Board Members

David Timmel was appointed as Board Chair of Forrest Personnel in March 2022. David is a senior executive with over 30 years’ experience in the Financial Services, Agribusiness, Recruitment and Property Management sectors. David is highly experienced in successfully running multi–site operating business for ASX and unlisted public companies throughout Australia. This experience has been gained whilst working at BankWest, Landmark, SKILLED Group Ltd and the first CEO of the privatized Perth Markets Limited. David is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University and holds post and undergraduate degrees from Curtin University.

Dr Gae Synnott joined the Board of Forrest Personnel in March 2021. Gae’s background is in the social sciences and she has more than 30 years of consulting experience in strategy and communications, plus experience in corporate, government and academic roles. Gae holds a Communications degree, an MBA, a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, and a PhD in Psychology exploring issues of culture, values and identity. She is a Graduate from the AICD Company Directors Course and is on the Board of Busselton Water, and Starick Services, a NFP organisation in the family and domestic violence sector.

Bradley Brown joined the Board of Forrest Personnel in November 2021. With a background in economics and social policy, Bradley has held executive leadership positions across the logistics, mining, regional and international development, and infrastructure sectors. With more than 20 years’ experience in business development, project delivery, commercial performance, corporate governance and strategic advisory, Bradley brings a proven track record in public and private expertise both domestically and internationally.  Bradley holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. As a proud father of two boys, husband to a Kisii woman from the Lake Victoria region of Kenya, and with connections to country as a Noongar man whose family descends from Wardandi clan of Western Australia, Bradley has a passion for economic empowerment, transparent governance and self-determination for all people.

Ben first rolled through the doors of Forrest Personnel in 2011 as a DES participant and was employed by them shortly after. After working in a variety of roles Ben struck out on his own in 2017 and now returns as a Board member, joining in November 2021. Ben has a background in systemic advocacy, innovation and building cultures of resilient leaders, using his lived experience of disability and military experience as change-making tools. Holding qualifications in employment services and work health and safety, Ben is a graduate of Leadership WA’s Rising Leadership Program and named one of Western Australia’s leading entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders under the age of 40 in the 2020 Business News 40 under40 Awards.

Karen Bradley joined the Board of Forrest Personnel in November 2021. Karen is an independent consultant, with extensive experience in the not for profit and government health sectors and skills in clinical and corporate governance, health policy, strategy and planning, workforce and leadership development. Karen holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing), a Master’s Degree in Leadership (Social Justice) and was awarded a Doctorate in Nursing (Hon) from Edith Cowan University. Karen is a Non-Executive Director on the board of Rural Health West, a Fellow and Vice President (WA Branch) of the Australasian College of Health Service Management and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Keith Smith joined the Board of Forrest Personnel in July 2022. Since coming to Australia 11 years ago he has held CEO, COO, FD and Company Secretary roles for private, public and NFP companies. Keith is an accomplished Executive and Non-Executive Director delivering strategies and change management often in businesses who were operating in rapidly changing environments. He has consistently led positive outcomes with the enterprises he has been associated with and through his excellent leadership skills he has been able to influence outcomes across businesses. Keith holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), is a Chartered Accountant, ICAEW & CA ANZ, and holds a GIA (Cert).

Matthew Rutter joined the Board of Forrest Personnel in July 2022. Matthew is currently employed as the CEO of a large commercial company. With over 20 year’s executive and non-executive director experience across a range of industries and sectors, Matt is a commercially focused Non-Executive Director with demonstrated experience in strategic growth and continual improvement initiatives. Matt has a deep knowledge and direct experience balancing commercial, environmental, social and governance business priorities. Matt holds a Bachelor of Business (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Robert Alexander joined the Board of Forrest Personnel in July 2022. Robert is currently employed as the General Manager of a medium sized government entity. Robert has substantial experience and wide-ranging knowledge base across multiple industries in diverse senior roles including risk, environment, safety, approvals, stakeholder management, investment analysis, infrastructure project delivery, asset management, and planning & development. Robert holds a Master of Business Administration; a Bachelor of Environmental Science and he is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.