"I LOVE REMINDING MOB HOW STRONG AND RESILIENT WE ARE AS A CULTURE AND LOVE BECOMING THEIR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER WHEN THEY KICK EPIC HEALTH GOALS"
Head of Impact
Lena Charles

Where are you from? I am a proud Yorta Yorta/Gunai Kurnai woman from Mooroopna, Victoria. I’ve been living in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Country for the last ten or so years.


What are you excited about? My passion and drive to create meaningful impact for mob has been inspired by my own journey in adopting healthy lifestyles. From anxiety and self doubt to running a marathon at midnight in Alice Springs with the Indigenous Marathon Project, I am always grateful to share how my transformation has been more than just the 20kg I dropped on the scale. I know that sometimes the hardest part is about knowing where to start or trusting yourself in the process. I love reminding mob how strong and resilient we are as a culture and love becoming their biggest cheerleader when they kick epic goals.

What does a day in the foundation look like for you? As Head of Impact I work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations and Community Groups to provide resources and spaces for mob to celebrate and participate in events that encourages movement.

What are you proud of? In 2016 I graduated with a Masters in Public Health from the University of Melbourne specialising in Aboriginal Health.

Since graduating, I have immersed myself in various Aboriginal organisations and have worked across a number of projects and programs including:

Involvement in the Yorta Yorta Traditional Owners Land Management Board

Tackling Indigenous Smoking programs

Lead facilitator in the Coach Early learning Years program

Facilitation in the Wellah Walks to Kokoda - Aboriginal Youth Leadership and Resilience program

Lead facilitator in the Wellah Women program - Aboriginal Women’s Health and Happiness Project