McGrath Foundation Family
Meet the McGrath Foundation Family from our Board Members to our dedicated staff.
Founder Biographies
Jane McGrath, Co-Founder
Jane McGrath was only 31 when she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she and Glenn weren't married, and, as an English lass, she found herself in a strange place far from home facing something she never thought would be an issue at such a young age. Even though her experience was incredibly traumatic, with doctors using terminology she barely understood and facing surgical procedures that were terrifying to her, face it she did, and in a way that won the hearts of many in Australia and overseas.
It wasn't until 2003, when Jane was being treated for secondary cancer, that she first had access to a breast care nurse. At the time, Jane said it was like having someone hold her hand through one of the worst nightmares of her life. Jane's breast care nurse allowed her to be Jane McGrath - the friend, the mother and the wife - not just the breast cancer patient. She was someone who could provide both Jane and Glenn with informed, sensible answers to the many questions they had.
As a result of this experience, Jane developed a passionate belief that every woman diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia, and their family, should be able to benefit from the support of a specialist breast care nurse. She would often say that we needed an "army of theses nurses", and so, in September 2005, the McGrath Foundation was re-launched to help fulfil this wish - a McGrath Breast Care Nurse for every family affected by breast cancer in this country regardless of where the family lived or their background.
Jane also felt very strongly about increasing breast awareness in younger women as she was only 31 when she was diagnosed. As she often said breast cancer doesn't care how old you are, what you do for a living or whether you are a mother or not. It can, and does affect us all. The second aim of the McGrath Foundation then became the education of Australian women to ensure they were familiar with their breasts and that breast checks became a part of their regular health routine.
Sadly, Jane passed away in June 2008, touching the heart of every Australian, but Jane's memory lives on. She has undoubtedly left a lasting legacy through both her family and the onging work of the McGrath Foundation, providing thousands of Australian women and their families with hope and support during their experience with breast cancer.
Glenn McGrath AM, Co-Founder and Chairman
Glenn McGrath is a household name in Australia - a cricketing hero, with a 14-year professional cricketing career, Glenn is the most successful Test and International Test fast bowler in the world.
In the past few years, however, Glenn's name has become synonymous with not just cricket, but with providing support for Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families through the provision of McGrath Breast Care Nurses.
NSW Australian of the Year in 2008, Glenn is now widely recognised as an outspoken advocate for improved services for breast cancer and greater education for younger women around breast awareness.
Since the passing of his beloved wife Jane in June 2008, Glenn has accepted the position of Chairman of the Board and is active in many of the McGrath Foundation's activities to ensure Jane's vision is fulfilled.
Board Biographies
Tracy Bevan
Tracy moved to Australia from England when she married cricketing legend, Michael Bevan, in 1994.
It was Tracy who helped set up the McGrath Foundation in 2003 following her best friend Jane McGrath's diagnosis and experience with breast cancer.
Tracy remains one of the driving forces behind the McGrath Foundation and is dedicated to increasing breast awareness in young women whilst raising much-needed funds to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses throughout rural and regional Australia.
In her current role on the McGrath Foundation Board, Tracy spends a great deal of her time travelling around the country speaking at different events to raise awareness about the vital role the McGrath Foundation plays whilst encouraging all women to be breast aware.
Terry Brown, Board Member
Terry Brown is partner and founder of Southern Cross Lawyers.
An original Board Member, Terry was part of the team responsible for the initial set up of the McGrath Foundation, calling on his wealth of experience in general business law and property to do so.
He remains instrumental in the Foundation’s operations, regularly attending events and liaising with corporate partners.
Kenneth Moran, Board Member
Ken Moran joined the McGrath Foundation Board in April 2008, bringing a wealth of experience from his 34-year career with one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies.
Prior to his retirement, Ken was Regional President Northern Europe for Pfizer, having been appointed following the acquisition of Pharmacia, and was responsible for business operations in Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
A personal supporter of the Foundation, Ken is committed to working with everyone in the organisation to realise the visions around McGrath Breast Care Nurse services in Australia.
Peter Tracey, Board Member
Peter Tracey is a partner of TRACE Business Advisers and Chartered Accountants in Sydney. An original Board Member, Peter was part of the team responsible for the initial set up of the McGrath Foundation. Peter remains instrumental in the Foundation's operations.
Staff Biographies
Kylea Tink, Managing Director
As Managing Director for the McGrath Foundation, Kylea is responsible for ensuring all the Foundation’s activities continue to work towards realising Jane, Glenn and Tracy’s original visions for the provision of support to women with breast cancer and their families right across Australia and for increased breast awareness in younger women.
Having spent the last 15 years working in roles covering the areas of health, education, health care provision, product management, media management, communication strategy and execution and having grown up in regional NSW, Kylea brings a wealth of experience and a passionate commitment to the Foundation.
Fiona Farmer, Breast Care Nurse Programme Director
Fiona joins the Foundation with over 20 years experience as a cancer nurse. Fiona first noticed the impact of breast cancer on peoples lives in 1989 and soon became one of the first unofficial breast care nurses to develop and implement a system where patients were seen by a nurse to ensure they were provided with resources, information and support. Fiona has maintained a commitment to ensuring patients receive current information, coordination and continuation of clinical support, options and choices and equity of service provision to best practice.
Fiona has recently completed ten years experience as the Cancer Nurse Educator at the College of Nursing, providing Fiona with the opportunity to build on her skills and knowledge. She looks forward to supporting the McGrath Breast Care Nurses across Australia through ongoing education to develop competency and maintain high standards of clinical practice.
Through the McGrath Foundation and other breast care nurse interest groups, Fiona envisages a strong national network of breast care nurses as integral members of multidisciplinary care teams, thereby providing optimum patient care.
Fiona shares the vision of the McGrath Foundation that breast awareness, education and access to a breast care nurse is made available for all individuals and communities in Australia.
Kim Kerin-Ayres, McGrath Clinical Nurse Educator
Kim Kerin-Ayres took on the role of McGrath Clinical Nurse Educator in March 2010. In this position, Kim offers practical support to the McGrath Breast Care Nurses who work in communities right across Australia.
Having worked in oncology care since 1989, Kim has a wealth of experience in cancer care nursing. In 2003, Kim received her breast care nurse certificate from La Trobe University and comes to the McGrath Foundation from Concord Hospital, where she worked as a Breast Care Clinical Nurse Consultant for four and a half years.
Kim has joined the McGrath Foundation Family to care for our growing network of McGrath Breast Care Nurses, providing them with the education and emotional support they need to guide women diagnosed with breast cancer through their diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Kim believes it is a privilege to help and educate the McGrath Breast Care Nurses, as they work tirelessly to support women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, as she understands the challenges and emotional strain breast care nurses face each and every day.
Kim is really enjoying meeting each of the McGrath Breast Care Nurses and helping to support them as they continue their amazing work across the country.
Stephanie Brauer, Government Breast Care Nurse Programme Manager
Stephanie is very excited to join the McGrath Foundation Family, bringing with her 11 years of experience in the health, disability, education and youth sectors as a Programme Coordinator and Manager. Stephanie will be responsible for coordinating and managing the day-to-day operations of the Government-funded McGrath Breast Care Nurse Programme.
Stephanie has a passion for working in the not-for-profit sector and is thrilled to be involved with the very important work that the McGrath Foundation carries out, as she believes in the importance of developing strategies to make services and information more accessible to the community.
Laura Gane, Breast Cancer Nurse Programme Officer
Laura began 2010 by becoming a part of the McGrath Foundation Family in the role of Breast Care Nurse Programme Officer, which involves supporting the implementation and development of the national McGrath Breast Care Nurse Programme.
Laura’s Allied Health background has developed her passion for helping others and she is eager to assist the McGrath Breast Care Nurses in their invaluable work. Laura sincerely believes in the core values of the McGrath Foundation and is immensely proud to be a part of the Foundation Family.
Helen Paynter, Education Director
As Education Director for the McGrath Foundation, Helen is responsible for developing the youth education strategy to ensure that Jane’s dream to educate young women to be breast aware is met.
Having spent the last 15 years as senior counsel in the areas of health, education, media management, communication strategy and execution and even the arts, Helen brings a wealth of experience, excitement and dedication the Foundation.
Providing McGrath Breast Care Nurses across Australia and educating young women to be breast aware is such a worthy cause, that Helen is thrilled to join the McGrath Foundation Family.
Natalie Speranza, Corporate Relations Manager
Natalie joined the McGrath Foundation family in May 2009 as Corporate Relations Manager, where she is responsible for the day-to-day management of relationships between the Foundation and its corporate friends.
For the last eight years, Natalie has worked in both agency and in-house roles with a strong emphasis on corporate social responsibility. With a passion for working in the community sector, she feels both privileged and excited to be a part of the McGrath Foundation.
Tomas Dirkis, Corporate Relations Assistant
Tom joined the McGrath Foundation Family in March 2010 as the Corporate Relations Assistant, where he works with Natalie managing the day-to-day management of relationships between the Foundation and its Corporate Friends.
Having graduated university at the end of 2009 after completing a business degree with a sport management major, Tom has a strong sporting background as well as vast experience in working on charity events.
A strong asset to the Corporate Relations team, Tom sees working at the McGrath Foundation as a fantastic opportunity to work for an organisation that is making a difference to the lives of women experiencing breast cancer and their families.
Natalie Brownstein, Community Friends Manager
With extensive experience in coordinating and organising entertainment, corporate and fundraising events, Natalie brings a wealth of experience to the Community Friends team. Natalie is responsible for engaging and supporting both individuals and companies with their own fundraising events as well as developing and implementing Foundation events throughout the year.
Natalie is very excited about building great McGrath Foundation community friendships and helping to raise substantial funds to support the Foundation’s aims.
Christy Lane, Community Events Officer
Christy joined the McGrath Foundation family in 2010 as Community Events Officer. She is responsible for managing the community events programme and providing support and advice for people wishing to hold their own fundraising events to raise money and awareness for the Foundation.
Christy has helped various charities over the years by hosting her own fundraising events and volunteering. She hopes to use this experience, combined with her studies in event management, to contribute to the McGrath Foundation’s community events programme.
Christy is passionate about the McGrath Foundations goals and values and feels extremely proud and excited to be a part of the team.
Justine Millane, QLD Fundraising Coordinator
Justine joined the McGrath Foundation Family in 2009. Justine is based on the Gold Coast and coordinates Queensland-based fundraising events for the Foundation.
Eleanor Garth, Communications Manager
As Communications Manager, Eleanor is responsible for the day-to-day contact for all media enquiries, developing all marketing collateral, working with Corporate Friends and Community Friends to promote various initiatives and events as well as managing all social media and online marketing strategies for the Foundation.
Eleanor joins the McGrath Foundation with five years experience working for two international public relations agencies in Toronto and Sydney. She has extensive experience developing and implementing successful healthcare communications campaigns in the areas of oncology, smoking cessation, depression, heart health and sexual health.
Having lost her mother to breast cancer when she was 15, the Foundation and its aims are close to Eleanor’s heart, making her extremely passionate about providing support for women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families, as well as educating young women to be breast aware.
Eleanor is incredibly excited to join the Foundation family as a full-time staff member and is committed to her role as Communications Manager.
Alexandra Finlay, Media Assistant
Alex joined the McGrath Foundation Family as Media Assistant in March 2010, shortly after completing a Communications degree at the University of Sydney. Her role involves supporting Eleanor on the media team and assisting with the Foundation’s media function to ensure consistent communication across all platforms.
While at University, Alex completed several internships and developed an interest in media relations, particularly within not-for-profit organisations. She feels incredibly fortunate to be a part of the McGrath Foundation Family, as she believes strongly in the Foundation’s values and aims and is also excited about gaining valuable experience and developing her skills as a public relations consultant.
Stephanie Craddock, Finance Manager
Steph Craddock joined the McGrath Foundation in April 2009 as Finance Manager, where she will be responsible for managing the day-to-day finance functions within the Foundation.
Steph has been working in varying finance roles for the past 15 years and brings to the Foundation a wealth of varied knowledge.
Jill Carr, Accounts Officer
Having worked in the not-for-profit sector in both London and Sydney for a large portion of her career, Jill is delighted to be a member of the McGrath Foundation Family. Jill’s role is to assist the finance team with the daily accounting functions and merchandising requirements.
Jill believes the Finance Team’s diligence helps the essential support functions of the Foundation run smoothly, highlighting that once again, together we can make a difference.
Kate Bakas, Special Projects Officer
As Special Projects Officer, Kate is responsible for managing our donor database and for integrating our operational policies and procedures. She also assists with special projects including Foundation events and community fundraising initiatives.
Prior to joining the McGrath Foundation Family in January 2009, Kate worked in both the United States and Australia in project management and has particular experience in database management, desktop publishing/graphic design, and regulatory compliance. She is proud to be contributing her experience and skills as member of the Foundation team.
Matthew Satherley, Data Entry Officer
Matt joined the McGrath Foundation in December 2009 to assist with entering and receipting donations and with the management of the Foundation’s database systems.
Matt has spent the last six years working for various charities and is currently completing a degree in social sciences, and believes it is a great honour to be able to work with a Foundation that is such a blessing to the community.
Jennifer Fielding, In-house Legal Counsel
Jen joined the McGrath Foundation as in-house Legal Counsel in June 2010. Jen has gained experience in a number of both large and small law firms since she was admitted in 1991 and has practised in both New South Wales and Western Australia.
Jen is delighted to join the McGrath Foundation Family after a pause in her career to concentrate on her family. She is looking forward to managing the Foundation’s legal affairs and in doing so, making a contribution to the Foundation’s great work.
