Our Board - Carer Escapes

Our Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board offers expert guidance and strategic insight. While not a governance board, our members bring a wealth of lived experience, sector knowledge, and heartfelt commitment to our mission. They help shape our strategic plan, quality assurance and operational systems. Together, along with the operational team, they help ensure our work remains innovative, inclusive, and impactful.

Tiffany Thompson

Tiffany is an accomplished leader, advocate, and entrepreneur with a deep commitment to empowering carers, families, and communities. With nearly two decades of experience across government, private, and not-for-profit sectors, Tiffany brings strategic vision and a passion for positive change to Carer Escapes.

Her career has spanned transformative leadership in customer service, social work, disability, and mental health, as well as co-founding a successful South Australian business. Tiffany is known for championing inclusion, especially for women in traditionally male-dominated fields, and for her practical, compassionate approach to supporting people through complex systems like the NDIS.

A qualified social worker and counsellor, Tiffany has extensive experience in guardianship, youth disability, trauma, and family reunification. She is dedicated to making support more accessible and meaningful for carers and those they care for.

Tiffany’s warmth, integrity, and advocacy for the underdog are matched by her love of lifelong learning, travel, and community. As Board Chair, she leads Carer Escapes with empathy, vision, and a steadfast belief in the power of connection and support to transform carers’ lives.

Tom Galea

Tom brings a wealth of experience in education and leadership to the Carer Escapes Board. Over a 45-year career, Tom has worked as a teacher, coordinator, and principal in schools across Sydney, with a passion for supporting students, families, and communities. He has held senior roles including Assistant Principal, Principal, and Director, leading teams through growth, innovation, and positive change.

Tom’s commitment to lifelong learning has taken him from Australia to France, Canada, and the UK, and he holds degrees in Geophysics, Teaching, and an MBA, as well as a Doctorate in Education. He has also contributed his expertise as a board member and company director, with a strong focus on good governance and community service.

Now retired from full-time education, Tom enjoys sailing, travel, and exploring the natural beauty and diverse cultures of Australia and beyond. He is lovingly supported by his wife Dominique and their three adult children. Tom is excited to bring his leadership, governance, and deep care for community to Carer Escapes, helping to create supportive spaces where carers feel seen, heard, and empowered.

Barbara Warren

Barbara Warren brings a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience to the Carer Escapes Board. With over thirty years’ experience in business analysis, project management, and IT consulting, Barbara has delivered complex digital and operational solutions for leading organisations such as Telstra, IBM, and BP.

She is a CPA with deep knowledge of finance, data, and business processes, and has a proven track record in project governance, information security, and strategic transformation-particularly in the aged care and disability sectors. On the Carer Escapes Board, Barbara combines her strategic mindset with empathy and a client-centred approach, helping to shape programs that are both effective and compassionate.