Greg Ridder

Director & Chair

Greg’s a seasoned Non-Executive Director and Chair with extensive experience in business strategy and leadership in Australia and internationally. He’s a commercial leader with a strong ethical focus. Greg is currently Chair at Kogan.com and Life Without Barriers and is also on the Boards of Spirit Technology Solutions and PNG Sustainable Development Program.

Carla Raynes

Founder & CEO

Carla’s worked in the homelessness sector in the UK and Australia for nearly 20 years. She’s held many roles in front line and management positions. Her experience spans working within crisis accommodations, drug and alcohol teams, tertiary hospitals and youth residential units. Carla co-founded a social enterprise before bringing her creative solutions to Bridge It. And has recently launched a new social enterprise, Challenge The Label which elevates the voices of a diverse range of women who are leading social and environmental change.

Jane Tewson

Director

Jane is the Founder and Director of Igniting Change. She is passionate about bringing lived experience into all aspects of her work, and in the process has spent her life turning old-fashioned ideas of charity upside down. She’s an innovator with a global reputation for inspiring individuals and organisations to work together for social change. She’s founded 5 charities, all flourishing today. She’s known for lateral thinking and creative initiatives, including Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) in the UK, which has raised more than a billion pounds.

Edward Ring

Director

Kim Dema

Chief Financial Officer

With 15 years of experience in finance and a strong track record in nonprofit management, Kim brings a unique blend of financial expertise and a genuine desire to make a positive impact to our community.

Her involvement at Bridge It has had a positive impact in improving Bridge It’s reporting and financial management and is supporting the organisation to grow.

When Kim is not working on spreadsheets, she will usually be found spending time with her two boys down the beach, enjoying the sun and surf.

Shayne Hood

Shayne’s journey began amidst family violence, addiction, and criminality in his youth. Through resilience and a dedication to justice, he transformed his struggles into a catalyst for change. Recognising common challenges, he committed himself to supporting others and fostering positive impact. As a leading consultant and workforce trainer in complex social work, youth work, and community settings, Shayne’s authentic “real talk” approach cultivates self-determination and earns him trust as a mentor and advisor.

Philip Mendes

Philip is a former child protection worker turned academic who has taught social policy and community practice to social work students at Monash University for over 25 years. He specialises in research exploring the adult lives of young people who have grown up in out-of-home-care, and the impact of the wider systems and structures that can either advance or limit their life chances.