Our team

Leanne Raven FAICD

Chief Executive Officer

Leading Crohn’s & Colitis Australia, Leanne’s focus as Chief Executive is on evidence-based advocacy and providing services that empower individuals to manage their care, drawing on her expertise in leadership, strategy, and governance.

She has led the development of support services and improved quality of care for 180,000 Australians with inflammatory bowel disease. Her tenure is marked by empathy and curiosity-driven leadership, as well as the creation of long-term partnerships that have strengthened the organization’s reputation for innovation and service excellence.

Leanne is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has been recognized for her innovation in the not-for-profit sector as the winner of the 2013 Telstra Business Women’s Award in Victoria for Business Innovation and as a national finalist. Before becoming the Chief Executive of Crohn’s & Colitis Australia in 2018, Leanne was the national CEO of Red Nose (formerly SIDS and Kids), where she led significant change and transformative growth to build capacity and sustainability. Over the last 15 years, she has volunteered in the disability and philanthropic sectors.

Leanne enjoys building purpose-driven companies that create social impact and make a difference in our lives and communities. She is a PhD candidate studying social entrepreneurship and holds qualifications in Science, Business Management, Nursing, Education, and Company Directorship. She was honoured to be appointed in 2014 as an Associate Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Faculty of Science, Health, Education, and Engineering, a position she held until 2020.