Mary is the founder and Executive Officer of Fostering Hope. Mary came to Fostering Hope after working in the community research and policy after studying community development and international law. She combines this experience with the lived experience of being a foster and respite carer. Mary and her boys attend C3 Church in South Hobart. The rest of Mary’s time is spent being a mum to five active boys and involved in their communities.

Bec is the Northern Coordinator for Fostering Hope. She has spent much of her career in the legal industry, Christian education and in both State and Federal Politics. Bec and her husband have two ragdoll felines who use what little energy they have to eat and leave their fur everywhere.  She enjoys planning and hosting events, playing and watching sports and attends the Southern Presbyterian Church in Launceston.

Allison is the Northwest Coordinator for Fostering Hope. With lived experience in foster and respite care, she is passionate about supporting children and families in the Out of Home Care community. She is also a Registered Nurse, currently working as a School Health Nurse. Outside of her professional work, Allison enjoys spending quality time with her family, and loves going on holidays with them, taking way too many photos and creating photo albums of memories.  They live on a peaceful property where they care for their six miniature goats, two cows, a dog, a cat, two guinea pigs and chickens.  Allison is an active member of Ulverstone Presbyterian Church. 

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Ellie is our Mentoring Coordinator, overseeing our Mentoring Program; this includes training all our volunteer mentors and working with our mentoring team to screen, match and provide ongoing support for mentors for kids growing up in Out of Home Care. She is a professional mentor and mentor trainer with Deeply Formed, she also co-teaches the Graduate Certificate of Christian Mentoring at Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC). Ellie attends St Mark's Bellerive Anglican Church. Outside of her mentoring roles Ellie loves to read and spending time with good friends.

Anthea is our Northern Mentor Officer, her role is to facilitate our Mentoring Program in the north of the state, providing carers with an extra level of support as they care for kids in care. Anthea has a diverse background in health and intergenerational faith formation. Along with her Fostering Hope work she works part time as the Team Leader of Launceston City Baptist and as the Program Officer for Food Plants International. She lives in a rural village with her husband and two adult daughters and loves to walk alongside people and support them to live out their faith in transformative, practical ways.

Natalia is our Northwest Mentor Officer. Natalia comes from a diverse background supporting children in learning how to learn, she has worked in the Department of Education, Christian education and early intervention services.  Natalia finds genuine love for making others feel seen, valued, and supported. Working at Fostering Hope, Natalia has found an opportunity to spark hope, build confidence, and create meaningful, lasting change in the lives of children in care. Her role involves recruiting, matching and helping to connect and support mentors, carers and mentees; alongside a supportive team  who shares the same vision. Outside of work, together with her husband, Natalia is a mum to four children, one of whom has special needs, she spends time with friends and enjoys walking her dog. Natalia attends Burnie Lifehouse Church.

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