Allan Anderson For over 40 years Allan Anderson has worked with people who grieve as they try to cope with situations of major loss. These losses have arisen from many different life situations: divorce, migration, economic loss, adoption, death and other major life changes. Allan is the WA State Learning & Development Manager for InvoCare, a large National group of funeral companies and a registered Minister of Religion. He has ministered in Churches in WA, NSW and Victoria and has worked in rural, regional and metropolitan areas. Allan has been a consultant to the Funeral Industry for over 25 years and has trained Funeral Directors throughout Australia. He continues to conduct training programs for the funeral industry and community seminars on Loss and Grief. Allan is constantly involved with a wide range of personal counselling situations and through these assists people to move back into life after the dislocation of major loss.
Doug Bridges Doug Bridge has been head of the palliative care service at Royal Perth Hospital since 1993, and a consultant at the Murdoch Community Hospice for eight years.  He was Medical Director of the Cottage Hospice when it first opened in 1987. Doug trained in Perth as a general physician. After a year as an intern at Royal Perth Hospital, Doug spent one year travelling around Australia as a "University chaplain" working for the AFES. He has lived in a Bangladeshi village for two years. Doug is married to Trenna (a GP) with three sons, and is a passionate tree farmer in Bridgetown. Doug has taught "The Spirituality of Dying" in Taiwan each year since 2003. Doug is a member of the Mount Pleasant Uniting Church.
Philip Bryant Philip Bryant was a secondary School Teacher before becoming a Youth Pastor at Banyo Baptist Church (QLD). The same church called him to be its Senior Pastor within 12 months. He became the Senior Pastor of Aberfeldie Baptist Church (VIC) while planting the Sydenham Baptist Church.  He was soon called to be the Church Planting Director for the Baptist Union of Victoria where he oversaw the planting of 39 churches in seven years.  This was followed by ten years as the Senior Pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in WA.  He is currently the Church Health, Planting and Evangelism Consultant for the Baptist Churches of Western Australia.  He has published a Church Planting Workbook and written articles related to Church Planting, Church Health and Leadership.
Glenn Bergsma Glenn Bergsma is Evolve Leadership's Executive Director, an experience facilitaror and trainer in the areas of stretegic change management, govermance development and leadership training. Glenn has had considerable involvement in the establishment and development of mant organisations in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors throughout Western Australia. He consults regularly with companies, schools, denominations, churches and community groups on organisational and leadership development. Glenn has had direct frontline involvement in growing numberous church congregations to over 1000 members and planted a church 5 years ago that has now over 200 adults and children. Although Glenn is no longer in a paid ministry position, he is still significantly involved in overseeing a number of churches in Perth. Glenn is also the Exectivie Director of the Alta-1 Foundation, the Chaplain for the Emirates Western Force and holds a number of Directorships on Boards carrying a specific strategic role. Glenn is born and bred in Western Australia and currently resides in Perth with his wife, Allison, and sons Chase and Jackson.
Rodney Cox Rodney Cox is president and founder of Ministry Insights International, a ministry with the mission of Transforming Relationships Globally. This mission is driven from his love for pastors, staffs, couples, and families and his heart’s desire to unify the Body of Christ by helping everyone everywhere understand and lead from their strengths. His Leading From Your Strengths message has impacted more than 250,000 individuals and teams internationally. Rodney is a sought after speaker who challenges his audiences to build relationships based on their God- given strengths. He reveals God’s plan that differences are designed to complete and therefore unite, not divide, relationships. Rodney and his wife Beth live in Scottsdale, Arizona, with their two daughters
Jeanette Fernandez Jeanette was raised in a ministry home and has been an active member of Christian community and service throughout her life. She is experienced in pastoral care, group facilitation, discipleship, and mentoring. She has completed a Bachelor of Counselling and is currently working in the field of Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation as well as conducting private practice for counselling and training services. It is Jeanette’s passion to impact and transform lives through meaningful connection and relationship. Jeanette is the mother of three amazing daughters, a cute dog, a fluffy rabbit and a blue fish. Camping and relaxing with friends are two of her favourite pastimes.
Gary Fitzgerald Gary Fitzgerald is currently the Director State Workforce Planning at the Department of Training and Workforce Development. His role has the oversight of the workforce planning function in the Department, which has the lead agency role for workforce development matters across State Government. His Branch has responsibility for the preparation of the States’ workforce development plan and the State Training Plan. His Branch also undertakes economic and labour market analysis and works with industry and regional stakeholders in the development of industry and regional specific workforce development plans. Gary previously was the Director Industry and Community Planning at the Department of Education and Training and a General Manager at Central TAFE. Prior to that, Gary had a lengthy career in local government, with his last two appointments being that of Chief Executive Officer. Gary attends Lesmurdie Baptist Church and up till recently was Chair of the Church’s Board of Elders for a period of six years. Gary has a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma in Local Government, Masters in Business Administration  and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. He is married to Veronica and has three adult children. In addition to his family and involvement in the Church, his passion is sport, and in particular cycling. In 2009 he cycled from Perth to Sydney with Bike for Bibles.
Jaine Harmon is the location manager at Christian Funerals in Maylands. 90% of Jaine's working expereince has been working with people who are actively facing their own death, or the death of a loved one. Jaine has a degree in counselling and spent 8 years working as a chaplain within aged care and the hospital setting 2 of those years incorporated working within the palliative care unit at Bethesda Hospital, before becoming a funeral director. Jaine's experience lends itself to understanding death, grief and the funeral process from many angles. Jaine has officiated at many funeral services for Christians and non Christians in her role as chaplain and has conducted Funerals for people of many different faith groups and cultures as a funeral director.
Steve Ingram After growing up at North Beach Baptist, Steve completed his BTh and Grad Dip Min through Baptist Theological College of WA (now Vose Seminary). He served at Mandurah Baptist for 8 years where, as Pastor for Ministry Development, he oversaw a church building program and church growth from 75-180 people in average attendance. He then moved to the Parkerville Baptist Church where, as senior pastor, he oversaw another building program and growth from 100-300 in average attendance. During those years Steve served our denomination chair of the Baptist Youth Ministries, a member of the Home Mission Committee, chair of the Church Growth Department, and both a member and chair of the Baptist Council. After 11 years as senior pastor at Parkerville, Steve then began full time work for the Baptist Churches WA in his role as Church Liaison Consultant in 2010. Steve is currently undertaking his Master of Theology at Vose and attends Lesmurdie Baptist Church. Steve is married to Kylee and they have two children, Scott and Shelby. Steve enjoys reading, drinking coffee, and fishing. His passion is to see the development of healthy leaders and healthy churches. He serves as a supervisor in Vose Seminary’s  Supervised Field Education Unit, is a qualified mentor for the Arrow leadership program and a qualified Ministry Advantage Coach.  His key responsibilities in his work for BCWA include overseeing the accreditation of pastors, the SafeChurch program and pastor’s small groups alongside general consultation with our churches.
Johan Linder Johan Linder was born in Sweden and grew up in Sydney from the age of 9. He received Christ at the age of 15, and studied engineering at university and then at Sydney Missionary and Bible College before heading into full time ministry. Johan and Debbie met and married in 1990. In 1993 they began serving in Thailand in church planting and evangelism before returning to Sydney in 2007. they have three children. .
David Michie BA BSocW, MA, DTh David Michie is director of Journeylines Counselling and Training Services. He has  twenty-three years experience in social work, counselling, training and supervision. For sixteen years he has lectured in counselling and spiritual formation. He has also been involved in developmental work in indigenous communities. He has been published in On Being, Carer and Counsellor, Journal of Practical Theology, Studio and Road to Emmaus – a worship anthology. David has been married to Carol for over twenty years and they have three children. He enjoys being married, being with his family, sitting with people, reading, and anything to do with being in, on or under water. His recreational highlights are sailing from Adelaide to Esperance; diving with sharks; and a week with his son in Kruger National Park discovering that nature is not benign.
Christine Ockenfels Christine is an accredited marriage and family therapists and has over 18 years experience in working with couples, families, children  and individuals on a variety of relationship issues such as; family and domestic violence, sexual abuse, couple conflict, affairs, grief and separation, self esteem and trauma. She is an experienced relationship educator and group facilitator having developed and delivered a number of programs for churches and the community. Christine has developed and co-facilitated family and domestic groups for both victims and perpetrators of family and domestic violence and is currently the General Manager of Anglicare WA's Counselling, Children and Family Support Services.
Monica O'Neil Monica O’Neil is the Director of Vose Leadership. She has been involved in pastoral ministry for over twenty years. Monica has experience in rural and city settings, and small and large organisations. She has a heart for the resourcing of those who are passionate about serving the kingdom of God in their chosen field of endeavour. Monica trains, mentors, coaches and preaches for relevant and helpful outcomes, intending that those who participate will leave with an expansion of thought, skills and confidence. Monica is married to Michael and they have three amazing adult children and one sooky dog. She has a dream to one day have her very own shed (the Sheila Shed) where she can pursue her many smelly, grubby hobbies. She loves God and people (most days), has great hope for the church and enjoys her community in the hills region of Perth.
Michael O'Neil Michael has recently been appointed as Head of Christian Thought and Director of Vose Research. He comes to the role with many years of pastoral experience, most recently as Team Leader at Lesmurdie Baptist Church (5 years). His doctoral work was in the early theology of Karl Barth (“Forming Moral Community: Christian and Ecclesial Existence in the theology of Karl Barth, 1915-1922”). Michael is deeply committed to the work of the local church in its mission to proclaim Jesus Christ and to shape the lives of God’s people as his disciples. Michael is married to Monica and together they have three fabulous adult children.
Naomi Reed Naomi Reed is an award-winning author who grew up in Sydney and studied physiotherapy with her husband Darren. They spent six years serving in Nepal with INF/Interserve and during that time Naomi began to write. One of the four resulting books arose from her research into the impact of personality on cross-cultural mission. The family are now based in the Blue Mountains where Naomi is writing, studying at SMBC and trying to keep up with their three sons.
Dennis Ryle Dennis lives with his wife Jennifer and son Lachlan in Wembley Downs. He has been minister of the Church of Christ in Wembley Downs since 1996. Prior to that he served in local church ministries in South Australia and Canberra, beginning in Fremantle, Western Australia, in the mid 1970s. His recreational interests are eclectic and have involved bushwalking, watercolours, cinema and reading. Although his three decades of ministry have focused mainly on the local church scene, he has served in various capacities in vocational ministry education. He holds a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training along with Graduate Diplomas in Christian Education and Spiritual Direction. He has developed the Weddings and Funerals workshop from the experience and conviction that these rites of passage provide unique pastoral and missional opportunities for today’s church. Dennis writes a blog called 'Wondering Pilgrim'.
Fred Stone Fred Stone was a psychiatric nurse for five years before training for Baptist ministry.  His longest pastorate was at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, where he developed a growing church with a strong pastoral care emphasis.  Fred established Pathways (the Baptist Counselling service), and was Director of Counselling at Lifeline, Perth, for two years.  Fred lectured in Pastoral Care at the Baptist Theological College of WA (now Vose Seminary) and in Pastoral Counselling at Curtin University for over ten years.  Now retired, Fred is involved in pastoral care and mentoring at Mount Pleasant Uniting Church.  Fred is married to Pauline with four children and eight grandchildren, the eldest of whom is a clarinettist extraordinaire who sometimes takes time off from her exacting task as minder for Monica O’Neil to play for the ABC and WASO.
Jennifer Turner Rev Dr Jennifer Turner has served in Church of Christ and Baptist churches for more than 20 years, the longest being 9 years as Senior Minister of Dianella Church of Christ in Western Australia. She is now Minister-at-large for Subiaco Church of Christ combining mentoring responsibilities in Perth with periods overseas. Supervised field education, “theology of everyday life” and pastoral theology are her main interests. Preaching Scripture to contemporary hearers is another passion. Formerly a town planner, Jennifer has been a consultant and trainer in systems of care, including small groups (the topic of her doctoral dissertation). More recently she established the Dayspring Centre for Christian Spirituality at Dianella and worked with Forge in “reimagining” established churches. Based in Perth where their children and grandchildren live, she and her husband serve up to half of each year in developing countries, Neil in agriculture, Jennifer in training pastors.
Daniel Viljoen Daniel is the Coordinator of Chaplains for the Bethanie Group Inc. After completing his theological studies in 1992, Daniel started his Chaplaincy career as a military chaplain and served 11 years in the South African National Defense Force as an ordained minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. In Australia he was ordained as a Churches of Christ minister and started his career as aged care chaplain in 2005. Daniel provides chaplaincy services and leads the Bethanie Group’s chaplaincy team, providing services in the Hospital and Aged Care Sectors. Daniel is passionate about chaplaincy training and development. He firmly believes that chaplaincy is by far the best way of ministry due to its practical and hands on approach. He believes that Chaplaincy is "Jesus with Skin" in this world. Daily he discovers the richness in the diversity of our religious beliefs and traditions. He feels that it is a privilege to be invited to be part of someone's spiritual journey. Daniel is supported in his role by his wife Anna-Marie and two boys, Waldo and Marco. Daniel loves the outdoors, camping, 4wheel driving and photography.
James Ward James has been a Baptist pastor in WA for nearly 27 years. In that period he has pastored three churches, has ministered for 10 years as an Aged Care chaplain and for the past seven years has been and continues to be the Protestant Churches Chaplain at the Hollywood Private Hospital, whilst also ministering as honorary chaplain to the Alzheimer's Association in WA. During the past 17 years he has gained considerable experience and expertise whilst working with people with dementia and with their families. He has had the privilege of conducting seminars related to his experience to several groups cross denominationally and to students at Vose Seminary. His great passion is to continue to share this experience with as many pastors, pastoral carers and other interested people as possible. He is married to Sandra and in addition to his family loves cricket and rugby.
Mark Wilson Pastor Mark Wilson is the Director of Ministries with the Baptist Churches of Western Australia, providing servant leadership through positively influencing leadership teams in a growing number of member Churches, Vose Seminary, campsites and affiliated ministries. Being a visionary leader and an excellent communicator, Mark speaks to thousands of people in Australia and around the world each year.  With over 22 years experience in both church and mission work, and 6 years as a school teacher, Mark has great insight into the needs of people from all walks of life.  His genuine concern for people is displayed in the value he places on each individual and his desire to see them achieve their goals in life and ministry. Mark, together with his wife Karen, and their son Daniel and daughter Katherine enjoy a very active lifestyle, taking every opportunity that comes their way.