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Our People
Board Members
Bruce McMenamin
|ChairBruce has practiced as a professional accountant for more than 40 years. During his career he has spent time with Horwath, PwC and HLB Mann Judd, and has now established his own boutique advisory firm.
Bruce has strong communication, financial and analytical skills, along with a commitment to governance and operating with an unbending application to high ethical standards. He is a trusted professional adviser to privately owned enterprises – and their owners – operating in a wide and diverse range of commercial and professional fields, across varying sizes and scales of operations.
Bruce has supported numerous not for profit organisations, charities, and community sporting groups. He is a former director of the Starlight Children’s Foundation (10 years) and the Doxa Youth Foundation (3 years). In 2018 Bruce was appointed Chair of The Flicker of Hope Foundation.
He is a loving father to his two children and three wonderful grandchildren (so far). Bruce has been married to Julie for over 47 years and together they enjoy an active life appreciating travelling, when possible, and most sports – particularly, tennis, golf, football and walking.
Bruce holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Monash University, B Bus (Acc), and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (AANZ), FCA.Read More
Anne Petropoulos
|DirectorWhen Anne & Con’s daughter Zoe was diagnosed with NF at just four months of age, the family began a journey along an unguided path. They discovered very little was known about NF – from causes, treatment and support options, through to outcomes. What became very clear was that significant medical research was urgently needed to find out more about the condition, and to explore viable treatment options for NF patients.
In September 2018 the Petropoulos family established The Flicker of Hope Foundation, with the vision to shine a light on NF by raising awareness and much needed funds for vital medical research into NF.
In under three years, thanks to Anne’s passion, determination and drive, the Flicker of Hope Foundation has donated over $1M to NF medical research. A number of world leading ground breaking research projects have commenced thanks to the significant financial support of The Foundation. Anne works tirelessly to continue to advocate for NF patients and their families.
Thanks to generous financial support from the Petropoulos family the Flicker of Hope Foundation has no overhead or staff costs. Anne is grateful for the support of volunteers who assist in the ongoing fundraising efforts of the Foundation.
Anne is a former primary school teacher and Deputy Principal, and has served on many boards for various sporting clubs and communities.Read More
Mark Nicholls
|Director & TreasurerMark has more than 25 years’ experience in the banking and financial services arena. Mark has held senior leadership positions in major financial institutions across Asia Pacific developing and implementing business strategy through engagements with business partners, clients, and stakeholders.
Mark’s strong financial background and family experience with NF is of great benefit to the Flicker of Hope Foundation.Read More
James Mirams
|Board MemberJames has worked in the financial services industry for over 25 years. James holds a Bachelor of Economics, has post graduate qualifications in Applied Finance, and is a Co-founder, Director and Senior Adviser of the Paradigm Group, a provider of financial advisory and asset management services.
James has built relationships that span decades and communicates effectively by focusing on what’s important to the person in front of him, endeavouring to deliver the highest quality strategic advice and the optimum diversified portfolio solutions to his clients.
James is married to Melissa, and they have two teenage children. The family love to travel and experience new places. James is a keen golfer and tennis player. James was a member of the Rotary Club of Central Melbourne for a number of years, taking on Treasurer duties, and is now looking forward to assisting the Flicker of Hope Board to support fundraising activities to assist medical research.Read More
Dr Gabriel Dabsheck
|Board Member & Medical AdvisorDr Gabriel Dabscheck is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and a member of the Australian and New Zealand Child Neurology Society. Gabriel a specialist Paediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist. Gabriel trained in paediatrics at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital, and did adult neurology training at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne. He completed a clinical fellowship in epilepsy and neurophysiology at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, in Massachusetts, USA, along with a clinical fellowship in neurofibromatosis 1 and neuro-oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
Dr Dabscheck works at The Royal Children’s Hospital in the Neurology department, where he runs the Emergency Seizure Clinic and Neuro-Oncology Clinic, and is the clinical lead in the Neurofibromatosis Program. Gabriel heads a MRFF funded national research study about the genomics of tumours in NF1. He is active in clinical and scientific research, and has many joint research projects with the Neurofibromatosis Research Program, the Neuroscience research program at MCRI/RCH, and with the Children’s Epilepsy Program at RCH.
His specialist medical knowledge and expertise is essential in guiding the Flicker of Hope Board in respect to future research project funding.Read More
Michael Smith
|Board MemberAs founder of APC Logistics – one of Australia & New Zealand’s largest privately owned customs brokers and freight forwarders – Mike has extensive knowledge and experience spanning 44 years in the logistics industry. In 2016 Mike sold the business to a US Fortune 500 company, giving him time to enjoy retirement.
As a Flicker of Hope Board member, Mike is committed to advocating for the NF community as he actively raises awareness of the condition and continually explores fundraising opportunities for vital medical research.Read More
Chris Petropoulos
|Board MemberChris possesses a deep understanding of the devastating effects of Neurofibromatosis (NF) due to his family’s personal experiences. His younger sister Zoe was diagnosed with NF at a very young age, while his older brother Nick tragically lost his wife to NF-related brain cancer in 2023. These experiences have fuelled Chris’s determination to make a difference in the fight against NF.
The Petropoulos family established the Flicker of Hope Foundation in 2018. This foundation aims to raise awareness about NF and generate funds for medical research, with the ultimate goal of finding more effective treatments and, ideally, a cure for the condition. Chris himself is actively involved in this mission.
As the Strategic Property Manager at the Delta Group, he leverages his skills and expertise to contribute to the cause. With a Bachelor of Applied Science in Project Management, Chris brings a strategic approach to his work, ensuring that resources are effectively utilised, and that progress is made in the fight against NF.Read More
Claire Stubbs
|Board MemberClaire’s daughter Katie was diagnosed with NF at 18 months of age, as a result of a spontaneous gene mutation at conception. The family then began a journey to find out more about a condition they had never heard of. They quickly discovered very little was known about NF, treatment options were limited, outcomes were unknown and there was no cure.
Now 10 years old, Katie has an outgoing bubbly personality, and is filled with enthusiasm and optimism about the future, despite enduring years of chemotherapy, MRI’s and other invasive treatments for brain and spine tumours. Her eyesight is severely affected and she suffers from ongoing skin infections due to her weakened immune system.
Katie and her family are determined to make a difference by shining a light on NF by tirelessly fundraising to raise funds for vital NF medical research, to bring hope to all those impacted by NF. They have personally raised nearly $80,000 for the Flicker of Hope Foundation.
Claire’s insights and personal experience of having a child with NF brings firsthand knowledge and perspective to the Board.Read More
Medical Advisor to Flicker of Hope Board
Assoc Prof Jonathan Payne
Assoc Prof Jonathan Payne is neuropsychologist in the Neurofibromatosis Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Co-Group Leader of the Brain and Mind research group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute where he is responsible for leading the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) research program. He is an Honorary Principal Fellow within the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne. Assoc Prof Payne’s research program is focused on understanding the clinical burden of NF1 on child development, the impact of NF1 on brain development and functioning, and he leads a number of clinical trials seeking to improve clinical outcomes of individuals with NF1.
Jonathan provides unique insight, expertise and specialist medical knowledge to assist the Flicker of Hope Board in respect to future research project funding.Read More
Ambassadors
Peter Daicos
One of the greatest ever AFL players, Peter Daicos is an absolute champion when it comes to shining a light on NF.
Peter is a Collingwood Football Club premiership player, two time Collingwood Best & Fairest, five time Collingwood leading goal kicker, and kicked the 1991 Goal of the Year. He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1999.
He has enthusiastically embraced his role as our very first Ambassador, generously giving his time to help raise awareness of NF, along with funds for medical research. He has encouraged sons Josh & Nick to follow his footsteps both on and off the field.
The Flicker of Hope Foundation is beyond grateful for the incredible support of the Daicos family and their ongoing commitment to bring a flicker of hope to everyone impacted by NF.Read More
Josh Daicos
The elder son of AFL legend Peter Daicos, Josh made his onfield debut for the Collingwood Football Club in 2017. He kicked Goal of the Year in 2020, and in 2023 added the titles of Premiership Player and winner of the Collingwood Best and Fairest Copeland Trophy to his impressive resume.
Josh generously gives of his time to attend Flicker of Hope events, meeting our sponsors, visiting members of our NF community, and helping us raise awareness and funds for research.Read More
Nick Daicos
Nick is the younger son of AFL legend Peter Daicos, completing the Team Daicos family trifecta when he debuted for the Collingwood Football Club in 2022. He was a member of the 2023 Premiership team after an impressive on field season.
Off field Nick is generous with his time, helping us raise awareness and funds for research by attending Flicker of Hope events, meeting our sponsors and supporting our NF community.Read More
Anthony Stevens
Two time North Melbourne premiership player and AFL Hall of Fame member Anthony Stevens is a proud Flicker of Hope Ambassador.
Anthony shines a light on NF by engaging with our sponsors and supporters, attending events as a guest speaker, and using his network and connections to raise awareness of NF, along with valuable funds for research.Read More
Rodger Corser
|Actor/ProducerRodger Corser is well known to Australian audiences having worked extensively in television, theatre, and film. Over recent years Rodger has been nominated for six Silver and three Gold TV WEEK Logie Awards for his portrayal of Doctor Hugh Knight in the Nine Network’s Doctor Doctor, which ran for five seasons.
Rodger’s earlier television productions include lead roles in the original season of Underbelly for the Nine network as well as four seasons of RUSH, two seasons of Puberty Blues and the Political drama Party Tricks with Asher Keddie for Network Ten. Rodger has also starred alongside Claudia Karvan in two seasons of Foxtel’s Spirited and Sarah Snook in the ABC limited series The Beautiful Lie as well featuring in three seasons of the Netflix/ABC paranormal series Glitch.
Rodger has also appeared in some of Australia’s most iconic TV series such as Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Stingers, McLeod’s Daughters, Home and Away, and Water Rats. Other work includes the 1999 Australian tour of RENT the musical and US TV productions Camp and The Starter Wife.
Rodger has recently been seen on our screens in the Netflix sixpart limited series Thai Cave Rescue, playing Australian anaesthetist, Cave Diver and 2019 Australian of the year, Dr Richard “Harry” Harris. Other recent work includes three series of the Paramount+ drama Five Bedrooms and host of Network Ten’s new reality series The Traitors.Read More
Robert “Dipper” DiPierdomenico
The legendary Dipper is a renowned AFL player, with 240 games under his belt, five Premierships at the Hawthorn Football Club, and the winner of the 1986 Brownlow Medal. Loved for his toughness on the field and adored for his lovable personality off the field.
Dipper has effortlessly transitioned into a hugely popular media personality, and is a committed Flicker of Hope Ambassador, using his profile and networks to shine a light on NF and help raise funds for vital medical research.Read More