Our Team

With qualifications in social work, communications and the law, John has over 30 years experience working in non-government and government settings in operational, policy development and sector development roles. He has worked in a broad range of human service fields, including homelessness, social housing, child protection, youth justice, disability services, community legal services and criminal law.

As head of Homelessness at the former NSW Department of Housing, John led the development of the first NSW Homelessness Action Plan, negotiated the NSW implementation plan for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and oversaw the development and implementation of Regional Homelessness Action Plans across the state.

Following his time working in the government sector, John worked in senior roles in national peak bodies for disability service providers and community legal centres before graduating as a lawyer. After five years working in criminal law, John is excited and energised to be working again in homelessness. He is committed to working with and supporting the youth homelessness sector to make youth homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.

Shai is a dynamic and compassionate professional with a unique blend of lived experience and a strong foundation in psychology and social work. Specialising in youth homelessness, mental health and trauma-informed care, Shai has dedicated over a decade to supporting young people in crisis and driving systemic change to improve outcomes for at-risk young people.

Shai’s career spans leadership roles in program development, case management and community outreach, where she has implemented evidence-based practices to empower young people and strengthen service delivery. Shai has managed crisis accommodation services, developed innovative frameworks and guided teams through complex restructures and accreditation processes.

Her advocacy work is bolstered by her expertise in policy development and communication, where she channels her passion for systemic reform into crafting strategies that amplify the voices of young people and the services supporting them.

Shai’s personal and professional journey fuels her determination to create a future where every young person has access to safety, stability and opportunity. She combines her lived experience with academic insight to approach challenges with empathy, innovation and a clear vision for meaningful change.

Nicola has more than 30 years’ experience in publishing, with roles ranging from subeditor to publisher. During this time, she worked on some of Australia’s leading consumer magazines and corporate brands, including Australian Gourmet Traveller, Australian House & Garden, Coles, Westfield, HCF, Accor and Jetstar.

Nicola was also co-founder of the for-purpose digital content agency Friday, the Creative Intelligence Collective, which worked with organisations and academics on projects delivering social benefits in adolescent health and education.

She is a qualified counsellor and spent several years as a volunteer therapist with ACON (Aids Council of Australia), supporting vulnerable people in the LGBTQI+ community.

Nicola worked on the development of Yfoundations' Youth Justice training package in 2024 and joined the team in late 2025 as our Industry and Workforce Development Officer, taking over the development of sector resources, the Good Practice Guidelines and

Sam has worked in the media industry for over 25 years at companies including Fairfax Media, Nine Entertainment, his own business and most recently Australian Community Media.

With a background in graphic design, communications and marketing, Sam has worked in creative roles, strategic partnerships, leadership, and client solutions, giving him a deep understanding of campaign creation, planning and implementation. His passion for helping young people at risk was ignited during his time as an UnLtd Ambassador, so he welcomed the opportunity to join the team at Yfoundations to have a more direct, positive impact on youth homelessness and supporting the sector.