Our Ambassadors

Ngala-family-at-beach

Prof Donna Cross OAM

Ambassador

Professor Cross’ passion and commitment in the field of Early Childhood Development and Learning Collaboration provides the perfect synergy for Ngala, in her role as an Ambassador. For her leadership in improving children’s mental health and wellbeing Donna received an OAM, was the 2012 WA Australian of the Year, the 2022 inductee to the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and she is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. In her everyday work at Telethon Kids Institute, Professor Cross brings together families, clinicians, educators, policymakers, other practitioners, and researchers to improve the development and learning of young children.

Martin Black

Ambassador

As a past Board Chair of Ngala, Martin Black is a longstanding advocate and supporter of Ngala. He has dedicated more than 20 years as a volunteer to various not-for-profit groups in the parenting and child education space and currently holds the position of Board Chair for national not-for-profit group ‘The Fathering Project’.

Martin worked in the media and public relations industries for many years and in 1999 started the iconic Margaret River Chocolate Company with a childhood friend.

Dr Jackie Scurlock

Ambassador

Jackie has had a long association with Ngala. As a child, her father’s pharmacy in Highgate supplied medication to the Alexandra Home (Ngala’s first facility). Jackie was a Ngala Board Director for over 16 years and continues to stay connected with Ngala as a member on the Friends of Ngala Executive Committee. Jackie was a general paediatrician at Princess Margaret Hospital for 34 years until 2009 and has worked in private paediatrics in Subiaco and in newborn units in public and private hospitals in Perth, until her retirement in 2019.

Prof Fiona Wood

Ambassador

To have an Australian Living Treasure and the 2005 Australian of the Year advocate for Ngala is an incredible honour. As a mother of four boys and two girls, Professor Wood is no stranger to parenting, while her dedication to her work in the medical and research fields has transformed lives across the globe. Professor Wood’s pioneering spirit in medicine and contributions to society for the benefit of children, will be of enormous benefit to Ngala and the families we support.

Dr Colin Pettit

Ambassador

Colin has committed his adult life to improving the well-being of young Western Australians by challenging the government and the community to do better, and by advocating for change. He commenced his career as a teacher and then principal of a number of schools in Western Australia. He has held positions of the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Western Australia, Secretary of Education in Tasmania and Executive Director of Education in Western Australia. Colin believes one of the biggest challenges facing WA children is being heard and their needs being understood by decision-makers. He believes that the family must be supported wherever possible to ensure every child has the best chance of personal development. As such he was delighted to be asked to be an Ambassador for Ngala in 2022.