Executive team

Professor Buchanan studied Nursing at Curtin University of Technology and an MBA in Health Services at Edith Cowan University. She also holds a PhD and a range of qualifications including governance qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Professor Buchanan commenced her career as a Registered Nurse with clinical work in neuroscience, and has worked in health, academia, local government and the voluntary sector. She is also an Honorary Professor of Practice at the School of Health and Society (Public Health) at the University of Wollongong and is active in public health research and practice.

In 2011, Professor Buchanan won the Leading Wales Award for the not-for-profit sector and was admitted as a Member of the Faculty of Public Health by Distinction for her contribution to Public Health in the UK. In 2023, she was awarded the University of Wollongong Alumni Award for Social Impact.

Anthony is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Dementia Australia, having been with the organisation for close to five years. Anthony’s roles before this cover over twenty years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, having worked for organisations providing services in the disability, home nursing, home aged care support and residential aged care sectors. Prior to his involvement in the not-for-profit space, Anthony had a number of roles in the commercial sector covering transport, service industries and travel.

Anthony is a member of CPA Australia and holds a Master of Business Management. Currently Anthony is a Board member of Palliative Care South East and Windana Drug & Alcohol Recovery. 

Anneliese is a highly experienced authentic HR leader, making strategic contributions to organisational success in the not-for-profit sector.

She joined Dementia Australia (then Alzheimer’s Australia NSW) in late 2011 as the General Manager of Human Relations.

Her biggest projects here include:

• leading the HR aspects of unification in 2017
• negotiating our first national enterprise agreement
• leading the Covid 19 people-related response and embedding sustainable hybrid working arrangements in the aftermath
• building of a People and Culture function from the ground up including policies procedures and system implementation
• creation of an Organisational Development function, a capability framework, leadership 360’s and development program.

Previously, Anneliese was the National HR Director for Heart Foundation for 7 years, where her achievements included:

• development of a competency framework to support recruitment excellence
• a new performance management system
• development of in house staff wellness program
• leading of structural changes to support delivery of a shared national strategy
• implementation of a remuneration strategy
• leadership of the analysis to ensure HF compliance with the launch of the Fair Work Act and Industry Awards.

Before that, she worked in the pharmaceutical industry.

Dr Stokes’ portfolios span all of Dementia Australia’s client services as well as a range of strategic and policy initiatives. She is passionate about quality service delivery that meets the needs of people impacted by dementia, as well as elevating the voice of people living with dementia, their families and carers through a wide range of consumer engagement activities. She is also involved in undertaking systemic advocacy on key issues for people impacted by dementia, implementing strong communication strategies, building community awareness through dementia-friendly communities and supporting international and national research.

Kaele has held a number of roles in Dementia Australia and its precursor Victorian organisation, and she also has a background in retirement living and aged care, having previously worked in the areas of policy, strategy and new service development for an organisation that focused on individual and community wellbeing.  

Prior to this work, Kaele completed an M.Phil and PhD in history at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom as well as working as an editorial assistant in Belgium and running her own grant writing consultancy.