Guided by experience across the disability sector.
The HuGo Software Overview and Application Review (SOAR) Board brings together experienced leaders from across the disability and healthcare sectors to provide practical insight, guidance, and perspective on the ongoing development of HuGo.
Mark Howells
Chairman/SOAR
Mark Howells is the founder of Ability Tech Australia and HuGo, with over 20 years of experience leading service based organisations in highly regulated environments. Originally from the UK, Mark served in the Royal Marine Commandos before relocating to Australia, where he moved into the community sector and began working closely with providers and frontline teams across Supported Independent Living (SIL) environments.
As the founder of a large scale SIL service, Mark gained firsthand insight into the operational, financial, and compliance challenges that define the NDIS sector. Through this experience, he developed a clear understanding of the pressures facing providers, including tight margins, increasing compliance requirements, and the reliance on multiple disconnected systems. This often creates unnecessary administrative burden and makes it harder for organisations to scale while maintaining quality care.
This led to the creation of Ability Tech Australia and HuGo, built to better reflect how providers actually operate. Developed alongside real service environments, HuGo focuses on simplifying workflows, improving visibility, and supporting compliance without adding complexity. Mark brings a practical, operations focused perspective to the HuGo SOAR Board, with a strong focus on ensuring technology remains useful, relevant, and aligned to the realities of delivering care.
To contact Mark, email him at mark@abilitytech.com.au
Ward Sheehan
SOAR Board Member
With over 30 years of experience in the disability sector, Ward Sheehan has worked across support coordination, provider engagement, and broader sector development, building a deep understanding of how services are delivered and where challenges exist. His experience spans working closely with providers, support coordinators, and allied health professionals, giving him a well-rounded view of the operational and regulatory environment.
As the founder of Ethical Tick, Ward focuses on promoting ethical standards and strengthening connections within the NDIS ecosystem. His work centres on supporting organisations to operate with integrity, improve collaboration, and build sustainable models of care in a sector that continues to evolve and grow in complexity.
Ward brings a values-driven perspective to the HuGo SOAR Board, with a strong focus on governance, transparency, and participant outcomes. He is particularly interested in how technology can support better decision-making, improve connectivity across stakeholders, and reduce inefficiencies without compromising the quality of care delivered.
For more information visit: Ethical Tick.
Lianne Friedman
SOAR Board Member
Lianne Friedman is a senior executive based in Brisbane, with leadership experience across healthcare, management consulting, business strategy, and organisational development. She has built a career focused on improving systems, empowering teams, and driving meaningful, sustainable change across complex environments.
Lianne partners with organisations to strengthen workforce capability, organisational culture, and professional development. Her work includes leadership coaching and strategic advisory, supporting teams to operate more effectively while balancing the role of technology in enabling growth and performance. With experience across both consulting and direct healthcare settings, she brings a practical understanding of the challenges facing providers and the importance of scalable, people-focused solutions.
Through her work, Lianne contributes a strategic and people-centred perspective to the HuGo SOAR Board, with a strong interest in how technology can enhance capability, improve system efficiency, and create more personalised and empowering experiences for both teams and participants. Her work continues to focus on helping organisations build capability at scale while maintaining a clear focus on outcomes, sustainability, and long-term impact.