The Gidget Foundation is operated by a small dedicated team of professional staff and experienced volunteers.
CEO
Program Manager
Business Development Manager
Gidget Office Manager
Gidget House Administration
Administration Manager
Digital Manager
Hospital Program Manager
Allan is one of Australia’s most highly decorated citizens, being one of only 5 Australians in the past 44 years to be awarded the Cross of Valour (CV) Australia’s highest bravery decoration. He is also the only Australian to be awarded the Cross of Valour and a subsequent National bravery decoration, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, along with other significant awards for bravery and service including the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to Mental Health Organisations and the Community, and one of only 10 Australians to receive the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Having lived experience of trauma related mental illnesses and recovery, Allan is a passionate advocate for proactive approaches and greater education relating to the physiological risks being faced by people of all ages in today’s society. He is Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW, a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW, the Chairman of the National Police Bravery Awards Committee, a member of the NSW Police Mental Health Intervention Team, Patron of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation and an Ambassador for Australia Day, Beyond Blue and Kookaburra Kids. He is a renowned keynote speaker, a best-selling author with Penguin Random House Australia and a self-confessed rugby tragic.
With a background in IT, Simone has been involved with the Gidget Foundation since its inception.
Having begun as a Founding Committee Member, Simone has held various voluntary roles including that of Committee President. Simone was the Company Secretary for over 4 years and continues to be involved in a voluntary role as an Event Manager.
Simone is both a Committee Member and Board Director and the youngest sister of Gidget.
Peni spent the first 20 years of her career in Hong Kong and the UK, working in Broadcasting. She worked predominantly in the sporting sector and was fortunate enough to work on the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and found herself on the European Golf Tour, The Tennis Tour and covering the cricket circuit. Peni came back from overseas 10 years ago and has since managed to maintain being a mum as well as freelancing in the broadcasting world.
Peni Bailey has been with Gidget House for over two years and is the Gidget Office Manager. In this role, she ensures the Sydney office runs smoothly, speaking directly with new and existing patients and making sure their emotional wellbeing is supported throughout their time at Gidget House.
When she’s not at Gidget, Peni can be found either watching or taking her three children to cricket, waterpolo, swimming, rugby, soccer and netball before going home and making the beds!
Dr. Kathryn Austin is an Obstetrician Gynaecologist who completed her specialty training in 2017 and further completed Maternal Fetal Medicine subspecialist training in 2019. Prior to embarking upon a career in medicine she worked in hospital and community pharmacy and as a counsellor with Mothersafe.
Kathryn has been a director of the Board for the state and federal Australian Medical Association (AMA). She is currently on the AMA NSW Council and the AMA NSW Charitable Foundation Advisory Board. Kathryn has been involved with various government and professional body committees that oversee quality healthcare, medical leadership and women’s health. Kathryn completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in 2014.
Based in London for over a decade, Amelia has had the privilege of managing a musculoskeletal clinic, Beyond Health. Hosting some of the UK’s finest practitioners, the clinic has been highly regarded since its establishment in 2010. She was approached to set up Beyond Health while engaged in a similar capacity in a prominent private medical clinic. Amelia took utmost pride in the level of service these clinics provided their patients and the fundamental role such establishments hold in the community.
Having returned from the UK, Amelia is studying Counselling. While studying, she is enjoying being part of the administrative team at Gidget House, where she can engage her experience in clinical administration within an environment that reflects the value she places on mental health support.
Sharing the pleasure of being back in Sydney with her Scottish husband and British-born daughter is filling the rest of the cup while she reacquaints herself with old haunts, new treasures and of course the endless sky.
Nicki joined the Gidget Foundation as its Hospital Program Manager, leading the expansion of our Gidget Emotional Wellbeing Screening Program.
Nicki has a wealth of experience having been on the hospital side of the launch of the original Emotional Wellbeing Screening Program, firstly at North Shore Private Hospital as Maternity Services Manager and later at The Mater where she was also the Maternity Services Manager.
Prior to moving into maternity management, Nicki worked as a delivery suite midwife and midwifery educator. She has a Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Nursing in Advanced Clinical Education.
Away from work Nicki is learning Spanish with a group of friends.
Lena joined the Gidget Foundation in 2019 as the Foundation Administration Manager, responsible for implementing and managing a range of administrative functions to support the delivery of all Gidget Foundation Australia’s programs, services and organisational operations.
Previously at Universal Magazines, Lena managed the subscriptions and customer service for all subscriptions across 25 titles.
Away from work, Lena’s teenage daughter and son keep her busy, especially with their sporting activities.
In addition to her family, she is actively involved with the Armenian Community group – volunteering her time with fundraising and volunteer co-ordination programs.
Lisa joined Gidget Foundation Australia as the Digital Manager in 2019, taking care of the website, social media and driving growth digitally.
As a member of the Gidget Founding Committee, Lisa previously managed the Foundation’s social media on a voluntary basis.
Lisa is a passionate mother, fundraiser, lover of all things digital and blogger.
Lisa’s personal experiences of mental ill health led her to support and inspire others through sharing her own story and through her work in the charity sector.
In her spare time she loves spending time with her son, taking and sharing beautiful photos, volunteering, reading and using social media for good.
Eliza is a Clinical Social Worker and the Founder of Blackbird Counselling, an organisation that provides counselling and support to assist women with the emotional adjustment to pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Eliza has spent her professional life pursuing her passion of supporting women through one of the most significant transitions of their life. Eliza uses a variety of evidence based approaches to underpin her framework including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Systems and Attachment Theory. Eliza has a specialised interest in developing Postnatal Recovery Plans with women and using mindfulness approaches to developing Self Care Plans. Eliza brings compassion and a non-judgemental attitude to her work at all times.
In 2018, Eliza developed ‘The Women’s Series’ facilitating four workshops addressing issues that impact upon women across the lifespan including Adjustment to Motherhood and Settling Babies Workshops. She also developed the Blackbird Mother Mentor Program, an 8 week pilot program linking new and experienced mothers in an effort to reduce social isolation. She is a registered Circle of Security Parenting Program Provider and has recently completed the Excellence in Supervisory Practice Certificate through Amovita International. She has also completed her Perinatal Non-Directive Counselling Training Certification through the Australian Psychological Society.
Eliza has appeared on ABC radio and is a regular contributor to Kids on The Coast magazine speaking about infertility, postnatal depression and maternal mental health.
Eliza is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health from the NSW Institute of Psychiatry.
Arabella joined Gidget Foundation Australia after a lengthy career in the media industry, as well as working in management for small business and publicly listed entities in both Australia and the UK.
Arabella was formerly General Manager for online magazine subscription business, iSubscribe, based in London. Prior to this, she was Director of Communications for Australian media entity PBL Media as well as its subsidiary businesses the Nine Network Australia and Bauer Media (formerly ACP Magazines). Before joining ACP Magazines, Arabella was Global General Manager – Marketing & Sales for Australian icon brand, RM Williams.
Arabella holds a Masters Degree in Communication Management from UTS. Arabella and her husband have twins – a son and a daughter.
Michaela has worked exclusively in the not for profit and government sectors in Australia, Zambia and the UK since 2001. Most recently, she worked as Prevention Portfolio Coordinator at Cancer Institute NSW, with a specific focus on increasing participation in the NSW Cervical Screening Program.
Prior to joining Cancer Institute NSW, she managed the implementation of all Camp Quality programs within the Sydney metro area supporting children diagnosed with cancer and their families. Michaela has also worked in the role of Nurse and Funding Manager at the McGrath Foundation where she was responsible for developing, implementing and managing the organisation’s national Breast Care Nurse program.
Michaela holds a MA from Oxford University and a MSc in Demography from London School of Economics and Political Science. Michaela has an energetic son and toddler daughter, who keep her on her toes when she’s not at work!
Natalie joined the team at the Gidget Foundation Australia in June 2017 as the Business Development Manager. With over 15 years’ experience relationship management, marketing and consumer identification/engagement, particularly in the not-for-profit space.
She managed the execution of the Sony group of companies’ philanthropic arm, the Sony Foundation Australia, and more recently spent five years at the McGrath Foundation where she head-up both the Corporate & Community fundraising teams. She has also worked with a number of for-purpose organisations including; Miracle Babies Foundation, Feel The Magic, Simply Giving and the Sargood Foundation.
