Mountain Track Board
Dr Natalie Herd Incoming Board Chairperson 2025 Dr Natalie Herd is a behavioural scientist who has spent the past twenty years working on a broad range of public policy and behaviour change interventions, evaluations, and marketing campaigns. She has worked in both academic and commercial settings to provide behavioural insights to help change behaviours and inform policies across a broad range of topics, including health, risky behaviours, environmental sustainability, and inclusion of people with disability. Natalie was the former Lead Researcher at The Social Deck, a communication and engagement agency helping organisations innovate, collaborate and engage people in actions that have a positive impact on society. Prior to this, Natalie worked in the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London on behaviour change research for the UK government. Natalie has also held research positions at the The Cancer Council Victoria and Empirica Research. Natalie holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (Honours) from The University of Melbourne.
Professor Marlene Drysdale Incoming Director 2025  Marlene Drysdale is the Senior Aboriginal Advisor and Cultural Mentor Coordinator at Royal Australian College of General Practice her role is to provide advice on Aboriginal Cultural health, cultural mentoring, community engagement, Aboriginal registrar support, cultural safety training and contributes to the development of GP training policy.  Marlene has a strong community focus and a commitment to improving Indigenous health workforce issues. Marlene‘s PhD was titled “Aboriginal Women and Reconciliation in Australia: Communication Strategies and Symbolism.  Her many research interests include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, child and maternal health, Reconciliation, registrar education and cultural mentoring.  Prior to working at RACGP she was the senior advisor on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health to the Department of Health in Canberra. She worked at Monash University for 25 years in Aboriginal Education and later set up the Indigenous Health Unit at Monash University Department of Rural Health.   Marlene has worked for several years in Cambodia as a Director, for Developing Cambodia by Degrees and has been awarded the position of Adjunct Professor for the Asian Institute for Health Sciences in Phnom Phen, Cambodia in 2014  She has received many awards for her commitment to education, governance and Aboriginal health.  Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, travel, family and friends.
Nell Golding Incoming Director 2025 Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology), Nell has over 15 years of experience in mental health and wellbeing with a particular focus on youth mental health. Nell has worked with secondary students at the Brotherhood of St Lawrence’s urban youth camps, facilitated wellbeing workshops and conferences in primary and secondary schools with Project Thrive and co-convened the Myer Foundation’s Youth Mental Health Committee. Most recently Nell has worked in University settings within student support, engagement, welfare and wellbeing initiatives including at the University of Melbourne, Bond University and Griffith University Student Guild. Nell’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology), Graduate Certificate of Wellness and Master of Applied Positive Psychology. Nell is passionate about using a strengths-based approach to improve wellbeing and engagement through coaching, education and crisis management.
Jason Thain Incoming Director 2025 Safety and Governance Manager - (National convenience store chain) Jason brings a rich and diverse background in leadership, management, safety, and training, with dynamic skills ranging from an impressive military career to expertise in mining safety and supervision. His specialties include leadership training and in-field coaching, superintendent and supervisor skills development, critical risk review and program design, and risk assessment and management. Jason combines his engaging leadership style with a keen ability to identify organizational obstacles and develop productive, effective, and efficient solutions. Jason joins Mountain Track from one of Australia’s largest mobility and convenience businesses, where he serves as the National Safety Governance Manager. Leveraging his impressive military background, he excels in complex problem-solving, team building, and self-motivation. As a Non-Commissioned Officer, he honed his communication skills to effectively relay complex information in a clear and professional manner. Focused on safety and risk performance, Jason aligns perfectly with Mountain Track’s mission to enhance the lives of young people in a nurturing environment that prioritizes workplace safety and environmental sustainability. His passion for workplace safety is deeply rooted in his first-hand experience witnessing and responding to a heavy industry workplace fatality. This pivotal moment fuelled his determination to develop his skills in the industry, aiming to help organizations optimize their processes and prevent similar accidents.
Laura Myer Director and Co Founder Bachelors degree in Social Science (Youth Work) Laura is a qualified youth worker who has worked in the field for over 20 years. She has worked with young people from a wide range of backgrounds in a number of different settings. From young people in residential care, to those ensconced in the youth justice system, from young people experiencing drug and alcohol addictions to those experiencing homelessness, from those suffering from mental health conditions through to those with serious psychiatric illnesses. She’s had the great privilege of working with countless young people over the years and for this she’s extremely grateful. Whilst receiving her degree in youth work was valuable, she has learnt a lot more about working with young people and the different challenges they face from being on the job. From her time in the field and from a life full of fairly shocking lessons it’s clear to her that what matters to young people more than almost anything else is access to healthy, ongoing, naturing relationships. These long-term relationships are everything and that’s why she’s so enthusiastic to be part of the Mountain Track program.
Richard Ian Bull (F.C.A.) Director Being a founding partner of LBW Business and Wealth Advisors one of the largest Chartered accounting practices in Geelong and one of the top 50 firms in Australia ,Richard has been privileged to be associated with many philanthropic charities and foundations over the past 35 years . Living in Point Lonsdale he has always been actively involved in community organisations large and small as he says “to put back into the community which I am so lucky to be part of “ “The honour of being a trustee /director of a charitable organization is rewarded when you see the difference you can make to the lives of the less fortunate young children and teenagers who just need a chance in life .A lot of these kids have been born into dysfunctional families through no fault of their own and supporting organisations like Mountain Track Youth will hopefully make a difference . Richard does not wish to list all the charity/ foundation boards he sits on ,in order to respect the confidentiality of those organisations .He is a director of Geelong connected communities Pty Ltd and its associated Foundation .
David Butler CEO, Co-founder and Director David has had a varied career including trade, military, policing , mining and hospitality. He has no formal training in Youth Work but does have the natural ability to connect with young people of all backgrounds.
Mountain Track Supporters
Individuals:
Nell Golden
Lindy Shelmerdine
Lady Marigold Shelmerdine
Maree and David Shelmerdine
Spencer Wilkinson
Foundations:
Channel Foundation
The Bokhara Foundation
Ducas - Paul Foundation
Chasam Foundation
Wetherall Family Foundation
Aranday Foundation
Blue Ribbon Foundation
Yulgilbar Foundation
Sidney Myer Fund
The Myer Foundation
The Funding Network
ANDYINC
