Tell us a bit about yourself in a nutshell.
What I love most is bringing people together to deliver things that genuinely matter. That’s what drew me to Cancer Council SA, where I am currently the chief executive. Honestly, it’s the kind of role you don’t take lightly. Every day comes with the chance to change outcomes for people affected by cancer, and I treat that as both a privilege and a responsibility. At home, I am a proud mum and wife. My husband, Darren and I recently celebrated 30 years of marriage, and we love seeing our two kids Elyse and Jack chasing their own dreams now that they are adults.

What are you currently working on?
Daffodil Day, which falls on Thursday 20 August. It’s our biggest day of the year, and this one is special — it marks 40 years since the first Daffodil Day in 1986. Four decades of South Australians selling flowers, wearing yellow and quietly digging deep, and the difference it has made to survival rates in that time is extraordinary. There are more ways than ever to get behind it this year, including the Daffodil Day Dip for the brave. Every dollar raised here stays focused on research and on supporting South Australians facing cancer right now.

What does your idea of the perfect day look like?
Waking up at our little shack on the river with our kids and their partners. Starting the day slowly, then heading out in the boat and watching whoever’s keen to have a go on the ski or wakeboard and sometimes having a go myself. Back to the deck for a platter and a glass of bubbles. Maybe a game of cards to finish off the day, with a plan to do it all again tomorrow.

What is a wonderful moment of kindness you have experienced?
Working for Cancer Council SA, I experience extraordinary kindness every day. We live in a community that gives generously to people doing it tough — in our case, people facing cancer. And what I see in return is deep gratitude from those who need support. One moment that gave me goosebumps recently was receiving an anonymous bank cheque for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Such generosity, and such trust.

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What is your favourite photograph?
There are so many to choose from but this one captures the joy of being a mum. Taken around 15 years ago on Jack’s first day at school and Elyse heading into year 2.

If you could own any piece of art, what would it be?
I love the work of local artist Victoria Rolinski. We have a piece hanging in our dining room called Beautiful Goolwa Beach. I would happily add another of her works to our collection.

Here’s $500. You have to spend it in the next hour – what are you buying?
An airline ticket to Sydney to see Jack who recently moved there for a graduate position. While I miss him, I love seeing him doing something he loves and I love visiting and having him host us in his new hometown.

A restaurant in SA you’d recommend?
I have so many favourites, but if I had to pick one it would be Soda Rooftop at Glenelg. I had a lovely family birthday dinner there this year with Darren and Elyse. We enjoyed the ‘feed me’ menu, it was delicious.

What was the last TV show you watched?
I watched the Kylie documentary recently and loved it. There’s something about seeing a woman who has stayed the course for so long, reinvented herself again and again, and done it all with such grace even during the hard times.

Favourite way to unwind?
Going for a walk along Glenelg beach with Darren and our two dogs Harley and Douglas, any time of the year.

Last book you read?
I love it when I find a book that I can’t put down and one of my favourite series is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I recently finished reading Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel to the series. It gave so much context for the rest of the series and has made me want to read them all again.

Last song you listened to?
Kids in America by Kim Wilde, of course. I’m a child of the ’80s, and my friends would tell you it’s always the first song on my go-to playlist.