Management Committee

Barbara Kienast – President

Barbara is the founder of Samford Support Network. She is an incredibly hardworking person, balancing all her amazing community support work with her family and a very challenging job as Project Director of early medical research.

She is our networking person, liaising with all the wide-ranging organisations that the SSN deals with. Barbara also provides the essential first point of contact to the SSN for our clients, never hesitating to organise and come to the aid of people who are struggling.

Barbara was the well-deserved recipient of the Samford Community Award in 2017 and finalist in the 2019 Australian of the Year Awards for the Queensland Local Hero Award.

Barbara is also the founder and president of Support Networks Australia.

Mercedes Logan – Secretary

Mercedes joined the Samford Support Network in August 2021 as Secretary.

Volunteering has been a part of her life since she was 19 and she has volunteered for a variety of organisations including Lifeline counselling, Royal Society for the Blind and Communify. As her children entered Primary School and High school, volunteering was put on hold so she could be available for them.  Her children have now grown up and once again she found herself wanting to give to an organisation that provided good support where it is needed.

She currently works part time in Administration and part time as a massage therapist.

She brings with her 17 years of administration experience, a willingness to provide support to the network as one of the MC members, a kind heart and openness to learning new things.

Steve Parry – Treasurer and IT Coordinator

Steve Joined the SSN  in 2017 as Treasurer, where he managed the finances and the IT systems for the SSN. He resigned as treasurer in 2021, handing over to Greg Goad. Steve rejoined the Management Committee in October 2021 as a Committee Member and then again as Treasurer in February 2022.

Steve undertakes the development, documenting and refining of our many processes and procedures, and as our IT Coordinator, is the developer of the multiple IT systems and web based services for the many community, Client and Member interactions with the SSN, which has contributed to the Samford Support Network business systems becoming more professional and resilient.

Steve was also the recipient of the 2014 Samford Community Award and a National Medal for 25 years volunteer emergency services work as a volunteer firefighter and volunteer Samford First Responder for the QAS. Steve is a retired IT consultant, happily married with two daughters and four grandchildren who all live nearby.    

Committee Member #1 – Position Vacant

Committee Member #2 – Position Vacant