Board of Directors

President

Lyn Balfour
ACT

Lyn qualified as a registered nurse in 1987 and a registered midwife in 1990. Working in clinical areas, Lyn Balfour has experience in policy development and risk management, and experience both in leading teams and as a team member.

Lyn has been living with and managing her lymphoedema since being diagnosed during her breast cancer treatment in 2015.

Lyn made a conscious decision to become involved in lymphoedema support, having seen a gap following her own diagnosis.

Registered Nurse; Registered Midwife

Vice-President

Debbie Geyer 
NSW

Debbie is a general practitioner in Sydney. Graduating Medicine from UNSW in 2008, she worked at Hornsby, Manly and Mona Vale hospitals before finding her way into general practice, eventually at Cremorne. Debbie enjoys all aspects of being a GP; from paediatrics and women’s health to mental health and chronic care. 

During medical school, Debbie spent time at the Földi Klinic (Germany) and then went on to complete a lymphoedema training course to become a Level 1 Accredited Lymphoedema Practitioner. However, Debbie focusses more on diagnosis, support and referral rather than treatment. 

Debbie was diagnosed with primary lymphoedema at age 20 and has various members of her family experiencing primary or secondary lymphoedema too. Thus, she brings a unique viewpoint, being a medical practitioner and also being someone living with lymphoedema. 

In 2009, Debbie became an active committee member of the Lymphoedema Support Group of NSW and has served as both treasurer and president at various times. With her passion for advocacy, Debbie became involved in the Cancer Action Network in NSW, and worked with Cancer Council NSW to develop the Lymphoedema Action Alliance. 

Debbie is currently Medical Advisor to the Australasian Lymphology Association and has previously been their Consumer Advisor. In 2016, at the Darwin Conference, Debbie was awarded the Australasian Lymphology Association Award for Raising Awareness of Lymphoedema in the Community. 

MBBS BSc (Med), FRACGP, DCH

Treasurer

Liesl Petterd 
VIC

Liesl’s professional experience includes taxation at Price Waterhouse Coopers, roles in retail and financial services in London, and finance, company secretary and property roles in Melbourne. Currently, Liesl is the head of Governance and Business Services in Wealth & Capital Markets at Australian Unity.

Liesl has been involved with the Lymphoedema Association of Victoria (LAV) for approximately 15 years, with several years as a committee member and treasurer.  Liesl is excited to see the consumer groups across Australia join forces around lymphoedema and believes this will better support and advocate for people with lymphoedema throughout Australia by sharing resources and solutions.

BCom LLB (UTas), Graduate Diploma Corporate Governance

Mary D'Elia
VIC

Working in the Human Services sector for over 25 years, in areas of child and family services, disability, mental health and family violence, Mary has a strong social justice focus and is passionate about working to achieve better outcomes for those who are vulnerable and marginalised. In 2012, Mary received a National Disability Award for Improving Personal and Community Supports for her work with the Tasmanian Gateway Disability Services.

Mary was diagnosed with primary lymphoedema in both legs in her mid-20’s, and since then has been a passionate advocate for lymphoedema education, funding, treatment and research. Mary has been actively involved in the Lymphoedema Association of Victoria for over 20 years, including holding office of President for a number of those years. Mary was appointed the Inaugural Consumer Representative on the Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA) Board in 2000. She has represented the lymphoedema community at both State and Federal levels in multiple consumer representative and advocacy roles. In 2010, Mary was awarded the Inaugural ALA Award for Raising Awareness of Lymphoedema in the Community. Since 2018, Mary has been the Consumer Advisor for the ALA, and President LAV. Mary is excited to be a part of this exciting new chapter in consumer-led lymphoedema advocacy and support with the establishment of the Lymphoedema Association Australia.

BA(Policy/Psychology) Graduate Certificate (Management)

Catherine Kingsford
QLD

Catherine Kingsford has over 30 years healthcare industry experience, specialising in development of company strategy to meet clinical, regulatory, quality and business objectives both locally and internationally. She has a proven ability in compliance, growth, executive management, governance and risk management. Catherine is innovative and passionate professional with excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Her previous roles include Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at ImpediMed. During her almost 16 years with the company she had various roles in both the Australian and US operations.

Prior to joining ImpediMed, Catherine worked as a Cardiac Scientist at several world-class medical institutions including St. Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Royal Brompton Hospital. She has over 20 years of global clinical experience with medical devices.

Catherine studied at Queensland University of Technology (Australia) and University of London (UK).

Luke McNamara
ACT

Luke is a second year Arts/Laws student at ANU in Canberra, though he grew up in Sydney. Luke lives with primary lymphoedema, and so has had to manage becoming an adult and moving out of home while juggling lymphoedema. Within the arts degree, Luke studies history and philosophy, so enjoys thinking about how and why things came to be the way they are. Outside of study, Luke lives in a very lively residential hall on campus, where he is a Senior Resident. Luke also works as a private tutor for high school students, largely focussing on English and History.

As part of the Board, Luke hopes to assist the LAA’s work while also bringing his own experience growing up with and learning to manage lymphoedema. Navigating health systems and finding reliable (and affordable!) care in the ACT has been Luke's latest journey after moving out of home at the start of 2023. 

Luke also has experience in advocacy. Last year, he helped organise the LAA’s advocacy campaign during lymphoedema awareness month by reaching out to parliaments and parliamentary staff across Australia to organise ribbon distribution and wearing. 

Outside of lymphoedema related advocacy, Luke is also a UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador. As a Young Ambassador, Luke helped organise a national consultation with children and young people in 2023 and made several advocacy trips to the Federal Parliament to meet with Ministers and MPs to discuss the results from those consultations.

Fleur Nelson-Mayne
TAS

For several years now, Fleur Nelson-Mayne has shared the amazing international work and resources of LE&RN (Lymphatic Education & Research Network) via social media, as the Australian Chapter Chair.  Part of this ongoing work includes raising awareness of medical trials in Australia, sharing expert online symposiums, and linking patients with trials and resources. As the Tasmanian representative on the Lymphoedema Association Australia board, she is looking forward to contributing her knowledge and experience to the LAA and sharing what our newly formed national association can provide particularly for Tasmanians and all regional Australians who are living with lymphoedema.

Living in regional Australia and experiencing firsthand living with and navigating primary bi-lateral leg lymphoedema (through puberty, young adulthood, pregnancy, motherhood and now middle age – for more than 3 decades), Fleur is well versed in self-management and advocacy. Fleur is passionate about connecting people with resources and finding ways to improve the passage to diagnosis, treatment and support for others with lymphoedema.

Jacki Owen
VIC

Kellie Thomas
SA

Kellie is an experienced Remedial Massage Therapist, Dr Vodder trained Lymphatic Practitioner, Certified Infant Massage Educator & Certified Practicing Nutritionist.

Specializing in hereditary and acquired conditions, Kellie is committed to researching, promoting, developing and delivering a service that considers the wellbeing of individuals of all ages and abilities through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Kellie has been President of the Lymphoedema Association of SA & previously a committee member with the Lymphoedema Support Group of SA. Kellie is currently an active board member of the Australasian Association and Register of Practicing Nutritionists and Infant Massage Australia.

Working predominantly in rural and regional SA, Kellie is excited to be the SA Representative with the LAA.

BAppScDD, DipMT, DipRT, CIME, Vodder MLD, BHScNM

As stated in the Constitution, the Board of the Lymphoedema Association Australia will have a maximum of 12 Directors comprising of 8 Elected Directors and up to 4 Appointed Directors. In addition, there must be not less than 3 Directors with lived experience with lymphoedema.  

Priority for election will be given to candidates in the following order:

1. If there is fewer than 3 Directors in office with lived experience with lymphoedema, those candidates with lived experience with lymphoedema will be given priority for election until the minimum of 3 is reached

2. Candidates from those States and Territories not currently represented by the Elected Directors on the Board

3. Following the above prioritisation, the candidates with the highest number of votes from the remaining candidates will be elected.  

The Board may elect from their number each year the President, who must be a person with lived experience with lymphoedema.

The term of office for Elected Directors is 2 years - from the conclusion of the relevant annual general meeting at which their election is announced until the conclusion of the second following annual general meeting.  Similarly, the term for an Appointed Director shall be no greater than 2 years. 

Our Board is supported by our Secretariat, Association Solutions.