Our Team
Gillian Hunt
Chief Executive Officer
Pete Nicholls
Regional Manager SW Sydney
Rob Hoile
Project Manager Hunter and Central Coast
Shannon Kliendienst
Head of Communications & Marketing
Candece Baker
Team Administrator / EA
Phil Lamport
Operations Manager
JD Knight
Training and Development Manager
Alan Valja
Helpline Operator
Tim Kay
Helpline Operator
Bernie Liversidge
Helpline OperatorOUR 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.
Rob Hoile
Project Manager Hunter and Central Coast – Rob has had an extensive career in qualitative and quantitative social and market research and has developed a unique understanding of all walks of Australian society. Having worked for major multinational and national clients and many government clients, he has a unique perspective of the challenges many sectors of society face. political polling and political policy advice has given further practical experience in achieving social change Recent exposure to the not-for-profit sector as a CBT facilitator, project leader in mental health and addictive behaviours primarily targeting men places him ideally to support the efforts of PBB.
Rob has a Bachelor of Business, Cert IV in Training, and Assessment. He has recently completed a Master of Theological Studies with a particular focus on the impacts of trauma, suicide, person-centred care, and counselling practice. He has also received completed training in Clinical Pastoral Care. Rob is passionate about helping individuals achieve their full potential and firmly believes in the therapeutic benefits of hope!
Shannon Kliendienst
Head of Communications & Marketing – Shannon joined the Parents Beyond Breakup team in March 2022. She comes to the role with significant experience in Executive roles across many sectors and organisations, including EY, Macquarie University, Shell and CPB Contractors. Specifically her not-for-profit sector experience comes via key roles at The Smith Family, The Childrens Hospital and Settlement Services International. Shannon holds degrees in Business and Communications with post-graduate qualifications in Change Management from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She is also a passionate Surf Lifesaving Australia volunteer lifesaver, Nippers coach and mentor. With a passion for social justice, access and equity, Shannon will focus her experience on helping PBB fulfill its mission and vision and values through raising awareness, strengthening influence and diversifying funding in service of ensuring impact and meaning for those we support.
Candece Baker
Team Administrator / EA – Candece eagerly joined PBB in late 2021 as a Team Administrator / Executive Assistant. With quite an eclectic 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.
Phil Lamport
Operations Manager – Life Coach, Author, Dad, Stepdad, 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.
JD Knight
Training and Development Manager – JD is Lead Facilitator of our largest National online DiDs group, a Helpline Operator and has Lived Experience as a Dad in Distress. As the Training and Development Manager JD is responsible for organisational training and development needs. 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
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.
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.
