Our Leadership Team
TASC is made up of solicitors, social workers, advocates and business services professionals: a caring, qualified team who are here to help.
We are led by a Chief Executive Officer and a voluntary Board of Directors, who are selected to represent the community and for their demonstrated commitment to our vision and mission.
The Board and CEO set TASC’s strategic direction and are responsible for financial and legal accountability to funding agencies and the community.
Frances Klaassen OAM
Chief Executive Officer
Frances Klaassen OAM joined TASC National as CEO in February 2020, bringing a reputation as an innovative collaborator in the South West Queensland community sector.
For the last 25 years, Frances has been at the forefront of establishing new services in the Toowoomba, Warwick and Southern Downs region to support families, children and young people in vulnerable circumstances, and members of multicultural communities.
As Regional Director for Mercy Community, Frances implemented a diverse range of services including the nationally award-winning Cultural Diversity Hub (incorporating the Community Action for a Multicultural Society or CAMS Program), and the region’s multi-award winning Settlement Grants program. She introduced the Women’s Wellness Centre in Toowoomba; the Indigenous Foster Care program, which was later transitioned to Goolburri; and partnerships with organisations like Playgroup Australia and Lifeline Darling Downs to fill gaps in early intervention programs in the region.
As the champion of groups like the Local Level Alliance and Refugee and Migrant Settlements Services Interagency, Frances has driven successful collaborations to support the region’s diverse communities. In 2015, Frances received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to children and families through social welfare organisations.
Frances began her career as a social worker in child protection, and has operated her own businesses in hospitality, training consultancy and mediation. She has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Queensland and is accredited as a mediator with the Attorney-General’s Department.
Rohit Hirani
Chief Financial Officer
Rohit has extensive experience in the Not-for-Profit space, having worked corporate and finance roles in various sectors including education, early childhood, advocacy, disability and aged care.
Currently CFO and Company Secretary for TASC National Ltd, Rohit oversees financial , human resources and ICT functions with a strong focus on risk and corporate governance.
In addition to his professional experience and qualifications, Rohit has worked in voluntary roles with organisations which have an interest in education, youth and leadership. Rohit currently serves on the board of the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) as Treasurer.
David Manwaring
Principal Solicitor – Integrated Programs
David joined TASC in 2017 and has a dual leadership role with our organisation. As Legal Services Manager, David coordinates and manages all aspects of TASC’s legal service. This involves ensuring clients receive high quality support in accordance with service agreements, policies, and TASC’s mission and values. As Principal Solicitor, David ensures services are compliant with the Community Legal Centres Australia Risk Management Guide and relevant statutory obligations; and oversees TASC’s contributions to legal policy development and law reform.
David has specialised expertise gained from a career spanning both the legal and health sectors. His legal career started in medical negligence with Maurice Blackburn in Maroochydore and later as the Human Rights Lawyer with Queensland Advocacy Incorporated in Brisbane. Before moving to law, he was a registered nurse with experience in mental health, general and occupational nursing.
David’s background as a frontline mental health worker has given him a unique insight and commitment to social justice, which underpins his reputation as an expert on restrictive practice as a human rights issue. He speaks and consults extensively on this topic, including as an invited speaker to the United Nations and the Disability Royal Commission, to ABC radio and other media, and to government, legal and advocacy bodies.
David has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Masters of Law, all from Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Megan Inglis
Principal Solicitor
In January 2024, Megan joined Tasc as Principal Solicitor of the General Legal Team. She began her career over 30 years ago, working with the Department of Communities, transitioning people living with disabilities in institutional care settings in South-East Queensland into residential care. From there, she explored several career pathways including publishing, pharmaceutical/medical device sales, and executive recruitment, before pursuing the law.
Driven by a keen awareness of the limitations offered by traditional models of legal service delivery, Megan is committed to the Community Legal Sector. She sees great opportunity to influence access to justice for clients beyond advice and representation in their legal matters, by actively participating in law reform projects, community partnerships, and outreach. It was Tasc’s collaborative service delivery model, putting advocates, social workers, and lawyers at the forefront of client need that attracted Megan to the organisation.
Megan holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology, a Juris Doctor, and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.
Our Board of Directors
Lesley Beames
Chairperson
Lesley joined the TASC Board as a Director in 2007 and was elected Chairperson in 2019.
With many years’ experience in the education, health and not-for-profit sectors, she now contributes to organisations that tackle social issues, transform the lives of individuals and improve the wellbeing of communities.
In addition to her role with TASC, Lesley is a Director of workRestart, a social enterprise that assists prison leavers to re-enter the workforce.
Lesley has worked as a marketing manager, training and development consultant and human resources advisor.
Craig Armstrong
Deputy Chairperson
Craig joined the TASC Board as a Director in 2019 and was elected Deputy Chairperson in 2020.
He is an Executive Consultant working with customer owned banks. With over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry, Craig brings extensive business and leadership experience to the TASC Board.
He has strong community appreciation and connections from across Queensland.
Craig has qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors – Company Director Course, UNSW Australian Graduate School of Management – Executive Management.
Ann-Marie Johnston
Treasurer
Ann-Marie joined the TASC Board in 2023. Ann-Marie is currently the CFO and General Manager Finance and Business Strategy at Toowoomba Regional Council and was proud to be the first female member of the Executive Leadership Team.
She joined Toowoomba Regional Council in 2011 following an extensive career in financial management in diverse industries including manufacturing, insurance, transport, education, engineering, agri-business and arts management.
Ann-Marie has a Bachelor of Commerce from James Cook University, is a Fellow of CPA Australia and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ann-Marie has extensive governance experience and is passionate about diversity and inclusion.
Dr Rhett Martin
Director
Dr Rhett Martin joined the TASC board in 2022, bringing with him wide experience gained from private legal practice and academia.
Rhett graduated from Melbourne University with degrees in Commerce and Law and also holds an LLM and PhD in sustainability regulation.
Rhett is a Associate Professor in law at the University of Southern Queensland, where he has worked since 2014. His research interests include environmental and sustainability regulation which looks at the intersection of law with sustainability and he has authored ‘Understanding Sustainability Law’ (2017, LexisNexis) along with a series of academic articles on ecologically sustainable forest management.
Before relocating to Toowoomba he worked at RMIT and Monash University. Rhett practiced as a solicitor in medium and large firms prior to entering academia.
Rhett lives and works in Toowoomba and has two daughters and a stepson. In his spare time, infrequent as it may be, he loves to explore Queensland with his family.
Dr Sharon Boyce
Director
Dr Sharon Boyce is an educator, author, speaker and disability advocate from Toowoomba. Sharon has dedicated her life and considerable talents to promoting a true understanding of disability, diversity and complex health issues, receiving many awards including the 2016 University of Southern Queensland’s Alumnus of the Year Award; 2012 Queensland Regional Achiever Award; 2008 Human Rights Award for Individuals, and 2003 Disability Action Week Award.
As founder of Discovering DisAbility & Diversity she delivers positive change with community attitudes and awareness across government, health, and education sectors to achieve real outcomes for people with disability and regularly delivers keynote and conference presentations, both nationally and internationally, in the areas of inclusion and awareness.
She is the Director of the Australian Institute of Inclusive Education and Research, Director of the Disability Training Institute and Chief Executive Officer and Director of Aus Inclusion Pty Ltd. In 2020 she was awarded a Doctor of Letters for her research in education inclusion and dyslexia, and she is currently completing a Doctor of Philosophy.
Sharon is also the current chair of the Queensland Disability Advisory Council (Queensland Government) and Advisor to the Queensland Minister for Seniors and Disability Services. She is an appointed member of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Independent Advisory Council, an Executive Director of the Physical Disability Australia Board, and advisor to the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Access Committee.
She has authored several books and educational resource kits to help educators understand disability including Another Day in the life of Sharon Boyce, a children’s book called Discovery at Paradise Island that deals with the issues of social justice, disability and how children react to it (later chosen to form part of the NSW school syllabus) and Discovering Dyslexia – Experiencing Mysteries Exploring Solutions.
Sharon continues to lead work and change fundamental to the principles that people with disability need a valued and equal seat at the table.
Jessica Goldie
Director
Jessica Goldie is a barrister at the private bar in Toowoomba and an Adjunct Professor with the University of Southern Queensland, School of Law and Justice.
Jess was born and raised in Toowoomba and has worked all throughout regional Queensland. She practises primarily in criminal law, having appeared in serious and complex criminal jury trials in regional Queensland and Brisbane.
Jess was previously employed with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2009 to 2018. In 2011, Jess was commissioned as a permanent Crown Prosecutor and then Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2016, being head of the Toowoomba Chambers at that time.
Jess was first called to the Bar in February 2012 and is the only female barrister based on the Darling Downs. She has a keen interest in ensuring access to justice for those living in rural, remote and regional Queensland.
Jan Ezidkhalo
Director
Jan joined TASC Board of Directors in 2023.
With a background of linguistics, research journalism, human rights activity and advocate for the Cultural Diversity and human rights with local and international organisations and agencies Including UN and UN women.
Jan has worked as cultural advisor, diversity advocate speaker/presenter, Journalist and linguist for over 20 years. In addition to his TASC role, Jan is the manager of Cosmos Community Care and a member of CALD advisory team at Australian War Memorial.
Leila Fallon
Director
Lelia Fallon is a Legal Practitioner with over 30 years of commercial, banking & finance, local government and property knowledge gained from working with top tier law firms, blue chip banking & finance corporations, all tiers of government and industry bodies.
She was admitted to Practise as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2004, is registered as a Practitioner of the High Court of Australia and holds the following qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Economics & History) (NTU), Bachelor of Laws (QUT), Master of Laws (Applied Law) (Commercial Litigation) (CoL), Master of Laws (Applied Law) (FDRP) (CoL).