About us

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.

Wife to Rick and devoted mum and Grandma, Sue has been the Floor / Kitchen manager at Soul Hub for 10 years. She loves what she does every day, serving some of the most vulnerable people in our community. She also appreciates her amazing team, who she sees as family and calls the ‘best in the world’.

John has been volunteering at Soul since 2020. Having first arrived in Australia in 2015, he and his wife Linda are hoping to make Australia their home as their two sons, partners and three grandchildren are now residents. He enjoys the beach and has always loved snorkeling and diving. John hopes to explore many more parts of Australia. John loves meeting and chatting to our Soul guests and is now actively involved in SMART Recovery and Coaching programs.

Mark enjoys being part of an inclusive space where individuals feel valued, safe and heard. Sometimes laughing loudly with guests, he has a focus on fostering respect and empathy. Mark hopes that everyone who walks through the door feels welcomed and may step into some calm in their day. In his other activity as a PhD researcher his aim is to narrow the gap between the theory and practice of how people care and relate to each other. He recognises that meaningful interactions with human connection can be restorative, especially when yummy food abounds, like at Soul.

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.

A Newcastle newbie, Ella was searching for a community-driven home, which she found in Soul. She splits her time between engaging with the wonderful and generous Newcastle Community and coordinating Soul’s amazing volunteers. Ella brings expertise from across the social justice, human rights and sustainability sectors. Originally from the UK, Ella was living in Vancouver, Canada for 5 years before her Aussie partner persuaded her to move down under, she’s now much warmer and very happy.

Geoff hails from Queensland, which causes a bit of disruption during State of Origin time at Soul Hub. However, he has been in Newcastle since 2020, where he has worked in disability support, Community Corrections, and as a Social Worker at the Maitland Hospital. Geoff has extensive case management experience from his time in Queensland, having previously focused on family support, Out of Home Care, and youth support work. Geoff is constantly in awe of the amazing work that Soul Hub and all their volunteers do for the marginalised, oppressed, and vulnerable people of the Newcastle community. Outside of Soul Hub, Geoff is an active member of the Hunter Rugby Union community, volunteering his time as the senior Women’s head coach at the Wanderers Rugby Union Football Club here in Newcastle.

Greg is an experienced administration manager who worked for twenty five years in the retail and energy industries. A career break in 2021 gave Greg the opportunity to reflect on his priorities and he realised that he wanted to use his skills to make a positive difference in the local community. He came to Soul as a volunteer and loved the fact that it felt more like spending time with friends than working! So, when the opportunity came up to work in the office, he jumped at the chance to become a permanent part of the Soul family.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.