Our Staff
CEO:
Jenna Tuke (she/her)
Director of Services:
Anna Bernasochi (she/her)
Director of Finance and Operations:
Blake Leschen (he/him)
QLife, Training and Development Manager:
Libby Jamieson (she/her)
Suicide Prevention Manager:
Anna M (she/her)
Racial Equity and Inclusion Manager:
Monique H (she/her)
Out and About Manager:
Meredith Butler (she/her)
Pride in Ageing Lead:
Rowena Doo (she/her)
Rainbow Families Coordinator:
Hannah B (she/her)
Rainbow Door Manager:
Venetia B (she/her)
Senior Policy Lead:
Lara Hedberg (she/they)
Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator:
Claire Flynn (she/her)
Our Board
Morgan Podesta (she/her)
Chair
Morgan was a solicitor practising primarily in family law, child safety and family violence and is currently a post graduate student of psychology conducting research in family and intimate partner violence.
Morgan has worked with LGBTQIA+ people from all walks of life and advocated in Court on behalf of transgender youth seeking gender affirming care. She is a proud transgender woman and LGBTQIA+ advocate.
Clare Sullivan (she/her)
Secretary
Clare is an organisational wellbeing specialist, lawyer and provisional psychologist, with senior experience in social policy reform, strategy and program management for government and non-profit organisations.
Clare started her career as a solicitor in workplace relations where she developed an interest in workplace dynamics and psychological safety. She then worked at Beyond Blue, leading its suicide prevention policy agenda and supporting the implementation of The Way Back Support Service. She was an inaugural staff member of the National Suicide Prevention Office, and helped develop Australia’s first National Suicide Prevention Strategy, in partnership with community organisations including Switchboard. She currently works as the Manager of Organisational Wellbeing at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office.
Clare holds a Bachelor of Arts and Laws from the Australian National University, qualifications in psychology from Melbourne University and is nearing completion of a Masters in Organisational Psychology at Deakin University. She is deeply passionate about using systems thinking to create workplace environments where everyone can thrive. She is a proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community.
Sean Badley (he/they)
Deputy Chair
Sean Badley is a proud multiheritage black queer man with an ancestral heritage of African, Caribbean, and Scottish descent.
Sean currently works in the leadership and executive development industry, consulting in various sectors, including government, health, education, and numerous private sectors. Diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging are central to the themes in Sean's work, with the core focus on building safe and inclusive workspaces across Australia.
Sean has demonstrated a successful career in the private sector, having held senior leadership roles with commercial, operational, and administrative accountability in Australia, the United Kingdom, and North America.
Sean holds a Master's in business administration from RMIT, an Advanced Diploma in leadership and management, and credentials in project management, global leadership, truth-telling and anti-racism, workplace training and assessment, and capability development. This broad range of knowledge provides frameworks and insights for organizational sustainability, innovation, and people engagement.
Carolyn Gillespie (she/her)
Board Member
Carolyn is an experienced governance leader in LGBTIQA+ health, social justice and community advocacy. She brings more than 15 years senior executive experience across the not-for-profit, LGBTIQA+ community-controlled and public health sectors at state and national level to her work with Switchboard Victoria.
Recognised nationally as an expert in gender, sexual and reproductive health; mental health; family and sexual violence; and LGBTIQ+ inclusion, Carolyn is a respected advocate for structural and systemic change that improves that health, safety and wellbeing of all LGBTIQA+ people and communities. She brings a governance approach grounded in intersectional feminist, anti-oppressive and human rights practice that shapes her work and she is a strong voice for equitable, community-led solutions that have the power to truly transform.
Carolyn is also the Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Health In the North, a Victorian health promotion, violence prevention and advocacy organisation working to advance gender equity and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of women and gender-diverse people across the northern region of naarm (Melbourne).
Rachel Knight (she/her)
Treasurer
Rachel (she/her) has accumulated over 20 years of experience since beginning her career in big 4 accounting. Throughout her career, she has been had a passion for and worked predominately in not-for-profit organisations in various capacities. She holds a Bachelor of Finance from the Australian National University, is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Rachel’s expertise beyond financial management is in governance, risk management and strategy, which gives her a well-rounded perspective on decision-making. Rachel is deeply passionate about working for organisations that have a positive impact and her extensive experience reflects her commitment to making a difference.
Mitchell Ajduk (he/him)
Board Member
Mitchell has over 12 years’ experience providing risk and assurance services to support organisations in private and not-for-profit sectors to enable them to achieve their organisational goals. He has worked across multiple industries including professional services and education and places a strong emphasis on improving risk management and operational practices to support organisational growth. He is currently an Executive at CPA Australia and has a strong focus on strategy design and execution to maximise member and customer experiences.
Mitchell is passionate about ensuring there are adequate support services LGBTIQA+ communities and utilises his expertise to support Switchboard to progress these services. Mitchell has a Bachelor of Social Science and Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and is Certified Practising Accountant and Chartered Accountant. He is currently studying his Master of Business Administration at University of Melbourne.
Rob Moolman (he/him)
Board Member
Rob Moolman has had a rainbow coloured career that includes over two decades of experience across education, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, community development, philanthropy and organisational leadership. Originally from South Africa and now proudly based in Melbourne, Rob’s work is shaped by the spirit of “ubuntu” (or “I am, because we are).
Rob served as CEO of the Utah Pride Center, where he expanded statewide programs in mental health, youth and senior wellbeing, and community education, while strengthening visibility and connection for LGBTQIA+ people across Utah. He also holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne focused on inclusion for LGBTQ+ young people in schools, informing his systems-level approach to equity and cultural change.
Most recently, Rob was Managing Director of Kervale, blending commercial acumen with social purpose to build strong teams, embed inclusive culture and foster meaningful partnerships.
Rob is committed to the work of Switchboard and is particularly excited about the Pride in Aging program and the other opportunities to enhance connection and belonging for queer and trans communities across Victoria, but always guided by the belief that we thrive when we lift one another up.
Deb Bryant (she/her)
Board Member
Deb has worked at senior executive level in a range of not for profit organisations including the violence against women, mental health, LGBTIQ+ and youth justice sectors, for over 30 years.
She has sat on a number of boards including for NFP's and the Victorian Youth Parole Board.
Deb has provided consultancy services for numerous community organisations in strategy, policy, employee relations and provides a range of supervision services to both leaders and direct service staff.
In semi-retirement Deb enjoys working less, travelling, spending time with her grandchildren and has recently taken up weight lifting.
Vikki Ryall (she/her)
Board Member
Vikki Ryall is a youth and mental health expert offering three decades of experience in leading major changes to improve service delivery and evidence-based practices within the sector.
Deeply passionate about young people and safe and effective care, Vikki has extensive clinical experience with young people who are difficult to engage, high risk, and present with complex needs. Vikki is an accredited mental health social worker trained in a range of therapies and has continued clinical work throughout her career.
Bringing extensive experience in executive clinical leadership roles within mental health, Vikki has published articles, presented at many conferences both in Australia and internationally.
Vikki is a strong advocate and supporter of LGBTIQA+ inclusion, youth and family participation and family inclusion.
Vikki is the Chief Clinical Officer at headspace National and oversees government relations and policy, clinical practice, clinical governance, participation and education and training for headspace at a national level.