OUR TEAM

Gillian Hunt BA Comms, GAICD 

Chief Executive Officer – Gillian joined Parents Beyond Breakup as CEO in April 2021.  She has previously held senior executive positions across various ASX listed organisations including Asciano,  Arrium and the  John Holland Group.  She has extensive corporate, management and NFP director experience including deputy Chair of Habitat for Humanity Australia. Gillian is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds degrees in Communications and Anthropology, has post graduate qualifications in Marketing, Economics and Management, and has twice been acknowledged in the Salt and Shein Top 50 report as one of Australia’s most influential corporate affairs professionals. Gillian is a passionate advocate of suicide prevention and mental health, having Lived Experience of the suicide of a close family member. 

Pete Nicholls 

Regional Manager SW Sydney – Pete has an electronics and engineering degree and a background of design in the defence aviation sector. An interest in data analysis led to retraining in Organisational Psychology and a pivot into corporate research and consulting; there he has held international leadership roles within IBM, Mercer and HayGroup. In 2013, Pete volunteered as a DIDs group facilitator. With a passion for suicide prevention, he has since made PBB his main occupation and retains a handful of part time ASX100 consulting clients. Pete’s roles within PBB include two terms on the board (2014-17) and as CEO (2017-20). As a separated dad, he has 21 years experience of parental separation and has acted as a McKenzie Friend. 

Candece Baker

Team Administrator / EA – Candece eagerly joined PBB in late 2021 as a Team Administrator / Executive Assistant. With quite an electric background, she brings a variety of skills to the organisation such as a high regard for customer service, data entry, strong attention to detail, while also maintaining a personable manner. Candece has always had an interest in people, and, having three young children herself, she has a strong passion for helping others, especially families and children.

Tania Karshagen

Executive Assistant – Tania joined PBB in October 2019 as an assistant and has experience working in a range of business environments requiring a high level of customer service, data capturing, problem solving and attention to detail, Tania has a hospitality higher diploma and had worked in a number of hotels and ran her wedding venue for 6 years. Tania is very passionate about people, service and creating a positive environment for others.

Glenn Hodgson

Operations Manager (North) – Glenn is a dad with a Degree in Psychology and Masters in Social Work and has worked in community services with children and families for 17 years. He has supported children in out of home care, provided case management for families with complex needs and currently runs a family support and group facilitation program for families with an emphasis on prevention and early support. He has been involved with DIDS as a group facilitator since 2013 and team member since 2019.

Phil Lamport

Operations Manager (South) – Life Coach, Author, Dad, Uncle, Grandpa, IT professional, advocate for “playful parenting” and student of psychology. 
In addition to PBB, Phil has volunteered in community support programmes in Cambodia, and has been a volunteer in providing ASD support services for pre-school children. 
Involved with PBB since 2010, Phil has been facilitating our parent peer-support groups since 2014.
Currently responsible for day-to-day support of our volunteer base and technical platforms.

Alan Valja

Helpline Operator – One of the foundation members of this amazing movement!
Alan has been on the helpline for 8 years and was running the Coffs Harbour group for about 8 years.
He has also been on the board and was the National Volunteer Coordinator for 4 years. 

Tim Kay

Helpline Operator – Tim has a background in Youth Work and Case Management, dealing with a range of issues including behavioural, mental health, homelessness, drug & alcohol.

Tim first became involved with PBB as a dad in distress in 2005.

He has been a lead facilitator for five years and over the last four years has served the role of Helpline operator on the PBB national support line and referral service.

JD Knight

Helpline Operator – JD is Lead Facilitator of our largest National online DiDs group, Helpline Operator and has Lived Experience as a Dad in Distress. As a professional Facilitator with more than 25 years experience in men’s work, as well as global corporate expertise in Behavioural and Organisational Change, JD has been accredited in Psychological First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Advanced Conflict Resolution, Change Management, Psychological Type, Emotional Intelligence, Child Inclusive Mediation and Counselling, and Evidence Based Parenting

Chris Cheeseman

Social Media Consultant – Chris has a degree in business specialising in both Marketing and Sports Management and has worked across numerous organisations that has required him to ensure a standard of customer service, organisation, and time management are met.

Involved with PBB since late of 2021, Chris aims to connect with the PBB team and community to ensure a message that resonates with us all: Empowering Families – creating futures!

Bernie Liversidge

Helpline Operator – Bernie has been working with Parents Beyond Breakup as a Facilitator/Co Facilitator with the Dads in Distress program since 2015. Now as a phone counsellor, Bernie brings with him a great deal of life experience and maybe a different perspective to the role. He has been involved in a good marriage for forty one years, riding the big dipper of life, many times holding on for dear life believing the chains holding the carts were going to snap.

Bernie has a diploma in counselling as well as qualifications and experience in phone counselling with Griefline, he has had experience with working with socially disadvantaged youth, long termed unemployed, people under court orders, mentally disadvantaged, asylum seekers, drug affected and international students. He is a father of two beautiful daughters and a kelpie, he prides himself in having a highly developed degree of empathy and has a passionate interest in men’s issues and people’s general well-being.