30/06/2026
Today was a truly special day at Canberra PCYC.
Graduation, Farewelled CEO and thrilled to announce Rikki Lloyd is now the Acting CEO.
We celebrated the graduation of almost 100 incredible young people from our programs, surrounded by around 150 family members, supporters, partners, staff and community members who came together to acknowledge their achievements and the bright futures ahead of them. Guest speakers included Marisa Paterson MLA ACT Policing CPO Scott Lee and Canberra PCYC Board Vice Chair Peter Macfarlane
The day was also a personal milestone for me, as I officially retired as CEO of Canberra PCYC after 10 years.
One of the highlights of the celebration was inviting many of our donors, philanthropists, government departments, community partners and supporters to the front of the room to be recognised. They are living proof that there are so many people in our community who genuinely care about young people and are willing to invest in their future.
As I said today, they say it takes a village to raise a child. Looking around the room, it was impossible not to see that village standing proudly together.
Another very special moment was inviting our entire Canberra PCYC team to stand with me. While programs, buildings and achievements are important, it is our people who make the real difference. Every day they show compassion, patience, commitment and genuine care for the young people and families we support. They celebrate the successes, stand beside young people through their challenges and never give up on them, even when the journey is difficult.
Over the past 10 years I have had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary group of staff across our youth programs, case management services, fitness centre, hospitality and lawn maintenance social enterprises, administration teams and support services. Their dedication has helped transform countless lives, and I wanted them to know just how appreciated and valued they are.
Over the past decade, Canberra PCYC has supported thousands of young people through programs such as Project 180, Level Up, Solid Ground, Behind the Wheel and Pathways to Empowerment. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our funders, donors, government agencies, community partners, Board members, volunteers and dedicated staff.
To every person who has believed in our young people, advocated for them, funded opportunities for them, mentored them or simply stood beside them when they needed support — thank you.
Most importantly, to the young people who graduated today: your courage, determination and resilience inspire us all. Today was your day, and you should be incredibly proud of what you have achieved.
As I close this chapter, I do so with immense gratitude, knowing Canberra PCYC is stronger than ever and will continue changing lives for many years to come.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving this extraordinary organisation and community for the past 10 years. It has been one of the greatest honours of my life. ❤️
