Our team

As CEO of Martin Youth Foundation, Karen has responsibility for both strategic and operational leadership across the organisation. Through a career in both the commercial and for-purpose sector, Karen brings solid experience in business development and growth, team building and leadership, strategy, marketing, sales and communications. She has also held multiple board positions, including currently serving as a Director at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

Karen is especially passionate about investing in young people and enabling evidence-based early intervention programs to ensure all young people have opportunity for a bright future. Along with leading her team, she works closely with funding partners, service providers and members of the broader sector to ensure the Foundation’s work delivers impact.

When not working, Karen enjoys yoga, the outdoors and cooking for family and friends. With 4 adult children, 3 grandchildren, 2 cattle, a feisty cat and a rescue greyhound living his best life, she feels pretty blessed!

Jenny Leahy is the Philanthropy Manager at Martin Youth Foundation. She plays a key role in securing philanthropic funding through Trusts and Foundations, developing grant proposals and building partnerships that help sustain best practice programs for young people experiencing addiction. Jenny also works closely with the Foundation’s Service Partners and independent researchers to measure program impact and demonstrate the difference these programs make in the lives of young people.

Jenny loves getting to know donors and philanthropic partners personally, building genuine, long-term relationships and ensuring they feel connected to the incredible impact their generosity makes. Known for her warm and collaborative approach, she is inspired every day by the Foundation’s dedicated team and service partners, whose work helps young people and their families build brighter futures.

Outside work, Jenny enjoys seeing live music, family time and walking her much-loved terrier, Griz, around Sydney Park.

As Philanthropy and Gifts in Wills Manager at Martin Youth Foundation, Ruth Markham brings extensive experience in building meaningful relationships, developing strategic partnerships and connecting people with purpose. After more than two decades in sales and product management in the consumer goods industry, she made the move to the not-for-profit sector 10 years ago and hasn’t looked back.

Ruth works closely with donors, corporate partners, philanthropic partners and supporters, helping them connect with the Foundation’s work alongside young people and see the lasting impact their generosity makes. She works to create meaningful opportunities for people to engage with the Foundation’s mission and be part of lasting change.

When she’s not at work, Ruth enjoys discovering new places to ride her bike, and never passes up the chance to catch a beautiful sunrise.

Jennifer Rutkowski is the Fundraising and Marketing Manager at Martin Youth Foundation, where she leads fundraising, marketing and communications as one connected effort. She brings a cross-disciplinary background that lets her join the dots between how the Foundation raises funds, tells its story and builds lasting relationships with supporters.

Her work focuses on growing the Foundation’s fundraising program and translating the outcomes of the programs we fund into stories that move people to act, always with care for how the voices of young people and people with lived experience are represented. Most recently she led the organisation through its rebrand to Martin Youth Foundation.

Outside work, she is renovating her heritage cottage in Western Sydney with her husband, energetic Rottweiler and an unimpressed cat.

Jade Bankier is the Finance Manager and Company Secretary at Martin Youth Foundation, overseeing finance, governance and reporting, and ensuring strong stewardship, transparency and effective decision-making across the organisation. With a background in financial management and governance, she brings a practical, detail-focused approach that supports both operational clarity and strategic direction.

Her work covers financial planning, reporting, compliance and company secretarial responsibilities, translating financial information into clear insight for leadership and the Board, and supporting the Foundation’s long-term sustainability and impact.

Outside work, Jade enjoys the occasional half HYROX challenge with friends and spending time at the beach with her family.

Olivia Carney is the Database and Operations Manager at Martin Youth Foundation, where she manages the Foundation’s donor and organisational data, oversees daily operations, and helps ensure the systems that support the organisation run effectively. She plays a key role in safeguarding information and digital assets, enabling the Foundation to operate efficiently and maintain strong connections with its supporters.

Passionate about continuous improvement, Olivia is always looking for ways to enhance processes, strengthen data management practices, and support the Foundation’s mission through effective operations and governance.

A keen concertgoer, Olivia enjoys experiencing live music and seeking out new artists and performances. She loves the unique atmosphere of live events and the opportunity to connect with music in a memorable way.

Molly Hutchinson is the Fundraising Officer at Martin Youth Foundation, where she delivers Individual Giving campaigns that keep supporters connected to the young people the Foundation exists to help.

She works closely with teams across the Foundation to turn ideas and insight into the appeals, IMPACT newsletter, foundation updates and donor communications that land in supporters’ mailboxes and inboxes, showing them the real difference their giving makes and building the kind of connection that grows support over time. Knowing how much every gift matters, she also makes a point of expressing that gratitude personally, often picking up the phone or writing a note by hand. She works alongside the Philanthropy team to nurture major donors and support the pathway from individual giving into larger, longer-term gifts.

Outside work, she’s maybe up early for a run around the city, catching live music with friends in the inner west, or unwinding with an after work swim at Bronte rock pool.

Scott is the Digital Communications Officer at Martin Youth Foundation, where he manages the organisation’s digital presence across email, website, social media and beyond. He ensures these platforms convey the impact of the programs the Foundation funds, while highlighting the tremendous spirit of the young people it represents.

He recently led the development of the Foundation’s new website and is always exploring how emerging digital tools and trends can enrich the Foundation’s work, without ever losing sight of protecting the young people it serves.

Outside work, you’ll find Scott at a local gig or tending to his veggie garden.