The Veterans’ Advisory Council (VAC) is a non-statutory body that provides independent advice to the South Australian Government on issues affecting veterans and their families.
Members are appointed by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. They include veterans, community representatives, and senior Defence leaders from across South Australia.
This page introduces the appointed VAC members and the ex-officio Defence representatives from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force who support the Council’s work.
Council Members
Miranda van Hooff – Chair
Associate Professor Miranda Van Hooff is an experienced research scientist who has devoted the last 15 years to better understanding and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of current and former serving Australian military personnel and their families.
Miranda is one of Australia’s leading researchers in the field of ADF transition and wellbeing. She has led two studies which ascertained the prevalence of ICD-10 Mental Disorder in current and ex-serving ADF members which have subsequently been strong drivers of change in relation to policy and service provision. She has also published extensively in this field.
Miranda has held a number of research roles and advisory appointments at the University of Adelaide during her career including as Executive Director of Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA), a charity of The Hospital Research Foundation Group. MESHA undertakes research and provides programs and training that support the mental health and wellbeing of current and ex-serving military and emergency service Save personnel and their families.
Miranda is the partner of a current ADF Reservist with a 30-year career in the UK and Australian Navy. She has vast experience in veteran health care and social services.
Taylor Cowell – Deputy Chair
Taylor Cowell served in the Australian Army within the Royal Australian Regiment and deployed to Afghanistan on ATF-1 in 2012. After discharging, Taylor spent several years working in diplomatic security operations at the Australian Embassy in Kabul.
With a commitment to advancing his education and leveraging the skills and experiences gained during his military service, Taylor pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Project Management from the University of Adelaide. His understanding of the challenges faced by veterans during the transition to civilian life led him to found the Adelaide University Student Veterans’ Association in 2021 with the mission of bringing veterans and their families together to empower them to thrive at university and beyond.
Taylor’s diverse professional background encompasses government, consulting, diplomatic operations, and health and defence industries. Taylor is an Associate Project Manager at Saab Australia and is deeply committed to advocating for and supporting the needs of serving and ex-serving defence personnel.
Hayley Boswell
Hayley Boswell is a military spouse, practising lawyer and a mother of two defence children.
In 2019 she founded Defence Kidz and through this organisation advocates on behalf of defence / veteran children, young people, defence spouses and families. She has created and published children’s books and cartoon animations to enable ADF children to feel connected with their parent while they are on deployment and to educate the community about defence life and the effect on defence children. Hayley actively participates in regular meetings with State and Federal Government Ministers and non-government organisations and makes significant contributions on behalf of defence and veteran families. Hayley understands the importance of collaborating with other Defence and Veteran organisations, and is working with many organisations to implement various initiatives in 2023.
Hayley is the firm owner and principal solicitor at Lynch & Co Lawyers, and has also worked in a number of community related positions with an advocacy focus, particularly in relation to homelessness, domestic violence and victim / human rights.
In 2022 Hayley was a Finalist in the Prime Minister’s Veterans Employment Awards (Entrepreneur Category), The Princes Trust – Beyond Service Awards (Defence spouse business category), Women in Defence Awards (People and Culture Category) and Department of Human Services Volunteering in SA Awards. Hayley has also recently been nominated for the Australia Day Awards (Civilian of the Year category).
Cheryl Cates
Cheryl Cates enlisted into the Regular Army on 2nd May 1973. On completion of Recruit Training Cheryl’s initial employment was a clerk administrative, then as a member of the Transport Corps in the Movements Section.
Cheryl transferred to the Military Police School in a clerical role and in 1985 was transferred to the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps where she carried out multiple postings around Australia both regular and reserves over the next 23 years.
On completion of her military service, Cheryl worked at the RSL National Headquarters in Canberra for 10 years and served on the Board of Directors of the Sir Leslie Morshead War Veterans’ Homes.
On moving to Adelaide in 2005, Cheryl was appointed to the RSL SA State Branch Ethics Committee and remained on that committee until 2016 when she was elected to the RSL SA State Branch Board.
Cheryl was President of the South Australian Women’s Football League for seven years and, with her husband, lobbied the AFL to introduce a National Women’s Competition.
From July 2019 to July 2023, Cheryl was State President of RSL SA State Branch and also a member of RSL Care SA Board, Director of the Avoca Club Limited and Director of RSL Australia National Board.
Alex Houthuysen (Hill)
Alex Houthuysen (Hill) is a proud Aboriginal man from the Yamatji Nation of the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Alex served with the Royal Australian Air Force for many years and then continued his service within the airline industry and with several non-government organisations. He is currently working at St Johns Youth Service in a senior management role, supporting First Nations clientele within the social services sector.
Alex is the Deputy Chair of the Port Adelaide Enfield Council Aboriginal Advisory Panel, a Board member of Turkindi Information Network of SA Inc and a board member of Aboriginal Veterans SA.
In 2021 he joined the Board of the Aged Rights Advocacy Service and is a member of the ARAS Reconciliation Action Plan Committee.
He has a continuing interest in promoting the importance of recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women, of shared service and the sacrifice of all Australians.
Nathan Klinge
Nathan has been the Chief Executive Officer of RSL Care SA since 2015.
Having spent most of his 23 years of full-time service in the Australian Defence Force as a Commissioned General Service Officer within the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and having discharged from the Regular Army in 2014 Nathan remains a member of the Army’s Active Reserves.
During his time in the Regular Army he performed a variety of training and operational roles, including deployments to East Timor with the 6 RAR Battalion Group and Iraq.
Nathan is a passionate advocate of veteran health issues and he serves on the Veteran Health Advisory Council and SA Health’s Southern Consumer Advisory Committee (as a veteran representative).
Nathan is President of the RSL’s Adelaide Sub Branch and is an active member within the Lutheran Church of Australia where he serves on several boards and committees.
Kerryn Smith
Kerryn Smith is a veteran who served for eight years in the Royal Australian Air Force in a range of education and training roles.
She has been involved in the local Defence Industry at Executive level for over 20 years, including as the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Industry and Defence Network-NT and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Legacy SA & Broken Hill, managing the delivery of support and welfare services to the families of veterans who have given their life or health in the line of service.
Through her experience on Defence Industry, Business and Charity Boards and a range of Federal, State, Technology and Education Executive Committees, Kerryn has represented the concerns of veterans on issues such as welfare and pensions support, youth education and development, small business and supply chain growth.
Kerryn has personal experience of family trauma and grief and is a strong advocate for ensuring veterans and their families are well supported.
Malcolm Thiele JP OAM
Malcolm Thiele served for 22 years in the RAAF. During that time, he saw active service in South Vietnam.
During his time in the RAAF he served at many bases all around Australia and in Malaysia, beginning his service as an apprentice and ending his career as a Warrant Officer in the Health Services. During his service he developed a training course for new clerical staff, developed a syllabus and trained these staff. He was posted to the Directorate General of Air Force Health Services where he developed service wide policies to manage health administration throughout the RAAF.
Upon discharge in 1986 he joined the S.A. public service as a Health Information Manager and oversaw the closure and the merging of all paper and electronic records of Glenside Hospital and the records of the closing Hillcrest Hospital he was also involved with the formation of the South Australian Mental Health Service (SAMHS) and policy development for health information management and the further devolvement of Mental Health Service into the community and public hospitals. He was also an active member of the Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) and coordinated sponsorships and organisation of annual national conferences for this Association, not only in Adelaide, but interstate. He retired from the Public service in 2009.
He is an active member of the Royal Association of Justices South Australia (RAJSA) and has been for some fifteen years.
He joined the Vietnam Veterans Federation in 2012 and served on the committee then assumed the role of Vice President and subsequently elected as President in 2014. He is also Vice President of the National Office of the Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia and is a member of the Consortium of Ex-Service Organisations in South Australia.
Malcolm was a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for service to veterans and the veteran community.
Chris Tilley
Chris Tilley served in the Royal Australian Army from 2004 until 2012 as a Private in the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and Australia’s Federation Guard where he was awarded the Soldier’s Medallion for exemplary service for significant contributions to his unit. He saw service on Operation Astute in East Timor in 2006, East Timor once again in 2007 and Operation Slipper in Afghanistan in 2008.
On ADF separation Chris was employed by the Department for Correctional Services (DCS) SA as a Custodial Officer where he has established Veteran-centric strategy and a Veteran Services Pilot Program as the DCS Senior Advisor for Veteran Services. This initiative provides rehabilitation opportunities for Ex-military justice involved veterans and their families, supports veteran staff, provides links to support services, and encourages readoption of the service identity, values and community.
Both Chris and his wife Jemma have spent most of their lives residing in South Australia with the exception of time spent in the Australian Defence Force.
Chris is a member of the RSL, a Director for the Royal Australian Regiment Corporation, a member of the Younger Veterans – Contemporary Needs Forum and represents South Australia on the National Veteran Incarceration Policy Working Group.
Ex-Officio Members
Brigadier Corey Shillabeer CSC
Brigadier Corey Shillabeer is Commander of the Australian Army’s 10th Brigade, where he leads the Army’s contributions to long-range strike, air and missile defence, and surveillance and targeting within the Joint Force.
He graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1998 and was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery.
His early career included command, staff and instructional roles with the 16th Regiment, Headquarters 1st Brigade, the School of Artillery and Headquarters Training Command. He later served in strategic roles within the Plans and Future Land Warfare branches at Army Headquarters, contributing to concepts, capability options and integrated force planning.
In 2017, he returned to the 16th Regiment as Commanding Officer, leading Australia’s ground-based air and missile defence capability.
In 2019, he was appointed Military Assistant to Commander 1st Division and Colonel Plans at Headquarters 1st Division and Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, where he oversaw joint effects and targeting, planning, and international engagement.
In 2022, he was appointed Director of the Chief of Army’s Initiative Group in the Office of the Chief of Army, supporting the Chief to shape strategic guidance and strengthen engagement. Most recently, he served as Defence Advisor at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, where he was the senior representative of the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force in Malaysia.
Brigadier Shillabeer has deployed on several operations. In 2019, he commanded a Combined Joint Task Group of Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel in the Solomon Islands supporting national general elections. In 2010 and 2011, he commanded the first Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar Task Group in Afghanistan, introducing the capability into service. In 2008, he served as a United Nations Military Observer and Chief Operations Officer on the Golan Heights in Syria. In 2002, he commanded an independent ground-based air defence troop in the Northern Arabian Gulf in support of coalition maritime interdiction operations.
He is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and holds a Master of Arts in Strategy and Management from the University of New South Wales.
He has also completed exchanges with the British Army, United States Army and Republic of Singapore Armed Forces and has trained extensively across the Southwest Pacific, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe, Scandinavia and North America.
Brigadier Shillabeer is married to Kate, a diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and they have four children: Ethan, Erin, Ruby and Audrey.
Wing Commander Craig Keane CSC
Wing Commander (WGCDR) Craig Keane joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1988 as an Instrument Fitter.
After graduating from the RAAF School of Technical Training, he served with No. 492 Squadron, Aircraft Research and Development Unit, 92 Wing, RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, No. 10 Squadron and the RAAF School of Technical Training.
In 2004, he was commissioned from Flight Sergeant as an Electronics Engineer.
His commissioned roles have included positions in Maritime Patrol Systems Program Office, Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems Program Office (TEWSPO), Training Aircraft Systems Program Office, TEWSPO Resident Program Team in Greenville Texas, Headquarters Air Training Wing, and No. 10 Squadron as Senior Engineering Officer.
He has also held senior capability and program management roles within Air Force logistics branch as Deputy Director Future Logistics Capability and within the Air Defence and Space Systems Division as Project Manager for AIR6503 advanced and high-speed missile defence.
WGCDR Keane has deployed on multiple operations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
In 2020, he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for outstanding performance as Engineering Manager within the TEWSPO Resident Program Team.
He was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 24 Squadron in January 2024.
WGCDR Keane is married to Nikki, a tenements and database geologist. They have four children: Millie, Hannah, Ben and Toby. His interests include cycling, golf and Australian Rules Football.
Commander Rebecca Wilson
Commander Rebecca Wilson joined the Royal Australian Navy in 2003 as a Seaman Officer and graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2006.
She earned her Bridge Warfare Certificate in HMAS Kanimbla in 2008 and deployed on Operation PADANG ASSIST in 2009.
In 2010, she was posted as Staff Officer to Commodore Flotillas and served with the first Australian Expeditionary Strike Group aboard USS Bonhomme Richard. After qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer – Surface Warfare in 2013, she joined the NUSHIP Canberra commissioning crew and later deployed on Operation FIJI ASSIST in 2016.
As Torpedo Anti-Submarine Officer in HMAS Stuart, she led the world’s first firing of the MU90 warshot torpedo. She then served as Operations Officer in HMAS Warramunga, completing RIMPAC and Southeast Asia Task Group deployments.
In 2017, Commander Wilson joined the Amphibious and Afloat Support Group, managing the operational readiness of amphibious support platforms.
In 2020, she joined the Navy Leader Development Program within the Directorate of Navy Culture. She received a Chief of Navy Group Commendation for her work on the Navy Emerging Leaders Forum and gained a second qualification in Human Resources.
In 2022, she joined Maritime Operations Exercise Plans while completing the Australian Command and Staff Course (remote).
She became Executive Officer of HMAS Waterhen in December 2023, overseeing key events including the decommissioning of HMA Ships Huon and Gascoyne. In November 2025, she was appointed Commanding Officer of HMAS Encounter.
Her qualifications include Master of Strategic People Management, Master of Business and Bachelor of Arts (Management and Japanese). She is also an accredited LifeStyles Inventory practitioner and a Level 1 Executive Coach.
Commander Wilson is married to Dane. They have two children, Ada and Berenger, and a black Labrador, Gabby.
