A message from our new CEO, Troy Crellin

(Photo credit: Antares Solutions)

As the Killara Foundation moves into its sixth year I am humbled to join as Chief Executive Officer. I would like to thank our Board, particularly our co-founder Kyle Van Der Kuyp as he transitions from the role of Chief Executive officer to become Co-Chair of our Board. I would like to acknowledge and thank Kyle for his vision and passion as Chief Executive Officer and trust in me to advance his vision. I look forward to sharing outcomes with Kyle in his new role. I would like to also thank Cameron Hawker for his service as outgoing Chief Operating Officer and wish him well in his future endeavours. Cam, alongside Kyle, have supported me in a leadership handover process. Last week Kyle and Cam joined the Board in welcoming me into Killara and I am grateful to all of them for their guidance and support.  

A bit about me, my career spans community services, skills development, employment and the best part of my working career has been in social enterprise. Through programs like Synergy Auto repairs and Charcoal Lane I have learnt that everyone has assets and gifts and anyone lucky enough to be in positions of leadership should help inspire their growth.   

Kyle and I first spoke about his vision, and that of his co-founders Kane and John Paul, five years ago in the courtyard of Charcoal Lane and I was immediately engaged. We spoke of Killara’s vision to empower families and communities through three key principals of stability, skills and connection. The means to do this was a focus on creating sustainable employment opportunities for First Peoples, through the lens of Culturally safe mentorship and access to stable housing. Ensuring the viability of this vision has promoted ventures within the Social Enterprise Sector, whereby funds raised from our work support Killara Foundation into the future. This is important for Killara as we strive to develop a healthy, and sustainable ecosystem for wealth creation within the Aboriginal Community of Naarm (Melbourne).     

Troy Crellin

Chief Executive Officer

Killara Foundation