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
Jane Dickensen PSM
Policy and Advocacy Advisor
With a background in economics and education, Jane has worked in the Australian Public Service since the early 1990s across a range of social policy areas. Jane has worked extensively in family policy and was part of the team that developed, implemented and evaluated Australia’s Paid Parental Leave scheme. Jane has an ongoing interest in policies related to the workforce participation of parents.
More recently Jane worked collaboratively with the Brave Foundation to establish the Supporting Expecting and Parenting Teens program as part of the Try, Test and Learn Fund, a fund testing innovative approaches to assist some of the most vulnerable in society onto a path towards stable, sustainable independence.
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