Who we are

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Bron is a passionate advocate for Veterans from all services and their families. Bron enlisted in the Australian Army Reserve in 1996, before transferring to the Australian Regular Army in 2000. Bron saw operational service in East Timor and was medically discharged in 2005. Bron has four sons, one serving with 5 RAR and another currently undertaking recruit training with the Australian Regular Army and is the wife of a Veteran that recently medically discharged from the Royal Australian Air Force.

In 2009, after identifying a lack of family support for members moving to Newcastle, Bron established a family support group, ‘Terrace Buddies’, to fill the gap and provide connection and friendship between partners of serving members.

After relocating to Perth in 2020, Bron joined the Pearce Community Group (PCG), a support group for the partners of serving at RAAF Pearce and those living North of the River. 2021 Bron took over the role of President. 

As President of PCG, Bron became aware that during COVID, many Pilot Graduations occurred without the attendance of family and friend. The Pilot Graduation Ceremony celebrates the culmination of intensive training leading the newly graduated pilots being issued with their ‘Wings’. With hard boarder restrictions, the families of the Graduating Pilots were no able to attend so Bron stepped in to show support and provide an audience for such an important milestone in their careers. 

Over the term of Bron’s Presidency, she was able to secure additional funding, commence programs such as regular coffee catchups and weekly walking groups. Bron’s ability to network and the passion for which she speaks about veterans and their issues, saw her invited to attend meetings with other ESO’s, providing valuable lived experience.

Bron has continued to serve her community as the Vice President of our primary schools P&C for the past 2 years, however, is looking forward to returning to a position to provide support to both veterans and their families, which is where her true passion is.  

Nikki Mencshelyi is a serving member of the WA Police Force (civilian), a Defence widow, and now wife of a serving WA Police Force officer who is also an Australian Army veteran. 

Nikki has been in and around the Defence and Emergency Services communities since 1999 and working for WA Police Force since 2009. 

Her roles have varied across the agency, but she has always maintained a keen focus on mental health advocacy and critical-incident management within workplaces. 

Nikki has a lengthy academic history and a varied appetite for knowledge, with study in Medical Microbiology, Forensic Science, Psychology (no formal qualification held) and most recently, a post-graduate degree in Intelligence Analysis.

Nikki is a passionate advocate for preventative mental health, with a special interest in PTSD and innovations in treatment. 

She has been a strong supporter of Soldiers & Sirens from its creation and deeply believes the work done in this space is immensely valuable and under-appreciated. 

Trevor enjoyed a 34-year career with the Western Australian Police Force, working in various locations including country postings.  

In 2013, he was appointed to the position of Unit Sergeant, Peer Support Coordinator in the Health & Safety Division, Welfare Unit.  He was responsible for coordination of the 165 Peer Support Officers across Western Australia.  

Arranging training, ensuring confidentiality and significantly growing the number of participants. 

Trevor, who also spent 15 years as a Volunteer Fire Fighter, has served on many Boards - and brings his knowledge of Peer Support and Board Governance to the role. 

I am a registered BAS Agent. I know numbers, I love making them balance and reconcile, and don't rest until I do.  I started my business about 10 years ago to assist businesses to deal with the admin, the processing, the reconciling, the government compliance and reporting. And I'm pretty damn good at it!

Then along came S&S. I'd never heard of them, but my hubby came home from work at WAPOL one day and asked if I could give them a hand. So I asked a few questions and attended my first meeting with the Board. Driving home that night I was concerned I had no point of reference that aligned me with the amazing peopIe I had just met.

As it turned out, there was a lot! My hubby is WAPOL, over 25 years in service and we've dealt with some rough times; my Dad was career ADF and a Vietnam Vet; my brother is career NSWRFS; 2 nephews both ADF have been to Afghanistan. I have a close friend who is ex WAPOL. I've lived under the cloud of suicidal family members for years. They all have suffered some sort of trauma along the way and I haven't witnessed much assistance in any form for them. 

Maybe this is my alignment.  Maybe this is where my service to a community that I've always been a part of, starts. 

The passion that I see within the S&S Board, with Danielle leading them, means there are people who are actively working and willing to be of service to others in this particular community. These people would help my people if needed.  So, if I can help in my small way to take some of the admin burden off the board and allow them the time to do what they are best at, then I've found a place I can be, and in the process, honour my family and their various services, by being a part of a team that they could have used or one day need.

Danielle Baldock graduated from the UWA Psychology program in 2001 and joined the WA Police Force as an officer. After serving six years, she left to pursue her psychology career. Since 2010 she has worked in various organisations including the Sexual Assault Resource Centre, WA Police Health & Welfare, Victim Support and Child Witness Service, Soldier On, and HMAS Stirling. She has continued to study throughout that time, completing a Masters of Business Administration in 2015 and a Masters in Psychology at Murdoch in 2020. In 2018 she joined the Australian Army as a Reserve Psychology Officer.

In 2019, she founded Soldiers & Sirens. 

In 2022, Danielle became the Therapy Manager at The Marian Centre (TMC), a private psychiatric hospital offering inpatient and outpatient care, including the Trauma Recovery Program for the multi-uniform community. Her vision is that TMC will become the hospital of choice for uniforms, with the values of S&S infused into all service offerings.

Dr Richard Magtengaard is a Consultant Psychiatrist with 20 years of clinical and administrative experience, originating from working within the Public Mental Health arena, later moving on to establish a broad set of interests within the Private Practice and Not for Profit setting.

Dr Magtengaard served for 10 years as a Commissioned Officer (Bridge/Harbour Watchkeeping and Navigation) within the Royal Australian Navy, before retiring to complete his Postgraduate Degree in Medicine (MBBS).

He remains dedicated to assisting Defence Personnel, our Veterans, First Responder Organisations, and their families who have sustained physical and psychological traumas during the performance of their duties.

Richard remains an active member of the Australasian Military Medical Association (AMMA) and has developed lasting affiliations with ADF Joint Health Command (JHC), RSLWA,  ANZAC House Veteran Central, St John Ambulance (SJA), WA Police (WAPOL),   Dept of Fire and Emergency  Services (DFES) and other Ex-Service Organisations.

Dr Mihaela Iliescu has developed her practice to become a recognised specialist in General Adult Psychiatry including mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, Service-Related Trauma and PTSD. Her principal area of interest has developed towards caring for those who serve.

In keeping with her collaborative, care team-based approach to care, Mihaela has developed a broad network of providers who also commit their time and effort towards the care of Defence, Veteran and First Responder populations.

Mihaela works closely with ADF Joint Health Command based at HMAS Stirling and Campell Barracks. Mihaela is actively involved in supporting the health and safety team at WAPOL in the provision of assessment and management of Police Officers.

Mihaela is excited to join the board of Soldiers & Sirens to continue working with this special population and provide the best care possible.

As a banking professional with almost 40 years worth of experience, Dave has worked across the broad spectrum of roles in Financial Services, has worked in most States and Territories across Australia, and also spent several years in banking throughout the United Kingdom.

Bendigo Bank’s Community Banking model saw Dave join as a board member when Soldiers & Sirens Ltd was founded. 

He was drawn to the organisation as a concerned member of the general public and works on creating connections to further advance the profile of Soldiers & Sirens within the broader community.

Daniel is an Officer in the Australian Defence Force and an experienced management professional, specialising in strategy and risk. He worked in a number of sectors including Defence, oil and gas, mining and health. He is currently the Commanding Officer of the 10th Light Horse Regiment in the Australian Army. He is also Director of Strategy for Executive Risk Solutions and a Board Member of Saint Stephens School Duncraig.

Adrian is a former member of the Australian Defence Force having seen Operational Service in Bougainville, Middle East, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.

Adrian first enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1996 before transferring to the Royal Australian Air Force in 2006.

Prior to separating from the Airforce Adrian work extensively in the areas of Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Explosive Ordnance Management, Policy and Compliance.

Adrian has recently navigated the medical discharge process. He is passionate about giving back to the Veteran and First Responder communities through proactively seeking to engage and promote Mental Health initiatives. He seeks out and actively engages with Veteran run businesses to provide support services for our Frontline Families.