Meet the leadership team shaping Yfoundations
Whether we’ve come to Yfoundations with a history in the sector or are introducing new ideas and skills from another field – we’re here because we care about youth homelessness.
The Yfoundations Board guides and monitors the business and affairs of Yfoundations on behalf of the members in accordance with our constitution.
Candidates for the Board are drawn from a wide cross-section of experience and expertise within the homelessness and out-of-home care sectors in NSW.
Yfoundations welcomes interest from the membership. If you are interested in holding a Board Director position and would like to discuss becoming a Board member, please contact Trish Connolly [email protected]
Nerida Ackerman
President Delegate
Eleonore Johansson
Treasurer
Eleonore has worked in the Community Services Industry for 30 years. Eleonore has an MA in Psychology, a degree in Public Administration, and a Diploma of Frontline Management. She is the General Manager of Southern Youth and Family Services and brings a wealth of experience in contract management, financial accounts and policy development.
Shannon Thorne
Metropolitan Delegate
Shannon is a proud Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri man with strong connections to his culture, community and identity. He has over 17 years of experience working within health-based services in both the public and NGO sectors as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner. He also has extensive experience in the out-of-home care sector. Shannon is currently a Senior Manager for Marist180, overseeing their social inclusion programs in Sydney’s western suburbs. He is also an active Board member of another fantastic organisation: Junaya, a Family Development Service-based organisation offering Early Intervention in Western Sydney.
Shannon is committed to improving the lives of all children, young people and adults in the communities he works with. He places emphasis on looking towards a future where we can flip from intergenerational trauma to intergenerational strength.
Nigel Parker
Metropolitan Delegate
Nigel has been working with vulnerable children and young people since 2007. Passionate about advocating for the rights of homeless children and young people, Nigel began working at St Laurence House in 2009. He has consistently highlighted the need for the medium-term model of care and has had the opportunity to sit on several advisory panels. Nigel is also a founding director of My Foundations Youth Housing organisation.
Laurie Matthews
Metropolitan Delegate
Laurie began his role with homeless youth in 1977, founding Caretakers Cottage Paddington, and was also a founding member of the Youth Refuge Association (now Yfoundations). He is actively involved in policy development while participating in various government advisory bodies. Laurie is CEO of Caretakers Cottage, a provider of out-of-home care, crisis accommodation HYAP, early intervention programs and transitional housing.
Richard Ayoub
Metropolitan Delegate
Richard holds more than 22 years experience working in a variety of roles across government, public and not-for-profit sectors. This has enabled him to shape and influence overall service practices, including both internal and external policy reviews. Richard is self-motivated and committed to delivering improvements across the range of multifaceted systems we work in to enhance service delivery to young people and build stronger community resilience.
Kellie Checkley
Education and Training Specialist Delegate
Kellie has been working in the youth homelessness sector for 15 years and the youth sector generally for over 20 years. Kellie currently heads up a national youth employment program working with young people at risk of long-term unemployment to address barriers to gaining and maintaining employment, and then providing long-term support to ensure a successful transition.
Alan Brennan
Regional Delegate
Alan has more than 40 years experience in establishing, consolidating and delivering refuges for homeless young people and families, out-of-home care residential care, foster care, supported independent living programs, wrap around services, restoration, family support and child protection services to produce positive outcomes for children, young people and families in New England, North West Tablelands and the Mid North Coast of NSW.
Alan is the CEO of Pathfinders, a not-for-profit involved in providing crisis accommodation, outreach services, refuges, short-term accommodation and supported independent living programs. He is committed to delivering safe and nurturing environments for children and young people. Alan is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jody Pearce
Regional Delegate
Jody has worked in the not-for-profit sector in Western NSW for over 20 years. She has extensive experience working in leadership positions for community-managed NGOs that have a specific focus on supporting vulnerable children, young people and families. Jody has tirelessly advocated for quality service provision and sustainable funding in the organisations in which she has worked.
Meena Johnson
Regional Delegate
Meena has worked in the housing and homelessness sector for over 22 years and in 2018 was one of the 5 finalists of Coffs Harbour Woman of the Year Awards. She has extensive experience in the governance of not-for-profit boards, committees and working groups, including the Board of Homelessness NSW and Warrina Women & Children’s Refuge.
Meena brings extensive knowledge about the barriers and challenges that marginalised and vulnerable children and young people in rural remote areas face in trying to secure long-term suitable and affordable housing. She is keen to contribute to this space of advocacy that influences, informs and enables government policy for vulnerable children and families in the community.