Our Committee 2024 - 2025

Brendan Lonergan - President

Brendan began losing his hearing on the right side 15 years ago, which discovered was as a result of a growing tumour. Following surgeries to remove the tumour 13 years ago, he lost 100% of his hearing on the right side. He then began losing hearing in his left ear. He now has moderate hearing loss in his remaining ear and wears a Bi Cros hearing aid in his left ear and a Cros device in his right ear. He also uses other assistive technology to improve his ability to participate in meetings and in noisy social settings. Brendan has been a member of HMA for over a decade.

Commencing his career in the banking sector, Brendan went on to spend nearly 20 years as co-owner of a successful screen printing, garment manufacturing and music industry merchandising business before taking a “sea change” to move into the disability and community support sectors in 2001.

Brendan has spent the past 20 years working in the disability and seniors support sectors, including as Chief Executive Officer of Beehive Industries for 8 years, which is a Seniors and Disability support organisation. He also spent 6 years as Business Development Manager of Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s Australian Disability Enterprise division and 4 years as Market Development Manager for Disability Services Australia’s supported employment division. He has extensive experience working with the NDIS and the NSW Government disability and seniors support schemes.

Brendan holds a Masters of Business degree from UTS and over the last 15 years, he has given numerous guest lectures and been involved in student projects and internships with UTS and UNSW Business and Social Work students.

He is also active in the social enterprise sector supporting SECNA (Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT), which is the NSW/ACT peak body for the social enterprise sector.

He has also been actively dealing with food insecurity issues, setting up food relief programs in partnership with OZHarvest as well as numerous news media appearances to promote the issue.

As CEO of Beehive Industries, Brendan launched the Low Cost Meals for seniors cooking class videos with former Master Chef contestant and NSW Seniors Week ambassador, Kumar Pereira, as well as an accompanying cookbook to aid social isolation support.

Brendan is keen to leverage his business, community support sector and tertiary education sector contacts to assist with growing HMA’s support programs and membership, as well as seeking to improve funding for HMA’s support programs.

In his spare time, Brendan enjoys cheering on the Sydney Swans at the SCG, going to trash and treasure markets with his daughters and finding quiet restaurants with his wife, Elena.

Raymond Ong - Vice President

Ray was born hearing impaired using hearing aids in both ears until he was 12 years of age when his hearing impairment deteriorated. In the mid 80’s, he then became one of the first five successful candidates to participate in the Cochlear Implant program in Perth, Western Australia. He has now been a Cochlear Implant recipient for over 30 years. The cochlear implant technology has advanced so much over the years, enabling him to better manage his hearing impairment. Without the cochlear implants, he is profoundly deaf.

Ray has been helping HMA with general office administration duties, the Hearing Aid Bank, and HMA's social media as a volunteer since 16^th April 2021. He also currently works in the healthcare industry. He has a strong passion in helping people so joining HMA enables him to continue his passion in a different way. 

In his free time, Ray enjoys travel, astronomy, reading books, watching concerts and plays, watching movies, photography, going on hikes and drives. He also loves steam locomotives and will go out watching them, if not being a passenger.

Barry Jose - Treasurer

Barry is a retired IT Systems Analyst with extensive experience in Retail Banking, Airline Systems and Payroll, is no stranger to overcoming challenges.  Despite an acquired hearing loss,  Barry maintains a positive outlook and an unwavering determination to live a fulfilling life. With approximately 25% hearing loss in his left ear and 75% in his right ear (treble levels are very difficult to discern), Barry's experiences align with many individuals facing hearing difficulties in Australia.

From an early age, Barry noticed the imbalance in his hearing and the gradual deterioration of his ability to perceive higher-pitched sounds. Over time, tinnitus also became a constant companion. Despite these obstacles, Barry adapted and coped, seeking professional help for his hearing loss later in life.

After trying various hearing aids, Barry finally found a pair that offered both comfort and improved hearing. These aids reconnected him with his community, allowing him to contribute to life in ways he hadn't experienced in a long time. Subsequently, he embraced the advancements in hearing aid technology, acquiring a pair of hearing aids with Bluetooth features that enhanced his ability to adapt to different environments.

Although Barry still faces occasional challenges, he remains grateful for the positive impact of his hearing aids.  He appreciates the newfound ability to engage with his surroundings and wouldn't trade his hearing aids for anything.  Barry is eager to share his experiences, emphasising the importance of seeking solutions and embracing support to overcome obstacles and lead a fulfilling life, even with acquired hearing loss.

Christine Hunter - Secretary

Christine has lived with hearing loss since childhood, but following hearing intervention in her 30s she was able to pursue higher education followed by a successful and rewarding career in education until retiring in 2012.

Christine is an honorary Life Member of Hearing Matters Australia and served as President from 2015 -2021. She is a staunch advocate for people with hearing loss with the belief that hearing loss, when properly managed, does not need to be a barrier to people achieving their objectives, being limited in their career choices or being socially isolated.

Christine is also an adviser to Deafness Forum Australia (DFA), which she also represents on the board of the Australia Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) where she serves as Vice President & Treasurer.

Her advocacy activities have included representations to Australian federal & state government agencies and current active participation on the Transport for NSW Accessible Transport Committee (ATAC), again as Deafness Forum’s representative.

Christine continues to collaborate with international hearing organisations, hearing industry professionals, academic research programs and consumer representatives with the objectives of having hearing health recognised as a priority health issue and achieving equitable access for people with hearing loss. Her focus is on strengthening the quality of hearing care for consumers and promoting a global best practice hearing care model focused on the needs of the individual.

In other activities, Christine has been a member of Berowra Lions Club since 2010, serving as club Secretary from 2011 until 2019. In 2017 she was awarded the Lions Club International Melvin Jones Fellowship award for dedicated humanitarian services and in 2020 the Helen Keller Fellowship award in recognition of her commitment to improving life of people with hearing loss. She currently serves as Welfare Officer on the Berowra Lions Club board.

Christine is a doting grandmother and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She also enjoys travel, and dabbling in textile arts and crafts, especially teaching textile surface design and colouring techniques to community groups.

Professor Philip Newall - Committee Member

Professor Philip Newall began his work in audiology as an audiologist  in the National Health Service in the UK in 1971. His first degree was in Biology and Psychology (Joint Honours) followed by Master of Science in Biomechanics and a Master of Science in Audiology. In the UK he was a member of the Department of Health and Social Security Committees on Audiological Services and Audiological Equipment.

Pat Fulton - Committee Member

Pat Fulton, the 2021 Libby Harricks Award recipient, has dedicated her life to supporting individuals with hearing difficulties. Diagnosed with hearing loss as a child, her ENT Specialists visits began in her 20’s. Pat navigated her education, nursing career, and motherhood largely unaided, only receiving her first hearing aid at 43. This milestone marked the start of her passionate advocacy for consistent hearing device use. 

In 2001, Pat began volunteering to support people with hearing loss, focusing on aged care residents and staff training as a Hearing Coach.  In 2012, she spearheaded the Bowral Hearing Awareness Expos, raising awareness and connecting individuals to transformative hearing solutions and resources. 

Pat’s journey reached a turning point in 2013 when she questioned the Cochlear Team, about the difference a Cochlear Implant would make.

Pat’s Audiogram was factored into their system showing 8-10% improved hearing, she was delighted. Now her ability to hear and engage in conversations has transformed her life. She is inspired by Helen Keller's quote 'alone we can do so little, together we can do so much', and her swift adaptation has inspired many others.  Her advocacy continues to bring hope and guidance to those with hearing loss.

Dr. William L. Martens - Committee Member

Dr. William L. Martens, a cochlear implant (CI) recipient, is a perceptual psychologist with over 45 years of expertise in auditory research. His publications span the fields of speech and musical sound perception, binaural hearing, and spatial sound processing. While his early research focused on the auditory abilities of normal-hearing listeners, his path shifted after experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss and single-sided deafness six years ago. This has deepened his research focus on the perceptual consequences of hearing loss.  

William is currently an Honorary Associate Professor in Linguistics at Macquarie University and a Senior Research Scientist at the National Acoustic Laboratories. 

Blending a distinguished scientific career with lived experience, William’s research continues to explore the hearing abilities of both CI recipients and hearing aid users.  His work not only advances understanding but also provides meaningful insights into the challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss.