Meet the NABS Team

	Keri Gilbert, Manager – Services Manager Keri has had the exciting job of managing NABS services since it's beginning in 2005. Keri is a professional level Interpreter and is qualified in Community Services Management. Her background in working in the Deaf community stretches over the last 26 years firstly as an interpreter and then also as manager of various services to the Deaf community. Apart from her extensive work in Queensland Keri also worked at the Tasmanian Deaf Society for 5 years. Keri continues to enjoy her work at NABS looking after the development of services both to Deaf people and interpreters. In her spare time she enjoys camping and playing music.
	Ray Hilsdon, Manager – NABS Call Centre Ray has a background in Deaf education, counselling, community development and interpreting. Ray is currently interpreting in the education and medical fields. His interests include permaculture, philosophy, fishing and community volunteering.
	Natasha Stanton Call Centre Co-ordinator Tash has been with NABS since its inception in January 2005. Tash has been working in the Deafness sector for approximately 14 years and has a real passion for the work she does and her Team. Her role at NABS is never dull or boring – each day presents stimulating challenges. Whilst Tash’s role is primarily in the office, she also represents NABS at national medical and health care conferences where she promotes this valuable free service and educates professionals in the importance of using qualified interpreters. Tash is a qualified Para Professional Sign Language Interpreter. In the Deaf community she would be classified as a NERD (Not Even Related to Deaf) but she has grown up with Deaf friends and their families as her mum became a qualified Sign Language Interpreter when she was young. Tash enjoys hiking in the great outdoors and attending rodeos & country music events. Her biggest passion is enjoying time with her family and friends.
	Emily Robbins, Call Centre Co-ordinator, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Emily started at NABS 2006 and is now the Senior Bookings Officer at the Call Centre. She was born and raised in Brisbane, QLD. Emily has a Deaf brother. She says she still has fond memories of attending a Deaf preschool as the only hearing child. Emily has an 8 year old daughter, Indi. She and her partner are excited about building their home. Emily is also a Para Professional Interpreter.
	Deborah Howcroft-Miles Administration Officer Deb says “The title of Administration Officer seems boring and doesn’t sum out just how exciting and diverse I find my job role at NABS. One moment I can be entering data into a spreadsheet and the next moment talking to the president of ASLIA Queensland. From event coordination, to orientation of newly registered NABS interpreters, to sorting out the technical requirements for interpreter professional development courses my day is far from boring”. Deb has just been introduced to the world of the Deaf and is learning Auslan. Deb is also studying a business degree.
	James Kerwin Communications Officer. E-mail: j.kerwin@nabs.org.au James travels around Australia for NABS, delivering Information Presentations to the Deaf community. James writes articles about NABS for a wide range of publications, including medical trade magazines and medical websites, Deaf community newsletters, NABS Auslan Users Newsletters and NABS Blog on the website as well for the mainstream Australian media. James is Deaf, and a native Queenslander. He has spent some years studying, working and living in Los Angeles, CA, United States, as well as having a special affinity with Samoa, where he sponsors a Deaf child. James has a B.A. major in Public Relations, from Griffith University. He enjoys meeting people, dining out, art appreciation and cultural events.
	Helen Cignoli, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Helen is one of the longest serving call centre staff members having commencing work for NABS in June 2005. She says she has evolved with NABS as an organisation, enjoys the daily challenges, the busy work environment and most of all assisting the deaf community with their Interpreter bookings for their private medical appointments. Her career background was in retail management and fitness. In her spare time Helen loves spending time not only with her own, but also with her large extended family. She also enjoys travelling and canoeing.
	Jenni Webb, Bookings Officer, Email: bookings@nabs.org.au Jenni was born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia. Jenni is Deaf and is a native user of Auslan. She and her husband, John, moved to Queensland 12 years ago. Before joining NABS, some of the organisations Jenni worked for include, Rowntree Hoadleys, Clipsal, Telstra, DEET, Community Living Projects, in SA, and in Queensland, for Westpac, Qld Deaf Society, and DSRQ. Jenni works as one of the Booking Officers for NABS. Jenni says, “I love my job because it’s great to see Deaf people have the right to choose their own interpreter for their Private Medical appointments. We have a great team here!” She commenced working for NABS in October 2006 first as an Administration Assistant and Payroll (processed interpreters pays). In 2008, Jenni moved to the role of Booking Officer. She enjoys dining out, reading books, gardening, walking with dogs, going out with friends, and travelling. She and her husband have travelled to Hawaii, Bali, India, Thailand, Canada, Alaska, Malaysia, all of South Pacific Islands and New Zealand.
	Lindsay Perry, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Lindsay is a CODA with both parents being Deaf. His Qualifications include Para –professional interpreter, Disability Support Worker and Baker/Pastry cook. Lindsay commenced work with NABS in 2007. His main duties include processing bookings and interpreter job sheets. Before NABS, Lindsay worked with Deaf Services Qld for 3 Years in Toowoomba as Community Worker/Interpreter. He also worked for 26 years as a Pastry cook in Melbourne and throughout Queensland. Lindsay enjoys fishing, watching sports, movies, and travel.
	Kym Edwards, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Kim has a work history in the travel industry and also worked with Qld Ambulance for some years. She has been with NABS since 2008, and loves her work as she enjoys supporting the Deaf community and keeping busy. Kim loves to travel, and lived in France and England for a number of years. Kim is also an advocate for animal rights and the environment.
	Kathy Styles, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Kathy commenced work as a NABS Bookings Officer in 2008. She says “NABS is so busy I find the working day flies and before I know it – it is Friday yet again!”. Kathy comes from a financial background and worked in Customer Service. Kathy says “I enjoy working for NABS as it is a dedicated team with a very high focus on Customer Service - to clients, interpreters and Practices”. Kathy has family in Queensland and Victoria, and her passion is fast and loud motorcycles, music, reading, wine and laughter.
	Amaya Bellino, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Amaya was born in Queensland and previously lived in Western Australia for twelve years. Amaya enjoys her position at NABS, as she enjoys the satisfaction of assisting deaf clients with their Interpreter bookings for their private medical appointments. Amaya says “I love talking and laughing with people, and going to the gym”. Amaya has worked at NABS since 2008 and enjoys the multi-tasking duties at NABS. Before coming to NABS, Amaya worked in Pharmacy. She has done some travelling, to Italy to visit family members living there and the United States. Amaya is enjoying learning Auslan and practising with her fellow Deaf colleagues at NABS. She has two dogs, named Bella & Benson.
	Leanne Kelly, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Leanne is married and a mother of three boys. She was born in Redcliffe and has lived there for most of her life, except for a few years living in Bourke, Forbes and Sydney, NSW before moving back to Queensland. Leanne has worked at NABS since 2008 and says it “satisfies her that we are able to assist our Deaf clients and are able to make their appointments easier for them”. She enjoys spending time with her family, fishing and learning Auslan at work. Leanne previous work includes office work which included the historic Expo 88 in Brisbane. Leanne and her husband also have a bricklaying business.
	Lesley Tweedie, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Lesley is a country girl born in Taroom and raised in Goondiwindi, QLD. She went to high school and university in Toowoomba. Lesley moved to Redcliffe in 2001. Her work background includes many Administrative roles including Trust Account Manager at a Psychiatric Hospital. Lesley later turned her passion for photography into a profession, enjoying in particular photographing babies and children. Lesley says of NABS, “I love the diversity of roles within NABS and the challenges it can present”. She learnt basic Auslan 10 years ago and is on a steep refresher course to enhance her communication skills with her Deaf colleagues at NABS. She loves travelling, reading mind numbing novels, and playing with her gorgeous nieces. Lesley returned from a month long African Safari adventure at the end of 2009 with her wonderful husband Garry and took thousands of photos of the wild animals. One of the highlights included walking amongst a family of giraffe!
	Joel Lynn, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Joel is one of the newest members of NABS commencing in 2009. After spending 12 years in the country (Goondiwindi), he has finally moved to the “big smoke” to enjoy the city life. My previous jobs mainly centred on retail. NABS is a great place to work, and I enjoy the fast work pace of the job as well as the satisfaction of assisting the deaf community. In my spare time I enjoy the arts painting & drawing when I get the chance. I also enjoy indoor rock climbing and hiking in my spare time.
	Sharlene Elmer, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Sharlene was born in Brisbane and now lives in Redcliffe. Before working with NABS, Sharlene worked in administration in a lawyer’s office and also later on in the retail industry. She became a Retail manager for a number of years. Sharlene is married and has a daughter. Sharlene has been at NABS since early 2009 and says, “I am always learning something new. It keeps you on your toes!” She enjoys cooking and shopping.
	Aimee Mammone, Bookings Officer, email: bookings@nabs.org.au Aimee was born in Shepparton, a country town inland from Melbourne but Aimee describes herself as “half Italian half Kiwi”. Her mother was born in New Zealand, and her dad is Italian. Aimee grew up in Shepparton and moved to Brisbane to be near the water. She loves doing things with my baby girl Dasavia seeing everything through her eyes. Aimee says it is awesome for her daughter experiencing things for the first time, such as theme parks, including Movie World, Sea World and Wet N Wild. Aimee says she will take her daughter as many places as she can and over to New Zealand next year as Aimee’s mother was born there and her daughters dad is Maori so I can show her some of their culture. Aimee has worked as a Cafe Manager, Pool Company Manager, and also in Beauty, Fruit Packer, and as a Supermarket assistant. Aimee said she enjoyed waitressing, as she got to meet new people and making them smile. Aimee started at NABS in 2009, and says she “loves working at NABS!” especially communicating the clients and Interpreters. Aimee says, “Even though I can’t see them face to face I still make sure I give my all to my work so that everyone smiles”.
	Ali Dowl, Tasmanian Interpreter Ali is a full-time Interpreter working for NABS & covers bookings across the whole state. She is a Professional level Interpreter. Ali trained and worked in Melbourne for many years before returning to her childhood home of Hobart. Ali's studies have included a Bachelor of Arts degree (majoring in History & Political Science), Diploma of Auslan (Barton/Chisholm TAFE), Diploma of Interpreting (RMIT), and Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment (Kangan Batman TAFE). When not interpreting or doing community development work for NABS, Ali loves to visit Tassie's beautiful beaches, practice yoga, and sample the odd drop of the local Pinot Noir!
	Elizabeth Temple, Northern Territory Interpreter Liz works in a full time capacity in the Northern Territory for NABS. Liz is based in Darwin and is always busy interpreting and finding ways to increase awareness around access issues and the provision of interpreters for Deaf people. She is very happy in the tropics and enjoys the variety of work her position allows. Liz has working as an interpreter professionally for more than 10 years. Liz previously lived in Cairns and Melbourne and enjoys art, the outdoors, and spending time with friends.