Our Board

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. The Board is elected from the membership at the annual general meeting and is accountable to members.

Candidates for the Board are drawn from a wide cross-section of expertise within the homelessness and out-of-home care sector in NSW.

If you wish to nominate for Board positions, contact us for nomination forms.

Nerida Ackerman - President - NDIS Specialist Delegate

Eleonore Johansson - Treasurer

Eleonore has worked in the Community Services Industry for 30 years. Eleonore has a 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.

Lex Lutherborrow - Secretary

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 of experience working in a variety of roles including government, public and not for profit sectors. The variety of roles held 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 variety 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. Currently, Kellie heads up a national youth employment program working with young people at risk of long term unemployment to address any barriers to gaining and maintaining employment and then providing long term support to ensure a successful transition.

Alan Brennan - Regional Delegate

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 NGO’s, who 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.

Lisa Graham - Metropolitan Delegate

Lisa has 30 years of experience managing at-risk youth programs in both the education and community service sectors. Prior to joining Taldumande, Lisa managed programs with young people in out-of-home residential care, young people within the Juvenile Justice system and managed community education programs in Sydney’s Western Suburbs.

Lisa is passionate about sustaining positive organisational culture and maintaining strong staff morale to ensure young people receive the focus and care they deserve and to which they are entitled.

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 enable government policy for vulnerable children and families in the community.