Management team

Brenda is a highly regarded and experienced executive with over three decades in the Community Services sector managing large operational areas, rural and metropolitan, specialising in child protection, care services and disability policy and operations.

Brenda was CEO at the Commission for Children and Young People for four years, before returning to the current department of Family Fairness and Housing in 2019 to be Executive Director of Service Enhancement in the Community, Operations and Practice Leadership division. This role focused on improving service delivery across the children, youth and families sector, driving innovation and leading system and performance improvement.

Brenda is passionate about building connection and resilience in vulnerable children, fostering self-reliance among families, and promoting tolerance across communities which aligns well with Lighthouse Foundation’s values and work.

Brenda holds a BA(Psych) and BSW from Melbourne University.

Susan Barton AM founded Lighthouse Foundation 33 years ago and has dedicated her life to helping the most vulnerable children and youth. Her mission is to change the way Australia looks at the issue of child and youth homelessness towards a more therapeutic approach where we create caring communities where all young people – from babies to young adults – can feel safe, form meaningful relationships and begin their journey to recovery.

Susan has co-authored two books on childhood trauma, was awarded an Order of Australia for services to youth in Australia, was named Melburnian of the Year in 2009 and was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for her significant achievements and contribution to the Victorian community in 2012.

Susan is passionate about protecting Australia’s number one resource – our children and youth and believes that caring for children is everybody’s responsibility.

Qualifications and experience: Diploma of Administration and Diploma of Management.

Terrie was involved in the formation of Lighthouse Foundation prior to its incorporation in 1991 & served on the board of directors from 1991 – 2004. She has worked alongside Susan in all aspects of the organisation’s operations & now oversees the management of the central resource and administration centre located in Cremorne. Terrie also acts in the capacity of company secretary for the Lighthouse board.

Christine is a CPA qualified accountant with over 20 years’ experience working in both corporate and public accounting. Christine has worked in several diverse industries with a key focus on improving financial reporting and business processes. Christine also has experience in finance team management and mentoring, financial statement analysis, budgeting, forecasting and cashflow management.
Dedicated and detail oriented, Christine brings her extensive professional experience in finance, and will provide financial direction and support to Lighthouse whilst it continues to grow as a business, and achieve its goal to expand and care for more young people.

Emily is a senior marketing and communications professional with extensive experience across the not-for-profit sector, arts and cultural and commercial sectors in Australia.

She is skilled in developing and implementing results-oriented and strategic marketing, communications and engagement campaigns with a focus on brand and advocacy that maximise the full range of stakeholder, marketing and communications channels.

With proven experience managing teams, Emily enjoys forging and maintaining new strategic partnerships, managing key relationships and energising high performing teams while planning for growth.

Emily thrives on the challenge of using audience insights and data to generate innovative campaigns that seek to attract, inspire, and motivate people to respond to complex brand building, revenue raising and engagement initiatives for vital causes.