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Talent RISE announces new Board appointments

Menchie Khairuddin February 21, 2024

2 min read

Talent RISE announces Chris Freel, Group Sales Director, Australia, oOh!media, and Rebecca Stella, Program Director Head of Wellbeing and Engagement, BlendED, as new board members.

Freel and Stella will both work closely with Karen Graham, Talent RISE CEO and join fellow board members, Michelene Hart, Non-Executive Director & Chair of Talent RISE; Mark Nielsen, Global CEO, Talent; Richard Earl, Founder & Non-Executive Director, Talent; Jane Tewson, Founder & Director, Igniting Change; and Ben Trollip, Non-Executive Director, Talent.

“The work Talent RISE is doing to help young people into meaningful work is incredibly important and something we should all be responsible for,” said Stella.

Rebecca Stella’s passion and dedication to supporting young people is a force to be reckoned with.

Stella has built her professional career walking alongside young people who have experienced significant barriers to engaging in education across Victoria.

She has spent 15 years in the flexible school space, working across numerous school settings that focus on building trauma informed and healing orientated schools that can accommodate individualised learning needs for disengaged young people.

Currently serving as the Program Director of Head of Wellbeing and Engagement for the BlendED school at St Joseph Special Assistance School, Stella continues to cultivate learning environments that cater to the needs of young individuals who may not fit into traditional schooling structures.

Stella added that throughout her career she’s been able to work closely with young people who experience different challenges and is looking forward to being able to share what she’s learned with the Talent RISE team who do remarkable work.

“I am honoured to be joining the Talent RISE board,” enthused Freel.

“I’ve admired the work that the RISE team do for some time now and share their passion with helping young people with barriers into employment.”

Chris Freel’s passion for supporting young people into meaningful employment spans across major organisations in Australia including his previous role as Group CEO of UnLtd & MOOD tea. UnLtd is a social impact organisation who believe that every young person deserves the best opportunity in life.

Under Chris’s stewardship they have driven over $200 million of social impact value, helping positively influence tens of thousands of young lives.

“Both Chris and Rebecca bring a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience.” said Karen Graham, Talent RISE CEO.

Graham added that they worked directly with young people who have experienced barriers and have also helped change many lives with that work.

“It is such a privilege to have them join our mission of transforming young lives through meaningful employment.”

“We can all do our part to help change young lives and feel an immense responsibility as a business leader,” added Freel.

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.