BOARD OF MANAGEMENT

Innovation Youth Centre is very fortunate to have a great board with vast skills, expertise and experience in the community services sector to help young people to help their community.

Richard Foster - Chair

Richard Foster started in the legal profession in 1997 and went on to work in roles spanning telecommunications providers, banks and finance companies, involving the investigation and prevention of corporate crime. He later worked in a commercial law firm and in 2004 was appointed a Conciliator for the Energy and Water Ombudsman. Richard went on to cut his teeth in the community welfare sector with UnitingCare before being appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial and Consumer Rights Council.

In 2010, Richard joined Monash University where he helped pioneer multi-disciplinary practice within its law faculty. In 2012, he was made an Industry Fellow of its Faculty of Business and Economics, where he continues to oversee its Community Support Program. He also has an impressive media record as a commentator and co-host on 774 ABC Melbourne, and is a regular newsreader on FM radio.

Richard completed his MBA in 2017 and is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Law. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Community Directors Australia, and maintains strong alliances with industry, academia and the public sector.

Sophia Koutes - Secretary

Sophia Koutes has a passion for language and the culturally and linguistically diverse, including rare and emerging multicultural communities across Australia. With 25 years of experience in language services including two terms as Acting CEO for a State-owned Body and Government Business Enterprise, Sophia brings with her a wealth of knowledge in governance and ethical leadership, stakeholder and contract management in both the public and private sector. Her experience extends to working with Boards and Governments across all sides of politics.

Sophia currently works for a large national aged care and at home support organisation within the area of Diversity and her vision is to embed diversity in all forms within the Australian workplace. She is an advocate for access and equity for all people with a focus on special needs groups and marginalised community members. Sophia has qualifications in public relations and training and assessment.

Aaron Garth - Deputy Chair

Aaron Garth is the Youth Studies Coordinator at Eastern College Australia and the Executive Director of Ultimate Youth Worker. Aaron has worked as a youth worker in a number of settings including local church, street drug and alcohol outreach, family services, residential care, local government and youth homelessness since 2003. Aaron is a regular speaker at conferences and youth work training events and is dedicated to seeing a strong professional youth sector in Australia. Aaron holds a Master of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Work), Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drug Work and a Certificate IV TAE. He lives in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with his wife and five children.

Bianca Nash - Board Member

Bianca Nash is a passionate social worker with 14 years of experience in the community services industry. Bianca holds a double degree in Sociology and Social work and a Masters in Counselling. Bianca has worked in counselling and case management roles through the course of her career and has extensive experience in the provision of counselling support, case-management, and the development and facilitation of therapeutic groups. In her career, Bianca has supported vulnerable young people with experiences of physical and psychological abuse, sexual abuse, school refusal, strained family relationships, family violence, homelessness, mental health and drug abuse.

Bianca's areas of interests are in trauma-based practice with children and young people, service provision for LGBTIQ+ young people and support for refugee and asylum seeker communities. As a board member of the IYC, Bianca's aspiration is assist young people to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to realise their potential.

George Kanelopoulos - Treasurer

George is a lifetime professional who on graduating from La Trobe University has worked in various roles within the finance business sector from Team Leading to Facilitating training for new employees and streamlining day to day processes.

George has a background within an Analytical framework specialising in Business Analytics and Digital Analytics.
He has a passion for looking at ways to improve processes within different departments in the organisations he works for as well as clearly cultivating and fostering clear lines of communication and enpowering young people and the community to strive for a common goal.

Maria Matthews - Youth Board Member

Hello my name is Maria and I am 25 years old, I currently studying a Bachelor of Youth Work at Victoria University. I have been involved with a number of youth organisations as a volunteer.

I am supporting Innovation Youth Centre because I see the value of the organisation to support and empower young people to create positive social change, through young people that are services users of IYC to enhance their personal development to improve their overall well being

Aavish Goyal - Youth Board Member

Aavish is pursuing an undergraduate double degree at Monash University in Actuarial Science and Accounting. Aavish has been taking part in various volunteering activities both in Australia and India for the past 5 years. He completed his tenure last year, as the Treasurer of one of the largest International student bodies in Monash i.e. Monash University International Student Service (MUISS) and worked towards ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay for the international students in Australia.

Aavish was also associated with Aashray NGO for 2 years, which is a Not-for-profit organisation operating in India, aimed towards supporting children from low-income households by providing them an access to education facilities. Aavish has worked for Innovation Youth Center as an Industry Project Consultant (December 2018 - January 2019) and provided certain suggestions for sourcing funds for the 2-year pilot program from different organisations.

Paul Papadatos - Director

Paul Papadatos Innovation Youth Centre Director he is a Highly skilled youth and community services professional with over 20 years’ experience. Worked in roles from direct client services and team leadership, through to senior management. In every role He has always sought to measurably improve the circumstances of the individuals and communities he serves. His skills include the capacity to build and nurture cohesive groups that believe in their work and are able to:

• Clearly communicate their value proposition in a compelling way.
• Share ideas and skills inclusively within the team and with service users.
• Create a culture of innovation and measurable success.
* Empower young people and create positive measurable social change.
• Build strong networks of supportive influencers and empowered residents.
• Deepen connections with stakeholders to achieve goals.

Throughout his career he has served people from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTI, CALD, ATSI, who experience significant challenges across mental health, substance abuse, homelessness and unemployment.
He developed strong networks with professionals to create positive outcomes. These include building effective partnerships with schools, police, DHHS, legal services, health & mental health services, government departments, funding bodies, community agencies, traders and sporting clubs.