- T2A Nirimba Education Precinct, Warawara Cct, Quakers Hill
25 years ago, The Blacktown Regional Economic Employment Development (BREED) Taskforce was formed in response to a research study that found that a lack of education attainment was the major factor contributing to high youth unemployment.
BREED set about to stimulate economic and employment growth in the Blacktown local government area by creating pathways for youth while nurturing small businesses to help them develop entrepreneurial skills, become self-sustaining and meet the needs of their customers.
Since our inception the mission of BREED hasn’t changed however significant progress has been made towards our goals.
Since 2017, we have been working passionately to expand our core offerings and outreach programs through our registration as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC). We have also invested in proven leaders who are capable of delivering success.
Now, as we move into the next phase of the BREED evolution, we do so with a fresh new brand as a symbol of optimism.
That every resident in Western Sydney and beyond has the opportunity to be all they were made to be.
It is our mission to improve the economic and emotional health of the community by creating self-belief, hope and opportunity no matter your age or background.
BREED Australia’s team is made up of dedicated and experienced leaders who share a commitment to empowering young people and strengthening communities through mindset-first, prevention-focused education.
The organisation is guided by strategic leadership, strong governance, and a collaborative culture that ensures programs are delivered with purpose, integrity, and real-world impact. Together, our leadership group works to translate BREED’s vision into practical outcomes that create opportunity, build confidence, and support long-term wellbeing across the communities we serve.
Chief Executive Officer
Emmanuel Martin is an experienced commercial and community leader who brings more than two decades of strategy, finance, and organisational leadership to his role as CEO of BREED Australia. With a strong corporate background spanning senior roles in finance, operations, and business strategy, Emmanuel has built a reputation for turning vision into practical, impactful outcomes.
Driven by a deep passion for empowering young people and strengthening communities, Emmanuel transitioned from the corporate sector to focus on creating meaningful social impact. Since joining BREED, he has led the expansion of programs that foster resilience, entrepreneurship, and real-world skills among young people and disadvantaged communities across NSW, including CALD youth, those in the justice system, and those facing significant social challenges.
Under his leadership, BREED has strengthened its role as a trusted community partner, launched innovative initiatives such as Learning for Good, Change Creators, and Incubator Programs, and deepened collaborations with schools, government agencies, and youth justice centres. Emmanuel’s approach blends strategic thinking with hands-on leadership, ensuring BREED remains values-driven while delivering measurable outcomes.
With a strong belief in connection, purpose, and prosperity, Emmanuel continues to advocate for community-centred solutions that create long-term change and open new pathways for our community to thrive.
Executive Director, Strategy and Innovation
Manager, Community Programs and Business Centre
Manager Marketing and Communications
BREED Australia’s structure ensures clear leadership across strategy, program development, delivery, partnerships, and community operations. This approach allows the organisation to remain agile while upholding strong governance and high program standards. Each senior leader is responsible for a key operational area, working closely with partners, schools, and communities to ensure every BREED initiative is grounded in purpose and delivers measurable impact.
Our Governance and Leadership
BREED Australia’s Board brings together accomplished leaders whose expertise reflects the organisation’s strategic direction and ambition for growth. Purposefully structured as a skills-based Board, it combines strengths in governance, business, education, technology, strategy, and brand innovation to guide BREED’s next phase of development.
BREED’s Board provides strategic leadership and governance oversight through a blended strategic and advisory approach. The Board brings diverse expertise to support the organisation’s mission, ensure accountability, and guide long-term sustainability in partnership with the executive team.
Each Director contributes proven leadership within their field and a shared belief in BREED’s prevention-first, mindset-driven approach to wellbeing and empowerment. Together, they ensure the organisation remains strategically focused, well-governed, and grounded in community connection.
All members, with the exception of one elected representative, serve as Independent Directors, ensuring transparent and values-led governance in line with ACNC standards.
Chief Operating Officer, Redman Solutions
Matthew Pearce is an accomplished governance and technology consultant who serves as Chair of BREED Australia and is the Chief Operating Officer at Redman Solutions. Over the past 18 years, Matthew and the team have partnered with more than 200 local government organisations across Australia and New Zealand, leading initiatives in strategic planning, performance improvement, and community engagement. His work helps councils operate more transparently, collaborate more effectively, and build stronger connections with the people they serve.
Matthew believes that strong governance and effective systems create the foundations for genuine community change. He applies this belief to his role at BREED Australia, ensuring the organisation’s structure supports creativity, inclusion, and opportunity for young people.
Drawing on his experience helping councils build trust and transparency, Matthew champions BREED’s mission to help young people develop confidence, purpose, and pathways to meaningful work or enterprise. His leadership balances accountability with compassion.
Principal Director, Strategy and Consulting, Accenture Australia; Founder, KLN Advisory and Consulting
Kendall Nicholas is a corporate strategist and transformation leader with more than 25 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence across the food, beverage, and retail sectors. She serves as an Independent Director of BREED Australia, as Principal Director of Strategy and Consulting at Accenture Australia, and as Founder of KLN Advisory and Consulting.
At Accenture, Kendall specialises in transforming supply chains and organisational systems through technology-led innovation. Through her consultancy, she leads independent reviews of technology landscapes and cyber resilience, helping organisations align people, processes, and technology for performance and sustainability.
Kendall brings deep expertise in corporate strategy, governance, and partnership development to BREED. She plays a pivotal role in strengthening organisational capability, ensuring BREED grows with structure and purpose. Her belief that innovation and human potential must evolve together mirrors BREED’s commitment to empowering people through mindset, opportunity, and purposeful
NSW and ACT State Manager, Thrive Refugee Enterprise
Gus Nehme is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader who brings more than 25 years of experience across property development, business strategy, and international trade. He currently serves as NSW and ACT State Manager for Thrive Refugee Enterprise, where he leads programs that help individuals from refugee and migrant backgrounds build financial independence and sustainable small businesses.
Across Australia and the Middle East, Gus has founded and managed successful ventures, gaining a reputation for practical leadership, commercial insight, and cultural intelligence. His career reflects a deep belief that enterprise can be a pathway to purpose, belonging, and personal growth.
At BREED Australia, Gus combines business discipline with a passion for social impact. His leadership strengthens pathways for young people and families to achieve economic participation through practical learning and entrepreneurship. Guided by his conviction that confidence is the starting point for success, Gus helps ensure BREED’s programs empower people to create opportunity, independence, and long-term wellbeing.
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Founder & CEO, CSmart Consulting; President, Impowerfull; Board Member, SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia
Anu Bedi is a dynamic, purpose-driven entrepreneur, advocate, and educator whose career reflects a deep commitment to helping people and organisations reach their potential. She is the Founder and CEO of CSmart Consulting, a boutique advisory firm specialising in business strategy, capability development, strengthening leadership, and achieving sustainable growth. Anu also serves as President of Impowerfull, a social-impact organisation advancing empowerment and inclusion, and as a Board Member of SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia, supporting professional excellence in aquatic education.
Starting her career with the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs, Anu has built a reputation for innovation, resilience, governance, policy, and community leadership. She has earned multiple awards for business innovation and inclusive practice and is a sought-after advisor on ethical entrepreneurship and women’s leadership.
At BREED Australia, Anu contributes expertise in business design, learning innovation, and human development. Her leadership helps ensure the organisation’s programs build confidence, purpose, and resilience in young people and communities. Guided by her belief in lifelong learning and empowerment, Anu embodies BREED’s values of creativity, courage, and connection.
Founder, Brandkind Community; Strategist; Ambassador, Good Design Australia
Irma del Mundo is an internationally experienced brand strategist, design-thinking consultant, and social enterprise founder with more than 35 years’ experience in marketing and innovation. She is the Founder of Brandkind Community and a strategy consultant, working across blue-chip and global corporations, local Australian businesses, and social enterprise start-ups to help organisations integrate brand purpose, design, and social impact.
Irma began her career at Procter & Gamble, where she developed her expertise in brand management and consumer insights before leading strategic and creative teams across the Asia-Pacific region. Her work has been recognised through multiple industry awards for creative excellence and innovation in brand storytelling.
At BREED Australia, Irma applies her expertise to shape how the organisation communicates its purpose, builds trust, and inspires connection. She believes that clear storytelling and purposeful design can transform awareness into action. Her leadership ensures BREED’s brand remains authentic, visible, and aligned with its mission to create confidence, belonging, and opportunity.
Semi-retired Academic, International Academic Advisor
George Verghese is an experienced higher education leader, designer, and researcher with more than four decades of experience. He has served as Acting Associate Director for Higher Education Standards and previously spent more than six years as Director of Media, Arts, Design, and Entertainment in Western Sydney. He has also held international positions in Canada as Dean of Design and Chair of Interior Design, and maintains international professional memberships in New York and Toronto.
Early in his career, George founded and served as CEO of Material Advances and Practice Incorporated in Vancouver, where he developed a reputation for creative leadership and cross-disciplinary design practice. His research into the lived experience of designers working with unfamiliar materials has contributed to contemporary understandings of material engagement, informed by the philosophies of Merleau-Ponty and Heidegger. Over the past seven years, George has secured more than $430,000 in competitive international grant funding for design-specific and interdisciplinary projects, including involvement in an Australian Research Council study on the design of birthing centres.
George is widely published in journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters, and has presented internationally on new materiality and design thinking. He is currently researching a book on design process. He brings to BREED Australia a strong background in educational leadership, design innovation, and research excellence. His commitment to creative problem-solving, community collaboration, and empowering learners aligns closely with BREED’s mission to build confidence, capability, and opportunity through mindset-driven education.
Data and AI Specialist
Essen Naidoo is a technology and data specialist focused on applying digital innovation to the social-impact sector. He serves as an Independent Director of BREED Australia and as a Data and AI Specialist at Microsoft, where he helps not-for-profit organisations use data and artificial intelligence to strengthen outcomes, improve transparency, and scale their impact.
With more than eight years of experience designing digital strategies for charities and community organisations, Essen has deep expertise in cloud architecture, analytics, and systems transformation. His work combines technical excellence with human-centred design, ensuring technology is used ethically and purposefully.
At BREED, Essen supports the organisation’s journey toward data maturity and evidence-based impact reporting. His insight helps strengthen BREED’s digital infrastructure and evaluation systems, enabling the organisation to grow with clarity, accountability, and innova
what makes us different
In 2025, BREED Australia Incorporated was recognised as a Winner for Outstanding Achievement in The Australian Charity Awards.