Council Members

Board Chair

Director

Marcus was appointed to the Activ Board and elected as Board Chair in November 2021.

Marcus has held the position of Chief Executive Officer at MSWA from 2002 to 2021.

In 2015, Marcus was awarded the Australian Institute of Management Award for the most outstanding chief executive officer in the not-for-profit sector in Australia.  In 2017, he was the recipient of one of the nation’s highest honours, Member of the Order of Australia, for his contribution to the disability sector.

Marcus joined the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA Board in 2018 and was appointed vice president and deputy chair in 2019. In recognition of his leadership within the State, Marcus was awarded an honorary doctorate from Edith Cowan University in 2020.

Penelope was a former board member serving on the Activ board from 2011 to 2013. She is also the guardian to her brother, who is a supported employee at Activ Employment Services and lives in an Activ supported accommodation home.

Penelope hopes to use her role on the council as an opportunity to further connect Activ’s services with the customers and families they support. Penelope is also a member of the Service Advisory Committee and has strong connections with Activ as her husband has worked for Activ since 2000.

Her personal time is spent with family and travelling, a passion she shares with her brother.

Leonie was a former board member, serving on the Activ board from 2006 to 2016, after joining Activ in 1975.

Leonie has two adult sons with intellectual disability. Living on a farm in Wongan Hills, Leonie was active in establishing homes for children with disability. She now resides in Dunsborough with her husband and has a long association with local support groups in the area.

Leonie was awarded the Centenary Medal for Community Services in 2001 and received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday honours. Leonie is an elected member of the Future Living Trust Board.

Leonie is an Honorary Life Governor, Trustee and Council member of Activ. Leonie is a founding member of the Activ Council.

John Groves

John was the Executive Director of Activ Foundation from June 1995 until his retirement in May 2007.

John has more than 20 years’ experience in executive management and in chairing the board of various organisations. He has maintained his interest in people with disability and the policy settings affecting them through his ongoing interest in the activities of the National Disability Services (NDS, formerly ACROD).

John has served on the State Committee and the National Board of NDS, and has been its National President. John is a founding member of the Activ Council.

Matthew Battrick

Matthew was a member of the Activ board from 2001 to 2011 and has an adult daughter with intellectual disability.

Matthew is a petroleum geologist who has 36 years’ experience working internationally for a range of oil and gas companies, including as Managing Director of Sun Resources NL, an ASX-listed oil and gas company with assets in the USA, from 2008 to 2013.

His passions are his family, people with intellectual disability in Western Australia and the field of geology. Matthew is a founding member of the Activ Council.

Ken Booth

Ken has been a member of Activ since 1991. His family was associated with the Fremantle branch from the early 1960s onwards.

Ken has served on the Board of the Future Living Trust (Inc.) [formerly the Hawkevale Trust] since 1995. He served on the Board of Activ in 1999 – 2002.

Ken was made a Life Member of Activ in 2005 and Honorary Life Governor in 2013. Ken is a Civil Celebrant, who had a 35 year career in education in WA.

Ken’s brother David lives in an Activ shared supported accommodation home. Ken is a founding member of the Activ Council.

Murray is a parent of a daughter with intellectual disability and was appointed to the Board of Activ Foundation in 1986, serving as Treasurer and Senior Vice President. He was appointed President in 1993 and remained until his retirement from the Board in 2001.

Murray was made a Life Member of Activ in 1997 and was appointed an Honorary Life Governor in 1999. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2000 Queen’s Birthday honours and was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for his services to the community.

Murray is a founding member of the Activ Council.

Laurence Council Member

Deputy Chair

Laurence (Larry) is a partner in the legal firm Iffla Wade. Through his family, Laurence has had a long association with Activ Foundation.

Laurence’s brother Harold is a former Activ supported employee and has been a long-term recipient of Activ’s services. His father Mel Iffla was on the Activ Foundation Board, and his mother Quentin was very involved in Activ’s branch activities.

Laurence was until 2015 the Chairman of Future Living Trust Inc, an allied organisation supported by Activ that works in the area of future planning for families with a member with disability, and he remains a Board member.

He is married to Nicola and has three adult children. Laurence is Chairman of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and is the non-executive Deputy Chairman of the Perron Group.

John Francks

Chair

John has been involved with Activ since 1996, and was an Activ Board member from 1998 until 2008.

John has been involved with the finance industry for many years, involved with large international corporations at senior management levels. In more recent times, John has been involved in running his own finance company.

John was appointed an Honorary Life Governor in October 2013. John is a founding member of the Activ Council.

Matt
Director

Matt was appointed to the board in September 2016.

Matt is inspired by those who live with disability and is passionate about assisting them to achieve their dreams. He has gained relevant sector experience by living with, and advocating for, two family members with disabilities. Matt has contributed to the external service delivery network supporting these family members by working with numerous providers in planning individualised programs, including tailoring risk management plans that address their specific challenges and needs.

Matt is the West Australian State Manager for Airmaster Australia Pty Ltd and has a demonstrated history of lifting organisational performance and employee engagement. Locally, he has advanced the development of Quality, WHS and performance initiatives that support best practice and build a compliance culture.

Matt is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Matt is a member of the Activ Customer, Quality and Safeguarding Committee and a member of the Activ Council.