Who we are

Sarah Momtaz

Change Agent

Hi! For as long as I can remember I have been passionate about human rights, and as a university student currently completing my bachelors in law, politics and international relations I have been lucky enough to grasp and pursue my passions further. Along with political, social and racial justice I am interested in climate advocacy. After graduating from high school I realised that we were rushing into a self-made disaster and that humanity itself is creating an environment that is no longer safe for us to live in. I believe that in order for us to achieve equality, there is first a greater evil that we must conquer! The best way we can contribute is to get involved and that can start with something as simple as a conversation. Through my part in community shapers I hope to help progress towards a safer and more equitable Australia.

Michaelie Trenbath

Change Agent

I love building movements for change towards a fairer and more sustainable society. Working with people to achieve this is so exciting and rewarding. In school I was involved in environmental leadership in projects such as banning single-use plastic water bottles and installing solar panels. In my holidays I volunteered with Taronga Zoo in Sydney assisting in promoting their environmental campaigns and joined some NGOs with their campaigns, particularly on climate change.

Rylee Schuhmacher

Change Agent

I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Canberra, with a focus on gendered and industrial law. I moved to Canberra in 2018- all the way from Saskatchewan, Canada! I’ve worked in politics and been involved in activism since high school, particularly with the New Democratic Party of Canada. Growing up in a community that was deeply economically dependent on fossil fuel extraction, I learned firsthand the importance of a just transition and economic opportunity for all. Working with Community Shapers gives me an opportunity to campaign for those values!

Natalie Owen

Change Agent

At a young age, I became a fierce advocate for environmental and social justice issues after learning about climate change and the devastating consequences it has for our planet. This passion led me to volunteer for not-for-profit organisations, contribute to environmental and humanitarian groups, and pursue Law (honours) and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the Australian National University. I am excited to work as a Change Agent with Community Shapers to help create change, support progressive campaigns, and build a fairer, more sustainable Australia.

Abby Manning

Change Agent

I have been involved in community advocacy and grassroots campaigning throughout my teenage years and am currently channelling this passion into my studies. I’m studying a Certificate III and IV in Community Services and am incredibly passionate about mobilising communities into action to face various injustices. Whether that be government inaction on the climate crisis or changes to legislation that greatly affects our lives. I’m incredibly excited to be working with Community Shapers to assist in further empowering Australia’s progressive movements.

Ruturaj Patil

Change Agent

Coming from an immigrant background where I witnessed many inequalities in my surroundings reinforced in me at a young age that people need to push more to achieve
social justice. In particular, the need to improve women’s rights and create more equitable education opportunities along with taking more aggressive action against climate change have really been at the forefront of my engagement with social issues. While I see government action as the most important way to address the biggest issues of our times, I see grassroot movements as kindling the flame for greater social change. The work that Community Shapers does to support progressive grassroot movements is what makes me really excited to work as a Change Agent for the organisation to strive towards a more progressive society.

Tom Weight

Change Agent

I’m a philosophy honours student who specialises in social structures and justice. Having worked with the federal Greens and the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, I’m aware of the extent of racial, environmental, and socio-economic injustice in Australia. I’m committed to and enthusiastic about progressive grassroots action, as it is the most effective and egalitarian way to achieve positive change. I am therefore incredibly fortunate to have the privilege of working at Community Shapers, an organisation which allows me to engage with a diverse range of passionate people to galvanise support for progressive causes.

Yolana Truscott

Change Agent

I’m a security and development studies student at the ANU. I’m passionate about environmental conservation, Indigenous justice and women’s rights – injustices that can feel overwhelming but must be addressed through progressive awareness raising campaigns. It’s so exciting to be working towards educating the
community about the challenges faced in Australia, and empowering them by letting them know that they can be part of the necessary change.

Jacqui Turner

Change Agent

I spend my time studying International Security and Arts at university and volunteering in climate justice grassroots organisations. For much of my life, I have been passionate about social justice and making meaningful change in my community, and I firmly believe in the strength of grassroots activism to create change.

Will Boon

Change Agent

I’m a student and a political activist, passionate about building empowered, inclusive communities and campaigns for environmental and social justice. As an organiser, I have extensive experience volunteering and working with progressive NGOs, unions, environmental groups and political parties. Through all of my campaining, I’ve been a big believer in the power of community to create powerful social movements and progressive change.

Jayne Hoschke

Change Agent

Jayne has been a keen activist since she knew what the word meant and is ready to take her passion for social justice and human rights to the workplace at Community Shapers. As a musician in the local Canberra music scene, she uses her songwriting to share personal A1:D32 to raise awareness about social inequalities, climate change and mental health. Jayne believes that strong community is crucial to changing attitudes at a local level, as can be seen in her involvement in community initiatives such as Canbeurovision, Girl’s Rock! Canberra and Reclink Community Cup. Jayne completed her degree in Arts/International Security Studies in 2019 and her major in Human Rights highlighted the need for compassion and solidarity in today’s society. Through continuing respectful, inclusive and brave conversations, Jayne believes we can create change to move Australia forward towards an equal, sustainable and caring post-pandemic world.

Vikram Raghavan

Campaign Facilitator/Data Officer

I have recently completed my Master of Public Policy at the ANU. Here is where I had a chance to engage with some incredibly passionate individuals working in the Climate Change policy space, and that passion rubbed off on me. But it was not until February 2021, when I started at Community Shapers, that I got to test what I learnt at uni to make a difference in how the world around me operates. My work has always been a big part of my identity. Community Shapers has provided me with this incredible opportunity to be more confident, less egocentric, and so much more focused on the bigger picture of political change.

Sienna O'Dea

Campaign Facilitator

Currently studying a Bachelor of Development Studies, focusing on International Relations and Sustainable Development, I am interested and passionate about the intersection of environmental politics and social justice. I have volunteered for a range of NGOs both domestically and internationally focusing on issues of human rights, inequality and environmental justice, as I believe everyone can have an impact. Having been involved in grassroots organisations I recognise the valuable role these groups play in creating progressive change; hence I am fortunate to further this through working with Community Shapers.

Rachel Williamson

Office Manager/Campaign Facilitator

Rachel started as a Change Agent with Community Shapers in 2019 and has since taken on a variety of responsibilites, including providing member support for one of our client organisations and business support for CS. Rachel began as a Campaign Facilitator in early 2021, and has enjoyed empowering Change Agents to be strong activists for environmental and social justice campaigns. With a background in Peer to Peer fundraising, Rachel is passionate about empowering communities through conversations to achieve a more sustainable and just world. She is working towards a dual bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Development Studies, and hopes to use this knowledge to continue campaigning for progressive issues.

MaryClare Woodforde

Campaign Facilitator

MaryClare started as a Change Agent in 2018 and took on a role as Campaign facilitator in early 2020. MaryClare’s background is in campaigning for climate justice, with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and the Fossil Free ANU campaign. She believe that peer to peer education plays a key part in organising, and as ANU Environment Officer in 2019, was committed to facilitating constructive spaces for learning, as well as opportunities for students to take direct action. She studies International Relations and Latin American Studies, and will complete Honours in 2020.

Juliette Baxter

Campaign Facilitator

Juliette started working at Community Shapers as a Change Agent in mid-2020, and moved into the role of Campaign Facilitator in July this year. She recently graduated from a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Honours) and will complete a Bachelor of Visual Arts next year. She is passionate about media freedoms and fighting for environmental justice, and has experience in feminist organising and student journalism.

Ruby Donald

Senior Campaign Facilitator

Ruby started at CS at the start of 2020 as a Change Agent, and joined the facilitation team at the start of 2021. Ruby is a Law and Sustainability student at ANU, with a strong passion for environmental and social justice. She spends most of her free time campaigning for climate justice, with backgrounds in grassroots organisations like AYCC, and Fossil Free. Ruby cares strongly about the power of collective action, and so having conversations with supporters of progressive movements is a dream job for her!

Alba Legowo

Account Manager

Having grown up in Southeast Asia and Australia, Alba is inspired by the many things we can achieve through building meaningful relationships. In 2020, Alba completed her Masters of International Development at the University of Canberra and interned at the Embassy of Timor-Leste as a development researcher. Her research projects have centred on studying the meanings of gender equality and empowerment through the lens of Indonesian women of the diaspora and understanding the Timorese and Australian partnership in tackling gender based violence. Prior to stepping up as an Account Manager at the end of August 2021, Alba joined the Community Shapers team in 2020 as a Change Agent and have since worked with many wonderful and crucial campaigns.

Tom Campbell

Account Manager & Campaign Facilitator

Tom brings five years’ experience in youth education and facilitation to the team at Community Shapers in his role as Campaign Facilitator, while also providing member support and administration for one of our client organisations. In every team he has supported, Tom has been passionate about ensuring that everyone has the skills and resources they need to succeed. Joining the facilitation team means he gets to do this while cheering on every Change Agent in having great conversations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts and has exhibited and coordinated shows on Ngunnawal/Ngambri land. His current research project uses the diagram as a method/structure/process for reconfiguring linear thought.

Phoebe Howe

General Manager & Senior Account Manager

Phoebe developed a passion for social change advocacy growing up in Canberra and studying Arts and Science bachelor degrees at the Australian National University. Phoebe was the founding member of the ‘Canberra Loves 40%’ campaign that helped secure the ACT’s nation-leading emissions reductions legislation, and other climate policies. She worked on national climate change campaigns and grassroots youth organising with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. She developed local grassroots organising for national campaigns on the rights of people seeking safety and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth over-imprisonment at Amnesty International Australia.

Sonya Tirtajaya

Managing Director

We know, we’re better together if you want to shape the world through successful social change. That’s why we build powerful, collaborative partnerships to help deliver the promise of your purpose. Community Shapers prides itself on delivering exceptional campaign management. We’re constantly focused on improvement and always looking for opportunities to provide the best supporter experience in the interest of the client and their cause. We pride ourselves on being agile and flexible. This means we can respond to your unique needs or rapidly change course to maximise opportunities. And, we can add those small touches; as if we were an extension of your organisation.

Caspar Wallen

Campaign Facilitator

Caspar began working as a Change Agent in early 2020 and took on the role of Campaign Facilitator in late 2021. He is studying law, specialising in law reform and environmental justice, and has been involved in social advocacy for several years now,
having worked with Anti-Slavery Australia and the NGO Oaktree. He has been heavily involved in the ANU Queer* Department, with an interest in increasing safety and providing resources for gender diverse students and staff, having recently been on a panel exploring gender and sexuality at university for first year students. Caspar believes in creating meaningful, progressive societal change through a combination of grassroots and legislative action.

Eilis Fitt

Campaign Facilitator

As a student of Visual Arts, International Communication and Gender Studies, I am passionate about fostering conversations to promote progressive values, particularly in relation to environmental sustainability and social equality. With over 6 years of experience in community-based activism in Canberra relating to refugee rights, food security and climate campaigns, I believe education and community are powerful tools for advocacy. Community Shapers offers me the opportunity to put these values into practice in helping to create a more equal and sustainable Australia.

Our Values

Our Conversations

Our People

Powerful Partnerships

Our Difference

Our Team

Sonya Tirtajaya

Phoebe Howe

Tom Campbell

Alba Legowo

Ruby Donald

Rachel Williamson

MaryClare Woodforde

Eilis Fitt

Juliette Baxter

Sienna O'Dea

Vikram Raghavan

Caspar Wallen

Some of our Change Agents

Jayne Hoschke

Will Boon

Jacqui Turner

Yolana Truscott

Tom Weight

Ruturaj Patil

Abby Manning

Natalie Owen

Rylee Schuhmacher

Michaelie Trenbath

Sarah Momtaz