Ian Yates – National CEO, Council on the Ageing (COTA)

Ian Yates is Chief Executive of Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, the national peak consumer body for older Australians. Ian has played national leadership roles in COTA since 2002 after being Chief Executive of COTA SA since 1989. He is also Chair of the newly established Ageing and Aged Care Council of Elders, a member of the National Aged Care Advisory Council and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council. and was a member of the Aged Care Financing Authority from 2012 to 2021. He  also represents older Australians on other key federal government and sector advisory bodies including the ATO Superannuation Industry Stewardship Group; the ASIC Consumer Advisory Panel; a Sponsor Member of the National Aged Care Alliance; a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR); Chair of the Management Committee of the Australasian Journal on Ageing; a Director of Livable Housing Australia; and a Board member of the Aged Rights Advocacy Service.

Ian held senior positions in public health governance and in essential services in South Australia throughout the 2000s, and served on the Flinders University Council for 20 years including seven years as Deputy Chancellor. Ian is Emeritus Deputy Chancellor of Flinders University and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University. He was awarded Membership in the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2005.