Our people
Meet our Stay Kind team, patrons & ambassadors as well as the Take Kare team, who are dedicated to our vision.
Patrons & ambassadors
General David Hurley, AC, DSC, FTSE
Patron
His Excellency General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd) was sworn in as the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 July 2019.
Prior to being sworn in as Governor-General, David Hurley served as the 38th Governor of New South Wales from October 2014 to May 2019.
Allan Sparkes, CV, OAM, VA
Founding patron
Allan is a renowned international keynote speaker, trainer and former Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW.
Having experienced and recovered from a trauma related mental illnesses, Allan is a passionate advocate for proactive approaches and greater education relating to the physiological risks being faced in today’s society.
Kathy Kelly
Co-Founder
Kathy Kelly is the mother of Thomas and Stuart. Kathy co-founded Stay Kind (formerly the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation) with her husband Ralph.
Kathy focuses her time on positive community contribution through four key platforms: Advocacy; Prevention; Education and Kindness. She communicates social issues from the heart and motivates action through her passion to create change.
She has spent the past 9 years as a Director on our Board and has recently stepped back from this role. Kathy is now directing her time around her passion to help others, though sharing her personal journey. ‘When we find community and understanding, we find hope.’
Kathy’s love for her children and sheer determination honours the memory of her boys and gives all our children the chance for a better life.
Greg Page
Ambassador
Greg Page is best known as the original Yellow Wiggle. Together with the original members, Greg has performed more than 6,000 concerts across the world to over 3 million fans.
Stay Kind has appointed Greg as a Stay Kind ambassador through his continuous work with young children, the Australian community as well as his kindness and community spirit. Along with his new initiative called “Heart of the Nation”, Greg continues to share the importance of kindness and inspiring acts of kindness through education and community messaging.
Stay Kind team
Ralph Kelly
Director & CEO
Ralph Kelly is the father of Stuart and Thomas. With the support of David Anstee, Ralph and Kathy started the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation. As the CEO of Stay Kind, Ralph has pro-actively campaigned for behavioural change in the community in relation to violence, bullying, hazing and suicide. He has also advocated for social support for victims of violence as well as violence protection.
Under Ralph’s direction, numerous initiatives have been established including a Financial Hardship Victim Support program through the NSW Department of Justice, Take Kare Safe Spaces in the Sydney CBD and the development of the Take Kare app in partnership with UTS. The Take Kare Safe Space program has recorded over 73,000 instances of assistance since December 2014. Ralph oversees the Take Kare program and Stay Kind’s daily operations. Save Spaces have been replicated in Canberra ACT as well as Soho in Central London.
Natalie Zelinsky
Company Secretary & COO
Natalie Zelinsky is both the Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary for Stay Kind. She is oversees the daily operation of the Foundation on behalf of the voluntary CEO and is also responsible for overseeing the Take Kare Safe Space program. Natalie plays an integral role in the development and execution of strategic activities, establishing and developing some of its key relationships, ensuring the provision of programs and services, and also the management of specific projects that contribute to the strategic growth and impact of the Foundation. As Company Secretary Natalie also provides a range of support to the Stay Kind board and oversees Stay Kind compliance with its statutory and regulatory obligations.
Take Kare team
Kristen Flex
Take Kare Program Coordinator
Kristen is the Take Kare Program Coordinator for Stay Kind. She is responsible for the planning and coordination of the Safe Spaces Program including our nightly operations. Kristen also administers various aspects of the program including the coordination of training and volunteer recruitment.
Kristen joined Take Kare at 18 years old as a volunteer, growing into her current role. With a collaborative and democratic approach to leadership we are thrilled to have Kristen leading, inspiring and mentoring our team.
Take Kare Ambassadors
The Take Kare Ambassadors are a large team of dedicated Team Leaders and Volunteers who give up Friday and Saturday nights 10pm-4am to help young people get home safely.
Our Take Kare team members come from all backgrounds and all walks of life. If you would like to join the Take Kare family, click here to volunteer.
Keep reading
Anyone at any age can be a Kindness Champion, all you need is a desire to spread kindness.
Become a Take Kare Safe Space Ambassador. Help young people and also visitors to Sydney find a safe passage home.