Hear from the industry’s leading CEO
The first section of this presentation will focus on operational challenges, providing delegates with first hand experience & examples. First impressions, initial challenges, cemetery infrastructure, priorities, planning and cemetery legislation are just some of the topics that will be covered.
This second session will focus on the priorities for the next 3-5 years, land, environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, succession planning and forward Governance arrangements for cemeteries.
Panel members will include
Robert Pitt:CEO, Adelaide Cemeteries Authority
Robert commenced his career in the cemetery industry in 2001 at Centennial Park Cemetery Authority holding various roles, including Operations Manager before being appointed in 2010 as Chief Executive Officer of the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, a State Government-owned business.
Over the last ten years, Robert has led the Authority through a period of cultural change that has seen its four Adelaide cemeteries evolve and the organisation become widely recognised for its service and facilities.
Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and an MBA and has experience working in civil construction, disability care, hospitality, local government, events and risk management.
Deb Ganderton: CEO , The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT).
Based in Melbourne, GMCT is one of the leading players in Australia’s funeral and cemetery industry.
GMCT is a self-funding, not for profit organisation that runs 19 cemeteries and memorial parks and three crematoria across Melbourne. It’s also responsible for two greenfield sites to be developed on Melbourne’s urban fringe.
GMCT’s 600 hectares of beautiful heritage parklands are visited by almost two million people each year.
Deb is CEO of GMCT at a time when Australia’s funeral and cemetery industry is preparing itself strategically and operationally for the impact of the Baby Boomer bubble on the nation’s death rate.
Her ambitions are to live to 100, be a long-term CEO and lead a GMCT workforce that remains committed to providing an essential service to Melbourne’s diverse communities.
Deb, who has significant management and leadership experience in the public and private sectors, kick started her career running a hospitality and food services business in regional Victoria.
Jason Masters: Managing Director, APAC Probity and Auditing Consultants and facilitator of this session.
Jason Masters is a Chair and non-executive director with over 15 years’ NED experience gained through serving on the board of approximately twenty private, public and not-for-profit organisations. He has held roles in numerous sectors - Utilities and Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics, Technology, Financial Services, Public Sector, Health and Cemeteries and Crematoria.
He is a frequent domestic and international speaker on director development, technology, audit, risk, finance and procurement and is a Fellow and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
His roles within Cemeteries and Crematoria have seen him both as the Administrator (Board of one) and the CEO of two of the largest cemetery trusts within Australia.
Tania Howard: CEO, Centenary Memorial Gardens.
Tania was appointed as CEO of Centenary Memorial Gardens in May 1996. Centenary Memorial Gardens is one of Brisbane’s leading cemeteries and crematorium. Centenary Memorial Gardens is a privately run cemetery and crematorium, set on approx. 40 stunning acres of beautiful rolling hills located in Sumner, Brisbane, Queensland.
Tania commenced her career in the industry in the mid 90’s at Service Corporation International Australia, Castlebrook Memorial Gardens, as a Family Consultant working her way to Family Service Supervisor.
After the death of her mother in 2000, Tania took a break from the industry. During this time Tania worked as National Sales Manager for Narellan Pools Franchisor, Sales Director of a house and land development company and National Home project home builder.
Returning to the industry, Tania has worked with Woronora Cemetery, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and Northern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust in the Role of Sales and Marketing Manager.
Tania is a past Vice President of Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA).
Tania has recently self-published a book - Life, Legacy and Love. Realising how hard it is for people to discuss death and the passing of a parent with their children, Tania and her mum, Ceridwen created Life, Legacy and Love – a record of a person’s life, cherished memories and final wishes. It is a guide and tool to use to gather important information. It steps people through the process, so it takes away ambiguity.
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