Trish Connolly
Chief Executive Officer
Trish has an extensive background in homelessness and domestic abuse policy, research service design, and service system reform in both the Australian and UK contexts. She has worked across a broad range of sectors, including the NSW State Government, UK Government, peak bodies, non-government/frontline service providers and charities. Trish was also a member of the Yfoundations Board in 2014–15 to provide expertise on impacts and best practice approaches for young people experiencing domestic and family violence.
Trish is an experienced consultant having established her own business in 2016 and a new consultancy service within one of the UK’s largest homelessness charities, Crisis UK. Prior to joining Yfoundations, Trish worked in a service delivery capacity in the community housing sector. Trish is passionate about working in the youth homelessness sector, strongly committed to ending homelessness, and focused on developing a systemic approach to address the fundamental issues that contribute to youth homelessness.
Megan Hall
Health Promotion and Training Coordinator
Megan delivers our Sticky Stuff program alongside other NSW Health initiatives, all aiming to improve sexual health outcomes for young people throughout NSW. Megan is driven to provide holistic health information and practical solutions to ensure participants feel prepared and comfortable to open up the conversation of sexual health with young people.
Megan comes from a nursing background, having spent 3 years working in the area of sexual health. Before this, she worked with children and young people in many different capacities, as an Indigenous Group Training Consultant, a Boarding Supervisor at a residential college and an Outdoor Education Instructor. In all her roles, Megan has always been passionate about empowering individuals to challenge themselves.
Alice Taylor
Senior Research and Policy Officer
Alice is a passionate and driven individual in the homelessness and housing sector. Most recently she has worked at Link Wentworth, one of NSW’s largest community housing providers, where she led on a range of best practice research, strategy, service improvement and impact measurement projects to support the organisation to deliver service excellence that best meets the needs of clients.
Alice has a Master of Public Policy (Social Policy Specialisation) and a background in funding and advocacy in the wider not-for-profit sector.
Anneliese Apps
Project Officer
Anneliese’s journey to fulfil her passion for working with young people, especially girls and young women, includes working in Intensive Therapeutic Care in the Northern Rivers, delivering high quality residential supports that promote the emotional, social and behavioural needs of vulnerable children and young people. She has also completed the Shine from Within Youth Mentorship Program, gaining the tools to nurture, mentor and hold space for young people.
Anneliese has a double diploma in counselling and art therapy. As well as bringing calming tools to our amazing team, Anneliese brings to Yfoundations a range of experience coordinating and providing business and project support to small businesses and organisations.
Jessie Adlide
Policy and Research Assistant
Jessie recently graduated from the University of Technology with a degree in communications, majoring in social and political science, and blitzing creative writing. She first came to Yfoundations as a student intern and quickly grew passionate about youth homelessness. Jessie officially joined the team in July.
Jessie is also our digital literacy guru and social media aficionado with a passion for social justice, education and climate justice.