Our Team

Maryjane Aviles is Chief Executive Officer of Coeliac Australia and brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience across global organisations and international markets.

Her career has included senior executive and advisory roles with American Express, IBM, AMP and NAB, executive leadership at the international humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières, and accountability for multi-billion-dollar budgets, large multidisciplinary teams and enterprise-wide transformation programs.

At Coeliac Australia, Maryjane leads the organisation’s strategy to strengthen advocacy, education, research investment, strategic partnerships and long-term sustainability, while championing greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for Australians living with coeliac disease and related conditions. Her commitment to the organisation’s mission is also personal, following her son’s diagnosis with coeliac disease.

Maryjane holds an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management and a Graduate Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has served as President of the Australian Marketing Institute, on the Executive Digital Council of the Australian Direct Marketing Association, and on boards and advisory committees spanning industry, entrepreneurship, and education.  

Dr Kim Faulkner-Hogg is a PhD-qualified Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (Adv APD), Fellow of Dietitians Australia (FDA), and with more than 30 years of experience, is one of Australia’s leading experts in coeliac disease and the gluten-free diet. Early in her career she served on the FSANZ working party that established the definitions for low-gluten and gluten-free foods. 

Kim began her long association with Coeliac Australia as a volunteer consultant dietitian and now serves as Lead Dietitian and Health Advocacy Officer. Her PhD research explored on-going symptoms and the impacts of trace gluten exposure on people with coeliac disease. 

She’s known for bringing evidence-based clarity to a space often crowded with loud and extreme dietary messages. She helps people make sense of real-world gluten exposures and cross-contact risks when living gluten free. 

Just as importantly, Kim champions the mental and social side of gluten free living, fostering strategies to enhance wellbeing and eat with confidence. She regularly educates student dietitians, health professionals, community groups and industry, with one clear goal: empowering people with coeliac disease to feel supported and to live well. 

Arnold Abundo has a 40-year international track record in the successful implementation of cross-functional, enterprise-wide IT systems for large multinationals in the consumer goods, not for profit, and technology sectors. He has worked a senior managing consultant and business development executive for a top global technology company (IBM), a FTSE 100 consumer goods manufacturer (BAT) and one of the largest medical humanitarian organisations (MSF).

He has served as Head of Technology for Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia (MSF), Coeliac Australia and Quatro Four Retail. At MSF, he led the centralisation of IT governance, technology refresh, cloud transition and cybersecurity strengthening transformation initiative.

Arnold is experienced in working within different cultural environments across Asia Pacific (Australasia, Japan, Korea, HK/Taiwan, Malaysia/Singapore, India, Sri Lanka/Bangladesh/Pakistan), Europe (UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Lithuania) and the Americas (Brazil, Mexico, USA, Canada). 

John Sakker is Head of Partnerships at Coeliac Australia, where he leads the organisation’s Endorsement (Retail) and Accreditation (Food Service) programs. With more than three decades of senior leadership experience across the FMCG, foodservice, and health food sectors, John plays a central role in shaping the next era of partnership engagement. 

Before joining Coeliac Australia, John held national sales and business development responsibilities for both multinational corporations and family-owned businesses within Australia. Over his career, he has represented and managed major brands including Kraft Foods, Ferrero Australia, Green’s, Lowan Wholefoods, and the 100% gluten-free brand YesYouCan. His long-standing history with the food community includes leading supplier teams as a regular partner exhibitor at Coeliac Australia Gluten Free Expos over many years. 

Through these roles, John has developed deep cross-functional expertise spanning sales, operations, manufacturing procedures, artwork development, and FSANZ regulatory compliance, including PAL and PEAL labeling standards. He leverages this extensive network and technical knowledge to foster critical, multi-level collaboration across the industry. 

Today, John brings a sincere commitment to driving total industry change, working to improve gluten-free understanding, perceptions, and labeling navigation. He and his team are dedicated to encouraging both industry and government to play an active role in easing the cost of living for the community, supporting local manufacturers, and ensuring everyone living with coeliac disease can dine out with confidence. 

Suzanne Leddin is Head of Digital and Marketing at Coeliac Australia, where she leads the organisation’s digital experience, marketing, communications, brand and engagement strategy. 

With more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, customer experience and digital transformation, Suzanne has held senior leadership roles across leading Australian agencies, working with brands including St.George Bank, NRMA, Nestlé and Ampol. 

Before joining Coeliac Australia, Suzanne spent more than a decade at Saatchi & Saatchi, leading integrated marketing, digital and customer experience programs for major Australian organisations. Her work has been recognised through industry awards, including Cannes Lions and D&AD Pencils for the Westpac Rescue Rashie campaign. 

Today, Suzanne combines that experience with a genuine passion for helping Australians affected by coeliac disease. 

Suzanne is proud to work with a team that shares her belief that Australians living with coeliac disease deserve greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and access to lifelong support 

Deborah is a highly motivated and committed executive leader, with extensive experience in digital technology consulting and sales leadership across private, government and not-for-profit sectors, both in Australia and internationally. Her experience includes several years as a Chief Executive Officer in an ASX listed company environment and several years as a Board Director across three not-for-profit associations. Deborah holds a BEng and an MBA, and has strong strategic and innovation focus, combined with a pragmatic and governance-based approach to getting things done.

Deborah has been a member of Coeliac Australia since her daughter was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2018. Deborah believes in contributing to society by using her skills to assist people and organisations to reach their full potential. She joined the Board to help to ensure that the organisation can improve the lives of people with coeliac disease across Australia.

Deborah was appointed President of the Coeliac Australia Board in November 2025.

Alastair is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Forensic Accounting, is a registered auditor, and a partner at an audit firm in Perth. Alastair takes a special interest in the accounting and governance of not-for-profit organisations, including holding board roles with multiple charities, regularly lecturing on these topics, and auditing hundreds of not-for-profit organisations each year. Alastair is the Treasurer of the Coeliac Australia Board.

Alastair was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2016, and has been a member of Coeliac Australia ever since. He has benefited from the support and resources of membership and wants to give back to ensure Coeliac Australia continues to assist others along the same journey. In his spare time Alastair enjoys eating out, travelling, and skiing.

Sandra was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 1986 and joined the then Coeliac Society of NSW and took the role of Vice President later in the same year. In 1988 she was elected President of the NSW Coeliac Society and in the same year Vice President of Coeliac Australia.

Involved on the fringe whilst pursuing her career, she returned to the Coeliac NSW/ACT Board in 2018.

She has qualifications and extensive experience in Strategic Marketing Management across various industries globally; driving leadership roles in developing and delivering marketing projects to enhance customer loyalty, also in the rollout and delivery of international branding campaigns; PR, public speaking and media presentation with extensive experience at presenting at all levels; extensive and varied event management experience; personnel recruitment, training and development through mergers and acquisitions.

Sandra is passionate about making positive contributions for the continued growth and success in the delivery of Coeliac Australia services to the benefit of all members; raising awareness and progressing medical research.

Brigid King is the Secretary of the Coeliac Australia Board and the nominated member for the Victoria and Tasmania region.

Brigid was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2001 in her early twenties. She has been involved in supporting Victorian and Tasmanian members for the last few years as a Board member of the Coeliac Victoria and Tasmania organisation and as an active volunteer. She is also currently a member of the Coeliac Australia Risk and Finance Committee.

Brigid is a risk management expert with a deep knowledge of governance, compliance, financial strategy and treasury management, having worked across banking, funds management and technology in both small and ASX-listed companies. Brigid has a double Bachelor Degree in Economics/Finance (hons) and Arts from the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Brigid currently serves on both not-for-profit and ASX-listed subsidiary boards and committees.

Georgia was raised in a family deeply impacted by Coeliac Disease. Her mother, her older sister and her all have coeliac disease. Growing up with a coeliac parent provided her with early exposure to gluten-free living. Recognising the invaluable support she received from her family, she aims to contribute to Coeliac Australia’s mission of empowering those without such privilege.

Georgia has over seven years of experience in commercial law working in the areas of Real Estate, Litigation and Corporate law. She holds the degrees of Laws (Honours) and Business Management from the University of Queensland. She is also admitted in the Supreme Court of Queensland. She is passionate about increasing awareness of Coeliac Disease among young Australians and contributing to CA’s ongoing success.’

Sharon is a Non‑Executive Director of Coeliac Australia and Chair of the Governance, Finance and Risk Committee. She brings more than two decades of board and senior executive experience across the private sector, government and not‑for‑profit organisations, with a background in legal practice, governance leadership and enterprise risk. A former partner of an international commercial law firm, she has advised boards on strategy, risk and regulatory obligations. Diagnosed with coeliac disease as an adolescent and with a strong family connection to the condition, Sharon brings lived experience and a deep commitment to Coeliac Australia’s purpose and impact.