Meet the Leadership Team

Lisa Rusten, BA

Chief Executive Officer

Lisa was appointed Chief Executive Officer for ADAQ in December 2018. Lisa has 13 + years’ experience working in membership organisations and has strong industry knowledge in Non-profits, Project Management and Organisational Development. Before being appointed CEO of ADAQ, Lisa worked at the RACGP where she spent almost eight years as the QLD state manager before being promoted to National Manager, Faculties. Before Lisa’s time at the RACGP she worked as the Regional Manager for QLD/NT at Camp Quality. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Business/Psychology which she gained from the University of NSW.

Lisa Rusten can be contacted at [email protected]

Dominique Verkerk, CPA

Manager - Finance

Dominique graduated from the University of Muenster (Germany) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2012 and migrated to Australia in the same year. After settling in her adopted country she spent six years working at OneHarvest in a number of roles, experiencing all facets of the finance and accounting department in a complex, high pressure manufacturing environment while completing her CPA qualification. Dominique joined us at ADAQ in October 2018 transforming the finance function into a key part of the management team. With a focus on the provision of quality information and data analysis. Dominique works closely with the CEO and Council to improve financial reporting and outcomes.

Jane Palmer

Manager - Finance

Jane graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. She has worked in accounting roles across numerous industries and within the public sector. Jane relocated to Brisbane in 2011 and was working as the Financial Accountant for a Logistics company overseeing the south east region of Australia before joining ADAQ in February 2021 as Finance Manager.

Jane Palmer can be contacted at [email protected]

Neesha Pierce LLB, LLM

General Counsel

Neesha is an experienced General Counsel with extensive experience in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Neesha initially worked as a dispute resolution lawyer in private practice before making the move in-house where she has worked in various senior legal roles, including leading legal teams for large health and community care providers. Neesha also has a wealth of experience managing legal, compliance, risk and governance functions for healthcare providers and is also a board member of the Surveyors Board of Queensland where she regularly sits on its professional conduct review panels. Neesha holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws. Having provided legal advice across a number of industries including the health and community services industry, Neesha brings a wealth of experience to assisting health practitioners to navigate the legal system.

Neesha Pierce and her team can be contacted at [email protected]

Jane Nettleton, BBus

Manager - Marketing, Membership & Engagement

Jane graduated from ACU with a Bachelor of Business, Marketing & International Business in 2003, from there Jane has worked in events and communications before starting as the Marketing & Alumni Coordinator at UQ’s business school. Jane then went on to be the Senior Communications Officer at the Department of State Development before leaving to start with us at ADAQ in March 2019 as our Marketing, Membership and Engagement Manager. Jane’s broad experience in Marketing, Communication and Events is a viable strength to ADAQ.

Jane Nettleton and her team can be contacted at [email protected]

Sharyn Dunn

Manager - Training and Practice Consultancy Services

Sharyn has been with ADAQ for over ten years, working in our Education and Advisory Services Team. Sharyn's team provides practices with support and consultancy services with a team of four skilled professionals with education and backgrounds in dentistry. Sharyn is also the Manager of the ADAQ RTO, overseeing the online delivery of training for Certificates III and IV in Dental Assisting. Sharyn has had practical experience working in private practice as a Dental Assistant and then Practice Manager, she holds a Diploma of Quality Auditing, Diploma of Training and Assessment, Diploma of Practice Management as well as Dental Assisting and Sterilisation qualifications.

Sharyn Dunn and her team can be contacted at [email protected]

Madonna McManus

Manager - Continuing Professional Development

Madonna has over 35 years of experience in the dental industry, with extensive experience in Continuing Education for Dental Professionals. For the past 6 years, she has worked closely with the Universities and a range of other stakeholders to successfully deliver education in the field of implants.

Previously, Madonna spent three years as the Queensland President of the Australian Dental Industry Association. She has studied both a Certificate IV in Business Management and Training and Education.

Madonna McManus and her team can be contacted at [email protected]

ADAQ ORGANISATIONAL CHART

Download PDF