Our Team

Professor Maree Teesson

Non-Executive Director

Professor Maree Teesson AC is Co-Founder and Director of OurFutures Institute, Director of the Matilda Centre and Director of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Illness and Substance Use (PREMISE) at the University of Sydney.

Maree is Chair of Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank and Chair of the Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission Expert Advisory Panel. Maree is a Former National Mental Health Commissioner (2018-2021). She is nationally and internationally renowned for her research on the comorbidity between mental health and substance use disorders. Recently, Maree was appointed to the National School Reform Ministerial Reference Group, which will advise education ministers on school reforms.

Professor Nicola Newton

Non-Executive Director

Professor Nicola Newton is Co-Founder and Director of OurFutures Institute and is an NHMRC Career Development Fellow and Director of Prevention at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney.

She is also Prevention Lead at the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Illness and Substance Use (PREMISE) and Vice-president for the Alliance for the Prevention of Mental Disorders.

Jenni Zhao

Non-executive Director

Jenni is a finance professional with 15 years of experience, and is currently the Financial Controller of the University of Sydney. Prior to joining the University, Jenni had previously worked in PwC Perth and Sydney for close to a decade in various divisions, including financial assurance, business assurance, capital market and accounting advisory services.

Jenni holds a Master of Commerce degree with the University of Sydney. She is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a fellow member of the Australian Tax Institute.

Jenni is on the Board of Our Futures Institute as a non-executive Director.

Joel Negin

Non-executive Director

Joel Negin is the Acting Deputy Executive Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. Prior to this, he served for eight years as the Head of the School of Public Health including through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joel’s research focuses on the social determinants of health with a focus on improving the health status of those with greatest need. He maintains projects in Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Fiji.

Before moving to Australia, he was awarded degrees from Harvard and Columbia Universities and then worked for six years in sub-Saharan Africa on various health and development programs.

Ashley McGrath

Chairperson

Following a 20-year career in corporate media, Ashley’s focus is now on driving positive impact though the not-for-profit sector. He is particularly passionate about creating systemic change through collective power and collaboration, and actively seeks to bring together diverse stakeholders creating an ecosystem that maximises impact and drives lasting change through network leverage.

As well as being the Chair of Our Futures Institute, Ashley is the Chief Operating Officer at UnLtd, a social purpose organisation that works with the media, marketing, and advertising industry to supercharge their 28 “youth focused” charity partners to increase impact, whilst simultaneously advocating for systemic change. He is also the co-founder and chair of Good in the Hood, a community-centric charity focused on tackling loneliness and social isolation through meaningful human connection.

He is also the proud father of three beautiful children.

Risha Premarajah

Governance Support & Minute Taker

Risha has over 15 years experience in law, event planning, operations and project management in a range of sectors including education, law, health, government and industry.

Risha worked closely with senior internal stakeholders at the University of Sydney to drive the establishment of the not-for-profit OurFutures Institute and continues to support the organisation to drive business operations and partnerships. She is passionate about mental health and harm reduction for substance use prevention in youth.

Sebastian Rosien

Chief Operating Officer

Sebastian brings over two decades of experience leading education and technology initiatives across Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. With a background in both product strategy and digital learning, he’s passionate about scaling and operationalising what works – turning rigorous research into real-world impact for young people.

At his core, Sebastian believes in combining bold thinking with deep insight to build systems that empower under-served communities and enable the next generation to thrive.

Anthea Jirgens

Head of Partnerships

Anthea brings over a decade of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, and project leadership across both the for-purpose and private sectors. Her work has consistently focused on supporting mental health and wellbeing—especially for young people and communities. Before joining Our Futures Institute, Anthea was the Suicide Prevention Manager (Asia-Pacific) at LivingWorks Australia, where she led strategic partnerships and championed the provision of suicide intervention skills training across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Felipe Frias

Senior Customer Success & Sales Representative

Felipe is a skilled Senior Customer Experience Specialist with over 16 years of experience across different industries. He has a passion for serving as the voice of the customer and finding practical, innovative ways to enhance the customer journey.

Felipe excels in problem-solving, building strong customer relationships, and coaching teams to meet their goals. He prioritises patience and empathy, ensuring unforgettable interactions. In his spare time, you’ll find Felipe at the gym or bushwalking with Spooky, his energetic groodle.

Brendan Hilferty

Sales Consultant

After 20 years owning and running his own businesses, Brendan has pivoted to the NFP sector, to help make a difference to people’s lives.

Maia Murray

Head of Marketing

Maia is a Sydney-based marketing leader and strategist with over eight years of experience across not-for-profit, corporate, and agency sectors. She specialises in strategic development, digital marketing, and acquisition, leveraging channels such as above-the-line advertising and digital platforms to drive growth and enhance brand awareness. Maia’s passion lies in using innovative, creative, and analytical practices to inspire compelling marketing and brand communications, aiming to support organisations whose missions influence societal change and growth.

Francesca Wallis

Content Writer & Communications Representative

Francesca studied Psychology and Arts at the University of Sydney and worked at The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use on the project for OurFutures before joining OurFutures Institute.

Francesca is passionate about trauma-informed care and education research, particularly in the prevention field for young people.

Steven Reilly

School Acquisition Account Manager

With 25 years of experience in sales, Steven has honed his skills in building relationships, understanding needs, and delivering meaningful solutions. Throughout his career, he has always been driven by a desire to make a difference in people’s lives, not just through products and services, but by fostering trust and providing value that lasts. Now, his focus is on giving back—educating today’s youth and empowering them with the knowledge and skills to succeed.

Sadhbh Ní Loideáin

School Acquisition Representative

Sadhbh (pronounced like “five,” but with an S—so, “Sive”) is an enthusiastic and empathetic health services professional with a robust background in sales and a heart full of passion for educating young people. As a certified Breathwork facilitator, Sadhbh brings a holistic approach to health, recognising the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and social well-being.
In her role, Sadhbh connects with schools across the nation to implement our evidence-based, curriculum-aligned prevention programs.

Blandine Weyers

Customer Success Representative

Blandine’s background is in customer experience and operations, and she’s very passionate about people, process, and keeping things moving. Outside of work, you’ll usually find her mid-workout or chasing the best coffee spots around Sydney.

Ingrid Turner

Customer Success and Acquisition Representative

With a background spanning medtech, customer success, and design, Ingrid brings a unique blend of creativity and strategy to everything she does. She’s worked with leading healthcare software companies to enhance client experiences, streamline systems, and build strong, lasting relationships. Outside the office, Ingrid’s a passionate designer and craft enthusiast—she even took out a Pan Pacific craft championship! Whether it’s a product rollout or a paper mâché masterpiece, Ingrid’s all about bringing ideas to life.

Faryal Siddiqui

School Acquisition Representative

Faryal is a warm, empathetic, and results-driven professional with international experience across Australia, England, Malaysia, and Pakistan.

With an undergraduate degree in International Business from Monash University, a Master’s in Business Analytics, and four years of sales experience, she thrives on turning data into insights and creating meaningful experiences.