Your Committee
Gavin Finkelstein, President
Hi, I’m Gavin Finkelstein, I have severe haemophilia A and hepatitis C. I joined the HFWA Committee in 1995 and since then have become more and more involved in haemophilia issues in WA and around Australia. I have found joining HFWA to be a worthwhile experience, meeting some inspirational people and having the opportunity to discuss and share the many issues that haemophilia brings to our lives. It is up to us as a community to ensure that kids today and in the future receive the latest and best treatment that is available to enable them to achieve the best quality of life without haemophilia being an issue.
Cheryl Ellis, Vice President
Hi everyone, my name is Cheryl Ellis and I have been a HFWA committee member since 2005. I am a carrier and have mild haemophilia A, and have two boys who both have severe haemophilia A. I am a theatre trained registered nurse and my husband Darren and I run our own business building swimming pools. I believe it is important to keep up to date with information relevant to our community; whether it is to do with advances in treatments, products and services available to us to make our lives easier, or the rights of our members to live full and happy lives.
Robert Butler, Treasurer
I am Robert Butler and I am Treasurer of the Haemophilia Foundation of WA. I am an Accountant in Private Practice in Subiaco, my wife’s name is Sheryl and she was a Family Law Solicitor. We have two children, Marc, who was a very good Financial Planner, and Claire, who is a Geologist. We have been members of HFWA for about 40 years (1980 – current. Initially our interest/involvement was as parents of a haemophilia sufferer, wanting knowledge and peer support. As the foundation, (Society in earlier days), is always working for the benefits of all our members, it always needs people who can help it carry out its functions and as an accountant I felt I could help by doing the accounts, and that has been an ongoing involvement for me.
Michelle Dinsdale, Committee Secretary
Hi my name is Michelle Dinsdale, I’m married to Mark and we have three sons, Sam, and fraternal twins John and Michael Sam and John are affected with severe Haemophilia A.
Quite a few years ago I was the HFWA Office and Committee Secretary , While the kids were young and still needed me to be around to do school drop offs and pick ups and sporting commitments etc. It worked well for me to be a part of the HFWA organisation way back then. However now after a long break I have decided to re-join the Committee to help out wherever I can and now I am back as the Committee Secretary for the 2023/24 year. I am looking forward to meeting new and old community members at upcoming events.
Susie Couper
My name is Susie Couper, my son Justin has severe von Willebrands (type 3) and I have von Willebrands type 1. I work at Bankwest in Knowledge Management – keeping policies and procedures on the straight and narrow for our regulators. Justin’s diagnosis resulted in a rapid introduction to the previously unknown world of bleeding disorders. I have always found HFWA to be passionate, supportive and dedicated to improving the well being of the bleeding disorder community. I am grateful for the continual learning opportunities that being involved in the foundation gives me, with plenty of robust conversations in our committee meetings . I have a special interest in inclusion, having seen the many benefits of being involved in our many peer activities.
Paul Keogh
Hi I’m Paul Keogh and over the many years attending HFWA events such as camps, Christmas parties and other social events, I have witnessed the great work and contribution from other parents, and without these wonderful people dedicating their time and effort, these events simply wouldn’t happen. It has been roughly 8 years since we attended our first camp and we have watched the parents that so wonderfully welcomed us into this new community continue to support the community as their children have grown up and become young adults. While at the conference, I recognised that there is very limited representation on the HFWA committee when it came to Parents like my wife Lena and myself with children aged below 10.
Wanting to do my part, I have always wanted to help HFWA although my career for the past 18 years in FIFO work has not allowed me the time. I am happy to say I have recently joined the HFWA committee as my career has transitioned into a more permanent role in Perth. I am keen to assist where possible and give back to the HFWA community and do my part making this journey easier for others as others have done for my family. For me it is the dedication of these people that make HFWA what it is.
Darren Tull
Hi I’m Darren Tull, Check back in for more about me.
Ann-Maree Foran
Hi I’m Ann-Maree and some of you know me from peer events, I work in the office as the coordinator, I am onsite Wednesdays and you can catch me by email after hours. I like to be involved in the community, my two nephews have severe Haemophilia and I can’t think of a better group of folk to give my time to. So I hope you are happy to have me, and I look forward to seeing you all at future events.