Our Team
Dr Catherine Barrett, CEO
|
Catherine loves working with older people, and has been doing so for over 40 years. She began my professional career as a nurse in aged care and left to undertake a Ph.D and worked at as a Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University. Catherine left academia to establish Celebrate Ageing - because she wanted to make sure the work she did led to culture change - or respect for all older people. As a story teller and artist Catherine loves exploring how powerful these approaches are in engaging critical mass for change. Catherine describes her role with Celebrate Ageing as making her heart sing. Catherine believes respect for older people starts with our attitude to our own ageing. She believes her ageing is a privilege - a perspective that influences the work she does and the way she works. Catherine describes herself as a proud older woman. Full CV here |
Robyn Smith, Research and Evaluation
|
Robyn believes in the power of storytelling to reach people and prompt change. Everyone has the potential to make a positive difference in the world – from offering small acts of kindness in daily life to working together to advocate for major societal shifts. With more than 30 years experience in health care, aged care, public health, research and evaluation and a strong interest in community advocacy and the arts, working with the Celebrate Ageing team is a joy. Here Robyn has a unique opportunity to support the development, implementation and evaluation of creative, innovative and meaningful programs, to work with and advocate with older people, and to actively celebrate her own ageing journey. Robyn is able to apply her own skills and expertise towards challenging gerontism and building kind, strong and welcoming intergenerational communities. |
Melissa Williams, Media and Communication
|
Melissa began her professional career as an Early Childhood Educator in Australia and the UK. For the past 15 years she has been working for Positive Attitude Inc., an organisation providing social and practical support for people living with HIV. Melissa’s work was inspired by former President and founder Yvonne Gardner; and she agreed to take on the Presidency following Yvonne’s death in 2018 at age 79. Melissa coordinates a team of volunteers, engaging community support, providing weekly lunches, advocacy and fundraising at Positive Attitude.
Melissa is a writer, who understands the power of words to inspire and change people’s hearts and minds. She enjoys writing stories for children and has articles published in the Queer press. She is passionate about social justice, promoting respect for older LGBTIQ+ people and preserving Queer history. Melissa enjoys engaging service providers and community members in the work of Celebrate Ageing. |
Rochelle Beatty, Education Coordinator
|
Rochelle is passionate about education and the difference it can make to a person’s life, at all ages. Rochelle began her professional career in business administration, before moving into adult education with a specific focus on developing and delivering programs that engage not only the student, but the community around them. Rochelle’s passion for education is surpassed only by her love of dance, which she began studying full time at the age of 45. This experience sparked her interest in the experience of older women not only in the performing arts sector, but the world more broadly, and led her to Celebrate Ageing. In addition to being a lifelong student, Rochelle has extensive volunteer experience with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, the Multicultural Women’s Sewing Group, and Positive Attitude Inc. |
Tonye Segbedzi, Director
|
Tonye Segbedzi BA, LLB, Grad Cert Mgt, M Soc Pol (she/her) is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, with over 30 years’ experience in policy and advocacy in the legal, public and community sectors. She completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course in 2014 and has served in voluntary director positions since then for housing, legal and family violence organisations.
Tonye has spent the last decade working in the field of ageing, including policy and research at the Australian Association of Gerontology, healthy ageing roles at a local council and Omnia Community Health, and as expert advisory committee member for Pride in Ageing. She has co-authored multiple papers on ageing issues relating to LGBTI people, housing, and sexual abuse of older women. Committed to grassroots engagement, she also volunteers with the Silver Rainbow Social Club, Queer Book Club, and Neates Road Neighbourhood News. Tonye is 58 years old and proudly identifies as a queer person of colour. She lives in central Victoria with her wife Kim. |
June Lowe, Director
|
June is a long term social and environmental activist with a passion for creating social and environmental justice. Over 40 years she has explored what it takes to create change - and believes as individuals we need to understand our power to improve the world, especially in collaboration with others. Her work includes promoting Geriactivism, or activism by older people to improve the world. June was the Chair of GRAI (GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc) for six years and a Board member for 13 years. Her work included organising outreach activities and intergenerational projects providing information and social connections for older LGBTI people. She also developed and delivered courses in LGBTI inclusivity for aged care service providers and others. June assisted in developing Celebrate Ageing’s Gen K program and has a particular interest in meaningful intergenerational activities and combatting gerontism. |
Chris Franklin, Film and Photography
|
Chris Franklin is an award winning film maker photographer whose film Melbourne on Dylan won Best Documentary Short, London Independent Film Awards and was a semi finalist in Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards and AFIN International Film Awards. His film Yellow also won Lift Off Festival Season Awards in London and Melbourne. Chris has produced a range of documentary films for Celebrate Ageing, including Margarita, Older Ladies Dancing and Kinfolk. He has documented our events, including Embolden Festival and Fashion Parade, and our webinars. In 2022 Chris produced The Roar!!! and The Dinosaur SQUAD, two animations focused on an intergenerational pride fairy tale. We love working with Chris because his creativity draws people into our work, and because he is an effective communicator and team player. Check his work here |
