Our People
Founder and Patron
Fr Joe Giacobbe
Father Joe set up the Doxa Youth Foundation in 1972 after his ecclesiastical work in Melbourne’s inner suburbs highlighted the plight of young people who did not have the financial resources, support or opportunity to have access to educational and recreational opportunities in a rural setting, thus the establishment of the Malmsbury Camp in 1976.
Father Joe’s original vision is still very much at the core of the Doxa Youth Foundation. Since its inception over 50 years ago, the Victorian not-for-profit has grown from humble beginnings to an established and well-respected charity which operates across multiple sites and supports over 6,000 young people each year.
Our CEO & Chair
Julie Harrison
CEO
Julie Harrison’s passion and career focus have always been about improving outcomes for children and young people, especially the most disadvantaged. Julie initially graduated as a social worker and has worked in the children’s and family services sector ever since. Prior to joining the Doxa Youth Foundation, she was Director of Counselling and Family Services at Centacare Melbourne and Director of Operations with RACR. Julie has also managed large portfolios of children’s and family services at Melton Council and the City of Greater Dandenong in Melbourne. Julie has a Master of Human Services Management and a Graduate Diploma in Evaluation from the University of Melbourne.
Susan Barbour
Chair
Susan has over 20 years’ experience working in accounting firms in both Australia and overseas. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Australia, Susan worked in London for seven years and loved travelling around Europe performing audits in locations such as Monaco, Cyprus and Russia. Susan then worked in Vladivostok, Russia, for three years, heading up the office and international audit division of an internationally recognised mid-tier firm. Upon her return to Australia, Susan worked in professional accounting firms for over 12 years before recently setting up her own audit practice.
Susan audits a diverse range of entities including many in the not-for-profit sector.
In her role as chair, Susan brings her commercial experience to DYF and a proven track record in assisting organisations to achieve maximum results.
Our Directors
Michael McIntyre
Director
With a career spanning 34 years with the Victorian Law Department as a Clerk of Courts/Registrar, Michael McIntyre has a great experience of the justice system. He has worked at various Court locations throughout regional Victoria and the metropolitan area, with the final 12 years as the Registrar at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court. As a trained mediator Mick assisted in many conflict resolutions in both criminal and civil matters especially where young people from low socio-economic domestic situations were involved.
He also spent seven years (2005-2011) as a Court Registry Development Program Adviser with the Papua New Guinea/Australia Law and Justice Partnership based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea which enabled him to be actively involved in racial, gender and cross cutting issues which impacted on disadvantaged individuals and groups. Michael brings to Doxa a great all-round understanding of the issues faced by people in adverse situations and is keen to be part of a team that can provide some relief and remedy to them.
Denise clarke
Director
As a Director, Denise brings significant experience in strategic planning and implementation, program evaluation, policy development and financial management to Doxa. Denise is keen to ensure that policies reflect fair and effective distribution of resources so that Doxa can gain maximum benefit from our programs for the most disadvantaged young people in our community.
Joe Marchio
Director
A teacher by profession, with a past in the trades industry, Joe Marchio brings to the Doxa Board knowledge of the secondary school system and experience in the TAFE sector. He worked in Western Australia for two years at a Christian Brothers Agricultural College with students from a diverse range of backgrounds, mainly Indigenous, and those with additional learning needs. On his return to Melbourne, he was appointed Risk (OH&S) Manager and Area Leader of Technology at Parade College for 9 years. Joe is currently semi-retired and mentoring his successor.
His first connection with Doxa was taking a group of underprivileged primary age children to Malmsbury camp in the early 1970s. He became passionately involved in Doxa fundraising and participating in working bees at Malmsbury Camp over the years and is honoured to have received Life Membership. Joe brings to the Board extensive leadership and experience from the industrial and education sectors over many decades.
Justin Cooney
Director
Justin Cooney is a lawyer working in industrial/workplace relations. Justin has been an adviser to the Victorian government, has worked in the APS and worked in a private legal practice. Justin currently works as a lawyer for the Transport Workers Union. He has been a member of the Aviation Industry Reference Committee and the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry Reference Committee. He is a former president of the St Vincent de Paul Society Footscray Soup Van; a member of the committee of the Melbourne Sub-Branch of the RSL (Duckboard Club); as well as a long-standing supporter of Doxa Youth Foundation, as a valued Member and now as a Director.
Samuel Crimmins
Director
Sam Crimmins is an owner operator of his own mortgage and finance broking business, Crimmins Finance. Prior to this, he held management roles with several firms including Pneutech Australia and Sportsbet. Sam has been proactively involved in the not-for-profit sector. One of his major achievements has been founding The Dougie’s Fund that raises money and awareness for services working with disadvantaged groups. Its main focus has been St Vincents Soup Vans, the Make a Difference Community & The Angel of Presence school in Manila, which is helping break the cycle of poverty via education. He is also a “hands-on” volunteer with the St Vincent’s soup van.
Christopher Gatt
Director
Chris Gatt initially graduated as an engineer and recently completed the Australian Institute of Directors’ course. He is currently CEO of Australian Terminal Management, a joint venture of BP and UGL. Earlier in his career, Chris had management roles with BHP and Fosters. Chris is a bigger picture thinker who brings strong strategic thinking and management skills to the DYF board. Chris is married with three children.