Our Management Team

 

 Taimi Clinch, Chief Executive Officer

Taimi was appointed CEO of Abacus after 10 years in executive management in the disability sector and a 20+ year career in the human resource management field, which included running her own consultancy. She is using her passion for creating and nurturing great workplaces to deliver excellent outcomes, to keep growing and developing Abacus, so that we can help even more autistic children.

 

 

 Emma Miller, Clinical Director

Emma has worked in the ABA field since it first came to Australia around 1996. While completing a Psychology Degree at the University of Melbourne, she started work as an ABA therapist, and has since worked in schools, kindergartens and early intervention centres, as well as in home-based programs. Emma has conducted training and information sessions on ABA on many occasions throughout Melbourne, country Victoria and interstate.

Emma is also the Clinical Director of the Learning for Life Autism Centre and worked for many years with Victorian ABA Providers. In these roles she has provided ABA program supervision to families throughout Victoria, and in Tasmania and South Australia. She has supervised school-based programs, run a school behavioural consultancy program, and provided training to schools across these states.

Emma continues to provide training and supervision to the senior clinical team at Abacus Learning Centre to continue to provide best practice ABA therapy to all our students. 

 

 Rachel McLeod, Clinical Manager

Rachel has been a member of the Abacus team since 2008. She completed a Bachelor of Primary Education at Monash University in 2011 and left briefly to teach before returning to Abacus Learning Centre. She has completed a Master of Education with a specialisation in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Monash University. After completing additional requirements, Rachel is also a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA).

Overseeing the day to day clinical operations at the centres, Rachel leads, mentors and inspires our Program Supervisor team to deliver quality programs for our students. She regularly inspects therapy sessions to ensure best practice ABA, and oversees NDIS report writing and clinical training for all staff, working in conjunction with the Clinical Director to ensure the quality of a total clinical program.

 

 Jody Grigglestone, Centre Manager

Jody has been a member of the Abacus team since 2011. She completed a Bachelor of Social Science at RMIT University in 2010 and volunteered with Oz Child working with vulnerable children out in the community while completing her degree. 
Jody started her Abacus journey as an ABA therapist and moved into clinical roles such as training new therapists and case managing students before moving into operations.

Managing the day to day operations of our Centres, Jody schedules all therapy sessions and training in collaboration with the Clinical Manager. This also requires working with families during onboarding stages and the recruitment of new staff.

 

 Romaine Kakoullis, Intake and Quality Manager

Romaine has an extensive background in disability having led high support for many years and moving into quality management and intake at the key time of the NDIS transition. She also brings her experience in raising four active children relating well to our families with both their joys and challenges. She is a passionate advocate for providing the best quality service for people with disability.