Our people

Judy has extensive leadership and operational experience in both the for-purpose and corporate sectors, with specialist expertise in strategy and philanthropy. Her not-for-profit experience includes eight years with The Smith Family, where she held several executive leadership roles, including Deputy CEO and Acting CEO.

Vanessa is an award-winning professional fundraiser who has worked in the non-profit sector for two decades. She strives to build a strong and successful culture of fundraising and provide Australians with opportunities to support children and young people facing challenging circumstances. Vanessa joined Youth Off The Streets in 2024, after spending four years as Head of Fundraising at Australian Red Cross.

Richard leads our Finance and Operations teams, overseeing strategic financial planning and all aspects of our finance and accounting function, while also ensuring that our programs have access to the well-equipped properties they need to deliver services effectively to the children and young people we support.  

As a Fellow Chartered Accountant, Richard has provided advisory services to the government, healthcare and not-for-profit sectors in both the UK and Australia, identifying and implementing organisation-wide improvements. Richard brings a lifelong passion and enthusiasm for the not-for-profit sector and supporting young people, specifically. He joined Youth Off The Streets in 2024 and draws energy from seeing the truly life-changing impact that our services have on young people who may be at their most vulnerable. 

Fiona is the Chief Operating Officer and leads a broad range of functions to ensure teams across Youth Off The Streets have the space, tools and skills they need to create positive futures for children and young people. Her portfolio includes people and culture, volunteering, organisational development, information technology, risk and compliance, research, evaluation and strategy. This diverse team is charged with supporting the business to achieve effective and efficient operations and drive forward the five-year strategic plan. Fiona also oversees embedding the trauma-informed Sanctuary Model across the organisation, an initiative designed to ensure staff wellbeing, leading to better outcomes for the children and young people we serve. 

With over 20 years’ experience leading corporate and operational functions, Fiona is a strong advocate for programs and initiatives that strengthen employee engagement through safety and wellness. She joined Youth Off The Streets in 2022 and is inspired by the bravery and resilience of young people and passion of the Youth Off The Street team. 

Catherine leads the Education Services team, which aims to reimagine the possibilities of alternative education in more effectively supporting the growth of children and young people, and staff. An advocate for innovation, inclusion and equity, Catherine continuously seeks creative and impactful ways to reengage young people in education. 

With over 35 years’ experience working across all NSW school systems, Catherine is driven by a deep commitment to creating learning environments where transformative relationships form the foundation for personal and academic growth. She joined Youth Off The Streets in 2008, witnessing the incredible growth and success across the organisation. 

Karen leads the Marketing and Communications team, whose purpose is to raise awareness of Youth Off The Streets and its impact through engaging and inspiring content. Karen also plays a key role in the development of communications that advocate for the rights and needs of children and young people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

With 25 years’ experience spanning television documentary, book publishing and the not-for-profit sector, she is passionate about storytelling, strategic communications and collaborative leadership. She joined Youth Off The Streets in 2020 and is motivated every day by the resilience and determination shown by the young people the organisation supports.  

Anne has over 30 years’ experience as a senior executive and non-executive director spanning industries including the Federal Government, health insurance and industry associations. Anne is experienced in developing strategy and leading multi-disciplinary teams to implement and achieve that strategy. She has a strong background in research, stakeholder management, strategic communications and community engagement and spent a number of years as a Youth Off The Streets mentor to young people in a voluntary capacity. Anne is currently the CEO of the Talent Development Project and is a Trustee with the NSW Responsible Gambling Fund. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a qualified mediator and holds an MBA from MGSM. 

After a successful career playing AFL for Carlton, North Melbourne, Collingwood and the Sydney Swans, Craig is now the Facilities Manager for the University of New South Wales. He was CEO of the NSW Australian Football League (1990–1998), Chairman of Selectors, Sydney Swans (1986–1987) and Deputy Chairman of the NSW Sports Federation (1996–2003), as well as Chairman of the Non-Olympic Sports Task Force (1996–2000). In addition to his significant Board experience, Craig holds a Surveying Certificate from RMIT. Craig has served in governance positions for Youth Off The Streets over many years in different roles, including Chairman. Craig is Ambassador to Muscular Dystrophy Tasmania. 

Paul is a Certified Practising Accountant with over 40 years finance experience in financial control, internal audit, system implementation, business transformation and process improvement, gained in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. 

In addition, Paul has 20 years of Boardroom experience with companies such as Seven Group Holdings, Seven Media Group, Seven West Media, NSW Trains and Countplus. 

Sue Foxcroft-Cliffe brings over 25 years of experience in educational leadership within K–12 schools in the UK and Australia. She has worked across private, public and Catholic systems, specialising in student wellbeing, community engagement and school-family partnerships. Sue excels in enhancing school cultures and supporting at-risk students. She has led initiatives that improve student health, engagement, retention, academic achievement and life skills. Her strategic leadership and commitment to educational excellence have significantly improved student outcomes and school communities throughout her career. 

Patrick joined the Youth Off The Streets board in June 2024. He began his career at Grant Thornton and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant. He has extensive experience across property, public healthcare, education, and the disability sector, having worked for Ingenia Communities, St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney and UTS. Patrick has developed a deep passion for supporting people to reach their full potential. He is currently the Finance Director for MGG Health APAC . Additionally, Patrick is a Social Impact Fellow, having completed a fellowship with the Social Impact Hub, which underscores his commitment to making a positive difference in the community. 

Luke has worked as an IT consultant throughout Australia, the UK and Switzerland. He has managed the complex requirements of SMEs, multinational corporations and federal and state government departments, delivering innovative and industry best practice solutions. Luke’s formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Luke first worked with Youth Off The Streets in the early 2000s when he provided IT services to the organisation, an experience that inspired him to seek appointment to the Board.