Our People
People are the heart of everything we do.
From our support workers to our board members, we’re a purpose-driven group of professionals who bring compassion, creativity and deep commitment to our work. Many of us have lived experience of disability or have worked closely alongside people with disability, giving us real insight into what makes support meaningful.
Our Culture
As a smaller organisation, we’ve built a culture of trust, autonomy and bold thinking by encouraging collaboration, enabling creativity and harnessing the diverse abilities within our team. We believe that good work empowers people to live their best lives and every person in our organisation contributes to that impact.
Our flat organisational structure means ideas can rise from anywhere, and they often do. This makes us more responsive, more creative, and better equipped to build support around the needs of individuals. It also means our people feel a strong sense of belonging.
From daily interactions to long-term strategy, we focus on real connection: with each other, with the people we support, and with the community around us. We’re collaborative, caring, and confident in our people.
Want to be part of something special?
Our Leadership Team & Board
At Best Lives, we lead with heart and backing it up with action. Each individual in our leadership team and on our board is not only talented in their field but driven by a personal connection to our mission.
Get to know our board
Jodie Beeson
Jodie Beeson is a modern and contemporary Consultant with more than twenty-five years of tactical and strategic experience in the human resources and employee relations space. Working across a wide and diverse range of industries including construction, mining, manufacturing, health, retail, tech start-up, transport and not for profit.
Jodie practices as a nationally accredited Mediator in the Australian National Mediator Accreditation Standards (ANMAS). She is a licensed workplace investigator, is a graduate of the Australian Labor and Employee Relations Association’s Advocacy Course, is a certified member of the Australian Human Resources Institute, holds a Certificate of Advanced Leadership for Community Chairs through the Institute of Community Directors Australia and recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Director’s Course and is working towards her post nominal qualification.
She also enjoys volunteering as a Technical Official with Surf Lifesaving WA and considers her role as a wife to Aaron and mother to her three beautiful children (and three fur-babies) to be her biggest achievement.
Paul Vivian
Paul Vivian is an experienced business and marketing leader having worked for over 33 years in the banking industry in Australia, the UK and Ireland, most recently with Bankwest as Chief Customer Officer and previously as General Manager, Products & Pricing and General Manager Brand & Marketing. He is currently studying for a PhD at Curtin University and is chairman of the WADSIH (WA Data Science & Innovation Hub) Advisory Board. Paul is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), has post-graduate diplomas in Marketing and Management and is a graduate of the Leadership WA signature program.
Debbie Cameron
Debbie has more than 20 years’ experience as an Executive Manager in the disability sector.
She has completed a Master degree in Business Administration (MBA), a Graduate Diploma in Business and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management from Curtin University and is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Debbie has a demonstrated history of delivering successful organisational outcomes in the not-for-profit sector, with extensive skills, knowledge and experience in ensuring good governance underpins all activities.
Ross Polis
Ross Polis is an environmental and sustainability leader with 20 years of global experience delivering ESG and safety results across multiple mining projects, from design and construction to operation and closure. He is currently the Global Head of Biodiversity and Climate with Newmont, the world’s leading gold and copper mining company.
Ross has a proven ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, build high-performing teams, drive innovation, and deliver pragmatic, risk-based solutions. He has expertise in shaping strategy, standards implementation, and stakeholder engagement.
Ross is a Murdoch University graduate with a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Environmental Science double degree and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Get to know our leadership team
Teeny Lane
Teeny brings to this role the benefits of over 25 years’ experience in the disability sector: 18 years in Australia and 10 years in the UK. She witnessed UK reforms firsthand – adding value and insights to her work.
Integral to our organisation, Teeny has worked with Essential Personnel for 15 years, having been promoted from Coordinator to Operations Manager, to Regional Manager, and now to CEO. In this time Teeny also established and managed the successful Lifestyles program, changing lives for people with disability, their families and carers across Perth Metropolitan and Wheatbelt communities.
Teeny also brings with her a wealth of experience from the wider sector. For 5 years she was a member of the Council of Regional Disability Service Organisations (CORDS) ensuring customers and organisations in the regions of WA had their needs considered and met. This was integral in the reform from state to nationally funded disability services (NDIS).
Teeny is a graduate of the AICD Directors Course and has completed the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business from Edith Cowan University.
Teeny has also been a Carer and advocate for family with disability, providing valuable insights.
Navneet Kaur
Navneet joined Essential Personnel in November 2020. She has over 12 years of experience in the disability sector. The varying capacities in which she has worked, has given her the opportunity to combine her genuine passion for developing leaders with her desire to make an impact in the lives of people with disability.
Navneet has a strong customer focus with expertise in SIL (Supported Independent Living), operational management, strategic planning, and service design and delivery. Outcomes focused with a person-centred approach; she ensures compliance with the National Disability Service Standards.
Navneet has a passion for collaborating with people with disability, their families and carers to enhance their support services experience, and to help address barriers to community inclusion.
Committed to ongoing professional development and lifelong learning, Navneet holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Majoring in Human Services) and is a graduate of the AICD Directors Course.
Shelley Warne
Shelley joined Essential Personnel in 2022, bringing over 30 years of diverse experience in Business Services across the aviation, mining, cargo, transport, IT, and not-for-profit sectors. Throughout her career, Shelley has developed a strong skill set in organisation, team motivation, and leadership.
Her expertise spans corporate services, strategic planning, and people-centred leadership, with a strong focus on building empowered teams, cultivating a positive workplace culture, and driving continuous improvement. Shelley’s analytical mindset and project management strengths are complemented by her ability to engage, develop, and align individuals to achieve sustainable business growth and organisational success.
Academically, Shelley holds postgraduate qualifications in Business from Edith Cowan University and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration (MBA). As a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), she remains actively engaged in the evolving fields of business services and human resource management – reinforcing her capacity to lead, influence, and inspire high-performing teams.
Nicki McKenzie
Nicki joined the Best Lives team in May 2024, bringing with her over 25 years of leadership experience and an unwavering passion for helping individuals unlock their potential. Her career has been defined by a deep commitment to building self-confidence and empowering people to thrive in both personal and professional spheres.
Her journey into the not-for-profit (NFP) sector began 13 years ago with a simple act of service—volunteering at a local soup kitchen. That experience sparked a profound shift, leading Nicki to join the Board of Manna Inc, where she played a pivotal role in transforming the charity into a sustainable and impactful organisation. Since then, she has spent more than 15 years working across homelessness and disadvantaged youth initiatives, driven by a belief that early intervention—especially with children—is key to long-term change.
Her move into the disability sector began as the Events and Fundraising Coordinator and seven months later she worked as the Acting General Manager of Operations for six months. In July 2025 Nicki began as the Enterprise and Development Manager overseeing important programs including Property Care and Employment Buddy Program.
Nicki’s leadership style is grounded in empathy, adaptability, and results, and is known for her strong work ethic, strategic thinking, and heartfelt dedication to making a difference. Whether she’s mentoring a team, guiding a charity, or inspiring individuals to believe in themselves, Nicki’s impact is both lasting and transformative. She continues to volunteer regularly in the community.