Our Team
Meet Our Team
Our small, dedicated team works alongside members, services and people with lived experience to strengthen mental health support across the Northern Territory.
Geoff has lived in the Northern Territory for more than 10 years, leading multidisciplinary teams across youth, disability, children and families, and early intervention. He has delivered programs in regional centres, as well as remote Aboriginal communities, working closely with community leaders to deliver culturally safe care.
Many of the programs Geoff has overseen are in response to mental health needs and complex trauma. He has created and implemented service delivery models based on contractual and organisational requirements, including policies and procedures, risk management, support service manuals and external evaluation.
Geoff holds qualifications in Health Services and Strategic Management and experience in both government and non-government sectors. He works relationally and draws on situational leadership principles to motivate individuals in multidisciplinary teams to achieve common goals.
Geoff Radford
Chief Executive Officer
Ira Racines
Sector Engagement Coordinator
Ira was born and raised in Darwin and has been working in the community service sector for over 7 years. Prior to this, he gained experience in various allied health services, including dentistry and optometry.
He holds a passion for working with and advocating for young people, as well as educating the broader community on mental health in the interest of early intervention.
Ira holds a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management and is always interested in learning from others.
Bella has been living in the Northern Territory for the last 4 years, working within suicide prevention and postvention as well as the community service sector, and leading work relating to lived experience. Prior to this, she was a passionate educator and gained experience working in schools in roles relating to wellbeing, inclusion, and trauma informed practice.
Bella has overseen and implemented programs related to suicide prevention, lived experience, complex trauma, staff wellbeing and burn out. She has a passion for supporting and advocating for young people in relation to health and wellbeing, as well as providing and implementing training and skill development to support staff within the sector.
She holds qualifications in education and training, and counselling, and has experience in both government and non-government sectors.
Bella Kotlar
Training and Co-Design Coordinator
Lachlan Rowe
Peer Facilitator and Advocate
Lived Experience Collaborative
Lachlan (they/him) is a parent of two children with disability (aged 6 and 8) who has lived and worked in the Northern Territory (NT) for almost 30 years. He has lived with his disabilities throughout his life, as well as experience as a young carer earlier in his life.
He is a certified Community Director, with a background in alcohol and other drugs (AOD), mental and palliative health, public policy, community organising and service management. Currently he is the Program Manager for the NT Mental Health Coalition Lived Experience Collaborative, a Director with the Children and Youth with Disabilities of Australia (CYDA), the branch secretary and community member for the NT Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry.
Kate migrated to Australia from the Philippines when she was seven years of age and has lived in Darwin ever since. She completed her schooling in Darwin and has developed a strong connection to the local community.
She holds a Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and has worked in the industry for over 5 years. During this time, Kate developed a passion for supporting and advocating for young children.
Kate is currently studying a Bachelor of Social Work with Charles Darwin University and is excited to be completing her placement with the Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition. She is looking forward to learning from the team, developing her skills in social work and learning more about the community mental health sector.
Kate Fronda
Social Work Student (Placement)
