Jenn Hammond
Chief Executive Officer

Jenn joined the board of Living Child in 2018 and took on the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2024 for our Australian and Papua New Guinea operations. She is an experienced management professional with diverse experience across various industries in Australia. Jenn is also an Associate at Mettle Global, where she leverages her expertise in crisis management, leadership, resilience, and strategic advisory.

Her early career was in community development and child protection roles. With a background in social sciences, she possesses a deep understanding of and keen interest in international relations, health security, and human behaviour.

Jenn holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, specialising in National Security and Health, as well as a Graduate Diploma in International Relations and a Graduate Certificate in International Health. She also has an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences and numerous certifications in mental health, drug and alcohol studies.

Ruth Injo
PNG Country Director

Ruth is a former director of nursing turned public health professional, with over 30 years of experience in clinical care, leadership, and community-based health systems across Papua New Guinea. She joined Living Child as Country Director in 2024. Ruth leads our public health outreach programs in East Sepik Province, with a focus on community engagement, health education, and strengthening rural health systems.

Ruth began her nursing journey at Kudjip Nazarene College of Nursing in 1992. She holds a Master of Public Health in Population and Health Sciences from Curtin University, a Bachelor of Public Health from the University of Canberra, and is an Australia Awards Scholar.

Before joining Living Child, Ruth served in key leadership roles including Director of Nursing Services at Kompiam District Hospital and Project Coordinator for the national revision of the Health Care Manual 3rd Edition with the Baptist Union of Papua New Guinea. She also spent over a decade with Enga Baptist Health Services, where she delivered frontline care and public health programs across remote communities. A respected mentor within the PNG-Australia Alumni network, Ruth continues to inspire and guide the next generation of public health leaders committed to creating dignified, community-led solutions in remote Papua New Guinea.

Hannah Stapleton
Operations Manager

Hannah joined Living Child in 2023 and is our Operations Manager, overseeing logistical, financial, compliance, and communications functions across Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Holding a Bachelor of Education from the University of Notre Dame, Hannah enjoys blending the skills acquired through her education studies with her previous experience in digital marketing, communications and administration to empower others and maximise impact of LC programs.

Hannah is responsible for reporting, organisational compliance, policy development, procurement, and risk management, and plays a key role in fundraising and supporter engagement across a variety of platforms.

Naomi Fingu
Health Promotions Officer

Naomi is Living Child’s Health Promotion Officer, based in Wewak. Since joining LC during the COVID-19 pandemic, Naomi has travelled to the Keram LLG more than ten times.

Naomi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Management from Divine Word University and is a Days for Girls Ambassador. She is a confident public speaker who has led menstrual hygiene and reproductive health education sessions in churches, schools, and village settings.

Naomi is an accomplished radio presenter and, with support from our friends at Health Communication Resources and Laif FM, has produced and recorded a health promotion radio series called Helti Femeli. This airs regularly on Laif FM to an audience of over 20,000 people and shares practical health messages with families across East Sepik.

John & Gina Tarat
Community Volunteer Coordinators

Gina and John have been part of Living Child from the very start. Together, they are keep LC programs running year-round and are a vital connection between our team and the communities we serve.

John is the skipper and caretaker of the LC boat and has done several hundred trips up and down the Keram River - ferrying LC staff and volunteers, checking on project villages receiving the Healthy Families, Strong Communities (HFSC) program, and taking mothers in labour and other medical emergencies to Angoram for care and treatment. He has also been a key part of several infrastructure projects, building birthing huts, a staff house for a community health worker, and the ‘LC haus’ that houses travelling staff and volunteers.

Gina coordinates 53 volunteers from six villages as part of LC’s HFSC program to engage in clean-up activities, share health education and promote positive behaviour change that ripples across their village.

Lillian Chanei
Finance Officer

Lillian joined Living Child in 2023 and is our Finance Officer, managing expense tracking and reconciliation to ensure transparent and accountable financial practices. She works closely with program staff to align spending with LC’s strategic goals and compliance requirements. With strong attention to detail and a deep understanding of working in rural and resource-limited contexts, Lillian ensures that Living Child’s funds are stewarded wisely and ethically.

Lillian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce/Information Technology from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology in Lae, and a Certificate III in Accounts Administration from South Metropolitan TAFE in WA. Lillian has extensive experience in finance across a variety of industries, in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Carol Allan
Midwife, Health Equipment Coordinator & VBA Trainer

Carol is a registered Nurse/Midwife, with a huge passion for supporting maternal health in developing countries, having previously lived in Cambodia and Myanmar. PNG has had a special place in her heart since her first trip with LC in 2019. After originally offering to do data entry for LC as a volunteer, she felt compelled to do something more to help after reading through mud-stained records detailing the extent of PNG’s maternal and infant mortality rates in remote areas.

Carol has also visited the Keram five times to train Village Birth Attendants and Village Health Volunteers in maternal health promotion, how and when to make a referral to a health facility and (in the event of an emergency) how to support a safe, clean birth. Together with LC Founder, Sara David AM, she has also contributed to the publication of a number of research papers on maternal health in PNG. Carol provides midwifery advice for our Helpim Mama program and manages the sending and tracking of supplies from LC and our partners to PNG with DHL.

Greg Low
Chair

Greg Low is an experienced creative director with a history of working in the non-profit industry. Having started his career in the media, Greg has led and been engaged in all aspects of the modern communication functions – including strategy, marketing, creative, brand and customer engagement.

Greg has worked in over 140 countries, recording and telling stories. He is experienced in leading teams, setting and executing communication plans to deliver outcomes in accordance with strategic goals. Greg has extensive experience as a Board Chair for charities operating overseas.

Greg has twice visited the Keram LLG as part of LC teams and took many of the beautiful images you will see on our website and on our social media.

Andrew Pickford
Vice Chair

With over 15 years of experience in strategy, policy, and corporate advisory across international markets, Andrew Pickford is a General Manager at HanRoy, a subsidiary of Hancock Prospecting Group, one of Australia's largest privately-owned companies. He is also an honorary research fellow of the University of Western Australia.

Andrew has extensive experience in risk management, strategic planning, and forecasting in the resource and energy sectors, as well as advising on geo-political risk. He has also published several books and reports on the Indian Ocean region, its economic and strategic significance, and Australia's options and opportunities. Andrew is passionate about enhancing Australia's engagement and leadership in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Jennifer Hammond
Secretary

Jenn joined the board of Living Child in 2018 and took on the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2024 for our Australian and Papua New Guinea operations. She is an experienced management professional with diverse experience across various industries in Australia. Jenn is also an Associate at Mettle Global, where she leverages her expertise in crisis management, leadership, resilience, and strategic advisory.

Her early career was in community development and child protection roles. With a background in social sciences, she possesses a deep understanding of and keen interest in international relations, health security, and human behaviour.

Jenn holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, specialising in National Security and Health, as well as a Graduate Diploma in International Relations and a Graduate Certificate in International Health. She also has an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences and numerous certifications in mental health, drug and alcohol studies.

Susmita Thomson
Treasurer

Susmita Thomson has over 20 years’ experience in the resources sector and has a diverse background spanning health sciences and engineering. This has resulted in strong focus on technology and research.

Susmita is currently a non-executive director in several non-for-profit organisations and joined Living Child in 2021. She was educated in Perth and her qualifications include a BE (Hons), BSc (Hons), PhD, Grad Cert (Public Health).

Susmita is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mike Bullard
Board Director

Mike Bullard has worked as a leader in the Church and Non-Profit sector for 30 years. Since 2010, he has travelled regularly to PNG to offer support and training for church and community leaders and was involved in the founding of Living Child in 2013. Mike served as the Board’s initial Chair for a period of 8 years.

Mike has done Doctoral Studies on Leadership and specific aspects of Melanesian culture focusing on leadership training for non- and semi-literate peoples. Mike is regularly involved in running workshops for cross-cultural leaders and pastors, focusing on the challenges of integration into Australian society faced by members of groups whose primary language is not English. Mike is also a trained supervisor and offers supervision for professional leaders in the non-for-profit area.

Ruth Injo
Board Director

Ruth Injo is a senior registered nurse and public health professional with over 30 years of experience in clinical care, leadership, and community-based health systems across Papua New Guinea. She joined the Board in 2024. Ruth leads our public health outreach programs in East Sepik Province, with a focus on community engagement, health education, and strengthening rural health systems.

Before joining Living Child, Ruth served in key leadership roles including Director of Nursing Services at Kompiam District Hospital and Project Coordinator for the national revision of the Health Care Manual 3rd Edition with the Baptist Union of Papua New Guinea. She also spent over a decade with Enga Baptist Health Services, where she delivered frontline care and public health programs across remote communities. A respected mentor within the PNG-Australia Alumni network, Ruth continues to inspire and guide the next generation of public health leaders committed to creating dignified, community-led solutions in remote Papua New Guinea.