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, as well as amplifying the voices of people with disability through media engagement and communications rooted in lived experience.
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.
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.
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.
Vale Rochelle Porteous
Advocacy Campaign Coordinator
Rochelle (she/her) was CYDA’s Campaign Coordinator until she sadly passed away in January 2025. Throughout her career, Rochelle was involved in designing, running, and winning multiple advocacy campaigns for disability, environmental, political, and social justice organisations. She had extensive experience in media management and a Master in Communication Management. Her passion lay in co-design and achieving great outcomes for children and young people with disability. Rochelle is deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and the wider disability community.
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.
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.
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.
