Our team
Meet the Youth Live4Life team.
Our rurally-based team is passionate about empowering communities to improve youth mental health and reduce youth suicide.
We have extensive expertise in youth mental health training, not-for-profits, local and state government, community engagement, international development, administration and project management, social research, evaluation and advocacy. We are supported by our board and committees, who offer expertise and lived experience in even more diverse areas.
Bernard was appointed CEO of Youth Live4Life in May 2018 having previously served as a Director of Youth Live4Life. In that time, Youth Live4Life has expanded to nine rural communities and is highlighted as an important case study in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System's final report.
Since moving to regional Victoria in 2006, Bernard has been actively involved with many community organisations. In addition to this, he has held board positions for not-for-profit groups including the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and The Wantok Musik Foundation.
Bernard Galbally
Chief Executive Officer
Rebecca is the Deputy CEO and Director of Impact and Strategy; her team works directly with communities to support the implementation of Live4Life. Rebecca has a passion for ensuring young people have a say in the decisions that impact their health and futures. With 20 years’ experience leading youth policy, advocacy and social programs, Rebecca has dedicated her working life to supporting and improving young people’s lives.
Rebecca Morecroft
Deputy CEO Director of Impact and Strategy
Cathryn is passionate about working with rural communities to implement collaborative local solutions. Cathryn brings on-the-ground experience in youth participation and partnership development to help guide communities through the implementation of Live4Life. Keen to challenge the status quo when it comes to youth mental health, Cathryn believes that putting youth mental health back into the hands of young people with the support of the wider community will make all the difference.
Cathryn Walder
Community Engagement Manager
Sara has dedicated her professional career to supporting and working with young people and their communities. Sara brings a wealth of experience working in partnerships with government and non-government organisations and has extensive skills in community building and creating lasting change in rural communities. Prior to joining Live4Life Sara has worked directly with young people within the youth mental health sector. Sara is passionate about working from a strength-based practice model and utilizes her skills in empowerment and engagement to bring out the best of the communities that she works with.
Sara Cogo
Live4Life Adviser (Gippsland)
Kathryn loves working with communities to support and empower them to achieve outcomes of their own choosing. Having honed her people skills from her extensive travels and time spent working in the hospitality, corporate and community development sectors, Kathryn believes that connections and a shared purpose are key to making impactful change. With a young family, Kathryn enjoys camping adventures, a good book and great food.
Kathryn Chai
Live4Life Adviser (Central Victoria)
Steve comes to Live4Life with over 20 years experience in the community sector, having worked with individuals across the lifespan and community groups in a range of regional and metropolitan areas. Steve has a genuine interest in rural communities and quickly builds rapport with people to establish valuable, meaningful and strategic relationships.
In more recent times, Steve’s career has focused on improving the mental health and wellbeing of, and reducing rates of suicide in target populations.
Steve Power
Live4Life Adviser (Membership)
Alannah grew up in a small town in South-West Victoria, experiencing first hand the lack of support and the stigma around mental health in regional and rural areas. This inspired her to study a Bachelor of Health Sciences, Majoring in Health Promotion at La Trobe University, and she graduated in 2022.
With her passion for youth mental health, she completed her University placement at Youth Live4Life in 2022, which solidified her need to make a change surrounding mental health stigma for young people in regional and rural areas.
Alannah Sander
Youth Engagement / Administration Support
Bridie has an academic background in International Development and Youth Mental Health, with over six years of experience working directly with diverse groups of young people. Along with her work as an Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Clinician, Bridie has been involved in ground breaking initiatives as a co-designer for the Macedon Ranges Youth Strategy. She is proud to have been a part of the first ever school group to be involved in Live4Life in 2010.
Bridie is immensely passionate about normalising conversations about mental health and bringing communities together to support young people.
Bridie Johnstone
Live4Life Program Support
Sophie is passionate about improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people, through the translation of research into evidence based policy and practice. Sophie brings to the team over a decade of experience in the coordination and management of research in socio-emotional health of children, youth and families. Sophie has knowledge and experience in mental health, health program evaluation, health policy and community engagement.
As a Macedon Ranges local and a mother to two little people - Sophie is personally invested in the success of programs such as Live4Life.
Sophie Barker
Policy & Research Specialist
Josephine has extensive communication experience and expertise in creating engaging digital content and managing highly successful impact campaigns, Jo brings a perfect mix of creative and technical skills to Youth Live4Life. She has 20+ years working in the media industry, is a master multitasker and a stellar storyteller.
Jo moved to the Macedon Ranges with her young family in 2016 and is really keen to be an active part of the local community and to help to support young people living in rural and regional areas.
Josephine Wright
Communications and Fundraising Manager
Kirsten is a writer, editor and podcaster based in Castlemaine, Vic. Many of her creative projects have involved bringing teenagers to the heart of the conversation and her latest book and podcast, Almost a Mirror, is set around the pop and post-punk music scene in St Kilda's Crystal Ballroom and beyond. She is also an arts journalist - writing on film, music, visual arts and literature - for Guardian, Saturday Paper and The Age/Sydney Morning Herald, and has been an editor of literary magazines for over a decade. She's a mum of two tween/teen kids and looks forward to working with young people and supporting mental health initiatives in rural and regional communities.
Kirsten Krauth
Communications Specialist
Ian is a graphic designer, videographer, and self-confessed music nerd. He has had an eclectic career giving him a unique depth of knowledge and a good understanding of others. Ian is deeply passionate about grassroots community initiatives and actively seeks opportunities to impact his local community positively. Ian is committed to supporting social innovation through his design work. As a versatile and creative professional Ian uses his skills and expertise to drive positive change.
Originally from England, Ian now lives in Gippsland with his family. He has two children, aged 8 and 10.
Ian Thomas
Visual Communications
Currently based in Melbourne, Candice has worked in a number of not-for-profit organisations and loves making a difference through the work she undertakes. She is particularly passionate about telling the stories of the individuals and organisations with whom she works and facilitating change through mentorship, inspiration and community education. Candice strongly believes in the Live4Life ethos “Nothing for young people without young people” and is excited to be a part of the team as Communications, Fundraising and Administration Support.
With a passion for helping others and delivering impact, Angela is a self-professed admin fan who loves a spreadsheet, a project plan and finding smarter ways to work. Angela has recently completed the Youth Mental Health First Aid training refresher course.
Angela Van Dam
Executive Assistant / Office Manager
Stephen is a writer, theatre practitioner and photographer. He has written for theatre, radio and television, winning an Australian Writers Guild award for his SBS teleplay ‘Wee Jimmy’ and has run a successful commercial copywriting business for 25 years. His written work covers a diverse range of styles and content, from freewheeling creative explorations to austere corporate documentation.
Stephen is a 20 year resident of the Macedon Ranges, where he has a long history of community volunteerism. Stephen has two adult daughters and lives with his scruffy dog Noki in Newham.
Stephen Mitchell
Communications Specialist
Charlotte has over 25 years’ experience of working in the not-for-profit sector. Since moving to Australia from the UK in 2004, Charlotte has worked both as an employee and consultant for organisations large and small ranging from the arts to homelessness, community development and mental health. Specialising in major gifts and grants over the last 12 years, Charlotte is not shy of word counts and deadlines, and loves matching funders with giving opportunities that improve outcomes for people and the planet.
Charlotte Francis
Philanthropy Specialist
Ryan is a creative producer and project manager with 15+ years’ experience in the community engagement, youth, arts, government and non-profit sectors. Driven by a commitment to social justice and amplifying lesser heard voices, he’s dedicated his career to creating and facilitating inclusive, transformative programs and experiences for and with communities. Ryan was formerly Project Director of Youth Take Over, supporting rural and regional young people to transition to work. He is a graduate of the 2023 Victorian LGBTIQA+ Leadership Program and a current YACVic Board Director.
Ryan Hale
Live4Life Adviser
Bonny is a media and communications professional specialising in documentary filmmaking as a creative producer. Currently based in Melbourne, Bonny grew up in remote central Australia and has strong ties to her hometown of Alice Springs. Her commitment to preserving Australian LGBTQIA+ history inspired her debut documentary, 'Why Did She Have To Tell The World?' More recently, she produced the online series 'Unerased,' highlighting the experiences of nine trans and gender-diverse teenagers. At the core of Bonny's work is a mission to tell stories that spark real conversations and drive positive change within the community.
Bonny Scott
Marketing and Advertising Coordinator
Ben started his career working in finance before moving into not-for-profits and fundraising.
With over eight years experience fundraising and marketing for both health and mental health NFPs, Ben is incredibly passionate about the mental health space and delivering remarkable and impactful campaigns. Ben grew up in South West Victoria and currently lives in Melbourne.
Ben Askeland
Fundraising Campaign Specialist
Annie has dedicated her entire professional life to working with and for young people. Annie's career in the youth sector has spanned three decades of diverse and exciting roles including individual youth and family support, community development, program development, project management and partnership engagement.
Annie understands the extraordinary value of youth participation best practice and as a Master Youth & Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor has been actively strengthening the capacity of young people and adults in rural communities since 2011, to confidently support young people's mental health and wellbeing, when they need it most.
Annie Rowland
Live4Life Adviser
Candice Jansz-Buck
Fundraising, Communications and Administration Support
