Meet the 2024 - 2025 Executive
Chair
Ms. Kylie Dicieri
Kylie brings a diverse perspective to the field of Audiology having qualified as both an Audiologist (2009) & an Audiometrist (2003) and a third generation hearing professional.
Kylie has held both Diagnostic Audiologist & Adult Rehabilitation Audiologist roles in both South Australia and South East QLD and currently owns an Independent Audiology Practice in Adelaide.
Over the years, Kylie has held a variety of roles within ACAud, including; Corporate Administrator, ACAud National Congress Coordinator, Ethics Review Committee Audiologist Representative, ACAud Board Member and ACAud Vice Chair.
Kylie is a Fellow member of ACAud inc. HAASA and an Accredited Audiologist with Audiology Australia.
Vice Chair
Mr. Stephen Dimitri
Stephen started his career in the hearing profession in 1994 when the Hearing Services Program was first privatised, as a Director in their family business, Adelaide Hearing Aid Specialists. He completed the Certificate IV and then a Diploma in Audiometry. From there, he became the South Australian State Manager for Connect Hearing and worked in this capacity for 10 years. He has now been a clinician with Audika for almost 9 years.
Stephen was one of the inaugural ACAud members and is a long-serving ACAud Board Member. Having held the Committee Chair positions in Operations and Membership, he is a Fellow Member of ACAud and serves on the panel of Examiners. Over the years, Stephen has enjoyed the challenge of supervising several clinicians through their ACAud internships.
Treasurer
Ms. Marguerite Rushworth Dip HDPE
I discovered audiology when I became the practice manager for an ENT clinic. Encouraged by the esteemed Audiologist Paul Dudley, I completed my Cert IV in Audiometry in Ultimo, Sydney, and eventually earned my Diploma of HDPE. My career has spanned various roles, including working in private practice, Australian Hearing, Audio Clinic, and managing my own private practice. After selling my practice in Coffs Harbour, I relocated to North Queensland in 2011. Currently, I own and operate Coast to Country Hearing Solutions, a family-run business providing services to regional, rural, and remote areas in North Queensland.
I have had the privilege of serving as a director on the ACAud board for over six years, holding the position of Company Secretary, Chair of Events Committee and have served as Chair from 2021-2024.
Secretary
Mr. Vijay Marimuthu
Vijay holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Speech and Hearing from India and a PhD in Audiology from Macquarie University, Sydney.
He has substantial experience in research, teaching, and clinical audiology, along with extensive knowledge of the hearing industry, both domestically and globally. Vijay has served as a board member for 1.5 years, with a primary focus on advocating for better hearing health care for all Australians and improving work-life balance among members.
Board Director
Mr. Mark Paton
Mark has been a hearing professional since 1983. He completed the very first Cert 3 based out of Sydney TAFE. He developed practices in rural Queensland and maintains a special interest in the delivery of hearing services in Rural and Remote areas. He was involved in the Queensland branch of HAASA in the 80’s and early 90’s as well as the Hearing Aid Council of Australia. He supported the early development of ACAud (member number 34) and has held many positions on the Board including President. He has been a long term member of the HRS examination panel as well as ACAud’s representative to the HHSA. He was made a Fellow of ACAud in 2012.
These days along with his wife Lisa and son Andrew they run a small Hearing Rehabilitation practice on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Board Director
Ms. Jan Pollard
BSc(Hons), MEd, DipAud, PstGradHealthAdmin, Cert IV (T&A)
Jan is an audiologist with over 40 years of experience in a diverse range of positions and settings. These include Head of Audiology (Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne), LaTrobe University, a number of ENT practices and currently as Chief Audiologist with Sonic Equipment.
Her current role includes training and support across all areas of Audiology from screening through to high level diagnostics with a large component supporting Newborn Hearing screening programs across Australia and New Zealand.
With a passion for Education and teaching Jan is well known for her Conference and Workshop presentations with an emphasis on the training and development of clinicians and their clinical practice.
As part of her commitment to ACAud she has held the positions of Chair, Vice Chair and Director on the Board. She is a Fellow member of ACAud and an Accredited Audiologist with Audiology Australia.
Board Director
Ms. Helen King
Helen commenced working in the hearing health industry in January 1988, completing her Certificate in Audiometry at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1989 and her Diploma in Hearing Aid Fitting & Rehabilitation in 2009 and Advance Diploma in Business Management in 2006. Helen has owned and operated various hearing businesses since 1988 providing services privately and through the Hearing Services Program.
During this time Helen has served as a director on the board of the Hearing Aid Audiology Society of Australia from 2004 to 2016 and 2018 to 2024 and on several committees representing HAASA as a member of the Hearing Services Consultative Committee 2005 to 2007 and the Hearing Health Sector Alliance 2021 to 2024.
Helen enjoys organising events and chaired the HAASA biennial conference committee from 2010 to 2016 working in conjunction with another professional body to ensure a robust choice of educational presentations for HAASA members.
More recently Helen assisted in the amalgamation between HAASA & ACAud to form ACAud inc HAASA.
Board Director
Ms. Janette Brazel
Janette is a Clinical and Educational Audiologist with over three decades experience in hearing assessment and rehabilitation of patients, and education of hearing health professionals.
Janette’s audiology journey began in the late 1980s at the (then) National Acoustic Laboratories. Over the following years, she has held a variety of roles including Industrial Noise Management, Clinical Supervisor/Educator (Macquarie University), Audiometry Course Coordinator/Teacher (TAFE Digital), and various Clinical and Rehabilitation Audiologist roles. She is currently working as a Paediatric Audiologist for NSW Health and is the Editor of the ACCORD magazine.
Janette has a passion for adult education and working with First Nations communities to improve ear and hearing health access for all. She is the current Chair of the Education Committee and is excited to continue to build a sound educational pathway for Students, Associates and Members of ACAud.
Board Directors
Mr. Andrew Sharrock
Meet the Team
Chief Executive Officer
Miguel Diaz
Miguel joined ACAud in June 2024 following a career spanning the Arts, Corporate and Not for Profit sectors. Prior to ACAud, Miguel was CEO of a Health related charity and has also held senior roles with large professional services firms and in the public service.
Miguel has also served on a number of boards. He is passionate about making a difference to the individuals, communities and organisations he engages with.
Executive Board & Secretariat Administrator
Sandra Konig
Sandra joined ACAud in December 2019. Sandra has many years of experience working in both small and large businesses, she has a wealth of knowledge and demonstrates a strong work ethic to support our members and our business.
Member Services Officer
Tonya Bridgford
Tonya joined ACAud in October 2022. She has spent most of her career working in the building industry alongside her husband, running their family business.
She also spent many years working in debt consolidation and insolvency and has also offered her time to different charities along the way. Tonya loves her role, particularly the interactions with our members, assisting with their enquiries.
Member Services Officer
Bianca Tozer
Bianca joined ACAud in March 2024 as part of the membership support team. Bianca approaches all aspects of her role with a positive and hardworking mindset and is passionate about helping find solutions to any challenge. With 10+ years of experience in administrative support and customer service she is excited to bring her experiences and enthusiasm to the team and members.
Events and Marketing Officer
Jacqui Peters
Transitioning from a career in the travel industry, Jacqui joined HAASA in March 2022 and became a part of ACAud inc. HAASA in 2024 as part of our amalgamation. Jacqui enjoys working on events, our e-newsletter Sounding Board and our wonderful members.