As we come to the end of the financial year, we say goodbye to our inaugural board trainees, Casey Burchell and Cecila Ngu. We would like to thank you both for your contribution, time and dedication to the YWCA Board, and wish you all the best with your board director careers.
We would also like to introduce our two newest board trainees, Claire and Laura, commencing in July. Meet them below!
Claire Bertholli
Claire is a 24-year-old youth and disability advocate from Newcastle NSW. She uses the pronouns she/her.
Claire is passionate about improving young people’s acceptance of themselves and encouraging participation their local community. This process often involves ensuring that key services and supports used by young people are inclusive of all people regardless of their background.
She’s worked toward these ideals through engaging with various organisations such as YWCA Australia, Persons with Disabilities Australia, Youth Action NSW, Women with Disabilities Australia Youth Network, Youth Committee for the Hunter and The NDIS Participant First Scheme. Claire has engaged with these organisations as an active member of advisory groups, working groups, committees and volunteer programs, and her passions lie in initiatives focused on fostering self-advocacy, collaborative project design and development as well as active storytelling.
She loves the fiercely intersectional viewpoint that shines through The Y, and looks forward to developing confidence in understanding governance practices, whilst connecting with other confident women holding leadership positions.
Laura Burfitt
Laura first cut her teeth at the Y as a member on the inaugural Young Women’s Council. Over two years later, she is delighted to be taking on the YWCA Board Traineeship program.
Laura currently works in Intergovernmental and Legal Policy for the Northern Territory Government Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet. In this role, Laura is the lead policy officer for coordinating interjurisdictional gender equality initiatives, such as the response to the Respect at Work Report regarding sexual harassment in the workplace.
Laura has held a variety of roles in the Northern Territory Government including in the Office of Gender Equity and Diversity in Territory Families and the Women’s Health policy unit in the Department of Health. This year Laura also completed an internship with the Top End Women’s Legal Service.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Development Studies and a Bachelor of Arts with majors in French and Spanish from the Australian National University. She is also currently undertaking a Juris Doctor.
In her spare time, Laura loves to read any book that isn’t a textbook! She enjoys yoga, netball and exploring the Northern Territory. She is also the proud Mum of a fluffy cat named Ginny and a pug puppy named Margot.
