Our Leadership Team
Board of Management
Chris Pfeiffer - Chairperson
Chris has been involved in many boards over the years including:
Deputy President of the Printing Industries of Australia
President of the Printing Industries Association of South Australia
Board Chair of the Christian Bookselling Association of Australia
Board Chair of the Lutheran Church of Australia Board for Lay Ministry
Member of the South Australian Tourism Accreditation Board
Chair of the Tourism Barossa Inc. 2012 – 2020
Board Member, Yirara College, Alice Springs and of Finke River Mission of the Lutheran Church of Australia 2008 -2022
He currently serves the following organisations:
Board Chair, Tanunda Lutheran Home Inc.
Board Member, Barossa Radio Station BBBFM 89.1
He has been General Manager of Openbook Publishers, was a co-founder of Whistler Wines in the Barossa Valley and former owner of Whistler Farm Bed & Breakfast with his wife.
He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Emma Hiscock - Deputy Chairperson
Ms Emma Hiscock BN, Grad Cert Health Service Management, MBA
Emma grew up in the Barossa Valley and completed her Bachelor of Nursing Degree at the University of South Australia in 1996. During her degree, she worked at Tanunda Lutheran Home as a carer.
Emma has worked as a Registered Nurse locally, interstate and overseas. Returning from the United Kingdom, she took up the position of Peri-Operative Manager at a Private Hospital in Adelaide. Following this she moved to the University of South Australia and has since held management positions in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Department of Rural Health, Health and Clinical Education.
Emma is a member of Langmeil Lutheran Church and Secretary of the Church Administration Team, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Emma brings a broad range of experience in health and feels very privileged to serve as a member of the Board of Tanunda Lutheran Home.
Judy McDonald - Board Member
Dr Judy McDonald Bsc; MBBS; LRCP; MRCS; FACRRM
Judy was born and grew up in England. She undertook her medical degree at The Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London between 1968 and 1974. In 1976 after working in London for 2 years, she travelled overland to Australia in a combi-van and worked at the Adelaide Children’s hospital. She then continued to work in Adelaide in various locations until 2004.
She has always had an interest in Aboriginal Health and has spent more than 30 years conducting fly in fly out clinics to Aboriginal communities in Ceduna and Coober Pedy.
She is married to Steve and they have 5 children and 8 grandchildren. They moved to the Barossa in 2006 and are active members of Zion Lutheran Church, Angaston.
Judy became a partner at Angaston Medical in 2007. Judy retired from AMC in 2015 and from her fly in fly out work in 2020.
In 2016 Judy's 92 year old mother was admitted to TLH as a resident and was there until she passed away in May 2018.
Judy's long experience as a General Practitioner gives her the insight into the clinical care of residents.
Judy considers it to be a privilege to serve as a member of the Board of Tanunda Lutheran Home.
James Bartsch - Board Member
James attended Tanunda Lutheran Primary School and Nuriootpa High School.
He is a member of Tabor Lutheran Church at Tanunda.
He started work as a carpenter with B.V. Rohrlach Builder in 1971 building projects for Tanunda Lutheran Homes including the Fourth Street Units, Falkenberg Wing, Rothe + Steicke Wings plus upgrades on many others areas within TLH.
James commenced J.A. Bartsch General Builders in 1982 and Bartsch Builders Pty Ltd was established in 2002 and with the involvement of James’s Son Luke in 2012 Bartsch Homes was formed.
51 Years after commencing his apprenticeship and with a wealth of building knowledge behind him; James is hoping to help plan for the future direction of Tanunda Lutheran Home.
Anthony Puliatti - Board Member
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and in New Zealand and a Fellow of CPA Australia, Anthony is also a Registered Tax Agent. His expertise in all things financial ensures that the organisation is compliant in financial matters.
Melissa Smith - Board Member
Melissa is a physiotherapist working in the Barossa Valley, having moved here 13 years ago from Eyre Peninsula.
She has always worked in country SA, briefly at Port Lincoln Hospital but primarily in Eastern Eyre, based in Cleve and working both for the local health cluster and in her own private practice. In this time, she served on several committees, including school council, the local health cluster, Driver River Uniting Church worship and Sunday school committees and sporting committees.
Working in country areas has meant that Melissa has always had a component of her services based in Aged Care. This continues in her current work at Barossa Physiotherapy, as well as providing physiotherapy services to the Kapunda Homes.
She hopes that this clinical experience, plus family connections to Tanunda Lutheran Home, will be an asset to the board.
Greg Arthur - Board Member
A practising solicitor and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Greg brings extensive experience in governance and legal matters. He has served on numerous boards, including Aged Care.
Executive Team
Sharon Berridge - Executive Care Manager
Rachel Strudwick - Executive Operations Manager
Ameya Bhiskute - Executive Financial Controller
Cindy Penn - Executive Community Services & Retirement Living Manager
