Board of Directors

Megan joined the FCAV Board in 2017, harnessing her experience as a foster carer since 2013 and wealth of experience across education, government, and community services to engage and advocate for members on the issues that matter most to foster carers and the children and young people in out-of-home care.

Megan has championed good governance and best practice policy-making throughout her time with the FCAV Board and has presented policy advice, reflecting the needs of the out-of-home system, at various government and industry advisory groups and committees.

Through her work in government and with the community services sector, Megan is actively involved in the development of strategies to improve recruitment and retention of foster carers in regional areas and will leverage the insights and lived experience of FCAV members to influence improved support and provision.

Megan brings 20+ years as a successful business owner and a high degree of commercial acumen to highlight the financial pressures on foster carers and the economic needs of the system, lobbying stakeholders across government, industry, and community sectors to raise awareness and influence positive change.

Megan is currently completing a Master of Social Work and holds a Graduate Diploma in Psychology and Bachelor of Business.

I am a banking and finance professional with over 12 years’ experience working for some of Australia’s largest financial institutions.  Originally from Melbourne, I relocated to Townsville as a child. At age 8 I was placed into foster care with my sister due to a history of family violence and drug & alcohol abuse.  At age 14 our grandparents became our kinship carers until adulthood. My 10 years’ experience in the out of home care system has been a huge driving factor in my desire to be involved with organisations and projects that work with young people in out of home care, foster carers and those who work in the field. 

Previously I have had the pleasure of being a Young Consultant with the Create Foundation. This role gave me the opportunity to assist in the running of workshops and events aimed at educating workers and carers on various topics, as well as the development of educational materials and foster carer resources. I was also given a platform to tell my story through radio interviews and workshops. Most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to connect with other young people who were or are in out of home care. We were able to share our experiences with others who truly understood. This experience really cemented my desire to continue my involvement with organisations who work towards bettering the lives of those in or who are involved with the out of home care system. 

I look forward to using my role on the FCAV board of directors as a platform to share my personal experiences in the out of home care system. In doing so I hope that I can pave the way for a better experience for all of those young people that find themselves in out of home care.

Mathew is an MBA qualified executive who has led a diverse group of individuals to create successful businesses throughout 18 years in business. Mathew has led and implemented business strategies resulting in sustainable growth in business and employee engagement.

Additionally, Mathew has significant experience in the implementation of transformation and change management projects across acquisitions, software implementation, automation in manufacturing and supply chain, customer experience, operational transformation to enhance process improvements and EBIT. Mathew implemented the largest business transformation in BASF history during the Covid pandemic.

Mathew has grown up with a family experience which included foster children and has a strong connection through nieces and nephews who have joined his family and made their family a richer environment. This life experience has inspired Mathew and his partner Leo to be foster carers, and they have been fostering children for the past few years, successfully supporting children in need, and supporting the reunification of kinship to the children in their care.

Mathew has joined the FCAV board to champion carers supporting children in need.

Zoe Sredovic is a Certified Practicing Accountant with 30 plus years of experience in Commercial Finance. Across her long career at News Corp Australia, Zoe has rotated through varying roles within the finance, commercial and community space. This includes Head of Reporting and Controls for the Herald and Weekly Times, Head of Finance and Operations for the Leader Community News, Commercial Finance Manager for News Corp National Community Media and her most current position as the Commercial Finance Manager for News Corp Publishing.  

Zoe’s commitment to the community is reflected in her not-for profit involvement as a board member of the Good Friday Appeal and her continual voluntary work across her career.

Zoe is passionate about children’s wellbeing and looks forward to being a member of the FCAV community and helping to foster positive relationships for children.

Natalie Pryor

As a driven small business owner with 25 years’ experience in performing arts education and business management, Natalie Pryor has supported thousands of Victorian children, young people and families through her school over the years. She is proud to have created a place described by their students and staff as “safe”, “home” and “family”. 

Wishing to bring those skills to work with vulnerable children and young people, Natalie became a foster carer with her partner in December 2019, welcoming their first foster placement a month later and caring for them full time since. Subsequently, she’s become passionate about improving outcomes for foster carers, and for children and young people in care.

Holding a BA in Psychology/Criminology (UoM) and having worked in market research and university administration, Natalie has a background in research, customer feedback, data analysis and systems development to improve client service delivery. These experiences have shaped her ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, ensuring open and respectful communication, and facilitating discussions between individuals, state government, local government, community service organisations and private companies. 

Highly motivated and accustomed to taking initiative, Natalie developed and published a peer-led resource hub and support forum website for foster carers, and is currently working on other foster care focused projects in collaboration with CSOs and the FCAV. 

Natalie is seeking opportunities to advocate, innovate, and make meaningful and much needed change in this sector. In joining the FCAV board, she seeks to bring her lived experience, energy, and resolve to fight for carers to be heard and respected.

Kym Phillips is an Information Technology consultant having worked in the industry for over 40 years. He has worked for several Global 500 companies, but currently focuses on IT consulting to local small businesses in Melbourne. 

Kym received his care-giver accreditation in 2009 and is also trained as a “Circle Program” carer. He and his partner currently provide long-term care for three adolescent boys, as well as providing lodgings for another young man who has recently left the care system but remains a member of the household.  Over the years Kym has provided emergency, short-term, respite and long-term care for numerous young people. 

Kym is a passionate advocate for both Carers and Young People in the care system. He is a member of the Carer Advisory Group for the West Division, and was co-chair of the West Division CAG for the second term. He sits on the Better Futures (Home Stretch) Housing Working Group as carer representative and has contributed to several “Roadmap to Reform” DHHS workshops. 

Kym has made several media appearances on TV, radio and print in an effort to recruit carers as well as to highlight the plight of young people leaving the care system without supports. 

Alexis has over 19 years’ experience working as a HR professional and people manager in manufacturing, private industry, local government and the water industry. After completing a Business Management Degree with Victoria University in 2000, her career began at Thales in North East Victoria. After 10 years in the manufacturing industry Alexis moved to local government as the Manager People and Performance at Rural City of Wangaratta. After relocating to Melbourne in 2014, Alexis commenced work at City of Darebin where she had roles working within the Aged Care and Disability team and then later working with the Executive, Mayor and Councillors in governance.

In 2013/14 Alexis was one of 4 Victorian local government professionals to be selected to participate in a mentoring program with Timor-Leste local government officers.  The program allowed Alexis to spend time in Timor-Leste working alongside her mentees.

Alexis completed her Masters in Business Administration in 2016 after being awarded a rural scholarship with La Trobe University. Alexis is now working at Western Water in the role of Organisational Development Manager.

Alexis is very passionate about equality, welfare and education especially with children, and is looking forward to joining the FCAV board.

Alexis has 3 children and in her spare times loves playing netball, going to the gym and cooking.

Morgan is an employment lawyer with experience in many aspects of employment law, including workplace disputes, workplace investigations and the interpretation of awards and agreements.  Morgan has a particular focus on advising clients in the independent education sector, including in relation to child safety matters.

Morgan is passionate about the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people. In joining the FCAV Board, Morgan seeks to use her professional experience to consider the experiences of carers and fostered children, and promote change; not only for the benefit of children in need, but also those who are actively involved in the lives of children and young people.

Sarah’s professional background is diverse. Her career has spanned everything from corporate roles within Banking, Insurance and Real Estate sectors to heading up for-purpose organisations. She led a team raising money for social and affordable housing. Sarah is proud to say that she took the organisation from the start-up stage to raising a pipeline of over $110 million, and it is still going strong. Sarah recently accepted the position of CEO of The Nappy Collective. As CEO, she leads a team including over 200 volunteers who collect donations of new and leftover nappies - ones that little ones have grown out of or no longer need - and then pass them on to families in crisis.

Giving back to the community is important to Sarah. She is a foster parent and has proudly provided a temporary safe haven for children who have been welcomed into her home. Sarah enjoys looking after foster children of all ages and is happy for them to stay as long as needed. Sarah recently stepped down from her position as Non- Executive Director of the Board of Permanent Care and Adoptive Families (VIC), where she also chaired the fundraising committee.