Meet the team
Professor Christina Pollard
Co-director
Christina Pollard is the Director of Mentally Healthy WA, based at Curtin University. Professor Public Health Priorities, she brings her health promotion experience working for Government for over 30 years to the Act Belong Commit campaign. Her research has underpinned development of a diverse range of successful public health interventions from policy and practice at national, state and local levels. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master’s Degree in Public Health, a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, a Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nutrition and Food Science).
Professor Sharyn Burns
Co-director
Sharyn is a health promotion practitioner and researcher with a specific interest in translational intervention-based research. Her research includes a focus on children, adolescents, young adults and parents in the areas of sexual health, mental health, alcohol & other drugs and obesity prevention. She has a strong background in school-based health promotion research and has expertise in conducting evaluations, in mixed methods research and in implementing health promotion interventions. Sharyn also leads a range of other sexual and mental health-related research projects. Sharyn teaches undergraduate and postgraduate health promotion and public health students as well as supervising PhD, Masters and Honours students.
Rodney Glossop
Partnerships Coordinator
Rodney brings a wealth of stakeholder management experience from his 25 years working in Sport, Recreation and Events Industry within the University Sector, and as a Volunteer Event Ambassador and Event Director for parkrun Australia. Having founded two parkrun events in WA; Homestead and UWA, Rodney has a real passion for providing opportunities for the community to interact and engage. Rodney enjoys running, reading and camping, and his ideal weekend is combining all three on a family holiday with his five children.
Kira Hardy
Communications and Engagement Coordinator
Kira has a background in health promotion, delivering programs in early learning centres, schools and workplaces in regional Victoria. She has always had an interest in visual communication, leading her to pursue further study. In 2023, Kira moved to Western Australia and joined Act Belong Commit, combining her interests in health promotion and creativity. She coordinates communications with schools, Partners, and the public, and creates many of the resources you may see and use! Kira holds a Bachelor of Health Science and a Graduate Certificate in Communication.
Kim Andreassen
Schools Program Coordinator
Kim (they/them) is a passionate and enthusiastic sexologist with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and mental wellbeing. They love working within the intersections of gender diversity, sexual diversity and intersex variations, and disability amongst others. They have experience in creating resources for people with disability and have a special interest in all things accessible and inclusive. In their spare time, they’re working on several queering curriculum projects and hope to enact positive social change. They have a mix of educational qualifications including Master of Sexology, Graduate Diploma of Business Analytics, and a Graduate Certificate in Education. They are also a PhD candidate at Curtin University. Their thesis focuses on best practice accessible consent education for people with disability aged 12-16 years of age, emphasising non-speaking consent.
Regina Ndossi
Partnerships Officer
Regina is an event and project management professional with a strong background in fostering meaningful connections. As the Partnerships Officer at Act Belong Commit, she works to build relationships that promote mental wellbeing and community engagement. With expertise in stakeholder relations, event coordination, and strategic partnerships, Regina has led initiatives supporting volunteers, artists, students, and marginalised communities. She is also a dedicated advocate for professional development and mentorship, helping to bridge the gap between education and career opportunities. Regina holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Management, Project Management & Events Management).
Carol Leen Huish
Administrative Support Officer
Carol is the first point of contact when you call or email the Act Belong Commit team. Carol’s friendly and collaborative approach to all communications is founded on decades of volunteer work as Community Activator and her work with diverse stakeholders. With a background in administrative roles spanning various sectors, Carol’s expertise in the provision of comprehensive administrative support to the Act Belong Commit team is closely aligned with her passion to promote mental health & wellbeing in the community.
JJ Coorey
Administrative Support Officer
JJ recently graduated with a double degree in Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing). Having experience working as a medical receptionist and a sales assistant at a jewellery store, JJ ensures caring for clients is her top priority. Outside of work she likes to relax with a book and socialise with friends. Working with Act Belong Commit aligns with her motivations to promote positive, achievable and long-term resources in the community to help people maintain holistic wellness.
Emma Kenworthy
Project Administrator
Emma is a marketing and publications professional with a strong passion for purpose. Her innovative aptitude supports programs to maximise reach with newest technologies. Prior to joining Act Belong Commit she supported Yogazeit with marketing, public relations, fundraising and guided activities as Board Director. Since Yogazeit transferred to Act Belong Commit in 2024, Emma has been managing the handover and integration of all Yogazeit programs including Children Yoga Teacher Training, Teenage Yoga Teacher Training, Mindful Movement professional development for schools and Indigenous Youth Yoga Teacher Training (Deadly Minds).