Felicity Sowerbutts 

Felicity started work in the Australian trade union movement after studying Politics in the UK and working and volunteering for MPs and campaign organisations. Before joining the Young Workers Centre, Felicity led the Campaigns Team at Victorian Trades Hall through more elections than she can count. In her spare time you can find her hanging out with her children, walking her dog on the beach, at her local parkrun and watching Geelong win.

Kelly Thomas

Kelly uses her legal skills to work in service of working people and their unions. Dignity at work and dignity of work are important guides for Kelly’s approach to helping employees and ensuring that employers do the right thing. Prior to coming to YWC, Kelly worked for a national union and a national plaintiff law firm, as well as the Fair Work Commission.

She is proud of her advocacy for workers and highlights winning a huge compensation payment for a young victim of sexual assault. Working on the $100million class action for workers with an intellectual disability who were underpaid will always be an honour for her.

Outside of work, Kelly enjoys walking her dog, Harvey, having a laugh and is otherwise busy raising a future feminist.

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Wallace Huang

Wallace (he/him) has always been a political nerd and passionate about workers' rights. It's no surprise that most of his working life has been dedicated to unionism and community organising. Prior to joining the Young Workers Centre, Wallace was an industrial organiser at the Migrant Workers Centre.

When Wallace is not spending quality time with his two cats, he can also be found around Melbourne chasing the best cheap eats and latest food trends.

Shannen Bethune 

Shannen is a junior lawyer passionate about worker’s rights. Prior to bopping over to YWC, she worked at the United Workers’ Union for over 5 years, primarily assisting Cleaners and Early Educators. Off the clock, she loves a cult doco, a drink with friends, and alternating between reading theorybro books and memoirs of the chaotic female genre. 

Alessandra Galletti 

Alessandra (she/her) had no idea what area of law she wanted to specialise in after completing her legal studies until she became involved in the union movement. She developed her passion for unionism and workers rights whilst working as an Industrial Advocate.  

She has the title of owning the most cats in the Young Workers Team (three) and spends her free time with friends and family watching, playing and talking about sport. 

Maddy Spooner 

Maddy (she/they) has been a union member for their whole working life, but became more of an activist during their time as an Advocate at the Young Workers Centre in Semester 2 of 2023. Maddy is currently completing their law degree and practical legal training, and spends their free time learning how to sew. 

Siane Grant-Hayes

Siane (she/her) has a background in education and is passionate about young people’s wellbeing. Far from just a morning journal and a walk (though she is partial to both those things), Siane sees wellbeing as a structural issue and is passionate about young people leading the changes that effect them.

Siane’s also had her fair share of dodgy bosses and is proud to be helping young people have positive experiences at work. Outside of the YWC Siane loves sitting in the sun, eating and swimming.

Katie Hanh-Vo

Katie (she/they) is experienced in youth-focused work, especially youth from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. A great part of Katie’s work and activism has been on assisting and empowering newly arrived youth and adults to connect with their community.

Outside of the YWC, Katie loves hanging out with their cat, Sushi and making their own clothes as a form of protest against the fast fashion industry.

Nina Mountford

Nina (she/they) has a background in theatre making and a strong commitment to unionism. Dedicated to worker’s rights, accessibility, and the arts, Nina joined the YWC excited to help young people reach safe, secure, and well-paying employment through education and support.

Outside of their union work, Nina can be found making and watching theatre, reading, lounging, and gesticulating wildly.

Olivia Baldwin

Olivia (she/her) has a background in political science and has been involved in social justice advocacy since high school. After spending her early years in the workforce in retail and hospitality she learnt the importance of standing up for yourself and organising in the workplace. Having also spent time at the Fair Work Ombudsman, Olivia also has insight into how complex understanding your rights can be but also how important it is to fight for them!

Outside of work you can find her at a concert, a gig, or just watching music videos on the couch with her friends.

Lyndon Caswell

Lyndon (he/him) recently completed his law degree and has been passionate about workers’ rights and social justice for as long as he can remember. As someone who worked a lot of hospo jobs after high school, he has seen how young workers are treated firsthand and believes they deserve better. Before his time as an Outreach Organiser, he was a legal advocate with the Young Workers Centre in 2024.

Outside of YWC, you can find Lyndon driving virtual race cars, watching sport or playing music. 

Shannon Colee

Shannon (she/her) first got involved in the union movement when she was 19 and started volunteering at her university’s student union. From there it was a quick journey to helping out with wider union campaigns and eventually giving over the phone industrial advice.

After growing up in regional Victoria, Shannon has a passion for making sure that young people there know their workplace rights and are active members of their union. She also wants to make sure that work is a fair and inviting place for other queer people. 

When not at work, Shannon can be found with her friends and family, talking about her dog, reading or taking part in her hobby of the month.

Angus Leech