The BATForce Team

We couldn't do it without them

The BATForce Staff

Leigh Bartlett

Executive Officer

Leigh got her start in education, before working a range of roles in disability, local government and has even had a stint in the private sector. Ultimately it was Leigh's passion towards improving the opportunities of young people in the Geelong community that led her to her work with BATForce. Working with BATForce allows Leigh to focus on improving the opportunities for young people and their communities.

On working with young people and the organisations that support them in the Greater Geelong region, Leigh emphasised that "We have a rich culture of youth agencies in the region and some very talented workers - I'm excited to be part of this."

Naomi Madigan

School Focused Youth Services Coordinator

Naomi has worked across many community sectors over many years. She has worked in the Not-for-Profit, Government and Sporting sectors, including various local governments, G21 and the Geelong Cats. She is highly experienced in community & program development, sport, communication and events.

Naomi works under the mantra of “Listen, Learn, Build and Deliver” to ensure that people remain at the forefront of everything that she does, and is passionate about ensuring projects are delivered to the absolute highest standard.

Kylie Fox

School Focused Youth Services Coordinator/Communications

Kylie has an extensive history working in education, employment and the not-for-profit sector throughout the Geelong region and South-West Victoria. Her goal has always been to support individuals to make successful pathway choices, whatever that may look like for them. Kylie prides herself on her ability to make connections and is a great believer in getting the little things right.

Kylie has taken on the role of 'head' of marketing and is developing a whole new range of skills in website development, social media marketing and communications along with becoming the office Canva guru.

The BATForce Executive

Malcolm Scott

Chairperson

Malcolm has been employed in the mental health, youth, AOD and homelessness community service sectors for over 20 years. Born and raised in Geelong, Malcolm moved to Sydney to complete a Bachelor of Science before working various roles in the New South Wales health sector.

Since returning to Geelong in 2013, Malcom has held key positions at Headspace and BCYF (Barwon Child, Youth and Family). He has worked as a full-time trainer with the Bellarine Training and Community Hub and is currently working with Ermha as a Senior Manager, NW Regional VIC (Barwon & Bendigo).

Malcolm is a strong believer in the role networks can play to support better outcomes for the people we support and that psychosocial supports are essential in supporting people to fulfill their potential.

Liz Everist

Secretary

Liz has a broad range of experience in university, state and local government settings with a focus on initiation and implementation of projects, collaboration and community engagement.

Initially pursuing career in the architecture field, Liz holds a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Planning and Design from the University of Melbourne before ultimately shifting her focus to International Education with a Masters degree in Education from Monash University.

Liz previously managed engagement for GROW (G21 Region Opportunities for Work) and now is Senior Project Officer for Management Governance Australia, with a focus on employment and training for vulnerable cohorts.

Cassandra Langdon

Cass has been working with young people for the past 13 years in a variety of roles. Starting out facilitating a youth leadership program and working her way through not for profit, government, and profit organisations, finally landing at the Gordon Tafe as a teacher.

With a Degree in Social Welfare, and half way through her Masters in Child and Adolescent Welfare, she teaches the Community Service, Youth, AOD, and Child Youth Family Intervention courses. She believes that staying engaged in the youth sector is vital to maintaining currency and keeping your finger on the pulse, which is why she has joined the Batforce team.

Chris Lougheed

Executive Member

Chris works for Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools as part of the Nano Nagle Network of schools. He is a specialist in trauma informed education and has extensive experience working with young people who have disengaged from mainstream education settings.

Chris established the Geelong Campus of the Networks flexible schools and until 2020 lead this community. He now works as the Project Officer for the Network supporting a number of new initiatives to further support Young People to access relevant and appropriate education.

Jenny Speed

Executive Member

Jenny is a qualified Community Development Coordinator with over 35 years’ paid and volunteer experience across educational, employment, sporting and social inclusion programs for local govt and NFP’s, with proven ability to quickly develop stakeholder and relationship engagement, from community through to Ministerial level.

Key skills include outstanding events and project management, with an extensive understanding of governance, grants management, budgets, process control, the food relief sector and life crisis services. In the last 20 years Jenny has connected to a variety of Governance roles in the region. Through all of those experiences, it has been the values of the organisation and the community connection that has seen Jenny meet like minded people, and achieve great outcomes for the community, by providing Good Governance.

Jenny is committed, friendly and an energetic collaborator who embraces diversity and drives social inclusion through advocacy for change.

David Moody

Executive Member

As a Director of Management Governance Australia and Workforce Plus, David brings more than 30 years’ experience working across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

As a former CEO and Victorian State Manager of National Disability Services, and before this as the leader of the central agency team which coordinated the Victorian Government’s contribution to developing the NDIS, David has a detailed understanding of the Scheme and the challenges and issues faced by young people with disability, their families and supporters.

Having started his working life as a lawyer, David has also worked as an executive in the Victorian Public Service, leading teams responsible for national health and safety reform, strategic WHS policy, WHS legislation and regulations and regulatory framework development, departmental budget strategy and corporate planning.

Stephen Keane

Executive Member

Stephen has extensive marketing expertise across a range of industries in both B2C and B2B markets. A digital marketing and copy specialist, Stephen has found that working for the not-for-profit sector within the Greater Geelong Community is rewarding and fulfilling in ways not common to other marketing roles.