Board Members

RDA is governed by a Board of Directors which includes elected and appointed members. The RDA Board, in consultation with our Members, sets the Strategic Direction and oversees the implementation of policies.

Andrea Lucas

RDAA Chair

Joined: 2022

Andrea was elected to join the Riding for the Disabled Association Australia Limited (RDAA) Board in November 2022 and is honoured to have the opportunity to apply her professional skills and expertise to the betterment of the organization. Andrea holds an MBA, Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Directors Course Diploma, and the Governance Institute of Australia Certificates in Governance Practice and Governance for Not-for-Profits.

Andrea has experience in senior commercial management and corporate governance, having held both executive and non-executive directorships. Andrea served for 6yrs on the Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria Inc. Board, with 3yrs as President, before joining as Chair of RDAA. She has previously served as Vice President, Company Secretary, Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and as part of a Remuneration Committee on various Boards and has a focus on best practice governance and corporate compliance.

Melanie Woodward

RDAA Vice Chair

Joined: 2023

Melanie is an experience Board Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Board Committee Chair. Spanning a 28-year career, Melanie has held leadership and non-executive director roles across the building and construction, financial services, consulting, charity, and association industries. Melanie’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance, CPA Program, and she is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course.

Melanie is a Fellow Member of the Governance Institute of Australia, A Fellow Member of CPA Australia, and a Graduate Member of the AICD. Melanie is a Non-Executive Director of Workways Australia Limited, Deputy Chair of Riding for the Disabled Association Australia as well as being CFO for Master Electricians Australia. She brings with her a passion for finance, governance, and risk management along with a genuine interest in supporting diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity.

Cheryl Ling

RDAA Treasurer

Joined: 2023

Shannon Durrant

RDAA Company Secretary

Joined: 2023

Shannon holds an MBA, Master of Applied Finance and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

In addition to her experience as Chief Risk Officer for financial institutions which includes responsibility for corporate governance, risk management and compliance, Shannon is passionate about supporting her community by volunteering and is a former board member of Pony Club Australia and current board member of the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network.

Bridget is an equine veterinarian based in the Hunter Valley, NSW where she has worked as a founding owner and director of an equine hospital for over 10-years.
Bridget is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors having completed their directors course, Woman on Boards and the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientist Equine Chapter executive committee.
Having spent many years as a teenager volunteering at an RDA centre in Scotland, Bridget was very aware of the importance of the RDA and keen to join and contribute her professional knowledge and experience to the RDAA board.

Bridget Bester

RDAA Director

Joined: 2023

Jackie Richards

RDAA Director

Joined: 2023

A progressive and proactive Investigator, with a proven aptitude and extensive working knowledge of both community and corporate governance, Jackie Richards is a highly attuned and successful business leader and coach in the not-for-profit sector, who is committed to achieving and exceeding organisational benchmarks.
Jackie’s commitment to best practice through the introduction of quality systems, and the fostering of a healthy organisational culture, is evident in the successful development and organisational growth she has spearheaded.
Jackie is a valued member of numerous Boards with a solid working knowledge of constitutional law, governance requirements, and industry regulations. A Graduate Certificate in Housing Management and Policy Development, and qualifications in Quality Auditing and Project Management, heads her long list of personal and professional development accreditations.

Mary Longden

RDAA Director

Joined: 2020

Mary is an RDAA Life Member, Level 2 Coach and National Assessor. Mary has travelled internationally coaching Para-Equestrian teams from a number of countries.

Judy Doyle

RDAA Director

Joined: 2018

Judy has been involved with RDA for over 25 years, setting up and running RDA Mildura Centre in Victoria and is a Level 2 Coach and National Assessor and EA Level 1 qualification. Judy holds a Certificate in Small Business Management.

Justin Dent

RDAA Executive Officer

Justin has been with RDAA as the Executive Officer since January 2023. He has worked in leadership roles across the Disability and Sporting sectors for over 25 years, including seven years as the Executive Officer with RDA South Australia. He holds degree qualifications in Sports Science, Coaching and Community Management and brings industry experience in Marketing and Partnerships. His passion for RDA comes from seeing the benefits that sport and community participation has on people with a disability and also the benefits that being involved with our programs has on the lives of our volunteers. Outside of RDA, he sits as a Non-Executive Director on the ASAPD Board and is an advisory member of multiple sporting club and association Boards in South Australia.

Patrons

RDAA Patron

Her Royal Highness
The Princess Royal GCVO

RH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne became the Patron of RDAA in 1984. She is the President of Save the Children Fund and a member of the International Olympic Committee. Horses and equine pursuits are her enduring passion. At 21, she won the individual European Three-Day Event at Burghley and was voted BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in 1971. She competed with the British eventing team for five years, winning a silver medal in both individual and team disciplines in the 1975 European Three-Day Event Championships held in Germany. The following year she participated in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as a member of the British team. Although she has given up competing, the Princess remains involved in the equestrian world. In 1986 she became President of the International Equestrian Federation. She is currently President of the UK Riding for the Disabled Association.

The late W.
Roycroft O.B.E

Bill Roycroft, gold medal Olympic equestrian, competed in his first Olympics in 1960. At the age of 45, he went to Rome as a member of the Australian equestrian team, and with one ride created an Olympic legend. Roycroft went on to compete in four more Olympics and was winning events well into his 60s. His sons and daughter-in-law have followed his lead and the Roycroft family has featured strongly in the international world of horse riding. Mr Roycroft was a legend in Australia and we were very grateful for his patronage – our paralympians received encouraging letters from him and his esteemable patronage made us proud to be counted among his many equestrian loves. He will be missed.

Tania
Kernaghan

Tania Kernaghan is Patron of the Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia. RDA Australia adopted Tania’s award winning song, “When I Ride”, as their national theme song and asked Tania to be their Vice Patron in 1999. Tania is a skilled horsewoman and is a favourite at “Celebrity Cutting” and other rodeo sports events. She holds her CAMS race car drivers license, was named 2003 Australia Day Ambassador, People’s Choice Award recipient for Female Vocalist in 2000 and 2006 and became the first female to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Recently, Tania also participated as a member of the Judges Panel for the 2012 National Volunteer Awards.