OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Migraine Australia is run by our operational board. All our board members are volunteers who live with migraine.
Jude Kingston - Chair
With three decades of experience in the Australian and international retail landscape, Jude Kingston has established herself as a formidable and sought-after global retail and fashion expert and Buyer. She leverages her extensive knowledge and expertise to guide her organisation and clients, offering strategic and creative insights that have been honed through her career in retail buying and senior roles with leading fashion retail brands both in Australia and overseas.
Jude is highly regarded for her industry insights and has consulted with key stakeholders around the world, earning a reputation for her business acumen and deep understanding of the fashion industry. She is also a featured guest speaker and a recognized fashion and trend forecaster, frequently attending fashion shows and industry events.
One of the most significant highlights of Jude’s career is her role as the Founding Director of Mind Your Fashion, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and supporting mental health in the fashion and creative industries. She is a driving force behind the initiative, advocating for much-needed changes in how mental illness is viewed and managed within these sectors, particularly through the implementation of The Mind Your Fashion Mental Wellness Program.
Additionally, Jude has been a Fashion Mentor, Stylist for Eurovision 2020, Fashion Education Trainer (Certificate IV Training and Assessment), and facilitator of workshops and seminars for retailers and designers. Beyond her fashion expertise, she is a qualified Health Psychologist and holds another board position as a Director for Mind Your Fashion.
Karen Woodhart - Secretary & Advisory Committee Chair
Karen brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for community service to our board. With a background spanning multiple interests and professional roles, she is a dedicated advocate for those in need.
A lifelong horse lover and an avid quilter and craft enthusiast, Karen finds joy in creative pursuits. She shares her life with her husband and their two adult daughters, cherishing family connections.
Karen’s journey with migraine has been a defining part of her story. While completing her commerce degree, she faced a resurgence of hormonal migraine, a challenge that led her to discover Migraine Australia. She credits the organization with saving both her sanity and her life, as it provided the understanding and support she needed during a difficult time.
For the past seven years, Karen has been employed in the not-for-profit sector at Cottage by the Sea Queenscliff, where she helps run life-changing camps for disadvantaged children across Victoria. She describes this work as her true calling and pours her heart into making a difference in young lives.
Beyond her professional and advocacy roles, Karen is also a volunteer firefighter with the CFA, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to serving her community.
Her diverse experiences and compassionate spirit make her an invaluable asset to our board.
Jan Behrendorff - Treasurer
Alex Delaney - Board member
Alex is one of the longest serving volunteers at Migraine Australia and has been instrumental in the success of the Men with Migraine group and the organisation generally. He joined the board in 2024.
He has a background in student leadership and has taken on several committee positions for community groups over time. He is currently studying a Diploma of Community Services, aspiring to work in the Disability Sector.
Alex is motivated by his lived experience driving him to seek to improve the lives of all people living with Migraine. After an increase in attacks in high school, a virus he contracted in his first year of University in 2018 caused his migraine to rapidly spiral to experiencing debilitating attacks just about every day. He is still significantly impacted, but is now doing better, being managed by Botox and Ajovy under a specialist neurologist.
He has a particular interest in raising awareness of under recognised groups in the Migraine Community that don’t fit the stereotypical presentation. During the pandemic, he worked with a small group of other Men with the ongoing support of Migraine Australia to build a support group called Men with Migraine. He is also the longstanding Geelong Ambassador.
He feels very gratified to see the group grow and blossom into what it is today, becoming the internationally predominant online community by and for men living with migraine. It remains a tight knit space where Men can speak openly about their experience without fearing stigma or judgement.
In his spare time, he enjoys hobbies including Rovers (Adult) Scouts, singing in a choir and long walks with his family’s 2 dogs. He has also recently taken an interest in landscape photography.