Carol Bennett, Chief Executive Officer

As CEO, Carol oversees all of ACCAN's work and operations. She is a highly respected leader with a strong track record of delivering positive change for consumers and communities in all her previous CEO roles. She has outstanding expertise in strategic decision-making, communications, advocacy, stakeholder management, financial performance, collaboration building, government relations and corporate governance.

Carol has held senior executive and board positions with national peak bodies in the health sector. Most recently, she was CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform from 2021 until commencing at ACCAN in mid-2024.

Gareth Downing, Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Gareth oversees a team responsible for ACCAN’s policy work, community engagement and membership. His career has focused on policy and regulation and he has worked on policy across a number of regulated sectors including telecommunications, energy and water.  Gareth is committed to advancing consumer’s interest through his leadership of ACCAN’s policy team.

Gareth has previously sat on the ACCAN board, and prior to that worked for ACCAN in the role of Senior Policy Analyst providing advice on a wide range of policy, economic regulation and pricing matters. Gareth holds tertiary qualifications in policy, economics and law.

Joanna Ifield

Joanna Ifield is ACCAN’s Director of Policy. Joanna has worked in senior leadership roles in financial services consumer protection regulation, including compliance monitoring under industry self-regulatory frameworks. She has had a long career in consulting, providing pricing and infrastructure economic regulation advice to regulated businesses in energy, water and transport sectors, as well as government agencies on regulatory policy and reform projects. Joanna has built strong relationships with consumer advocates and representatives, working collaboratively to improve outcomes for consumers.

Alec Bennetts

Alec Bennetts is ACCAN's Media and Communications Officer. He oversees external ACCAN communications, including media releases, newsletters, website content, and member communications, and ensures ACCAN is well-represented in national and local media. Alec has previously worked in policy research and political communications. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney.

Elise Ackland

Elise has always had a keen interest in technology and harnessing its potential, particularly for people with disabilities and seniors. Living with a physical disability herself, Elise uses that lived experience and her keen interest in technology to empower people, encouraging them to seek out positive ways for assistive technology to enhance and support their lives. 

Elise’s knowledge and skills have been built up over decades of experience supporting Australians with internet access, assistive technologies, and communications devices. Her career has included supporting Australians with the switchover to digital TV, the rollout of digital radio, assisting people with different abilities to get online, and more recently in the nonprofit sector, training volunteer cancer survivors to use virtual meeting technology to share their important stories with Australian medical schools.

The Accessible Telecoms project is a great fit to share her skills and knowledge with people who may be struggling to keep up with the advancements in telecommunications and assistive technology. 

Con Gouskos

Con Gouskos leads ACCAN’s work on telecommunications consumer protections. Con regularly engages with financial counsellors and community legal centres concerning telecommunications consumer protections. Con holds a degree in International Studies from the University of New South Wales and a Certificate IV in Government from TAFE. He is currently working towards a Master of Administrative Law and Policy at the University of Sydney.

David Hack

David is a graduate policy and research officer working in ACCAN’s policy team to advocate on communications issues and provide coordination assistance for ACCAN’s grants program and commissioned research. David holds a Bachelor of Information Communication Technology from Western Sydney University and previously worked in the IT sector before an interest in economics and policy led to further studies in that field. He holds a graduate certificate in behavioural economics and will soon complete a Masters in Behavioural Economics from the University of Technology Sydney.

Sam Kininmonth

Sam Kininmonth leads the ACCAN policy team’s research work and engagement with the research sector. An experienced consumer advocate, Sam previously worked as a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and RMIT University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Swinburne University of Technology and a Bachelor of Communication (Distinction) from RMIT University. Sam is completing a PhD on digital media and automation in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society at RMIT University.

Rebekah Palmer

Rebekah Palmer is ACCAN's Communications and Policy Officer, leading social media and marketing efforts while supporting the organisation's communications strategy. She also contributes to the policy team, focusing on consumer protections. Rebekah holds a Bachelor of Communications (Honours) from the University of Technology Sydney.

Dr Amelia Radke

Dr Amelia Radke leads ACCAN's work on digital inclusion, with a particular focus on issues relating to the affordability and accessibility of services for First Nations Australians, regional, rural, and remote Australia, and vulnerable consumers. She has extensive experience in policy and research both in academic and non-government settings. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in anthropology and a PhD in legal anthropology from the University of Queensland.

Audrey Reoch

Audrey Isadora Reoch is Director of Economic Regulation and leads ACCAN’s engagement with NBN Co on their proposed expenditure, revenue, pricing and service levels for broadband services. Audrey has worked across several fields in infrastructure and regulatory economics through her work at ACCAN and the federal infrastructure and communications departments, where she represented Australia in the Universal Postal Union and International Telecommunication Union. She holds an MA in Social and Political Thought from the University of Sussex and an Honours Degree in Political Economy from the University of Sydney.

Amelia Pearson

Amelia Pearson is an economic policy officer focused on ACCAN's engagement with NBN Co, specifically addressing the economic aspects of broadband services. Amelia has a Bachelor of Politics, Economics and Philosophy and a Bachelor of International Relations from the Australia National University.

Anabelle Keaney

Anabelle Keaney is ACCAN’s Social Media and Content Manager. With a background in media, marketing and graphic design, she enjoys bringing these disciplines together to craft compelling content in both a written and visual capacity. She holds a Bachelor of Media (Public Relations & Advertising) and Bachelor of Design (Honours) from the University of New South Wales and has studied Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.

Ayden Castro

Ayden is a highly organised and results-driven Office Manager with extensive experience in office operations, administrative management, and executive support. At ACCAN, he plays a key role in streamlining workflows, enhancing productivity, and fostering a collaborative work environment that supports the organisation’s mission and leadership.