Our team
Executive leadership team
Tom Symondson
Chief Executive Officer
Tom Symondson is a respected voice for services to older people, serving as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ageing Australia, the national peak body representing organisations providing aged care and housing for older Australians.
Since 2022, Tom has led Ageing Australia’s mission to champion a high-performing, trusted and sustainable aged care sector that empowers older Australians to age with dignity, care and respect.
With more than 20 years of experience spanning aged care, public health, and local government in both Australia and the UK, Tom has been at the forefront of policy reform, driving meaningful advocacy and shaping strategy to improve care outcomes for more than 1.5 million older Australians. He is known for translating complex policy and reform into practical language and action – supporting genuine co-design and momentum across diverse stakeholders.
In 2025, he was appointed as a Director of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), contributing to global efforts to advance the rights, wellbeing and inclusion of older people. In 2024, he was recognised as a Global Ageing Influencer at the World Ageing Festival in Singapore.
Tom’s previous roles include CEO of the Victorian Healthcare Association and senior policy positions in one of the United Kingdom’s largest local councils. He has also served on a range of government boards and taskforces, including the Australian Government’s Aged Care Taskforce and its National Aged Care Advisory Council, and as a Board Director of Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds.
Tom’s leadership is defined by his commitment to thoughtful advocacy, collaboration and practical reform – bringing people together around common ground to improve outcomes for older Australians.
Belinda Allen
Chief Member Experience Officer
Belinda is an accomplished executive leader with expertise in strategy development, large transformation projects and teams, marketing and business development, and significant community sector reform.
With over 20 years’ experience in government, corporate and not-for-profit settings, she is passionate about the delivery of quality services to the most vulnerable people in our community.
Belinda leads Ageing Australia’s Member Services division consisting of funded programs, member services, consultancy, learning and events, workplace relations and innovation.
Belinda is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and studied accounting, marketing and management at The Australian National University and Monash University.
Arzu Haylaz
Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Arzu is a CPA-qualified finance professional with extensive experience in financial, strategic, and commercial leadership. Arzu has close to 20 years’ experience in finance roles across manufacturing, local government, broadcast media and most recently in sport as General Manager of Finance.
Arzu is passionate about strengthening the role of finance in supporting organisational goals, working collaboratively, and finding the balance between short-term initiatives and long-term sustainability.
Roald Versteeg
Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer
Roald Versteeg is an executive with over 20 years’ experience in health-related government and non-government organisations, including roles in advocacy, policy, regulation, general practice education, practice and aged care standards, health and aged care funding, and government relations.
Roald is a fierce advocate for a quality and sustainable health and aged care system and joined Ageing Australia as the General Manager for Policy and Advocacy in January 2023.
At Ageing Australia, Roald is responsible for policy, advocacy, government relations and media.
Roald holds a Master of Health Economics.
