Our Senior Leadership Team

Michael Woodhouse

Michael Woodhouse, Chief Executive OfficerMichael has been an executive leader in health and human services for over 20 years including roles in both the government and not for profit sector. He has a strong interest in community led services and programs and in better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Michael has experience in primary health care, disability support, aged care, child and family services and inclusion strategies. Michael has been involved in many LGBTQ+ community organisations including a time as Co-Chair of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. He was added to the Mardi Gras Hall of Fame in 2023. Michael was appointed as CEO of ACON in September 2024.

Brent Mackie

Brent Mackie, Director, Policy, Strategy & Research

During his more than 30-year career Brent Mackie's work has included communications, media and social marketing, management, population health, social research, and policy and program development. Brent has worked in numerous senior leadership roles in both government and non-government organisations. Brent has a Master of Arts by Research in Health and Sexuality as well as degrees in sociology and communications. Brent has extensive experience in health research and is a passionate community advocate and volunteer.

Dawn-Emsen Hough

Dawn-Emsen Hough, Director, Pride Inclusion Programs

Dawn started with ACON in 2009 with the remit of building a national Pride in Diversity Program and to develop a national benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ workplace Inclusion in Australia (AWEI). Since that time, the program has grown to incorporate Pride in Sport, Pride in Health + Wellbeing and Pride Training. Pride in Diversity has also gained an international reputation for its leading practice and gold standard index. Dawn has a background in financial services, talent management and OD with academic qualifications in adult education and cognitive science. Dawn was appointed Adjunct Senior Fellow at University of Queensland 2021 and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Eloise Layard

Eloise Layard, Acting Director, Community Health

Eloise began her career as a social worker in the federal public service, before commencing at ACON over five years ago to coordinate ACON's sexual, domestic and family violence program. Eloise is a member of a number of NSW and national sexual, domestic and family violence related advisory groups, including the National Plan Advisory Group. The Community Health Division includes ACON's Gadigal Sydney-based Client Services programs, including counselling, care coordination and peer support; as well as NSW-wide and national LGBTQ+ health, equity and harm reduction programs.

Matthew Vaughan

Matthew Vaughan, Director, HIV & Sexual Health

Matthew is the Director for HIV Sexual Health at Australia's largest LGBTQ+ health organisation – ACON. He leads the strategy, and development of programs which seek to end HIV transmissions in NSW. Matthew has been working within the community services sector for the past 18 years in a variety of roles within Government, Non-Government and Community-based organisations at state, national and international level.

Reg Domingo

Reg Domingo, Director, Marketing, Communications & Fundraising

Reg is ACON's Director of Marketing, Communications and Fundraising. He has over 15 years' experience in journalism, publishing, public relations and strategic communications. He has a background in news and feature writing, as well as radio broadcasting and digital media, specialising in LGBTQ issues. Over the years, he has held a number of senior roles in publishing overseeing editorial strategy, marketing, partnerships and business development.

Sophie Potter

Sophie Potter, Director, Client Services

Sophie Potter has worked across the community sector in Australia, the UK, and south-east Asia for 25 years. Prior to leading the Client Services team at ACON she was in senior leadership roles at leading mental health services QLife, ReachOut and SANE Australia. Sophie is a values-driven, collaborative leader where her lived/living experiences are at heart of her work. Sophie has a strong track record in service innovation, consumer participation, safety & quality governance, and workforce engagement. One of Sophie's core values is that LGBTQ+ people deserve exceptional, effective, and culturally competent services.

Dr Susan Culverston

Dr Susan Culverston, Director, Corporate Services and Company Secretary

Susan has more than 20 years' experience in management, administration and leadership across a range of environments including the corporate sector, not-for-profit organisations and both Commonwealth and State public sectors. Susan has a Doctorate in Business Administration with the focus of her thesis being 'Collaborations in the Not for Profit Sector'. She is passionate about ensuring that organisations in the sector continue to adopt leading practices in governance and business management.

Sabine D'Haeseleer

Sabine D'Haeseleer, EA to CEO

Sabine joined ACON in 2013 in the role of Executive Assistant to the CEO. Sabine is originally from Belgium, where she studied business administration/secretariat and languages. She has spent most of her working life in Canada, Norway and Angola before moving to Sydney in 2001 where she continued to build her career in different sectors and industries as a Senior Executive Assistant.