FYA and YLab have a diverse team of staff who play a key role in the design and delivery of all our programs. Located in Melbourne, Cairns, Hepburn, Mackay, Sydney, Perth, and East Gippsland, our team represents some of the country’s top thinkers and doers when it comes to youth empowerment, policy change, co-design and programming.
The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001. Ultimate responsibility for the governance of the company rests with the Board of Directors. These responsibilities are set out in detail in FYA’s Board Terms of Reference.
At 31 December 2025, FYA’s Board was comprised of the following:
Deputy Chair
Treasurer
Yamatji Badimaya
Darumbal and South Sea Islander
Deputy Chair - Term ended May 2025
Term ended May 2025
In 2025 the governance of FYA was further supported by the Investment, Finance & Audit and Governance & Risk Committees.
Gary Gabriel, Committee Chair
Hayley McQuire
Jason Glanville
Jack Dawson
Caleb Adams
Russell Clarke. Term ended June 2025
Jon Buckeridge. Term ended September 2025
Molly Whelan, CEO
Zoe Myers, Committee Chair & Treasurer
Jason Glanville
Lloyd Alderman
Kergen Angel (Term ended May 2025)
Molly Whelan, CEO
Rosie Thyer, Committee Chair & Board Deputy Chair
Jason Glanville
Corey Hale
Molly Whelan, CEO
At 31 December 2025, YLab’s Board was comprised of the following:
Leilani Darwin (Co-Chair)
Shailja Sharma (Co-Chair)
Lloyd Alderman (Treasurer)
James Hall
Ikram Mahamed
Telaine Bichard-Cowdrey
Elanor Huntington
Kevin Kapeke
The First Nations Governance Group is the accountability mechanism for the First Nations Team to communities we work with. This group provides cultural governance and project guidance to FYA’s work, and ensures self-determination is embedded in our work, and that there is direct communication and accountability with First Nations communities.
This includes governing the Seeding Strength program through decisions about funding.
Ngarabul
Birri Gubba Juru
Gunditjmara
Ballardong-Noongar
Gubbi Gubbi, Gurang, Zenadth Kes and Oceania
FYA and YLab have a diverse team of staff who play a key role in the design and delivery of all our programs. Located in Melbourne, Cairns, Mackay, Byron Bay, Sydney, Wollongong, Perth, and East Gippsland, our team represents some of the country’s top thinkers and doers when it comes to youth empowerment, policy change, co-design and programming.
You can read more about the FYA team here, and the YLab team here.
Our values define what we stand for, how we work together and what our work feels like as we pursue our vision. In backing young people’s power, strong values also underpin what we choose to do, and how we do it.
