Community Advisory Committee

Nick Xerakias is a bereaved parent from Victoria. He is the Board Member representative on the committee.

Nick was formerly a Board Member of Sands Australia and joined the Red Nose Board in November 2020 when the organisations merged. He has broad ranging political experience, particularly in strategy and policy advice. Earlier in his career, Nick worked as an adviser in the Howard Government in the Employment, Family and Community Services, and Health portfolios, and has experience in both federal and state political campaign management.

Nick says the Committee will provide a critical voice for community members to contribute to the work of Red Nose.

“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work directly with the members of the CAC as a direct link to the Board and work jointly on a range of areas,” says Nick.

Nicole has been involved with Sands since her first child, son Nicholas, was stillborn in 2006. Nicole has held many roles including Chairperson of Sands Queensland. She has attended many events, overseen the running of others, and remains an active and supportive member of the organisation. In her professional life, Nicole provides strategic stakeholder engagement, government relations and communications advice through her company, Nicole Ireland Communications.

Nicole says, “As a long-time member of the Sands family and a passionate advocate for our grass roots activities, I am delighted the Board of Red Nose, including Sands, has endorsed the formation of the Community Advisory Committee. I feel honoured and privileged to chair this Committee as I truly value the collective support of bereaved parents and the community we have created, and will continue to grow, together. To me, this Committee provides a strong link between this community of bereaved parents from both Red Nose and Sands right across the country to the broader organisation and to our external stakeholders. I believe we have a fantastic opportunity to share best practice events, ideas and programs to support our community and ensure everyone remains connected, engaged and included – and to make sure that all bereaved parents, including those who will unfortunately join our community in the future, will be able to access the care and support they deserve.”

Aynur Turker is a bereaved parent from Victoria. Aynur’s son Jett died in October 2009 at 13 months, and since then she has been involved with Red Nose as a volunteer and continues to raise funds each year on Red Nose Day in honour of Jett. In her professional life, Aynur is a Procurement Specialist working in the local government, health and university sectors. She brings her considerable project management and planning skills to the Committee.

Aynur says, “as a bereaved parent, community means ‘you’re not alone’”. “From my personal experience, one of the common threads connecting bereaved parents is the sense of feeling alone in our grief. Providing support in real terms is vital to ensure bereaved families are not alone, and there’s a great sense of comfort in being with others who can empathise with your grief as a bereaved parent.”

David Brown is a bereaved parent from Western Australia. David experienced the stillbirth of his daughter Edie Violet in 2017.

David speaks to an ongoing family commitment acknowledging Edie as a part of their family and would like to see a community where families feel comfortable sharing their experiences. 

David is a community engagement professional and has worked for government and community organisations in Western Australian regional centres and now Perth.

Megan Warren is a bereaved parent from Western Australia. Megan experienced the loss of four sons through miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Megan has been extensively engaged with Red Nose and Sands across support and community activities. Megan is a writer and is currently on the Esperance Readers and Writers’ Committee and has also held Workplace Health and Safety committee roles in her workplace.

Amelia Joyce is a bereaved parent from South Australia. Amelia underwent a medical termination 16 years ago when it was discovered her second son’s medical issues were incompatible with life. At that time, the circumstances of her loss made connecting to community-based support difficult. Amelia is positive about changes made over time that have broadened the scope of support services available to grieving families.

As a parent to three teenage sons, Amelia is also committed to growing understanding of how child loss affects an entire family. Amelia recognises the great potential of the Red Nose and Sands merger as being able to support even more families together.

Amelia currently works in mental health promotion, prevention, early intervention, and support provision and is interested in how online delivery of community events could provide opportunities for community members to connect, engage, and access the best support for their circumstances.

Ari Magalhaes is a bereaved parent from Tasmania. Ari experienced the 2019 and 2020 stillbirths of daughters Mia and Lily due to a genetic condition.

Originally from Brazil and educated in Europe, Ari is an economist with a Masters’ Degree in International Management. She has been highly engaged with local not for profits in Tasmania.

Ari has been engaged with Red Nose and Sands remotely and is thoughtful about way that we can be more engaged with people in communities like Tasmania where we don’t currently have any paid team members.

​Samantha Jager is a bereaved parent from Queensland. Samantha experienced the stillbirth of her son Gabriel in 2014 and has also experienced early pregnancy loss.

Samantha is a volunteer peer support group facilitator in Brisbane and has been highly engaged with a range of Sands community engagement events. She is a former lawyer who is now a teacher.

Emma Hain is a bereaved parent from NSW. Emma experienced the death of her infant son Eli at three months. Eli was born with a rare lung disease, Pulmonary Hyperplasia, a condition which was only diagnosed after he passed away. Emma received precious hand and foot casts from Red Nose and her family have become highly engaged members of the Red Nose community in the Hunter region.

Emma describes our community as important to her whole family, “my children have other children around them who understand, my husband has other men and supportive people around him, we have a tribe where we have a sense of belonging and understanding.”

Emma brings 12 years’ experience as director and manager of a children’s entertainment company.

Bonnie Carter is a bereaved parent from the ACT. Bonnie tragically experienced the stillbirth of Grace in 2016 and then Matilda in 2017, and has also experienced early pregnancy loss.

Bonnie and her husband have been active in advocacy through the stillbirth inquiry and community events through Red Nose, local family led initiatives. Bonnie’s key interest is holding space for bereaved families in the community. Drawing on her experience as Assistant Director in DFAT’s Diversity and Inclusion space, Bonnie believes there are small, but meaningful steps to make our community activities more inclusive.

​Scott Connolly is a bereaved parent from Victoria. Scott became involved in the Sands community after the 2009 stillbirth of his first daughter Viviene. He was initially involved in Sands Queensland, before relocating to Victoria.

Scott is currently the Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. He is skilled in networking, organising and mobilising communities to action and committed to ensuring fathers’ perspective are well represented and reflected in community activities.

Scott describes the community, “as the key to providing critical support to get families though.”