Our team

Geoff Batten

Staff

Geoff has over 25 years experience in the construction industry with a lot of those years in leadership roles.

He is a keen sportsman, as are his 3 boys, which has led to him doing a lot of coaching/mentoring kids over the last 10 years . He really enjoys using the above skills he has gained over the years to lead, teach and mentor kids, helping them be the best version of themselves.

Jill Ashley

Co-Founder, Board member, Staff

Jill has a background in both business and education and strong connections to her community. She is well placed to deliver on her passion to help young people achieve their goals through supported pathways.

She has developed a number of award-winning programs which focus on developing young people’s skills and confidence through hands on project-based activities while linking them to industry and community-based mentors.

Jill enjoys relaxing in the beautiful Nambucca Valley where she lives with her partner, sometimes her two grown children and her three dogs.

Brody Simon

Staff

Brody is a proud Indigenous man who has run his own disability support business for the past 6 years.

He has a desire to inspire young people no matter their own abilities.

He enjoys Indigenous artwork, cultural woodwork and anything sport related – though he’s partial to a game of rugby league.

He wants to inspire young people to be better, break the cycle and join the workforce.

Spike Walker

Staff

Michael Spike Walker is a proud Gumbaynggirr man who wants to help young people be the best possible versions of themselves.

He has had many years experience in First Grade Rugby League playing for the  Macksville Sea Eagles and working in the trades.

Spike’s passion is sharing his knowledge of Aboriginal language, culture and connections to country and he is looking forward to working alongside the ShoreTrack team to do this.

Paul Ireland

Co-Founder, Board member, Staff

A big kid at heart, Paul describes himself as being under tall for his weight and uses his nickname of “Fatty” as an engagement tool when introducing himself.  With 22 years policing experience, most in remote areas and low socio-economic areas, Paul always prioritised young people’s needs after developing a strong understanding of social pressures young people face. 

Paul is passionate about building independence in young people and them being the best versions of themselves. 

Eddie Dangar

Staff

Eddie came on board with ShoreTrack after having led a family and community program in the Nambucca Valley for 10+ years. Prior to this she ran her own restaurant, where she gained skills in the hospitality industry.

Eddie is very excited to be using her work life experience to motivate young people to realise their goals, and to be a member of the awesome ShoreTrack family.

Mick Green

Staff

Mick is a well respected Regenerative Farmer in the Nambucca Valley.

Prior to this he was a boiler maker and also worked for the mines as a site supervisor.
Being a regenerative farmer, his goal is to leave the land in a better state while he is the custodian of it.
He has an affinity for raising calm happy cattle and enjoys the hands on approach that farming gives him.
His life goal has always been to introduce the youth to a sustainable way of farming as well as some practical life and work attributes, and he is thrilled to connect with other passionate mentors and excited for the future youth of ShoreTrack.

Jane Kevan

Staff

Before joining the ShoreTrack team Jane worked in both the private sector and community organisations including owning a business in the Nambucca Valley.

Her background experience ranges from operations and event management through to community arts, theatre in education and trade union arts and she is delighted to now be working with a terrific team who value the potential and power of supporting our Valley’s young people grow into a stronger future.

Dale Holden

Staff

Dale is a multi-disciplinary designer and fabricator, having spent his career creating large-scale steel sculptures, furniture and architectural detailing.

Having studied design at the Queensland College of Art before moving into the fabrication world, he brings a way of thinking about timber and steel that will only serve to compliment the range of skills we have at ShoreTrack.

His experience in running small businesses and working between the design and manufacture world will be useful in many ways, and he cares deeply about sharing his skills with young people to propel them forward into their careers.

Sean Petersen

Staff

With a career of nearly 40 years as a motor mechanic, Sean brings to ShoreTrack extensive experience and deep knowledge.

Joining the team and working with our young people at the shed to share his skills has opened up a totally new path for him, and he’s delighted to have come on board.

Tia McIntyre

Staff

Tia’s background is in education, visual arts and community program development – ranging from Steiner education through to riverbank rehabilitation projects.
She is always drawn to roles that support people to strive for their goals and aspirations and so was drawn to ShoreTrack by its commitment and dedication to provide wraparound supportive growth opportunities for young people.
For Tia, the team’s flexibility and courage to be creative and responsive to individual needs makes for an inspiring workplace.

Our Trainees

Aston Ramunno
Courtney Chaseling
Harry Devereaux
Jawaan Carmady
Noah Babula
Scarlett Cowley
William Van Straaten

David Schmude

Board Chair

Chief Executive Officer of UNE Life at the University of New England in Armidale.  He has strong community connections, not only on the Northern Tablelands where he has been active in local sporting clubs, but also on the mid-north coast where he has business interests in a tyre company and family links with Nambucca Heads.   He has been an enthusiastic supporter and advocate of Backtrack since its founding in Armidale and is keen to assist in every way in extending its outreach to youth on the coast through ShoreTrack. David is married to Sara Grills whose rural family history has given him and their three children many opportunities for involvement in community and country life.

Michael Crowley

Deputy Chair

Michael “Crow” Crowley runs a small beef cattle enterprise at Way Way with his wife, Chrissie. His family were involved in primary production in the North-West of NSW. Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (accounting and Finance) from UNSW and is a fellow of the Securities Institute of Australia. Michael worked in stock broking and investment banking for over 40 years before taking on roles in the not-for-profit sector. He chaired and served as a director of Sir David Martin Foundation, helping youth in crisis, for over 10 years and was President of Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. Crow and Chrissie have two grown up children and four grandchildren. He is pleased to be able to use his experiences in business and Sir David Martin Foundation to educate and help young people in our community achieve their aspirations.

June Riemer

Board Member

June is a proud Gumbaynggirr – Dunghutti woman from the North Coast of NSW.
Having worked in the community care sector for over 40 years, she shares her knowledge and experience within an advisory capacity across multiple boards, reference and advisory groups within the Government and NGO sector.
She was honoured in 2021, to be awarded NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year, a very humbling experience.
June has represented Australia’s First People with disability alongside other Indigenous leaders, at the United Nations in both New York, Geneva and the European Union.
She is currently the Indigenous representative for the Commonwealth Disabled Peoples Forum and board member of the finance committee for the Pacific Disability Forum.
Her passion in making a difference is driven from the nurturing she had, from her own Elders. It is this history that continues her journey for change.

Gillian Stuart

Board Member

Supporting ShoreTrack is an ongoing passion, to be involved in a program that will make a significant impact in the lives of many young people, their families and communities, with the positive ripple effect in our network of schools and valley, creating life changing opportunities one story at a time.

Gill Stuart is an award-winning educator with forty years experience in educational programs, as a mentor, teacher, educational consultant, Principal and proven leader. A career in using physical activities, food applications and career pathways to improve learning outcomes, especially in the area of at – risk students. Unanimously endorsed in 2018 by her colleagues as a worthy recipient for leading best practice, in Aboriginal Education programs with schools in New South Wales. ​

Ann Joy

Board member

Ann has completed a distinguished thirty six year career in the NSW Police Service.  For fourteen of those years she was a detective working in Hunter Valley and on the Mid North Coast.  Ann spent a total of fifteen years working in the Nambucca Valley before taking a senior management position in the New England Police District. She has gathered extensive experience in criminal investigations and the management of the areas’ strategic response to crime trends.   That experience has provided Ann with a unique appreciation of the need to take a community based, multifaceted approach to developing better pathways for our young people to appreciate their worth and to contribute to our community.  Ann has completed a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) prior to her policing career and more recently a Bachelor of Law through the University of New England.

Melinda Pavey

Board member

Melinda is a former Australian politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2015 to 2023, representing the seat of Oxley for The Nationals. She was previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 2002 and 2015.

While in office Melinda was active in many key positions including Chair of the Legislative Assembly Committee on Community Services and Parliamentary Secretary for Stronger Communities and Families, and the North Coast.

Lynda Lynch

Patron

As the saying goes ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and this is what ShoreTrack is all about. It’s a real privilege to see the changes and positive life pathways that young people are experiencing through the program and Lynda couldn’t be prouder to be part of such an important endeavour. 

Lynda Lynch is the Coordinator of the Oorala Youth Program at the University of New England in Armidale, where she provides support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to get the most out of their journey through and beyond high school, and develop their leadership skills, resilience, and cultural wellbeing. With a focus on local communities, Lynda dedicates most of her spare time to volunteering. She has worked with BackTrack Youth Works for 10 years, providing focused activities, family stays, community liaison, mentoring and guidance with life skills. Lynda lives in Armidale with her husband and is passionate about helping young people to further their potential.