HBA is a non-profit organisation whose Board Members are independent hearing clinic owners who generously donate their time
The Birth of an Alliance
"Why can't we find someone who'll answer our questions? ... If we can't solve this, we'll lose everything."
After years of the frustrations of our marketplace, and overwhelmed by bureaucratic decisions impacting our livelihoods, a small band of us got together in late 2016 and formed HBA. We initially honed in on unethical business practises, and also how government policy was affecting us. We tackled some tough issues ... and still do.
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We're not professional lobbyists, "... we're audiologists and audiometrists running our small independent practices."
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Ethics and transparency are our bedrock, and we now have a voice, a strong membership, and a valuable collaborative network of dedicated industry and public service professionals. We still have a lot of work to do, and invite you to join us.
Nicole Bowden, B.Sc, Dip.Aud., MAudA (CCP)
Chair
Nicole is the principal audiologist and manager of an independent hearing care provider, with over thirty years experience. Since completing tertiary qualifications at the University of Melbourne in 1991, she is dedicated to improving hearing health delivery.
Nicole is a member of Audiology Australia, and advocates for small business audiologists and audiometrists. She believes in independent hearing clinics across Australia, what they stand for, and what they can offer.
Nicole is recognised as an industry key opinion leader for independent practices and for her forward-thinking and progressive approach to hearing care.
Gayle Dicieri
Treasurer
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​Gayle, a founding member of HBA, returned to the Board in 2020, and also served as Chair from March 2021 to November 2023. She is a director of her family-owned audiology practice in South East Queensland, which has been in operation since 1992. She has been actively involved in the profession since the 1970s, and started her career in Victoria before moving to Queensland in 1988.
As well as holding key positions in other peak professional bodies since moving to Queensland, Gayle was in the first group of Audiometrists to attain a Bachelor of Audiometry from the University of New England.
Emma Batrouney, BHlthSci, MClinAud, MAudA
Secretary
Emma is the principal audiologist and director of an independent hearing care provider in Glen Iris and Rye in Victoria. She graduated from La Trobe University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Clinical Audiology. Since then, Emma has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Commerce and is currently completing her Doctor of Audiology. She has worked in diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology since graduating and started her own practice to deliver high quality, ethical and exceptional hearing care to the local community.
As a new business, Emma found HBA instrumental in supporting its success and wants to support HBA in encouraging others to pursue their careers in independent practice too.
Matthew Cannon
Director
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Matt trained and qualified as an audiologist in the United Kingdom, where he built a strong reputation for his clinical expertise, compassionate care, and commitment to excellence. He is dedicated to creating a supportive and tailored experience for every client, taking the time to ensure they feel comfortable, confident, and cared for on their journey to better hearing.
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Matt is a graduate of Exeter College and, now based in Australia, is a certified Audiometrist with the Australian College of Audiology inc. (HAASA). He brings his international experience and attentive approach to the hearing care community.
Peter Cichello, BSc, Grad DipAud, MEd, Grad DipRehab, MAudSA (CCP)
Director
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Peter is director and principal audiologist of an independent practice in Kew and Melbourne, which he established in 1993. With academic qualifications in Physics and in Audiology (Univ. of Melbourne), Post-Grad Rehabilitation Studies (La Trobe Univ.) and Master’s Degree of Education in Speech, Hearing & Language (Monash Univ.), he has extensive clinical and management experience in roles such as Clinical Audiologist, Senior Paediatric Audiologist, and Hearing Centre Manager at Australian Hearing Services. A former Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation Audiology at Deakin University, he has published in the Australian Journal of Audiology.
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Peter is deeply committed to community service, contributes pro bono to several non-profit boards, and has volunteered as audiologist for disadvantaged children in the Philippines since 1993. For his humanitarian efforts, he received the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Award of Excellence, 2014, Audiology Australia’s Outstanding Award for Community Services, 2018, and was nominated for a Philippine Presidential award in 2014.
Dr. Annemarie Lindner
Director
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Annemarie is passionate and driven to ensure those with hearing loss can pursue a life worth hearing and staying connected. Growing up with a brother who has a severe hearing loss. and seeing the positive life-changing impact technology can have, motivated her to pursue a career striving for action and impact against the stigma associated with hearing loss. With the advancement of wearables, miniaturisation, AI and telehealth technology, she is excited to play a role in revolutionising the hearing industry.
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Annemarie has improved hearing outcomes in remote Australia, established hearing services to underprivileged international communities through not-for-profit organisations, and driven hearing aid adoption rates by providing education to hearing clinics throughout Australia. Her resumé includes Doctor of Audiology, University of Florida, Masters in Clinical Audiology, University of Queensland, The Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Masterclass, University College London, and National trainer for Lyric hearing devices, and she is a full member of Audiology Australia.
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Jenna Turner
Director
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Jenna is the Head of Interpreting and Audiology at an independent, not-for-profit organisation supporting deaf and hard of hearing communities. She brings over thirteen years of experience as an audiologist and business manager, across government and not-for-profit settings.
Based in Melbourne, her professional interests centre on improving access to audiology services for deaf and hard of hearing people, delivering person-centred rehabilitation, and protecting access to independent, ethical audiology care for all Australians.
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Jenna holds a Master of Audiology, Flinders University and a Bachelor of Science (Hons.), Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of South Australia.
HBA EXECUTIVE
The Board acknowledges all the work Jane and Stephen devote to the business challenges we all encounter
With all their experience, insight and tireless efforts, they provide invaluable guidance and resources.
Jane MacDonald, BSC., DipAud., MAud. SA, (CCP)
Chief Executive Officer
Jane is an Audiologist and independent hearing care business co-owner. With over 40 years' experience, and now employing a team of Audiologists and Audiometrists across sixteen Victoria and NSW rural practices, she knows the challenges of rural clinic service delivery. She is a passionate advocate in pursuit of ethics in the hearing care industry, and for equitable opportunity and support for small businesses.
Jane understands the legislative processes, has worked with HBA since its inception, is a full member of Audiology Australia and the Australian College of Audiology inc. HAASA, and the current Chair of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance. She has worked in diagnostic audiology in Australian and UK public hospitals, and in neonatal diagnostic audiology and adult rehabilitation in rural Australia. She also mentors many graduate intern Audiologists, and supports them with clinic placements.
In 2025, Jane was honored by Audiology Australia with their Outstanding Award for Community Services to the Audiology Profession.
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Stephen Logan
Business Manager
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Stephen is a founding member of HBA, and an experienced sales and business management professional, with experience in both Australian and UK markets. He has a diverse academic background in both business and nursing and has had successful sales and management careers in various hearing/medical/surgical and healthcare sales positions. He holds a Certificate in General Nursing, a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) Accounting and Business/Management from the University of Queensland and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), MBA Executive Distinction from RMIT.
Following twelve years as the Sales and Business Unit Manager for Sivantos within the Australian independent hearing market, Stephen established his own consultancy firm and offers specialised business consultancy services to the hearing industry.