Executive Team

Michele is an accomplished management professional with over 30 years of experience spanning health, education, accommodation, property, and aquatics industries. Currently serving as the CEO of Y Whittlesea, Michele is dedicated to driving transformational outcomes for communities, with a particular focus on young people, early education, and disability support.

A dynamic and principled leader, Michele’s career has been defined by her ability to enhance organisational effectiveness, foster cultures of trust and transparency, and deliver community-oriented solutions. Her leadership style emphasises collaboration, empowerment, and innovation, making her a trusted figure in governance and strategic oversight. Michele’s experience includes leading large-scale projects, managing diverse international teams, and spearheading design redevelopment initiatives for global brands.

Michele’s extensive governance background includes key board roles across the health, education, and nonprofit sectors. She has served as Chair of the YMCA CEO Leadership Team of Australia and the Victorian Fitness Industry, Director & Chair of YMCA Learning Communities and Director of YMCA Victoria. Her strategic guidance and commitment to equitable outcomes have been instrumental in initiatives such as opening schools for disengaged youth, advancing disability support programs, and embedding sustainability and regeneration into organisational strategies.

Believing in the power of inspired young people, Michele has championed intergenerational leadership by creating pathways for youth voices at the decision-making table. Under her leadership, Y Whittlesea has expanded its impact, leveraging Michele’s expertise in strategic planning, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement to address unmet community needs.

Michele’s dedication to service excellence extends beyond her professional life. She has held leadership and volunteer roles with Black Rock Primary School Council, Grange Road Kindergarten, and Sandringham Soccer Club, contributing her expertise to create inclusive and impactful environments for families and children.

A graduate of the University of Southern Queensland with a Bachelor of Business, Michele has further honed her skills through the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Course and Prince2® Project Management. She is also a co-author of industry guidelines and a national presenter on leadership topics, underlining her commitment to lifelong learning and sharing knowledge.

As a mother to three energetic boys, Michele’s connection to the YMCA runs deep, having grown up attending its holiday programs and camps. This personal experience fuels her passion for creating environments where young people and families can thrive. Michele lives by the Y’s belief: “We believe in the power of inspired young people” and is excited about continuing to build a healthier, more inclusive, and inspired community.

Ru is a qualified CPA with a Master’s in Business Administration, bringing more than 20 years of financial leadership experience across not-for-profit and commercial sectors. She has worked with Y Victoria for 15 years in a range of senior finance roles and has been part of Y Whittlesea for the past six years, contributing strong financial stewardship, strategic insight and governance capability to the organisation.

Throughout her career with the Y, Ru has played an integral role in strengthening financial management frameworks, supporting sustainable growth, and ensuring sound budgeting, reporting and compliance practices. Her experience spans financial planning and analysis, audit, risk management, and organisational financial oversight, enabling boards and executive leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions aligned to long-term strategy.

Prior to joining the Y, Ru worked with Ernst & Young in external audit, where she developed a rigorous approach to governance, accountability and financial controls. She also gained valuable experience within commercial manufacturing organisations, broadening her understanding of operational finance, business performance and strategic resource allocation.

With a Master of Business and extensive experience leading People and Culture functions, Hayley is a strategic people leader with expertise across the full employee lifecycle. Her experience spans organisational development, leadership, culture transformation, employee engagement, talent management, workplace relations, remuneration, project and change management.

Having held senior People and Culture roles across professional services, energy, technology, consulting and the not-for-profit sector, she brings a broad commercial perspective and a people-first approach to building high-performing, values-led organisations. She is passionate about partnering with leaders to create inclusive workplace cultures where people can thrive and organisations can achieve meaningful outcomes.

Beyond her professional career, Hayley is deeply committed to strengthening local communities. She serves as Vice President of her local football club, where she supports community participation, governance and club development. She also contributes as a member of the Advisory Board for a local community support organisation, helping guide services that assist individuals and families experiencing hardship.

At Y Whittlesea, Hayley is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration and wellbeing, empowering people to make a positive and lasting impact across the communities the Y Whittlesea serves.

Sarah is an experienced marketing and communications leader with more than 17 years at the Y. Holding a Bachelor of Media Studies, she brings both strategic insight and hands-on operational experience to her role, underpinned by a deep understanding of community engagement and customer experience.

Beginning her career in customer service roles within the Y, Sarah developed a strong appreciation for listening to families, participants and community members to truly understand their needs. This frontline experience has shaped her customer-first approach to marketing, ensuring that messaging, campaigns and communications are grounded in authenticity, accessibility and impact.

Throughout her career, Sarah has led customer-focused teams and contributed to organisation-wide initiatives, including being part of the broader YMCA rebrand team. She thrives in the diversity of her role, working collaboratively across early learning, recreation, disability services and youth programs to deliver integrated marketing strategies that strengthen brand presence and community connection.

Sarah is passionate about storytelling that reflects the Y’s values and celebrates the meaningful difference it makes in people’s lives.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys travelling, weekend adventures with her family, and discovering Melbourne’s best coffee spots.

Rebecca is a highly regarded Early Years leader with 25 years in the sector, having worked as an Educator, Kindergarten Teacher, Centre Manager and now as General Manager of Operations in Early Years. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to delivering high-quality early learning environments and strengthening outcomes for children, families and communities.

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that strong, respectful relationships are the foundation of effective practice, child to child, educator to child and peer to peer. Rebecca champions collaborative learning cultures and is passionate about designing environments that foster curiosity, creativity, engagement and a deep sense of safety and belonging for every child. She is particularly focused on building sustainable systems, supporting educator growth and ensuring environments where children can thrive both developmentally and emotionally.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Rebecca enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures, experiences that continue to inform her curiosity and leadership perspective. She is also a passionate AFL supporter and player, valuing the teamwork, connection and community that sport brings.

Megan is an accomplished educational leader with a diverse background spanning primary and secondary schooling contexts. She has taught both interstate and overseas, bringing a global perspective to her practice and a deep appreciation for the ways culture, community, and context shape learning.

With a strong foundation in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), Megan is committed to inquiry‑driven, student‑centred learning. Her work as a Numeracy Coach has strengthened her expertise in developing high-impact instructional strategies and supporting teachers to create meaningful, engaging, and accessible learning experiences for all students.

Megan is deeply focused on Cultural Safety and is dedicated to creating learning environments where every student feels respected, represented, and able to thrive. She believes that wellbeing is central to learning, and advocates for a holistic approach that nurtures students academically, socially, and emotionally. Her practice is grounded in the belief that learning through wellbeing empowers students to become confident, capable, and connected individuals.

Megan brings warmth, leadership, and a reflective mindset to every school community she serves, striving to inspire both students and educators to grow, inquire, and achieve their personal best.