OUR EXECUTIVE

Renée Coffey – GAICD, BA (Hons I), Grad Dip Ed, Grad Cert (Social Impact), Stanford Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders

CEO of Kookaburra Kids

“I am passionate about empowering young people with the skills and knowledge needed to build the lives they want and I have spent most of my career working hard to offer those opportunities. It is incredibly satisfying to see the impact that Kookaburra Kids’ programs have on young people impacted by family mental illness”.

Appointed in April 2023, Renée came to Kookaburra Kids from the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation – Australia’s largest scholarship program – where she was Deputy CEO. Prior to this, Renée was Executive Director of Reconciliation South Australia – the state’s peak Reconciliation organisation. Renée is an accomplished leader with more than 15 years’ experience leading complex not for profits; complemented by an additional seven years in the public service.

Renée was a Queensland Finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards in 2000, a recipient of the Australian Honours Centenary Medal in 2003, and was selected as a delegate to the 2020 Summit in 2008.

Renée presented a TEDx talk in 2016 on the transformative power of education and completed the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at Stanford University in 2017 on a scholarship through the Stanford Australia Foundation. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2021).

Results-oriented and purpose-driven, Renée has a strong record of achievement with leadership, people management, government relations, governance, major gifts, fundraising and philanthropy.

Richard Goldman – B.Bus, MBA, CA, FCPA, FAICD

Head of Commercial and Finance

“What I love about my role is seeing the positive impact of the decisions being made to improve our ways of working, financial sustainability, corporate governance, and organisational maturity”

Richard has more than 30 years of experience leading corporate services functions including finance and commercial management, strategy, corporate governance, risk management, business development, human resources, legal services, procurement, asset management, and information technology.

Richard has held senior leadership positions with iconic Australian organisations in the private sector within banking and finance (Macquarie Bank, Commonwealth Bank), airlines (Qantas), professional services (SMS Consulting), fast moving consumer goods (Unilever), publicly listed equity investment, and telecommunications (Telstra); Government (ASIC, NSW Health, Transport for NSW, NSW Planning and Environment, NSW Finance and Services); Higher Education (University of NSW); and non-executive directorships with not for profit organisations.

As AKKF’s Chief Financial Officer, Richard leads the finance and commercial management functions, regulatory compliance, information technology, facilities management, risk management, and board governance.

Noella Ennis –RN, BN (Mental Health), MN (Mental Health), CertCogBehavTherapy

Head of Clinical Services

“I’m passionate about working in all facets of mental health, driven by a desire to contribute to prevention efforts. My work at AKKF is really satisfying as it provides for the well being of younger individuals, particularly children facing the challenges of parental mental illness”

Noella is a dedicated Clinical Nurse Consultant and the Head of Clinical Services for the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation (AKKF). With a career spanning nearly two decades in the field of mental health, Noella is a passionate advocate for the well-being of younger individuals, particularly children facing the challenges of parental mental illness (COPMI) and those involved in forensic mental health.

Noella’s extensive experience, combined with a compassionate approach, makes her a valuable asset to AKKF and an influential figure in the broader mental health community. As the Head of Clinical Services, Noella continues to lead with dedication, ensuring that the foundation’s mission of supporting children and families impacted by mental illness remains at the forefront of her work. Her commitment to fostering a healthier future through prevention and intervention is evident in every aspect of her professional journey.

Noella’s journey in mental health has been marked by a deep commitment to prevention and intervention. Her dream of working with children has guided her career, and she brings a wealth of experience to her role at AKKF.

As the former Cluster Coordinator for a large randomized control study conducted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Noella spent almost eight years leading a team of clinicians in Sydney. The team’s focus was on conducting comprehensive mental health and risk assessments for individuals identified as prone to violence with impulsivity. The ultimate goal was to reduce impulsivity, thereby mitigating violent tendencies.

With almost 20 years of diverse experience, Noella has served in various capacities, including:

• Acute mental health wards for the elderly, adults, and children.
• Clinical Nurse Educator on acute mental health wards.
• COPMI clinician (Children of Parents with Mental Illness).
• Nurse in Charge on all wards in the Forensic Hospital.
• Community mental health, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Therapeutic Services in a private clinic

Alison Schultz – BA (Human Resources Management), Grad Cert (Corporate Management), Cert IV (Workplace Training & Assessment), Managing Human Resources Mt Eliza Business School

Head of Human Resources

“What I love about my role is connecting with people across all levels of our organisation. It’s an opportunity to understand what motivates each individual and to understand how best I can support them to thrive so they can be their best each day. I aim to lead by example by acting with integrity and aligning my values & behaviours with those of Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation. I care about the organisation I work for, its people – and this shows in the results we achieve together. It’s a privilege to be part of a foundation that empowers young people to thrive beyond the impacts of family mental illness”.

Alison Schultz is a Human Resources practitioner with over 25 years’ experience working across multiple HR functions and Australian industry groups. A genuine and authentic leader who builds rapport with all levels within an organisation. A respected leader who has the proven experience and capability to build and implement strategic and operational plans to achieve improved results for an organisation and foster an inclusive workplace.

As Head of Human Resources, Alison’s role is to support all leaders and employees in the areas of recruitment, performance management, change management, learning & development, talent & succession planning and employee engagement. Alison commenced with Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation in late 2023 and forms part of the senior leadership team.