Our Staff
Ken McQualter
CEO
As CEO of Balwyn Evergreen since 2012, Ken brings his former experience as COO of Jetset Travel Group and Managing Director of Remote Vision Solutions to the role. Ken’s professional background and community service experience – as a member of Balwyn Rotary for over two decades – contributes vital knowledge to his role as CEO. His calm demeanour, optimism and dedication to the community are valuable assets to inspiring the team to achieve our vision and objectives. Beyond work, Ken and his wife Alison are kept busy by their large family, including seven grandchildren living across the globe from London to Sydney and North Ringwood.
Simone Arndt
Exercise Program Delivery Officer
Simone joined Balwyn Evergreen Centre as a fitness trainer in 2019. She is a qualified trainer who is passionate about helping members to be the best version of themselves by staying strong, independent and maintaining and improving their quality of life. She also enjoys camping trips with her family in the great outdoors, where she hikes and explores wild 4WD tracks.
Bo Cui
Facilities and Support Services Coordinator
With a background in chemical engineering and a passion for all things related to information technology, Bo first joined Balwyn Evergreen Centre as a bus driver in 2013 and is now an
all-rounder team member. Despite his role has expanded, his favourite place is still behind the wheel, where he enjoys the opportunity to chat with members. Bo considers his role as more than just a job. For him, it is an opportunity to be surrounded by the warmth and generosity of the community at Balwyn Evergreen Centre.
Mary Holland
Social Support Group Assistant
Mary joined Balwyn Evergreen Centre in 2016 where her friendly face can be seen contributing to the day-to-day running of the Active Living Group activities. When Mary is at home, she engages her creative skills by drawing and loves to spend time with her two daughters.
Penny Hyde-Smith
Administration Coordinator
Penny has been involved with Balwyn Evergreen Centre since 2013 and engaged as the Administration Coordinator since 2016. She seamlessly juggles reception duties, meeting and greeting clients, organising transports and bookings, ordering stationary, coordinating venue hire, invoicing and managing the volunteers’ program. At home, Penny enjoys cooking, Pilates, gardening and going to concerts and is a passionate Melbourne Football Club supporter.
Lotana Motuku
Social Support Individual Facilitator
Lotana joined Balwyn Evergreen Centre in 2017 and she brings her friendly personality to coordinating home visits to assist the local elderly community at home and with their pets. She also coordinates one of Balwyn Evergreen Centre’s longstanding traditions, the Evergreen Club’s weekly lunches and afternoon entertainment. Lotana’s gentle care and support is much valued in our programs that engage our clients with dementia. Originally from the Pacific, Lotana loves flowers and French perfume.
Lysielle Orta
Consumer Marketing & Communications Officer
Lysielle joined Balwyn Evergreen Centre in 2021 and brings her years of advertising expertise to driving the promotion of our programs and services through web, print and beyond. Prior to joining us, Lysielle worked in various ad agencies, nonprofits and cultural institutions in Paris and Melbourne. Lysielle brings her passion for giving back to the community to her goal of elevating the profile of Balwyn Evergreen Centre, and showcasing how we stand apart as a local institution. When she isn’t working, she is busy with her toddler Auguste or video chatting with her beloved grandmothers in France.
Elise Walle
Social Support Group Coordinator
Elise joined Balwyn Evergreen Centre in 2001 as a Planned Activity Group assistant. She then worked as a Team Leader and she now coordinates Balwyn Evergreen Centre’s Social Support Programs. Elise contributes her positive energy and passion toward managing all aspects of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and overseeing the work with our dedicated volunteers. When she’s not at work, she loves to relax with her daughter family and her dog at their caravan in Moama by the river.
Raymond Yu
Exercise & Compliance Coordinator
Raymond oversees all the administration related to Balwyn Evergreen Centre’s exercise programs. He brings his keen interest in fitness and detailed knowledge of Balwyn Evergreen Centre’s processes to the role where he manages all the logistics from new referrals to setting up classes. He is always available to discuss the needs of members and their families and welcomes feedback to ensure the program meets your expectations. In his spare time, Raymond is an accomplished tennis player and a passionate supporter of animal causes and has spent time volunteering at the RSPCA where he adopted his Jack Russell cross.