With close to 25 years’ experience in financial and executive leadership, including almost two decades in aged care, Chris Mamarelis brings deep sector expertise to his role. He holds an MBA from Macquarie University and is a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant (FCPA), a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants (FIPA), and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

As CEO of Whiddon, an award-winning not-for-profit aged care provider, Chris leads a team of more than 3,000 people delivering care and support to thousands of residents and clients across regional and remote NSW and Queensland, with a strong presence in Southwest Sydney at Whiddon’s founding campus.

During Chris’s tenure, Whiddon has been recognised with multiple awards, including an Australian Business Award, Employer of Choice Award, and the Australian Quality Agency’s Better Practice Award. Whiddon’s innovation has also been acknowledged through the AFR Top 50 Most Innovative Companies list, alongside national awards for Point-of-Care Rapid Testing (2022) and the ARIA-funded Top-Up telehealth physiotherapy initiative (2025).

Chris is a passionate advocate for aged care and embraces a “people first” approach. He champions innovation and has led transformational programs, including Whiddon’s Relationship-Based Care (RBC) model and its Scholarship Program, which has provided close to $1.5 million in education and training for employees. His leadership and sector expertise have also seen him provide expert evidence at two Royal Commission hearings, on both Relationship-Based Care and aged care funding.