Disability Services Commission Annual Report

1.2 Operational Structure
1.2.2 Corporate Executive
Day-to-day administration of the Commission is the responsibility of the Director
General supported by the Corporate Executive.
Director General
Dr Ron Chalmers has a background in teaching and educational administration. He
became involved in disability services in 1991 as Local Area Coordinator Supervisor
for the Upper Great Southern region. Dr Chalmers has extensive experience in the
development and expansion of LAC and in the needs of people living in rural
communities. He holds a PhD enquiring into the inclusion of children with severe and
profound disabilities into mainstream schooling. He was a participant in the inaugural
Australia and New Zealand School of Government Executive Fellows Program.
Director, Accommodation Services
Ms Wendy Cox became involved in service provision for people with disabilities with
the non-government sector in 1990. Prior to her appointment to the Commission in
April 2003, she was a senior manager of accommodation, recreation, alternatives to
employment, library and family services with Activ Foundation. Ms Cox has a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.
Director, Corporate and Business Services
Mr Denis Ramanah has a strong background in government finance and
accountability and human service administration. After working in the finance area at
the Department of Health, he joined the Authority for Intellectually Handicapped
Persons in 1989 to head the Finance and Accounting Branch and implement the
many reforms introduced in the public sector. On the formation of the Commission,
he was appointed to the position of Manager Financial Services.
Director, Country Services Coordination
Ms Robyn Massey (acting Director) joined the Commission as a Regional Manager
in the Lower Great Southern in 1994 before moving to Perth in 2000 to take up a
position as a Country Manager. Prior to this, she was a teacher and an administrator
with the Department of Education and Training. Ms Massey spent 20 years living
and working in rural and remote areas of Western Australia and has a personal
understanding of issues facing country people. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree.
12 Disability Services Commission Annual Report 2007–2008