Staff
Dr Tess Altman
Policy and Research Officer
Tess (she/her) has over 16 years of research experience advocating for social justice and inclusion across academic, NGO, and government sectors in Australia and internationally. Her PhD in Anthropology involved long-term fieldwork with the refugee/asylum movement in Naarm, and she has also worked with LGBTIQA+, multicultural, and First Nations communities. She strongly supports research informed by lived experience, and brings lived/family experience. She loves music and spending time in the bush on Wadawurrung country (Ballarat) where she lives with her young son and partner.
Ezra Burnett
Project Support Officer
Ezra (he/they) is a facilitator, peer support worker and aspiring writer who lives in Naarm (Melbourne) on Wurundjeri Country. He is a proudly disabled, queer, neurodivergent transgender man who is passionate about amplifying voices with lived expertise and building disability justice. Outside of CYDA, Ezra is a Minus 18 Young Leader and sits on the National Youth Advisory Council for Orygen. In his free time, you’ll find Ez hanging out with their cats, or his queer found family.
Naomi Chainey
Senior Communications and Media Adviser
Naomi (she/her) is a communications professional with a background in freelance writing, community media, filmmaking, and accessible website and social media management. Naomi has 17 years of experience producing media that foregrounds the voices and experiences of disabled people. As an Autistic spoonie, Naomi is passionate about disability rights, voice, inclusion and access.
Joanne Ellingworth
Business Manager
Joanne (she/her) has been part of the team at CYDA since 2013. With a background working as an executive assistant and administrator in small business, Joanne is the first port of call for CYDA’s administrative requirements. Joanne has family experience of disability and is extremely committed to amplifying the voice and progressing the rights of children and young people with disability.
Dr Liz Hudson
Policy and Research Manager
Liz (she/her) has a PhD in the social sciences, a teaching background; Master of Education and Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Liz’s research interests include NDIS, disability rights and social inclusion, community mental health and disability service provision, person-centred and recovery-oriented practice. Liz enjoys globetrotting, supporting human rights (Amnesty International member), independent films and beach retreats on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria.
Dr Shae Hunter
Policy and Research Officer
After a childhood spent declaring, “that’s not fair”, Shae (she/her) chose a path of social research, and a PhD in sociology, to more skilfully progress social justice outcomes. Prior to joining CYDA, her key research and policy contributions were in marginalised housing, place-based health and environmental equity, co-design for climate adaptation, and human rights. She now draws on these skills and her own life experiences to passionately advocate for disability justice. Shae secretly loves apocalyptic shows and films – especially those featuring zombies.
Skye
Kakoschke-Moore
Chief Executive Officer
Skye Kakoschke-Moore (she/her) joined CYDA as CEO in October 2022. After growing up in the Middle East, Skye completed Law and Economics degrees at Flinders University before entering politics. Initially working as an advisor to an independent Senator, Skye was elected as a Senator for South Australia in 2016. After leaving politics Skye worked in disability policy advocacy and implemented multiple co-designed capacity building projects with people with disability, including young people, people with disability in regional areas and people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
David Kavanagh
Communications and Media Advisor
David (he/him) is a communications all-rounder with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations and a Master of Marketing and Digital Communications. Before joining CYDA in 2023, David worked as a journalist and photographer in Australia and South America, covering a variety of social justice and political issues. He is passionate about the technical and creative aspects of the storytelling process and amplifying the voices of people with disability.”
Jason McCurry
Programs Manager
Throughout his career, Jason (he/him) has worked in diversity and inclusion, disability advocacy, sports and event management across many different industries including not for profit, sports, local government, higher education and agency. He has lived experience of disability, having lived with Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Anxiety since a young age. He has been a member of the Youth Action Team since 2020.
Dr Sharon O'Mara
Policy and Research Coordinator
Sharon (she/her) is an experienced researcher and educator living on Wurundjeri lands. She is part of the Child Safe Organisations project team. Prior to joining the CYDA team, Sharon taught in the Law School and Department of Crime, Justice and Legal Studies at La Trobe University. She is currently completing her PhD which examines the barriers of teaching students sexual ethics and Respectful Relationships. Sharon has family experience of disability and is a passionate advocate of the rights of children and young people with a disability.
Laura Pettenuzzo
Inclusion Coordinator
Laura (she/her) lives on Wurundjeri country. She has a Master of Professional Psychology from Monash University and a background in access and inclusion, having worked in the mental health and disability sectors for almost 10 years. Laura is a writer with a passion for accessible communication, particularly the use of plain language and Easy Read. She is a member of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council and can usually be found with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other.
Rochelle Porteous
Advocacy Campaign Coordinator
Rochelle (she/her) has extensive experience strategically designing, and running, winning advocacy campaigns, and in media management. She has worked as an advocacy manager for a peak disability advocacy organisation, and as a campaign coordinator for environmental, political and social justice organisations. She has a Masters in Communication Management. Rochelle is passionate about co-design and achieving great outcomes for children and young people with disability.
Sarah Priest
Communications and Media Advisor
Sarah (she/her) has been a communications specialist for more than 30 years, working in Australia and overseas, in the areas of youth, family, disability, health and education. She also has a Bachelor of Business Marketing. She has always been drawn to working for organisations with a social purpose. She joined CYDA to work with young people with a disability, their families, and carers who are disproportionately affected by barriers impacting their quality of life and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Rosie Putland
Communications Officer
Rosie (she/her) is a proudly Disabled communications and accessibility professional based in lutruwita/Tasmania. She is a social entrepreneur, on the board for the Regional Autistic Engagement Network (RAEN), and the founder of the Tasmanian Digital Accessibility Community. Rosie is known for her advocacy, storytelling, and her dedication to community. At CYDA she is working to ensure lived experience voices and perspectives are at the heart of everything we do.
Sonia Regan
Community Impact Manager
Sonia (she/her) has worked in a range of roles across government and community – always with a focus on empowering children, young people and families. Her qualifications in sociology and disability, have driven her advocacy for individual and systemic matters in child protection, education and disability service provision. As Community Impact Manager, Sonia strives to support CYDA to have a genuine impact as leaders in the disability community.
Jess Rosenthal
Project and Administration Support Officer
Jess is based in Naarm (Melbourne) and has been with CYDA since June 2022. In this time Jess has moved from an administration role to project support, honing their skills at the National Youth Disability Summit, and is now working on the DREAM Employment Network and other projects. Jess likes to ride bikes, dance, sew, and hang out with their friends, preferably at the beach!
Lucy Solonsch
Youth Programs Coordinator
Lucy (she/they) is a passionate advocate for human rights and systems change with experience working in LGBTQIA+ and mental health spaces. She is on the board for the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance and chairs the South Australian LGBTQIA+ Ministerial Advisory Council. Lucy is particularly interested in ensuring that people with lived experience participate in and lead decision making that impacts their lives. She is excited to get to work on CYDA’s Regional Young Leaders Program!
Emily Sullivan
Project Support Officer
Emily (she/they) is a proud and passionate advocate, with a background in consultancy and systemic advocacy roles in youth, disability, mental health and LGBTQIA+ community spaces. She holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations, which has informed their passion for working to empower and advocate for marginalized communities. Emily has extensive experience in facilitation, co-design and consultation and enjoys working closely with young people.
Sajed Timori
Senior Project Coordinator
Sajed Timori (he/him) holds professional qualifications in International Relations, Social Science and Sociology, and leadership training. He has worked on initiatives with Internews Network, Counterpart International, USAID, Drummond Street Services, and CMY, focusing on media and humanitarian development, civic engagement, multicultural and intersectional communities. Sajed is passionate about advocacy and international relations, actively championing inclusive approaches that support marginalised communities.
