SHARC Board of Governance

Jack Wallace

– Director

In his professional roles, Jack Wallace has worked across community, government and research sectors to reduce the personal and community impacts of blood borne viruses, particularly viral hepatitis. Prior to his research career, he established Hepatitis Australia, the national peak organisation representing people living with viral hepatitis, serving as Executive Officer from 1998 to 2005. His earlier roles included managing a peer-based injecting drug user organisation in Queensland and working as Principal Program Advisor – Hepatitis C, for Queensland Health. At a personal level, Jack is committed to ensuring that the voice of lived experience and human rights informs a broad range of health, social and community interventions.

Bernard Hickey

– Director

Qualifications: Psychiatrist. MB BS FRANZCP, Accredited Member of the Faculty of Addiction Psychiatry of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry (RANZCP)

Professional Experience: Bernard works in private practice psychiatry consults for The Hader Clinic Private Hospital, which treats severe addiction disorders and co-morbidity. Bernard works at Alice Springs Hospital in Alcohol and Other Drugs service inpatients and outpatients, and in Central Australian Mental Health Service. Bernard has worked in services with strong support and training programs for utilising lived experience. Bernard has also worked in Alice Springs for 9 years, so is very familiar with cross-cultural work, especially with First Nations people in Australia.

Lived Experience: 21 years in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction using lived experience support methods

Why did you join the SHARC Board?
To offer support and direction to a recovery support organisation which values lived experience in recovery from addiction disorders

Other Board Experience: NT representative on the Bi-national Faculty of Addiction Psychiatry Committee of RANZCP. Chairperson of Hader Clinic Private Hospital Clinical Board of Governance

Location: Lives in Alice Springs mostly

Hobbies/personal interests: Married with 2 adult children. Likes football, music, and poetry

Bella Anderson

– Director & Treasurer

Bella Anderson is a Registered Nurse (Mental Health) with postgraduate qualifications in Mental Health and Alcohol and other Drug approaches. She has held a range of professional positions in clinical/direct support services, management, education, and community advocacy work and has served on an International AOD Board and a Union Committee of Management. She brings rich professional and personal expertise to the Board, underpinned by her long-term lived experience of recovery and change.

Karen Lococo

– Director | Finance, Audit & Risk Management Committee (FARMCO) Convenor

Qualifications: Master of Social Work (MSW), Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, New York, Bachelor of Science in Social Work, Sociology, and Counselling from Charter Oak State College, New Britain, and an Associate of Science in Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counselling from Manchester Community College.

Professional Experience: A dynamic and results-oriented senior leader with over twenty years of experience (USA and Australia) in social services, health, and community support, specialising in program management, trauma-informed leadership, and operational excellence.

Demonstrated success in leading major strategic initiatives that address complex social challenges, particularly within homelessness and supportive housing sectors. Known for building and nurturing stakeholder relationships, leading high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement to drive transformative outcomes.

Extensive experience working with senior State Government officials to determine policy, programs, and funding. Karen has had a rewarding and successful career with Sacred Heart Mission Victoria from November 2015 to January 2025 and has recently commenced a new role (Senior Manager Housing and Homelessness Support) at Wintringham.

Lived Experience: Long term lived experience of recovery from addiction. Additionally, many family members in recovery from alcoholism/addiction/mental health concerns

Why did you join the SHARC Board?
I am seeking a new challenge as Board Director in a not-for-profit organisation where I can leverage my skills and experience. I am committed to continuing to make a sustainable positive impact on social justice and inclusion and caring for the lives of those most in need.

Other Board Experience: Chair of the Southern Homelessness Services Network

Location: Melbourne

Hobbies/personal interests: Reading, travel, going to the beach, and I am a passionate supporter of the Melbourne Football Club

Nikki McCoy

– Director & Chair

Nikki McCoy is a Counsellor / Psychodramatist in long term recovery with specialist skills in trauma and addiction. Nikki has worked for 30 years in Aboriginal communities co-creating strong relational therapeutic models of healing. Nikki has extensive experience as a program Manager and leader in strengthening and development of First Nations languages and cultures. She co-leads a psychodrama Group in Alice Springs Correctional Centre (ASCC) for men, who have suffered significant trauma and who have been convicted of serious offences relating to violence. In 2024 Nikki published her thesis which describes an environment of safety and healing through overting the legacy of racism in community life and in the therapeutic relationship. It outlines the conditions for growth in cross-cultural collaboration. She is also on the Board of Indigenous Community TV.

BA Linguistics, Dip Ed, Masters of Counselling, EMDR Accredited Trauma Practitioner, Grad Dip Creative Arts Therapy, Grad Cert AOD, Cert IV TAE, Accredited Supervisor, Member ACA, EMDRAA, Associate Member AANZPA