About Soul

Matt studied science at Sydney Uni but quickly realised he wasn’t cut out for a white lab coat. As a result, he’s spent the last 30 years in various forms of management in the community / charity sector. Since early 2019, he’s been Soul’s General Manager and says it’s one of the best jobs he’s ever had.

John has been volunteering at Soul since 2020. Having first arrived in Australia in 2015, he and his wife Linda enjoy the beach, snorkeling, and diving. John hopes to explore more of Australia. He loves meeting and chatting to our Soul guests and is now actively involved in SMART Recovery and Coaching programs.

Completing a Commercial Cookery course, Ross has spent decades building his career as a chef in hotels and resorts in some truly beautiful locations alongside his wife, Kim. A move to Newcastle to be closer to extended family led Ross to discover Soul Hub and its amazing community. Now a proud grandfather to little Jack, Ross spends his time surfing and playing rugby.

Before joining Soul, Greg spent 25 years in administration management across the retail and energy industries. A career break in 2021 gave him the chance to reflect, and he realised he wanted to use his skills to make a positive difference. He first came to Soul as a volunteer and quickly discovered it felt more like spending time with friends than work. When the opportunity arose to join the team permanently, Greg jumped at the chance and has loved being part of the Soul family ever since.

Gillian is a born and bred Novocastrian. An accountant who has worked professionally in a number of capacities including with various churches and NFPs over the last ten years. She loves people and numbers (generally in that order) so she jumped at the opportunity to be part of the Soul Hub team where she can use her skills to help the vulnerable. Gillian loves cricket almost as much as a budget that balances.

Lynne first spent 18 months volunteering in the Soul Hub kitchen, where she determined that the small Soul Hub staff team was where she wanted to contribute most. A South African, her 30-year career there includes project lead roles, working with renowned brands such as the Olympic Committee, Nike and the Springboks. Entrepreneurial efforts include design and taking into market a range of maternity wear. She views her 9 years on the international management team of leadership network YPO, a highpoint. Being outdoors in green spaces with a picnic of delicious & nutritious homemade food and her Aussie husband, is some of what she values most.

Ella leads Soul’s community engagement, building connections with the wonderful and generous Newcastle community that help to make Soul possible. She believes that when good people come together in community, incredible things can happen. Before finding Soul, that belief led her to work across the social justice, human rights and sustainability sectors. Originally from the UK, Ella lived in Vancouver, Canada, for six years before her Aussie partner persuaded her to move Down Under. She’s now much warmer and very happy.

Harrison first came to Soul Hub as a student, completing his social work placement while studying for his Master of Social Work at Charles Sturt University. After completing his placement, Harrison knew it was a place he wanted to continue being part of. He has since completed his studies and is passionate about community, connection, and learning from people. Outside of work, Harrison enjoys playing music, going to gigs, camping, and spending time at the beach.

Martin came to Soul from the Defence Force where he served 20 years between the Navy and the RAAF. He came to discover Soul in 2019 after being introduced to them to help in his own mental illness that he was struggling with. Martin says after his own journey he now understands mental illness more and has the drive to help others. He also completed his Certificate IV in Mental Health. Martin has a wife, three kids and 4 grandkids, he enjoys playing cricket and supporting the mighty Parramatta Eels.

Sarah graduated as a Social worker in the UK in 2007 and worked for many years in Case Management between England and Australia. However, for Sarah, nothing beats working at Soul Hub where she gets to be a part of our awesome community of staff, guests and volunteers. Life is busy between work, travel and raising 2 kids, but Sarah loves coming to work each day with the opportunity to help make positive change with those we work with. Coffee and the ocean are her happy places, both at once works too!

Natalie is a Social Worker, with over 15 years’ experience working with vulnerable community members. Natalie has worked for several government and non-government organisations across NSW and QLD. When the opportunity to work at Soul Hub presented itself, she jumped at the opportunity and hasn’t looked back. Outside of work, Natalie enjoys spending time with her young family and spending time bushwalking through Newcastle’s beautiful walking trails

Graham, a resident of Newcastle, has been married for 42 years and has two children and six grandchildren. He has dedicated 23 years to various Not-for-Profit Board roles, including positions with C3 Victory Church Executive Board, Victory OOSH, and Victory Care services. With 20 years of experience as a Chairperson, Graham is well-versed in leading these entities. Throughout his 40-year career, he has held management positions in major corporations, specializing in Project Delivery and Business Improvement. Although he is now semi-retired, Graham continues to work as a consultant. He values his time with family, grandchildren, and traveling. Graham’s passion lies in promoting good governance to ensure effective delivery of an organization’s vision and proper risk management.

Rick is incredibly passionate about Newcastle and its people. His leadership has been a catalytic in pioneering church, community and civic partnerships over decades across the region – for which he’s been widely recognised. It’s with Rick’s guidance and heart that Soul has become the much-loved charity it is today.

Linda is the newest addition to our trustee team. She’s had a passion for helping the marginalised and disadvantaged from an early age and currently works as a program manager supporting children with disabilities or delays and their families. She has diplomas in social science and teaching and a quirky sense of humour!

Tonya loves what Soul is about as she has always had a soft heart for the marginalised, lost and lonely.  Tonya first joined the Soul team to assist with finance/accounts in 2017. Although she left the position in 2020 to take up a full-time role with the Vocational Education and Training program of a local high school, Tonya has stayed connected with Soul. She volunteers at the annual Sleepout for Soul and Life@Soul volunteer appreciation events! In 2022, Tonya became a Trustee.

Originally a country lad with a career in farming, Howard moved into youth work then landscaping before becoming a Salvation Army minister, where he spent 20 years working as manager of a welfare centre. He acts as the points leader for our major fundraiser, Sleepout for Soul, and sits on the Management Team.