Proud of our past, ready for our future.

Our Team

Hi Neighbour is a not for profit, registered charity powered by our dedicated volunteers.

A black and white portrait of a woman with wavy hair wearing a denim jacket, looking slightly to the left.

  • Hi Neighbour, I’m Yael and I live with my beautiful family in the Illawarra, on Dharawal Country. I am grateful for the Dharawal custodianship of this land and hope to honour it with my work.

    During the 2019–20 Black Summer Fires I was horrified by the destruction. In response I turned my life upside down. I abandoned my US Green Card, returning home to Australia as a symbol of my commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and working for positive climate action. Hi Neighbour is the brainchild of my resolve and I love my work steering this grassroots organisation where I get to work with passionate people and get things done.

    Since we launched in April 2023 I am proud to say we have achieved practical wins for our community, both with scholarships and solar rooftops.

Older man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and checkered shirt outdoors in a wooded area.

  • Professional

    • Bachelor Metallurgy UoW

    • 39 Years at Bluescope Steel

    • Technologist, Facilitator, Statistician

    Volunteer

    • Stop CSG Research Team

    • Convenor Renew Illawarra Branch renew.org.au/

    • Coordinator of submissions to Wollongong City Council Climate Change Mitigation plan 2020 and 2023

    • Advocate for Community Batteries

    • Life Coach

    Motto: Make a difference, Have fun

    Goal: Remove much more CO2 than I have generated in my lifetime.

A man with glasses and a beard smiling outdoors with a blurred background of trees.

  • Professional

    • Community Power Agency - community campaigner

    • Institute for Sustainable Futures UTS -External Communication Officer

    • UTS- Media Officer

    • Nature Conservation Council of NSW -Media and Communications Officer

    Volunteer

    • Advisor, Renew Illawarra (2022 - present)

    • P&C executive member, Lindsay Park Public School (2021 - present)

    • Founding director, Blue Mountains Renewable Energy Cooperative (2013 – 2020)

    • Solar advocate, Solar Citizens (2013 – 2018)

A woman smiling with two children sitting on a wooden deck outdoors. The woman wears a wide-brimmed straw hat and a pink top, the girl has brown hair and wears a floral dress, and the baby girl has light hair and wears a red polka-dotted dress. A plush unicorn toy is on her lap. There are other people and a stroller in the background.

  • I’m a creative professional and mother of two, I grew up locally, on Dharawal Country, and I’ve always been environmentally minded. I’ve come to realise that focusing my efforts in clean energy is the most impactful way to ensure a happy healthy planet for our kids, so I’m thrilled to be the Scholarship Coordinator for Hi Neighbour – a role I’m ecstatic about.

    My background includes a Master of Art Therapy from the University of Western Sydney and a Bachelor of Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong. Over the years, I’ve worked at UOW, a Sydney-based tech start-up and in community spaces, including co-founding Number 99, a creative workshop space in Port Kembla. I also dabble in freelance writing when I get the time by contributing to local mags.

    I am most happy with a few projects on the go simultaneously, I fill any other time I have by volunteering with local campaigns. 

    I spend my downtime playing with my kids, devouring books, drinking cups of tea with my chickens, swimming laps in the pool or in the sea, and stand up paddle boarding.

    Professional

    • Co-founder | Number 99 (2024 – present)

    • Freelance Writer | Local mags (2023 – present)

    • Content Developer | Drop Bio Health (2020 – 2023)

    • Interdisciplinary Research Assistant & Art Therapist | University of Wollongong (2014 – 2020)

    Volunteer

    • Co-organiser | Sit-In Swim-Out for Yes for a Voice Campaign (2023)

    • Volunteer | Good For the Gong (Ongoing)

    • Parent | (2016 – present)

    Education

    • Master of Art Therapy | University of Western Sydney (2014)

    • Bachelor of Creative Arts | University of Wollongong (2012

A young woman smiling outdoors during sunset, wearing sunglasses on her cap, a black shirt, and a gold necklace.

  • I'm Carly, an artist and producer living on Dharawal land.

    • As a professional, I run the UniGO: Global Opportunity Program for the University of Tasmania.

    • As a theatre-maker, I create live film, video, and performance works with my company re:group performance collective.

    • As a website builder, I work with people and projects I find inspiring to create meaningful designs that make a lasting impact.

    I spent the last five years living in wonderful nipaluna Hobart and have recently returned home to the South Coast to be closer to family.

Our Board

Man with glasses and a beard at a marathon, wearing a black running shirt with the words 'Indigenous Marathon Project' and a race bib number 42741, in a city street with trees and buildings in the background.

  • My mob are the Yuin people.

    I have mostly worked in the community sector and am particularly interested in community development and engagement type projects. Jack of all trades with involvement in service development, delivery, grant writing, evaluation research, mentoring/support frameworks. frontline advocacy, and mediation skills.

    In my personal time I am a volunteer recreational run coach for Illawarra Deadly Runners & get involved in local NGO’s that align with my core values of helping others and Indigenous affairs.

    I’m honoured to continue the legacy started by my grandfather and Shoalhaven mob; of being in relationship with the uni and to continue the process of respectfully embedding culture into the fabric of our community. The Brown name and essence of my grandfather remains with his opinionated, stubborn grandson (me) coming on 30 years of Brown family at @uow.

A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a slight smile, wearing a white and red checked shirt, outdoors in a sunny environment with colorful decorations hanging above, possibly at a festive event or outdoor gathering.

  • Darryl Best is part of the Board of Directors at Hi Neighbour. Another example of the incredible volunteer energy powering our work.

    Meet Darryl Best

A person smiling and making a peace sign with their right hand, wearing a colorful, patterned hoodie and a medallion necklace, against a plain light wall background.

  • Inspired by Mandela, Gandhi and Malala, my mission in life is to ‘trust life fully, live fearlessly and serve all beings around me, human and non-human’. Having grown up in India with the very real potential of ending up on the streets, I’ve instead been blessed with a full life, filled with adventure and wonder. I’ve studied in top-ranked universities such as the University of Delhi and the University of Macerata, on prestigious scholarships; I’ve worked with top-tier corporates, policy-makers, and not-for-profits including t33 srl in Italy, Amnesty International and Southern Cross University; I’ve made my own offbeat movies exploring the purpose of life; I’ve co-founded grassroots-level social change movements; and now I amplify and expand AIME’s powerful Indigenous-led work worldwide as US CEO and mentor.

A smiling woman with glasses and long dark hair, wearing a beige top, against a yellow background.

  • Hi I’m Diane Lawrence, born and raised in Wollongong, NSW. I am the secretary for Hi Neighbour and I provide the team with general administration support.

    I am driven by doing my part to ensure a better future for my daughters. I enjoy spending time with my family, doing yoga, pilates, and creating handmade soap.

A woman with brown hair, glasses, and a bright smile, standing in front of a light-colored wall with the word 'SUSTAINABILITY' in large letters. She is wearing a colorful, patterned top and blue earrings.

  • Tania has been a Hi Neighbour Board member since 2025. Tania is a senior Sustainability and Technology executive having held positions with international companies in Australia and in Papua New Guinea. Tania is currently the Sustainable Development Manager for Green Gravity, a local renewable energy storage company. Tania has extensive experience in strategy development and ESG (Environment, Social and Governance); expertise in business planning, performance management, and change management; corporate governance and management systems; community and stakeholder engagement. Tania is also a director on the Illawarra Industry and Innovation Network (i3net), social enterprise The Flagstaff Group and the Illawarra Circular Precinct Steerco. Tania is a Graduate from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

A smiling middle-aged man with glasses and short, gray hair, wearing a dark blue shirt.

  • Hi, I'm Craig Perritt, long term resident of Dharawal country in the Illawarra and lover of the beauty and wildness therein.

    I'm father of 5 and grandfather of 5. Like others here, I am highly motivated to leave this planet in a shape my descendants can enjoy and care for.

    Professionally, I've been consulting in Business Strategy and IT Architecture for around 40 years, across a wide range of industries.

    Highlights are manufacturing, energy, border security, supply chain, transportation and social services.

    I have the ongoing challenge of working for steel manufacturing and coal mining companies, while simultaneously campaigning for an end to the destruction of our precious water catchment by the longwall coal mining, driven by steel production. The fact that I'm finally consulting on a Hydrogen Steel pilot, therefore, is most gratifying.

    I am also on the Board of an outstanding Disability Support business in the Wollongong area, where I've helped to shape the client experience for those with disability and establish a sustainable operating model, now extending into Aged Care. 

    Theoretically reaching retirement age, I am now progressing two start up businesses, in social impact factual TV and outdoor mobile furniture.

    I've recently converted my home and transport to electricity, leveraging the councils led Shine Hub cooperative; achieving a long held dream. I'm passionate about how renewables can improve the everyday experience of our earth bound siblings and reduce costs.

    I'm a keen sailor, surfer, hiker, singer and cyclist and feel blessed to have a stake in this place on the coast, and a place in Hi Neighbour.

Trusted Partners

Man with glasses in a business suit sitting at a conference table in a modern office with large windows overlooking a cityscape.

  • Hi Neighbour is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Arnold Bloch Leibler

    Peter Seidel - partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler and his team have be with Hi Neighbour from the very beginning providing exceptional legal council, and organisational support.

    For many years now Peter has been highlighted as one of Australia’s leading lawyers by prominent international legal guides Chambers Asia Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Best Lawyers International in the area of native title and traditional owner rights, for his deep commitment to empowering traditional owners. Complementing this, Peter has been similarly recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific in the area of charities for his wealth of experience working for the not-for-profit sector on a range of matters including constitutional, governance and contractual issues.

    In 2020, Peter was awarded Lawyers Weekly ‘Pro Bono Partner of the Year’. Peter is also a previous recipient of the prestigious Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s Human Rights Award in the Law Category, in recognition of his significant contribution to the promotion and advancement of human rights in Australia.

    Amongst other important Indigenous bodies Peter represents, he acts as a trusted adviser to Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Anindilyakwa Land Council, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, First Australians Capital, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Lowitja Institute, Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation and Wantok Musik Foundation.

A smiling man with glasses in an indoor setting, with a blurred background.

  • Hi Neighbour is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Kearney Group.

    Paul Kearney - founder and CEO of Kearney Group, which has been pioneering truly integrated financial advice for businesses and households since 1986. 

    Paul holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, and is a Certified Financial Planner®, Certified Practicing Accountant and a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia and the Association of Financial Advisers. 

    Under his leadership, Kearney Group has grown into an award-winning team of over 50 multi-disciplinary professionals, dreamers, doers and visionaries with an eye for disruption. Most recently, Paul and the Group have brought to market a suite of sustainable ESG investments, Ethos Managed Portfolios. 

    The Group continues to be widely recognised for its commitment to professional excellence, client service and innovation. Most notable are the firm’s national accolades, which include being named the Association of Financial Advisers’ Australian Practice of the Year and BT Financial’s two-time National Practice of the Year. 

    Paul is a Director of renowned social enterprises, The Big Issue and Homes for Homes. In 2020, he provided seed funding for the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University’s NIKERI Institute. More recently, he has been welcomed to the board of AIME Mentoring and joined forces with Hi Neighbour. 

    kearneygroup.com.au