Bernadette Black AM
CEO
Bernadette has a dream to see Australia lead the world in strengths based, primary preventative framing, policy & funding solutions so that all families and future generations can flourish.
From her own humble beginnings as a 16-year-old mother to founding and leading Australia’s only national organisation, Brave Foundation to support young parents, as its inaugural CEO, then being appointed as Founder and CEO of SEED Futures in October 2024, her life’s vocation is to unify hearts and minds to prevent and stop intergenerational disadvantage. Currently in Australia six children enter out of home care every six hours, largely due to our systems not meeting needs early. Bernadette has the track record, fortitude, passion, and influence to make change, so these numbers fall.
Bernadette is systems change leader, convening regular cross departmental round tables with Commonwealth, State Governments and philanthropy, to present stories and strategy blueprints to reform the system through primary prevention. Bernadette has an advisory council of 18 subject matter experts, meeting quarterly. She believes Australia can lead the way in transforming our traditional government systems so that everyone can flourish, whilst complementing our already necessary government functions.
Bernadette has an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy, a Graduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing, both from La Trobe University and is an Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate. She holds a Diploma in Business.
Bernadette Black is a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to young people, communities, and local governments. She has been awarded the Australian Tasmanian of the Year, Telstra Tasmanian Businesswoman of the Year and included in the top 100 Australian Financial Review’s Women of Influence for her pioneering leadership and impact. Bernadette is also a recipient of a Winston Churchill Fellowship, awarded in 2024.
Bernadette is married to Steven, has three children and is a young grandmother of two
To purchase Brave Little Bear written by Bernadette Black, please email kia@seedfutures.org.au
Kia Pelham
Executive Assistant to the CEO
Kia comes with a career of strategic executive and personal assistant experience and is the backbone to this nimble department, whilst demonstrating daily the very real principles that SEED is built upon
Chris Latif
Program Design & Grant Lead Management
Christine Latif is supporting SEED Futures after working over 20 years in the NGO sector in Australia and overseas. Her experience includes more than ten years working with child-focused NGOs overseas, including extensive experience in the delivery of programs to protect the lives, rights and well-being of children living in conflict and crisis in places like Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria. Chris has also been a senior leader, delivering economic development, health, education and other programs for children and families in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East. Chris brings SEED Futures expertise in program strategy and design, implementation, and evaluation. She has also led stakeholder management all over the world, towards establishing sustainable partnerships across the academic, public and private sectors, with a specialty in working with local partners and communities to work together for children. Chris’s expertise also includes donor engagement, high-quality research, system design, and workforce planning, all focused on inclusive and sustainable outcomes for children and communities.
Holly Dwyer
Kingborough Community Pilot Coordinator