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Staff

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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.

Tess is smiling, she has long dark curly hair, is wearing glasses and a bright green sweater

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.

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. 

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Sarah Faithfull

Operations and Governance Manager

Sarah (she/her) leads CYDA’s operations and governance work, supporting the Board and committees, strengthening organisational systems, and developing inclusive policies and workforce planning. She has over a decade of experience in youth participation and organisational development across youth advocacy organisations in Australia and the UK. Sarah is passionate about building values-driven, accessible workplaces where staff and young people can thrive. Outside of work, she spends tie sewing, knitting, reading, and herding her cats, Craig and Monty.

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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. 

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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.

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Madeleine Gay

Policy and Research Officer

Maddy (she/her) is passionate about creating policy and research centered on lived experience and strongly believes ‘nothing about us, without us.’ Before CYDA, she worked in the international development and humanitarian aid sector to reduce barriers to humanitarian deployment, and increase accessibility and inclusion across humanitarian action. Currently completing a Master of International Development Practice, Maddy’s research interests include gender equality, disability, social inclusion, and human rights. She has experience in participatory co-design and conducting anthropologic field research on community-led disaster risk reduction.

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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, as well as amplifying the voices of people with disability through media engagement and communications rooted in lived experience.

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Jason McCurry

Programs Manager

Jason McCurry (he/him) has led several projects centring young people with disability during his 5 years at CYDA, including the National Youth Disability Leadership Program, the National Youth Disability Summit, the DREAM Employment Network and the Employer Innovation Lab. He has lived experience of disability and mental illness, living with Tourette Syndrome, Anxiety and OCD from a young age. Throughout his career, Jason has worked in diversity and inclusion, disability advocacy, sports, and event management across different industries. He is passionate about making sure marginalised groups are provided opportunities to participate in decision-making on key issues important to their lives.

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Kym Meers

Inclusive Education Project Officer

Kym (she/her) is on a journey to ensure we live in an inclusive world.  A passionate advocate for disability inclusion and epilepsy awareness inspired by her youngest daughter, her focus is on education, fundraising, and creating supportive communities for families affected by epilepsy.  Her dedication has earned her numerous accolades, including the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2021. With a background in state government management and project work, Kym has also worked as a school support officer and recently completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health to deepen her understanding of community support. Known for her approachable and empathetic nature, she enjoys connecting with people over coffee and walks along her local beach.

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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. 

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Rosie Putland

Community Engagement Coordinator

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 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.

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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. 

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Lauren Riessen

Project Coordinator Inclusive Education

Lauren Riessen (she/her) has spent over 15 years working in or alongside the disability sector, across government, local council, not-for-profit, and private sectors. With a background in psychology and counselling, she is passionate about inclusive education and ensuring people with disability have the right supports to reach their potential. Before joining CYDA, Lauren spent some time in policy and inclusive education, having previously worked in disability case management, advocating for better outcomes for individuals and their families. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her primary school aged daughters, and engaging in self-care through building intricate Lego sets, nurturing her indoor plants, and getting lost in a good podcast.

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Lucy Solonsch

Programs and Training 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!

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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.