Our Board

Kellie is an experienced non-executive director serving on boards as a non-executive director and Chair, since 2003; including Federal and State government trading enterprises, public listed and unlisted companies, private equity funded entities, mutuals and various not-for-profits, associations, and for-purpose organisations. She is a graduate of and has been awarded a fellowship by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

After commencing her career with King & Wood Mallesons as a corporate lawyer, she moved into investment banking, and most recently held senior executive positions such as Chief Operating Officer; Chief Risk Officer, and Executive General Manager within AX20 companies, with responsibility for large and complex portfolios.

She holds a Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Relations), Master of Applied Finance and is a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Programme. She has also studied digital leadership at master’s level.

She leads with vision and values; and has a collaborative approach, helping to create a trusting, open environment prepared for challenge and change, as proven across a range of industries including property, energy and mining, infrastructure, technology (digital and data, geospatial), agribusiness, education, health services, carbon, and financial and professional services. She enjoys working in complex, diverse, changing environments; balancing best practice and an evidence-based approach with the many challenges facing organisations. Kellie joined Youth Futures in 2023.

James founded Office Solutions IT in 1996, a multimillion-dollar company which now has 150 team members in 6 locations and specialises in building long-term relationships with clients by getting the most from their IT systems. James brings with him a diverse portfolio of skills associated principally with IT, sales, communication, business start-up operations and infrastructure. James studied Psychology and Media Studies and completed his Postgraduate in Business IT. On completion of his MBA at Edith Cowan University, James subsequently tutored and lectured the course for 4 years. James joined Youth Futures in 2017.

Colleen is a Chartered Accountant with over a decade of experience in Corporate Accounting. She brings expertise in Financial & Management Accounting, Analysis & Modelling as well as Corporate & Financial Strategy.

Colleen spent more than 12 years in the private sector, with a private equity owned international organisation specialising in electrical infrastructure and utilities. She has since shifted into the Not-For-Profit sector and is currently the Financial Controller for the Anglican Diocese of Perth.

An experienced Non-Executive Director, Colleen has capabilities in governance, compliance and has a particular interest in financial strategy and impact growth. She also serves on the Board of St Bart’s.

Jenny is a highly accomplished educational leader having held executive roles for more than three decades across Australia. She is also an accomplished non-executive director, consultant, strategic facilitator and mentor/ coach.

Prior to establishing her own consultancy, Lead-Learn-Grow, and working as an Associate at Fisher Leadership, she undertook an assignment as Interim Principal at Methodist Ladies College in Perth. Jenny has been Head of Oxley College, NSW (2019-2022), Principal of the Perth College (2003-2018) and Interim Principal of Methodist Ladies College, WA (2002). In all her roles, she was highly regarded as an educational leader with a passion for developing an inclusive and positive culture, problem solving and professional growth of staff.

Committed to life-long learning, Jenny studied at Curtin University, Harvard University, the University of Melbourne and the Institute of Company Directors. Jenny has been a non-executive director for the Association of Heads of Independent Schools and the Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia and the Independent Sporting Association (NSW).

Jenny joined Youth Futures in 2024.

Karen is an experienced in-house legal adviser and not-for-profit Board member.

Karen was formerly Senior Legal Counsel for an ASX 100 lithium mining company and the Australian General Counsel for a global resources company with mineral rights and processing plants in Western Australia, and upstream processing operations in the US and Japan.

Previously, Karen was the senior in-house legal adviser to an ASX 200 company for over 10 years, with a depth of experience in all legal aspects of the operation and growth of the company from a newly listed company into the largest agricultural investment management company in Australia.

Prior to moving in-house, Karen provided technical expertise in commercial and property law, and had broad exposure to a variety of industries and businesses, acquired from working with Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills) for nearly 10 years.

Karen joined Youth Futures in 2024.

Jason is currently Partner-in-Charge of KPMG’s Western Australian Valuations practice. He has over 27 years of advisory experience providing specialist corporate finance advice, focussing on valuation assignments, completing both private valuations and public expert reports to corporations operating in a wide range of industries.

Jason has served on various Boards and advisory committees, including as a Board member at Child Inclusive Learning and Development Australia, and on the Board of Governance at Community Vision. Jason’s experience in these areas will bring valuable perspectives to Youth Futures in both matters of governance and strategy.

Jason has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia; a graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investments from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia; and is a Chartered Accountant.

Jason joined Youth Futures in 2024.