Our leadership team

Commissioner

Michael Phelan APM has been appointed as the Acting NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner. Read his full bio.

Deputy Commissioner, Complaints & Engagement

Sian Leathem is the Complaints Commissioner. She commenced in the role in January 2022 and has two decades of senior executive experience in both State and Commonwealth agencies across a range of dispute resolution and regulatory areas. Prior to joining the Commission, she was the Registrar and CEO of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), which is responsible for conducting independent merits review of administrative decisions made under Commonwealth laws, including a range of decisions relevant to the NDIS.

Sian led the project team responsible for merging twenty-two existing tribunals into the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) and performed the role of Principal Registrar of that amalgamated tribunal.

Prior to her role at NCAT, Sian was the Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission of NSW. She also has a wealth of legal policy experience that she gained through various roles in the NSW Attorney General’s Department and in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Sian has received an Excellence in Government Legal Service Award from the Law Society of New South Wales and an Excellence in Leadership Award from the NSW Department of Justice. In 2011 Sian was the recipient of a Young Public Sector Leader Award by the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Deputy Commissioner, Regulatory Policy, Insights & Review

Alisa Chambers started as General Manager Policy, Markets and Insights 2022. Her role provides strategic policy development and advice, which focuses on the regulatory framework, participants rights, the provider market and workforce quality, data and analysis activities, the grants program and other major projects and initiatives.

Throughout her career, Alisa has worked in areas that deal with highly sensitive and complex social issues, such as aged care, child protection services, early childhood education and environmental regulation. She is committed to improving communities, particularly for the most vulnerable. Alisa has designed and delivered major reform and cultural change programs on behalf of government and organisations. She has an inclusive leadership approach, coupled with qualifications in change leadership, which allow her to skilfully manage diverse stakeholder priorities to deliver the best outcomes.

Deputy Commissioner, Regulatory Operations (Registrar)

Catherine Myers is an experienced regulator, having most recently headed up the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) as their Chief Executive Officer. Catherine has held various Committee of Management and Board positions for not-for-profit organisations. She holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Catherine is passionate about people and performance. She has a focus on building strong organisational culture, leading transformation and inspiring teams to deliver outstanding results.  Catherine has leveraged her experience in change management and communication to deliver practice improvements in regulation.  She has overseen the design of risk-based regulatory tools and implemented significant change programs resulting in improved capability, service delivery and regulatory outcomes.

In 2019, Catherine’s contribution was recognised by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) in the Top 50 Public Sector Women (Victoria) which recognises women for their leadership, inspiration and accomplishment. Also in 2019, her organisation was awarded the IPAA (Vic) Innovative Regulation Award for the development of a new digital risk assessment tool.

Deputy Commissioner, Practice Quality Division

Rod Carracher joined the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission in September 2023 as Assistant Commissioner in the Practice Quality Division. In his role as Assistant Commissioner, Rod has supported the Division through a restructure and changes in leadership and business priorities. Rod is currently Acting Deputy Commission, Practice Quality Division.

Rod is committed to safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities and ensuring supports and services provided for people with a disability are of the highest quality.

Rod was the Chief Practitioner for a large disability service provider for seven years prior to joining the Commission. He has extensive senior executive leadership experience in the human services sector and in direct disability service delivery across state government departments and not-for profit organisations. He brings to the Commission experience in practice quality leadership and management of large disability and human support services, and behaviour support and clinical practitioners. Rod has worked as a senior executive within the former Victorian Department of Health and Human Services in areas of disability services, youth justice and social housing and led disability services through the transition into the National Disability Insurance Schemes. He was the A/Victorian Senior Practitioner for an extended period, and he has been a sitting member of Victoria’s Youth Parole Board

Rod holds an Executive Master of Public administration (EMPA) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company directors.

General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner, Legal & Internal Integrity

Myra Kochárdy is the NDIS Commission’s acting General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner, Legal and Internal Integrity. Myra joined the NDIS Commission in July 2023.

Myra leads the provision of legal advice to the NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commissioner and the full range of legal services across the NDIS Commission. She also oversees the Commission’s accountability functions such as handling of complaints about the Commission, requests under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982, disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, and review of decisions made by the Commission.

Myra has over 12 years' experience working in legal roles within Commonwealth agencies, including regulatory and enforcement roles. Prior to that, Myra worked in private practice specialising in health law, professional disciplinary and coronial matters.

Chief Operating Officer

Lisa Pulko commenced as the NDIS Commission’s acting Chief Operating Officer in April 2022 for a 12-month period. Prior to this role, she was the Assistant Secretary, Finance Enabling Groups in the Department of Defence.


Ms Pulko has worked in a number of roles across the Department of Defence and the Department of Home Affairs and its previous iterations. She has been responsible for improving financial systems, policies and processes at Defence, as well as contributing to the design of sustainable budgeting arrangements. Ms Pulko delivered the Commonwealth Budget for Home Affairs, designed prioritisation frameworks and business improvement approaches, negotiated large contracts and delivered high quality and timely advice to support sound decision making by government.


Ms Pulko also has previous experience in a big four advisory firm and in a small Commonwealth Government agency.

NDIS Commission Organisation Chart