Youth Affairs Council Victoria

Mary Nega (she/her)

CEO

Mary joined YACVic in January 2024 with varied experience across youth-led, non-profit and law focused organisations. To date, her work has focused on supporting underrepresented or marginalised communities, particularly young people and culturally diverse groups.

Previously Mary was the CEO of Global Voices, where she led initiatives providing practical experience for young Australians at the key international institutions shaping global decision-making on matters such as the global economy, public health, gender equality, defence and climate action. This included working with the United Nations, World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Mary lives on Wurundjeri and Bunurong lands. She has a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, a Diploma of Governance from the Institute of Community Directors Australia and a Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law. Mary is an admitted lawyer with the Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of Australia.

Kirsty Greenwood (she/her)

Head of Corporate Services

Kirsty joined YACVic in September 2020. Her career in non-profits spans over 25 years in senior management and leadership positions, encompassing community development, allied health, mental health and now the youth sector.

Kirsty previously worked for the Butterfly Foundation for eight years in national management, where she set up Australia’s national eating disorders hotline. Over her career Kirsty has managed and improved organisational systems in strategic planning, finances, HR, risk and compliance. She also taken organisations through generational rebranding, successfully managed several major conferences, and secured millions of dollars in project-based funding through grants and sponsorships. Prior to her non-profit work, Kirsty worked in local government and the corporate financial sector.

Kirsty grew up in the UK but has lived in Australia for the past 30 years. She lives on Wurundjeri country. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Nottingham (UK).

Derm Ryan (he/him)

Head of YACVic Rural

Derm joined YACVic in 2016, bringing over 25 years’ experience in community development, health promotion and youth work, with extensive expertise working with rural and Indigenous communities. Derm heads up YACVic’s work across rural and regional communities and has built YACVic’s project and policy response to disasters championing young people engagement with disasters. Derm also leads our work with LGBTIQA+ community via the Healthy Equal Youth partnerships and grants program

Prior to YACVic, Derm worked health promotion where he managed HIV and sexual health projects, specialising in working in peer education and rural community development. Derm’s youth work experience is diverse, including roles in sexual health promotion and education; employment, post-secondary education, and training; recreational leadership and outdoor education; and general youth work.

Derm lived for 12 years on a small rural property in far north NSW on Bundjalung land, where he was also a volunteer rural fire fighter and board member of various local rural agencies. He now lives on Wurundjeri country. Derm holds an Advanced Diploma in Community Management.

Mija Gwyn (she/her)

Head of Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS)

Mija joined YDAS in 2017, bringing a range of leadership, governance and management experience in the disability advocacy and arts sectors. Mija is Deaf and uses Auslan as her first language.

Mija’s previous YDAS roles involved supporting disabled young people to develop self-advocacy, goal-setting and NDIS readiness skills. She has led film festivals in Australia and the UK, curating programs with, by and about disabled people.

Mija is the Deputy Chair of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council, and sits on the Royal Women’s Hospital Community Advisory Committee and Disability Action Plan Advisory Committee.

Mija lives on Wurundjeri country, and grew up near the Murray River on Wadi Wadi and Muthi Muthi lands. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Cultural Studies from the University of Melbourne and is currently completing a Master of Public Policy; she also holds a Master of Communication from Griffith University.