Our staff

FYA’s Senior Executive Team

Adam Smith

Adam is a passionate and highly regarded advocate for public education and young people in Australia.

Soon after joining Education Foundation Australia in November 2005, Adam was appointed Chief Executive Officer, making him one of Australia’s youngest CEO’s. In 2008 Adam led a merger with one of Australia’s largest philanthropic foundations, The Foundation for Young Australians and now leads the combined organisation – which works towards every young Australian becoming a successful learner, and confident, active and valued citizen.

Adam’s achievements in this role include co-creating the largest corporate partnership in school education in Australia – NAB’s $15 million Schools First initiative and creating a documentary which screened on national television profiling prominent Australians celebrating their time in our nation’s fine public schools.

An internationally respected speaker across the areas of education, philanthropy, charitable tax reform and youth development, Adam’s experience spans philanthropy, youth, education and disability and includes leadership roles in both government and the social sectors.

Drew Arthurson

Lucas Walsh

Dr Lucas Walsh is currently Director of Research at The Foundation for Young Australians. His responsibilities include commissioning research such as the annual report “How Young People Are Faring”, as well as being commissioned to conduct research by independent and government bodies such as the National Curriculum Board.

Previously Lucas has worked in corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. He has managed the Online Curriculum Centre within the International Baccalaureate Organisation in the UK, held three academic research fellowships and been invited to consult local and commonwealth governments.

Lucas has published internationally. In 2007 he co-edited a book entitled Recognition in Politics: Theory, Policy and Practice (Cambridge Scholars Press), and is about to publish a co-authored book on managing cultural diversity in schools (Melbourne University Press) entitled: “Building Bridges”. Current research includes youth engagement, ICTs in education and the potential for school-community partnerships. In 2010, Lucas will publish a third book on young people leading change, which he is co-authoring with Ros Black (ACER Press).

Peter Baynard-Smith

Peter Baynard-Smith has a varied background. He started his professional life as an engineer working on international development programmes in the water, renewable energy and community development sectors. Pete has since worked with international development NGO’s across Africa, Asia and in Europe over the past 20 years, in education, livelihoods, HIV/AIDS, water, food security and governance sectors. Most recently Pete was Asia Regional Director with the large Irish development and relief agency, Concern Worldwide. From his development background, Pete has a passion for working with people to help realise their vision and dream, be it in terms of personal goals or in the context of change in communities and the role that individuals and institutions can play in building strong civil society committed to achieving change for the good.

During his years with Concern, Pete also served on the Social Performance Committee of the Board of AMK, one of the fastest growing and most poverty-focussed micro-finance institutions in Cambodia. Through this experience Pete has developed a commitment to seeing social entrepreneurship and small business, as drivers of growth, also being vehicles for social impact and community development.

Pete is married to Julia and they have 4 children. They moved from UK/Ireland to Australia in 2008. He has been working with Mission Australia as Community Services Operations Manager for Victoria since then. Through this role, Pete has gained a strong understanding of the youth, early years and migrant/refugee community services sector in Victoria.

Sam McCully

Sam McCully has worked across the youth and disabilities sectors for the best part of two decades. Prior to joining the Education Foundation in 2006, and moving across to FYA in 2008, Sam held senior positions with Oz Child Disability Services, Disability Family Support Services and Interaction Disability Services. Earlier roles included Community Support Worker and Integration Aide Trainer.

Sam has extensive experience in volunteer recruitment and training, program promotion, and business administration. She currently acts as Senior Executive, Essential Services overseeing Administration, IT, Property and HR and as Executive Assistant to the CEO. Sam spends her spare time with family, shopping, with friends and resting whenever possible – but not necessarily in that order!

Sue Russell

Sue was looking for a change after working in the government sector for an extended period and was keen to work in a not for profit organisation associated with education and improving the lives of young people. Sue joined the Education Foundation Australia as Business Manager in July 2007 and is now the Senior Executive – Finance and Company Secretary at FYA. In these roles she can utilise her extensive experience in finance, human resources management and corporate administration and is responsible for finance, investments and governance.

Grant  Hooper

Grant has been working with FYA (initially joining the Education Foundation) since November 2007. He comes to this role after working for Philanthropy Australia – the Australian philanthropic sector’s peak body – for 6.5 years managing its membership services. Before working with Philanthropy Australia Grant worked in a membership and marketing role with an AFL club.

Grant is married to a teacher and has a young family. Each day these help make the mission of FYA very tangible for him. He has a B.Comm and Grad Dip Sport Management and is a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia.

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