meet the team

Phil began his career in the finance sector, having worked at Macquarie Bank and Goldman Sachs, before joining the NSW Treasury in 2015 where he served as Deputy Secretary, Commercial and Procurement Group. Phil also supports those living with Type 1 Diabetes as a member of the Breakthrough T1D Australia Board in Australia. He and his wife, Kirsty, have three young adult children and are based in Sydney. Read more

Rebecca leads ABCN's partnerships, fundraising and communications, shaping strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement to advance ABCN's mission and social impact. With over 20 years' experience in sustainability and social impact across both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, she specialises in building long-term cross-sector partnerships that create shared value and strengthen collective impact. Read more

Carrie spent five years working in corporate finance, and during that time, volunteered with ABCN as a mentor and company champion. Growing up in rural NSW, she is keen to improve work opportunities for young people. Read more

Nicki is a marketing and communications leader with a background spanning senior roles within the arts, media and NFP sector. She has a strong focus on using clear communications to build support for equitable opportunities for young people. Read more

Claire gained years of experience in project management and facilitation working in marketing research. Her drive to make a difference saw her move into social research before joining the not-for-profit sector. She first joined ABCN as a facilitator, before becoming a NSW Program Manager, and more recently Partnerships Manager. Read more

Dominic has spent over a decade building philanthropic partnerships across medical research, children's hospitals and social enterprise. He joins ABCN believing that a single relationship, at the right moment, can quietly change the entire trajectory of a young person's life.

Gerry has a background in science and worked in the industry for 12 years before moving to the non-profit sector. He is passionate about increasing student engagement in STEM, particularly those from low socio-economic areas.  Read more

Bran is passionate about working with others to create meaningful change, and left a corporate career to join the ABCN team. He has a background across multiple areas including journalism, law, and tax, bringing a breadth of experience to both his program management and data management roles.

Maree has extensive experience working in corporate social responsibility. She loves that her role at ABCN combines several passions at once – facilitating programs, witnessing the connections between students and mentors and adding value to the education of young people. Read more

With a background in youth work, community welfare and personal coaching, Vanessa has extensive experience collaborating and working with our younger generation. She works behind the scenes with our member companies and schools, as well as being front of house facilitating programs. Read more

Erin has spent many years as a designer and facilitator of learning experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma of Education, and a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Read more

Daniella has a corporate background in technology delivery and business operations. She advocates for women in tech and mentors young women through various organisations. Read more

Peta has extensive experience in leadership, strategy, program development and project management. She has undertaken various ABCN roles and has also worked in the disability and broader for-purpose sector and she is committed to fostering meaningful connections and driving impactful collaboration through the Accelerate Program. Read more

A proud Aboriginal man with many years’ experience working with Aboriginal communities and young people, Tony is a descendant of the Dunghutti people on the Mid North Coast, in Kempsey and the Yuin people on the South Coast in Batemans Bay and Wallaga Lake. He is a Director of Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council where he has served for ten years as Chairperson.   Read more

Kira is proud Wiradjuri woman who has strong ties to Yuin country on the south coast of Jervis Bay. She has a background in education, creating and facilitating First Nations programs, and supporting people with disabilities. She is passionate about empowering young people through culturally meaningful experiences that build confidence, connection, and pathways to future opportunities.

Sam leads the delivery of ABCN programs across NSW, building strong partnerships with schools and corporate volunteers to create engaging mentoring experiences for students. She has over 15 years’ experience managing and delivering complex community-industry partnerships, with the last 10 years in the education sector. Read more

Being a mentor and a champion with ABCN inspired Einat to move from program management roles in the finance and telecommunications industries to join the team at ABCN. She is passionate about knowledge sharing and process improvement and loves to help young people realise their own potential and explore opportunities that they might not have been aware of. Read more

Pav is passionate about creating meaningful change in the community and has worked on several programs targeted at improving social outcomes for school-aged students. She is grateful for the chance to help young people access better educational and employment opportunities, so that they can thrive in the futures they learn to shape for themselves. Read more

Guy joins ABCN with extensive experience in learning and development, program management at a national level, corporate and community partnerships, and working with young people experiencing disadvantage. He understands the importance of education to life outcomes, and is passionate about equity of access. Read more

Mel joins ABCN with a background in youth mentoring, parent coaching, and volunteering with Girl Guides Australia, with a strong focus on supporting families navigating the tween/teen years. Read more

With a background in Social Science, Claire has spent the last ten years dedicated to helping others in the Not-For-Profit sector. She’s passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of young people and is committed to empowering and enabling them to reach their full potential.Read more

Catherine worked in hospitality, human resources, facilitating and training before starting her dream job at ABCN. She loves that her role opens a whole new world of possibilities to students who have no access to it any other way. Read more

Ulrike left her global corporate career to spend more time with her family and is now using her business acumen and passion for education. Originally from Germany, her experience living and working in several different countries and cultures has equipped her with a unique viewpoint not just for business but also for the cultural diversity among its people.

Kate has three decades of experience in the education sector, spanning diverse roles from teaching kindergarten students to guiding young adults through VCAL in non-school environments. She firmly believes that with the appropriate support systems in place, everyone can not only meet but exceed their aspirations.

Mayali has worked in the advertising, humanitarian aid and education sectors. She has had the opportunity to travel and work in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam and India focusing mainly on gender equity and the economic empowerment of women. Before joining ABCN, she was an Education Support Officer, mainly working with primary students who were diagnosed with ASD and ADHD. Read more

After 15 years in the travel industry and a career break to look after three children, Tiffany jumped at the opportunity to join the ABCN team more than 10 years ago. She enjoys connecting the two very different worlds of the corporate and education sectors, and loves making and building relationships with such a broad range of people. Read more

Rebecca is an experienced facilitator who has worked in theatre, project management, education and marketing. She is inspired by ABCN mentors and students who bring a willingness to learn and share in each program and particularly enjoys programs that develop creativity and confidence. Read more

Sarah combines past experience and knowledge in social work with a passion for empowering others in her program management role. She loves facilitating and working with young people and is particularly excited about programs that enable young people to upskill, think outside the box and gain new skills. Read more

In her past life, Anneliese spent many years in theme park management and enjoyed an expat life in the Middle East. She loves the journey that ABCN provides – fine-tuning her facilitation skills and meeting inspiring students and energetic mentors Read more

Jane spent 17 years in the UK aviation industry before moving with her family to sunny Perth. She has worked with other not-for-profit organisations in youth and community engagement and education. She is passionate about working with young minds and seeing the growth that mentoring brings. Read more

Cathy is a passionate advocate for inspiring young minds and aligning education and corporate sectors. With over 20 years of experience in management and education, she is committed to connecting students with real-world opportunities. Read more

Leanne blends real-world experience with evidence-informed approaches from positive psychology. She is passionate about empowering others, especially young people, to discover pathways of possibility and make meaningful, self-directed choices in their lives. Read more