Our Team

Peter is an experienced company director, leadership coach for senior executives and strategy advisor to Boards and senior teams, working across Asia Pacific. He has over 25 years' senior executive experience in general management, marketing and strategy in leading national companies across a diverse range of industries. He has held senior executive positions in FMCG, Health, Utilities and Energy industries in both the public and private sectors.

Peter is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, and an Affiliate Member, Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School affiliate.

Peter was ppointed as a Director of the Board of yourtown in February 2011, and appointed Chair in 2018.

Qualifications & Skills:
B Social Work, Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, 
Certified Executive Coach Swinburne University, PCC, FAICD, FAMI

Kristan is a partner of a leading independent Australian law firm with a background in property and corporate advisory. She advises property developers, government and government-owned corporations, major landlords and tenants, listed corporations and private clients in a vast array of transactions. She has presented at a variety of legal conferences in the property and commercial sectors, including the Property Council of Australia. Kristan's memberships include Queensland Law Society, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Property Council of Australia and Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Kristina is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years' experience in both commerce and public practice. Kristina provides taxation and business advice to a variety of clients including individuals, investors, superannuation funds and small- to medium-sized enterprises. Kristina is a director of the BDCU Alliance Bank, a member-owned social enterprise that provides financial products and services via a strategic alliance with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. Kristina holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Br Peter is a De La Salle Brother and a practical theologian. He has more than 30 years' experience working in Catholic education in Australia and New Zealand, including serving as a principal of schools in both countries. In 2019 he completed doctoral studies at Fordham University, the Jesuit university of New York, specialising in the area of Christian spirituality.

Br Peter’s reflections on the intersection of faith, spirituality and culture led to his dissertation that focuses on the ways in which a founding charism can be nurtured and sustained in 21st century Lasallian ministries. Br Peter is currently the Director of Formation for Mission for the La Salle District of Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea. He has held a number of Board positions and currently holds membership of the District Council of the De La Salle Brothers, the Gerard Rummery Institute, the Pakistan Sector Mission Council, and the District Governance Working Committee.

Megan was Australia’s first National Children’s Commissioner, completing her seven-year term in 2020. As Commissioner, Megan conducted a number of focused investigations into human rights issues for children, including in relation to: self-harm and suicide, domestic violence, teen parents and their children, and custodial detention. She also monitored and reported on Australia’s performance in delivering on its commitments against the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and led the development of national principles for child-safe organisations. 

Previously, Megan was the NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People and has had an extensive career in senior leadership positions in child protection and out of home care, disability, juvenile justice and early childhood services. Megan was also the CEO of the Australian Council for Social Services between 2001 and 2004.

Megan holds post-graduate qualifications in Psychology, Social Policy and Education, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Sydney, through the Research Centre for Children and Families, and serving on a number of government and non-government boards.

Megan was appointed as a Director of the Board of yourtown in April 2020.

Qualifications & Skills:
BA, Dip Ed, MA

Matt is the CEO of 54 reasons.

He has significant sector experience across the areas of child protection, family therapy, relationship counselling, mediation, sexual assault and violence prevention.

Passionate about social justice, improving systems and therapeutic practice, Matt is an experienced practitioner and has held senior executive roles in some of Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisations in a career spanning nearly two decades.

Anita Le is currently a consulting partner with Price Waterhouse Coopers within their Integrated Infrastructure team. Prior to commencing with PwC, Anita was a partner with Deloitte, and spent almost 19 years with Accenture leading information management delivery programs. 

Anita has over 20 years’ experience working across digital experience, transformation, technology and delivery.  She specialises in organisational and transformational change and has extensive experience in the health sector.  She has worked across multiple industries and has led transformation engagements with a specific focus on human centred design, personalisation, customer experience, technology, innovation and process improvement.

She has a deep understanding of the organisation and its aspirations. Anita was appointed as a Director of the Board of yourtown in October 2022. 

Qualifications & Skills:
Bachelor of Information Management and Systems from Monash University

Andrew is currently a Senior Manager at QIC where he focuses on attracting clients and developing appropriate products and solutions for clients to invest in.

He has worked in finance and investment for over 12 years with various roles across community, university and for-profit sectors. Andrew has a passion for improving the lives of young people in Australia and is excited to actively contribute to this through yourtown.

Andrew has previously sat on the Board of The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Services Brisbane (ATSICHS), The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), and Karalumba. He is currently the Independent Chair of the Finance Committee for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Queensland (ATSIHQ).

In 2021, Andrew broke the Guinness World Record for most amount of weight lifted by kettlebell swing in 24 hours. He managed 9,208 swings and lifted over 166,000kg. His other awards include an Australia Day Medallion in both 2014 and 2016, CareerTrackers Student of the Year and CareerTrackers Alumni Excellence Award.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business (with Distinction) from QUT.

Tracy has more than 30 years' experience with yourtown and was appointed CEO in 2008. In this role, she is responsible for implementing the organisation's strategic direction and ensuring its operations are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

Since being appointed to her current position she has directed significant company growth, including an operating budget increase of more than $40 million, a client increase of more than 100%, a greatly enhanced advocacy platform for those experiencing social exclusion, and an organisational name change. Tracy has frequently addressed Government enquiries into the welfare of Australian youth.

Tracy is an Affiliated Member of the De La Salle Institute, a graduate of the Harvard Business School General Management Program, and a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML).  She holds a number of for profit and non-profit Board positions, and is an executive advisor to the QUT – Executive MBA program.

Preya Pillay joined yourtown in January 2022 as Chief Financial Officer, responsible for our finance, business analysis and performance, property and procurement functions and teams.

Preya is a Chartered Accountant, who brings more than 25 years’ experience in finance, having worked with major listed companies, the public sector and more recently the not-for-profit/for-purpose sector in health and care settings.

She is a passionate advocate for social justice and is driven to improve outcomes for marginalised, disadvantaged and isolated individuals and communities, irrespective of their background, race or gender.

Helen Vahdat commenced as Chief Information Officer in May 2020 where she manages the identification and implementation of business improvement processes to assist efficiency and productivity of the transformation of Information Technology at yourtown.

Prior to working with yourtown, Helen was General Manager, Enterprise & Digital Applications at UnitingCare. Helen has experience in senior management positions within private business and the not-for-profit sectors, having worked in senior IT executive roles with Goodstart Early Learning, Watpac, Thiess Pty Ltd and Transpacific Pty Ltd.

Helen holds a M.A. Information Technology from QUT.

Brendan commenced at yourtown in 2003 to help establish our employment, education and training programs and their associated regional delivery network. In 2016, Brendan was appointed as our Head of Client Services, leading the implementation and delivery of integrated client services in line with our organisational strategic framework. Prior to working with yourtown, Brendan spent five years as a senior manager with a major national recruitment agency following 16 years with the Federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) in a variety of operational and senior management positions. Brendan has a Graduate Certificate in Business and extensive experience in the training and employment services industry in the private, public and community sectors.

Jodie McAloney joined yourtown in March 2022 as Head of People & Culture, leading the general Human Resources, talent recruitment and retention, training and development, and HR Operations functions and teams.

Prior to working with yourtown, Jodie spent nine years in senior HR leadership roles with Churches of Christ in Queensland, a large, for-purpose, faith-based organisation and was their inaugural Director of People & Culture. Her extensive professional background covers service delivery, human resources, leadership development and talent management within the federal and state government, commercial and for-purpose sectors.

As a values-driven professional, Jodie is excited to be part of creating social safety and economic opportunity for young people and empowering yourtown’s leaders to create workplaces and spaces that equip, develop, inspire and reward our people.