Staff

Yara is an international marketeer who is passionate about intercultural learning, global citizenship and using the power of business to influence positive social and environmental change. The last few years she has worked in the higher education and community sectors, and volunteered for many non-for-profits. Born in Poland, raised in Russia and lived in the UK, USA and now Australia, Yara is indeed a global citizen with no limits who enjoys connecting people on both personal and professional levels. When asked what achievement she is most proud of, she’d say drenching sheep after having no previous farm experience whatsoever. While this is undoubtedly an impressive feat, perhaps reaching the semi-finals and beating 37,000 people from over 190 countries in a scholarship competition, Win Your Future Unlimited, sponsored by the Australian Government should come to mind first? When not working on next project in the international education space or volunteering for community development projects, you can find Yara hiking near the coast, travelling, learning French, mastering horse riding or reading at the beach.

Michelle’s work centers around storytelling and bringing diverse groups of people together into unassuming spaces to co-create playful, surprising & transformative experiences. She joined WDP in 2017 as the Victorian state co-coordinator, where she has played an instrumental role in consolidating and growing the volunteer team and leveraging networks to secure partnerships and funds. In her previous life as a science communicator, she has worked with physicists in Melbourne, climate scientists in Paris, forestry scientists in Indonesia to help them find their voice amongst the technical jargon of their day to day research and use this voice to better impact policy and public opinion. In 2011, she relocated to Indonesia as the youngest staff member to work at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). She has published hundreds articles and organized and run dozens of workshops to train policymakers, journalists and teachers science communication and social media skills.

Natalie has long been dedicated to enabling others and making the world a more humane place. This passion has seen her work in Australia in Community Development and overseas in Cambodia, firstly, as an AUSAID Australian Youth Ambassador working on a food security project, and later as a research assistant and English language teacher. 

Megan’s employment background is in event coordination and project management within the not-for-profit sector. She is excited to use her skills to help build a more open and connected community where difference isn’t just accepted but is ultimately respected and celebrated.

Megan enjoys gardening, is a lover of art, music, and dancing in the kitchen with her husband and two beautiful children. She loves to cook and enjoys nothing more than preparing and sharing a meal with family and friends.