Kathleen Emerson

Operations Manager

Kathleen brings with her extensive experience in the not for profit sector. In her earlier years, she flung herself into aid and development work in South Africa and Cambodia. There she focused on mentoring vulnerable young people toward positive life choices as well as investing her interests in anti-human trafficking work.

Kathleen’s career has progressed her skillset in a variety of areas including Executive Administration, Project Management, Relief & Development Portfolio Management and Operations. These experiences over the last decade have afforded her the ability to work and communicate effectively across many cultures and circumstances. Particularly with people groups who are oppressed and disenfranchised, where trust and faith are critical.

Apart from being an unapologetic coffee-snob, outside of work, Kathleen enjoys the simple life; adventure walks around Melbourne, the beach, brunch with friends – always with her Maltese Shih Tzu, Gilbert, in tow.

Kathleen holds qualifications in Project Management and Business and is currently completing an Associate Degree in Justice/Criminology.

Meg Thomas

Banking and Supporter Administration

Meg has many years of experience in the fields of marketing, merchant banking, health, and administration.

Wise Choices for Life is blessed to have Meg’s skills and talents as a resource and Meg not only interacts with Supporters who donate to the organisation, she updates our accounting records and our stakeholder database.

Meg is an advocate for our work and her assistance at events is always welcomed and much appreciated.

A love for travel, when discussing her many overseas trips, Meg reflects on her African adventures as her most memorable.

Meg holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of Melbourne.

Stephen Elms

Since participating in several Wise Choices for Life training events in Uganda, Stephen and his wife, Lucy have been providing editorial assistance with training curriculum and manual development.

Stephen also oversees the management of data relating to the many different Wise Choices for Life stakeholder groups, including mailing lists and student training records.

During the day, Stephen is a Forester who manages an extensive forestry research and tree improvement program for a large plantation forestry company in Victoria.

Stephen holds a Masters in Forest Science.

Lucy Elms

Lucy has a background in nursing, midwifery and maternal and child health. She has always enjoyed cross cultural relationships.

After home schooling her 3 children, Lucy studied a CELTA English teaching course to pursue her interest in helping international students with their English language.
Lucy has also been involved in editing and revising the WCFL training curriculum and promoting Wise Choices for Life in a number of settings.

She enjoys spending time with a group of international friends, encouraging them in their faith and family life as well as maintaining her country garden.

Lucy has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Community Health) and CELTA qualifications.