CHOOSE THRIVE BOARD

Michele Gower is the Founder and CEO of Choose Thrive Inc., with over two decades of experience working across youth mental health, family support, and community wellbeing. As a Youth Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Coach, and Mentor, Michele has devoted her career to helping young people and families overcome adversity, rebuild confidence, and discover their God-given identity and potential.

Her work includes supporting children and young people in out-of-home care, particularly those with complex trauma histories, high behavioural needs, and mental health challenges. Michele provides trauma-informed care and behavioural intervention within the child protection and foster care systems, helping young people manage emotions, heal from trauma, and make positive choices for their future.

Michele’s qualifications include a Diploma of Counselling (AIFC), Diploma of Youth & Community Work (Christian), and Certificate in Christian Coaching (AIFC), along with specialist training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (Cornell University), Positive Behaviour Support, Responding to Self-Harm and Suicidality, Healing from Trauma, and PART (Predict, Assess & Respond to Aggressive & Challenging Behaviour). She also holds certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid and continues advanced study in Mental Health and Chaplaincy.

Through her own experiences with overcoming mental health challenges, making poor choices as an adolescent, and raising a child with autism and ADHD, Michele brings genuine empathy and understanding to the young people she supports. She is passionate about helping them see that their past does not define them, that they have the freedom to make better choices, and that with faith and courage, they can truly thrive.

Guided by her values of Faith, Family, Freedom, Truth, Justice, Community, and Compassion, Michele leads with conviction and heart. She believes that, with the right support, every person has the capacity to thrive.

Outside her professional work, Michele is a wife and mother of four, drawing daily strength and inspiration from her family and faith.

Lisa is the Founder and CEO of Hope Family Cottage, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and families through Supervised Child Contact and Family Support Services.

A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Nationally Accredited Mediator, Lisa is deeply committed to helping families maintain connection through times of crisis and change. Her passion for strengthening families and engaging communities extends to her volunteer work with the Iris Foundation, where she contributes to research evaluating youth wellbeing programs in local schools. She has also worked with the Black Dog Institute on program evaluation for Youth Awareness of Mental Health & Suicide (YAM).

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons 1A), Graduate Certificate in Family Studies, Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution (Law), and a Certificate in Family Group Conferencing. She is a Justice of the Peace, a Board Member of ACCSA, and is currently completing both a PhD in Psychology and a Master of Professional Psychology at the University of Newcastle, where she also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate psychology students.

With extensive experience across child protection, youth homelessness, women’s shelters, and domestic violence services, Lisa brings deep empathy, professional insight, and a genuine heart for families. A proud mum of two young adults, she enjoys renovating, reading, and restoring furniture with creativity and care.

Colina brings over two decades of experience in education, leadership, and youth development. As Assistant Principal and multi-year class teacher at Angelorum College, she has dedicated her career to guiding young people through their most formative years with wisdom, structure, and compassion.

Having lived and worked internationally across the UK and the Netherlands, Colina has taught Science, Mathematics, and Religious Education to students from diverse backgrounds. Her professional experience also includes teaching senior Biology at St Augustine’s College and supporting students with special needs.

Colina believes today’s youth need more than information - they need a moral compass grounded in truth, goodness, and beauty. She is passionate about equipping young people with values, confidence, and resilience to navigate life’s challenges and live with purpose.

With a Bachelor of Science, Diploma of Education (Secondary), and recognition as a Mathspace National Transformative 20 Award recipient (2019), Colina’s excellence in education is matched by her deep personal commitment to family youth. As a mother of five, she draws from 22 years of parenting experience - including homeschooling both in Australia and abroad - and has served her local parish as Sacramental Coordinator at Star of the Sea, Gladstone.

Judy has spent more than four decades serving her community through roles in business, volunteering, and crisis support. She is passionate about helping others overcome adversity and find hope in challenging times, offering encouragement, empathy, and practical solutions with a listening ear and a generous heart.

As part of the Trauma Response Team with the Commonwealth Bank during the devastating Queensland floods, Judy provided compassionate support to people in crisis - one of only a handful selected from across the state. Her professional background spans customer service, vocational engagement, and community coordination, and she has been recognised for her commitment to both excellence and empathy in her work.

Judy’s extensive volunteer service includes involvement with Coast Shelter, St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army Employment Plus, and the Look Good, Feel Better program at the SAN Hospital, Wahroonga. She has also been a public speaker on positivity and recovery after breast cancer, reflecting her belief in resilience and hope.

A Justice of the Peace and proud small business owner of Ribbon & Bows, Judy combines creativity with care, helping customers celebrate life’s special moments through personalised ribbon designs. A devoted mother and grandmother of six, she finds joy in family, gardening (especially roses), dancing, photography, and music - and dreams of one day writing a book and learning to play the piano.

Lachlan brings creativity, leadership, and a heart for service to the Choose Thrive Board. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Composition, he is passionate about the role of music and psychology in human development and wellbeing. Currently completing his Master of Teaching (Secondary), Lachlan looks forward to working with adolescents and helping them grow both academically and personally.

Previously serving as the Young Adults Event Coordinator at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, East Gosford, Lachlan facilitated gatherings that fostered connection, purpose, and open discussion among young adults aged 18–35. He also volunteered as a pianist for Mass and parish events, using his musical gifts to uplift and inspire.

Lachlan’s community leadership extends beyond the church. Through his initiative, The Just Say Project, and his previous roles as Youth Leader and Portfolio Leader for Community Service and Religion, he continues to advocate for the spiritual, emotional, and mental wellbeing of young people. For the past five years, he has personally sponsored young adults through another not-for-profit organisation, supporting suicide prevention and positive mental health initiatives in the community.

A creative at heart, Lachlan enjoys writing music, reading, gaming, and spending time with friends. His perspective as a young adult and his commitment to making a difference bring a valuable voice to the Board, helping bridge the gap between youth experience and community support.

"‘Win/win is a belief in the Third Alternative.
It’s not your way or my way; it’s a better way, a higher way"
Stephen Covey

YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT COMMITTEE

As Choose Thrive Inc is dedicated to supporting youth and young adults, we believe that their voice voice is essential to the success of our mission. To ensure young people are truly heard and represented, we have established a Youth and Young Adult Committee, formed to achieve the following objectives:

• Ensure the voices of young people are heard and valued
• Provide insight into the current issues and concerns facing youth today
• Generate and discuss ideas for new solutions and initiatives
• Offer feedback on existing and upcoming programs
• Raise community awareness about our mission and impact
• Foster teamwork and collaboration among young people
• Support the Board and staff in our ongoing work
• Volunteer through fundraising, events, merchandise design, and more

We are deeply grateful to our Committee Members, who generously give their time, energy, and ideas to Choose Thrive Inc. - serving as the authentic voice of youth and young adults across the Central Coast.