Board of Directors

Chairperson

Anthony Hurst

Anthony Hurst is the Director and Principal Psychologist of a private practice and consulting business, Systemic Psychology. He works therapeutically with individuals, families and couples, and consults with and trains a range of teams and organisations. Anthony has also been involved in the teaching of counselling and psychology at a tertiary level for a number of years, currently as a Lecturer at the University of Melbourne.

Anthony uses EMDR therapy with many of his clients, and has a focus on ensuring new and emerging mental health workers have exposure to the therapy and an awareness of its effectiveness. Anthony is also undertaking a PhD in trauma-based treatments with a consideration for new ways of delivering treatment.

Director

Dr Sarah Dominguez

Following a background in teaching, Sarah started a career in psychology in 2009. Since then, she has used the best evidence-based therapies – along with ample doses of compassion and insight – to help support clients on their road to wellness.

Sarah is an EMDRAA accredited consultant and trainer. She strongly supports equitable access to the highest quality evidence-based interventions. She is on the committee of the Australian Psychological Society EMDR Interest Group and the EMDRAA Accreditation and Standards Committee, as well as serving on the EMDRAA board. Internationally, Sarah is part of the EMDR Council of Scholars. In all her clinical work and training, she is guided by a trauma-informed approach. She has also conducted several RCTs and meta-analyses, resulting in many peer-reviewed publications.

Importantly, Sarah is also a dog lover, a regular at her surf club, and a member of a large, loud family.

Treasurer

Ashley Bourke

Ashley is an Advisory Board Member, CFO and Company Secretary with almost a decade of board level experience with expertise in the metals, transportation, insurance and logistics industries.

At board level what Ashley does is drive financial and operational improvements. He does that by leveraging decades of financial and Audit & Risk experience. Board level highlights include Company Secretary at TVH Group NV.

In an executive capacity, Ashley is currently Chief Financial Officer at Raw Metal Corp. Here he grew turnover and PBT on average 40% YoY for the last 3 financial years. Previously Ashley was Financial Controller – ANZ at Simon National Carriers and at TVH Group NV.

Finally, Ashley has a Master of Business Law, an MBA, and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management from the Governance Institute of Australia. He is also a Chartered Company Secretary, qualified Accountant and a Professional Member of The CEO Institute and Chartered Institute of Management Accounts.

Director

Dr Karen Klockner

Dr Karen Klockner (PhD) is a Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at Central Queensland University teaching into the Safety Sciences including Occupational Health and Safety, Human Factors and Organisational Resilience. Karen has senior management experience in both the private and public sectors and has served on higher education boards and state government committees.

Karen completed her training in EMDR in 2009 and became a EMDR Consultant in 2012. She is the Principal Psychologist of a private practice, EMDR Gold Coast and has a special interest in first responders. Karen has been a training facilitator since 2009 for EMDRIA recognised trainings in Australia and delivers workshops on Ego State Therapy and Dissociation on the Gold Coast.

Karen is keen to bring her passion for EMDR as well as her skills in risk management, education, governance, and accreditation standards to the Board to ensure the ongoing success and growth of EMDR in Australia.

Director

Vania Miteva

Vania is a Health psychologist and Director of VM Psychology Services.  She works full-time in private practice.  Alongside her clinical practice, supervision and consultation, she works with a legal firm in the field of human rights, asylum seeking and refugees’ claims.  

She is passionate about advancing EMDR therapy.  Vania joined EMDRAA in 2011, became an EMDRAA Accredited Consultant in 2015 and EMDRAA Accredited Trainer in 2022.  She was on EMDRAA Board in 2019 to 2021 and served as President.  Vania actively supports EMDRAA and serves on the EMDRAA Accreditation & Standards Committee and EMDRAA Policy Committee.  She is also an EMDR NZ member and trainer.

Vania grew up in Bulgaria and has lived in NZ since 2001.  She enjoys living on her lifestyle block and growing fruit and vegetables.  Her hobby is making preserves, jams and cordials from the bounty of her garden.  Lately she joined the local loan bowling club and is learning to play hopefully with some skill.