Meet the Team

A.

Age 8

A. is known by her family for her generosity and kindness and for always looking for opportunities to spread joy to others. At school, A is no different. She is helpful and loyal and received her very first class award in Prep for being “a welcoming and friendly member” of her class.

A.’s passion for making a difference extends beyond her friends and family. Motivated by learning about disadvantage in her own community and throughout the world, each year she donates a portion of her pocket money to causes she believes in and regularly attends commonkind sessions to put her compassion into action. She has also convinced several of her friends to do the same.

A. is keen to solve hunger and poverty and has proposed, designed and made a prototype of a commonkind Breakfast Box to help feed Australian children, families and others facing food insecurity. She hopes this programme can be funded and piloted this year.

Small but with a big heart, A. is determined to keep making a difference – one act of kindness at a time.

D.

Age 8

D. is a young boy who is full of curiosity about the world around him and possesses a strong sense of justice, influencing everyone around him.

He is energised by people and feels deeply when others are hurt or lonely.

The enjoyment he gets from feeling connected to others is his key motivator when volunteering, doing things for others and not just himself.

He loves lego and anything to do with engineering. This natural curiosity often means he sees the world differently to others, he is aware of this – but it doesn’t stop him trying to change things!

E.

Age 11

E. is an extraordinary girl with a compassionate heart and a determination to improve the world. From an early age, E. has shown a strong sense of empathy. She is often going out of her way to support friends and family.

At the age of 4, E. decided to become a vegetarian. Ever since, she has been determined to embrace a lifestyle that mirrors her values of kindness and respect for all living creatures. Her dedication to these principles is evident in her everyday choices and actions.

After an inspiring and impactful experience volunteering with commonkind through her school, E. is determined to continue to make a positive impact and build a kinder and more connected community. She is excited to contribute to initiatives that foster meaningful change. With her dedication and compassionate spirit, there’s no doubt she will accomplish great things.

M.

Age 11

From the moment M. could walk, she became a familiar face at the local nursing home down the street, bringing joy not only to her Great Grandmother but to many of the residents. Even as a child, her warmth and kindness shone through – a glimpse into the compassionate nature that continues to define her today.

M. lives by the belief that “you have to truly believe in kindness to be able to show kindness to others.” It’s more than just words for her – it’s a way of life. Her passion for helping others, especially those less fortunate, drives her to seek out opportunities to make a difference.

She also deeply values peace. When she learns about past and present conflicts around the world, she struggles to understand why people can’t simply appreciate what they have and extend a helping hand to those in need. Imagine a world led by 11-year-olds with M.’s perspective – perhaps then, we could end conflict, feed the hungry, and shelter the homeless.

M.’s unwavering commitment to social justice and doing good is what led her to commonkind – an organisation that mirrors her values and spirit. Together with commonkind, M. is excited to make a meaningful impact, proving that kindness, no matter how small, has the power to change lives.

M. is a high school student from Brisbane and is a proud member of the “Maasai” tribe of Kenya.  From the moment he could walk he has been actively involved in community projects, in both Kenya & Australia, spreading happiness & joy with his signature smile. M. is passionate about helping those who are less fortunate and “giving back” wherever he can.

“Soccer is Life”, and M. uses his love for the sport to connect with and mentor younger children, through coaching and other volunteering activities at his local club.

M. participates in an annual “National Youth Forum”, a platform for students to share their ideas on diversity, inclusion and community cohesion with peers, politicians, and community leaders. Sharing and reinforcing these messages daily helps M. spread the values he lives by, “kindness, peace & harmony”.

Shannan is a purpose-led leader who believes in the power of technology and community to create meaningful change. As Managing Director of multiple technology-based companies, Shannan brings a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on expertise in IT security, automation, and infrastructure design.

From an early age, Shannan was drawn to solving complex problems and helping others thrive. Values that continue to shape every decision made in business and beyond. Whether mentoring emerging leaders or designing systems that protect and empower organisations, Shannan leads with empathy, integrity, and a deep commitment to impact.

Outside of work, Shannan is a Justice of the Peace (Qualified), a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a passionate advocate for inclusive leadership.

Shannan’s favourite moments are those spent building trust, sparking innovation, and helping others see what’s possible.

Learn more about Shannan here.

Emma has always had a strong sense of social justice and as a child was often moved to tears by stories she heard about people who did not grow up in the same loving and safe environment she did. These early memories of inequality and a sense of unfairness in the world led her to develop a deep appreciation of giving back, financially and with time given. She is her happiest as a worker bee, contributing to a cause and working with others towards a common goal.

Emma studied conservation biology before going on to become a primary school teacher. She has volunteered in both areas, from contributing to neighbourhood tree protection education to tutoring students in one of the underserved areas of Toronto.

Her passion for education as an outreach tool is one of the many reasons she looks forward to being part of the commonkind community.

Emma has moved many times in her life and is currently happily in Brisbane with her husband and two children, who she hopes will continue to grow into loving, kind and peaceful citizens of the world.

Learn more about Emma here.

Lou has built a career around strategy, insights and research, working across Australia, New Zealand and Canada in industries spanning technology, advertising, consulting and retail. She’s led large-scale projects and collaborated with diverse teams to develop new approaches and deliver meaningful impact.

At the heart of her values is a belief in being well-rounded, accountable and compassionate humans, treating everyone with equality and respect, giving back to the communities around us, and approaching challenges with optimism and positivity.

Now happily settled in Sydney, Lou loves spending time with family, exploring new parks, sharing brunch and coffee with friends. 

Learn more about Lou here.

Growing up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Adam thought his biggest passion would be perfecting his golf swing, but after moving to Florida for university and traveling throughout the US, he discovered something that would shape his career: the power of community and the joy that comes from helping others.

Working at Amazon, he spent over six years across various roles, including time building programs that connected employees with meaningful community work. Whether he was working on customer experience, business development, or social impact initiatives, he kept finding ways to bring people together and make a difference.

After stints in London and various roles across the company, he’s now settled in Perth as a new dad. Watching his son discover the world has reminded him why this work matters so much, believing that every child deserves to grow up understanding that kindness isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential.

These days, when he’s not chasing his toddler around playgrounds or searching Perth for the perfect tiramisu, he’s thinking about how to create a more compassionate world for the next generation.

Learn more about Adam here.

As a little girl Nikki knew how special it was to be a part of a close family and to grow up in a loving, caring and nurturing environment. More than anything Nikki wanted others to experience the same. Starting her working career in communication, it has been in the last decade as an experienced stakeholder engagement specialist and strategic communication advisor that Nikki has been able to work on projects that she believes, in some small way, will help make the future better and brighter.

During this time Nikki also became a mum and has created the same loving and nurturing environment she was fortunate to enjoy as a child. As a single mum with a supportive and loving extended family the words “it takes a village…” never rang more true. 

Nikki’s passion for working on projects that make a difference and surrounding herself with inspiring and energising people has opened her to the community which is commonkind.

Learn more about Nikki here.

As a child, Sheree Bamkin was energetic, outgoing, and endlessly creative – always dreaming up new ideas and finding ways to bring people together. From an early age, she understood the importance of community and the joy that comes from helping others. These values have stayed with her throughout her life and career.

Now a mum herself, Sheree’s children are her greatest motivation, inspiring her to create a life filled with opportunity, kindness, and connection.

Professionally, Sheree has built a career in commercial real estate, where she leads strategic initiatives, client engagement, and business development across complex portfolios. With over 20 years of experience, she’s known for her ability to simplify complexity, unite diverse stakeholders, and deliver meaningful outcomes. She leads with empathy, creativity, and a deep
understanding of how to connect people with purpose. Her work is grounded in collaboration, innovation, and a desire to make a positive impact.

Learn more about Sheree here.

Adriana brings a deep commitment to integrity, community, and doing what is right – values shaped early in life growing up in a close-knit Italian family where family (and food!) were everything. This upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility, collaboration, and care, which continue to guide her professional and personal ethos.

Adriana has built a career defined by principled leadership and sound judgment. She has held legal and governance roles across complex corporate environments, consistently advocating for ethical decision-making and transparent practices.

Outside of her professional life, Adriana is a proud parent who is passionate about raising socially conscious children. She is deeply committed to showing her own kids the importance of giving back to society and leading with empathy – values she believes are essential to building a better future.
Adriana’s approach is grounded in clarity, compassion, and a belief that doing the right thing is not just good governance – it’s good business.

Learn more about Adriana here.

Before commonkind, Carolina spent many years studying, working and volunteering around the world trying to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up! After having children and realising she was now the “grown up” (eek!) she struggled to find opportunities for her young children to give back in a meaningful way to society.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, she decided to be the change she wanted to see, piloting small and local inner-city Brisbane community service programs for children and families.

After an extensive international working life in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, founding commonkind is a full circle moment for Carolina. She has returned to her roots of working with children and using her work as an avenue to help make society a better place.

Learn more about Carolina here.

Dani Townsend

Director

• LinkedIn

Growing up, Dani envisioned a future where disadvantaged children could thrive like their peers. Through her career she has worked with innovative technology companies in marketing, operations, and strategy roles, driven by a passion for the potential for emerging technologies to create fairer and more accessible services for the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

Now a parent herself, Dani finds inspiration in supporting local initiatives that uplift the underprivileged, aiming to pass these values on to her own two children.

Learn more about Dani here.