Dr Diane Hosking, Senior Research Officer, National Seniors Australia

Dr Diane Hosking manages the research program at National Seniors Australia. Diane completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Adelaide and CSIRO Human Nutrition. She moved to Canberra in 2014 to take up a post-doc position at the Centre for Research into Ageing Health and Wellbeing at ANU where she worked on a number projects focused on the outcomes and prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Diane was delighted to join the team at National Seniors in 2019 and is enjoying the opportunity to contribute across research, advocacy and policy work.

Ian Yates AM, Chief Executive, COTA

Ian Yates is Chief Executive of Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, the national peak consumer body for older Australians. Ian has played national leadership roles in COTA since 2002 after being Chief Executive of COTA SA since 1989. He is also Chair of the newly established Ageing and Aged Care Council of Elders, a member of the National Aged Care Advisory Council and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council. and was a member of the Aged Care Financing Authority from 2012 to 2021. He  also represents older Australians on other key federal government and sector advisory bodies including the ATO Superannuation Industry Stewardship Group; the ASIC Consumer Advisory Panel; a Sponsor Member of the National Aged Care Alliance; a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR); Chair of the Management Committee of the Australasian Journal on Ageing; a Director of Livable Housing Australia; and a Board member of the Aged Rights Advocacy Service. 

Ian held senior positions in public health governance and in essential services in South Australia throughout the 2000s, and served on the Flinders University Council for 20 years including seven years as Deputy Chancellor. Ian is Emeritus Deputy Chancellor of Flinders University and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University. He was awarded Membership in the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2005.

Sonia Hunyadi, Government Relations and Policy Advisor, AIST

Sonia joined AIST in January 2022 as a Government Relations and Policy Advisor.

With extensive experience in stakeholder management, Sonia has worked across the public sector in politically sensitive environments including the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Department of Finance.

Sonia has a Bachelor of Laws / Arts from Deakin University, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Skills and Ethics from Monash University. Sonia is working with AIST to deliver quality advocacy outcomes for super fund members and assisting with the AIST Governance Code.