader and creative change agent with experience in the not-for-profit and media sectors. Prior to joining RIDBC (now NextSense) in 2017, Melissa led the development and execution of programs and campaigns to conserve wildlife and end world hunger and founded her own media company. She brings a wealth of leadership, fundraising, marketing, brand transformation and event management experience to her role.

Robyn is an experienced executive assistant who has built a career providing high-level support, guidance and administrative assistance to Chief Executives, Senior Leadership Teams, Board Members and Members of Special Committees. She joined RIDBC (now NextSense) in 2005 as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and was appointed to the Executive Officer role in 2014.

Bart brings a wealth of expertise in service delivery, planning and implementation to his role at NextSense. With over a decade's experience in large government agencies, he has extensive knowledge of the workings of government strategy and policy. Prior to joining RIDBC (now NextSense) in 2013, Bart held senior roles within NSW Health, where he was responsible for the delivery of complex state-wide services.

Hockman has extensive experience and expertise within the project and program management disciplines. Prior to joining RIDBC (now NextSense) in 2013, he held senior management roles in a number of ASX Top 50 multinationals across a range of industries, including property, construction, operations, risk and work health and safety.

Marie-lyse joined NextSense in January 2021. She has worked in the banking and financial services industry for over 20 years in senior leadership roles. Her most recent role was as Interim Head of Legal, Risk & Compliance and Company Secretary at Bluestone Mortgages APAC. Prior to that Marie-lyse worked at Maia Financial as General Counsel and Company Secretary and at Investec Bank Australia for 16 years as Head of Group Legal. She has extensive experience in acquisitions and divestments, property and construction, litigation, technology law, corporate governance, risk and compliance. She chooses to bring a positive attitude to life and work and believes in making a difference to the world.

Professor Leigh has built an impressive career specialising in education for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. He is currently Chairman of the Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Committee. He is a former National President of the Education Commission for the World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf and is Chair or Co-Chair of the International Steering Committees of both the Asia-Pacific Congress on Deafness (APCD) and the International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED).

Kylie is a commercially focused HR professional with extensive technical human resource management expertise and specialist experience in child-safe organisations. Prior to joining RIDBC (now NextSense) in 2020, she held HR roles across multiple industries, including healthcare and children's services, where she had responsibility for large and complex workforces. She has a proven track record in driving change strategies and building progressive people functions to support an organisation's greatest asset—its people.

Nicole Smith is a senior marketing and communications executive with over 20 years’ experience, ranging across industries and sectors including not-for-profit, information technology, retail and sports. In her roles she has successfully led major organisational change responses, built brand campaigns and marketing initiatives designed to help organisations grow, driven internal and external communication strategies to improve engagement and change management, and developed organisational strategy.

Nicole joined NextSense, formerly RIDBC, in 2015, managing the organisation’s strategic and internal stakeholder communication. In her current role as Director, Marketing and Communications she leads the marketing, communications and brand function, and recently spearheaded the organisation’s rebrand from RIDBC, and its group of companies, to NextSense.