What's On
Meet the Heart Foundation Walking team
Our state and territory Program Officers might be familiar faces as they support local engagement and our participants on the ground often getting out to visit groups whenever they can.
Elizabeth Hannah (Program Officer NSW/ACT)
Hi, I'm Lizzie and I'm the Walking Program Officer for NSW and ACT. While I'm based in the Sydney office and travel regularly back to Canberra to visit friends and family, my heart has found a home in Wollongong, tucked away along the stunning South Coast. What I love most about my role at the Heart Foundation is blending my passion for movement and physical activity with my work. It’s a chance for me to contribute positively to the community while personally enjoying the outdoors and connecting with others. In my free time, you might catch me jogging with my dog at the beach, practicing yoga, experimenting with delicious recipes alongside my partner or playing chess- all the things that make life vibrant and enjoyable!
Alicja Najbar-Kaszkiel (Program Officer VIC)
I moved into the Walking Program Officer for Vic role from a short project at the Heart Foundation, Heart Matters. In my new role, I love the variety – every day is different – from supporting new walk organisers and host organisations, attending promotional events and walking with our walking groups. I love walking around my area and beyond (beach, mountains, anywhere), and discovering new walks recommended by our Walk Organisers. In my spare time, apart from walking, I love baking, cooking for family and friends and singing.
Jordan Forrest (Program Officer SA)
My name is Jordan, and I am the Walking Program Officer for South Australia. I love watching and playing a wide range of sports including AFL, soccer and cricket. I also enjoy walking and do most of my walking with my two dogs – a Mini Schnauzer named Alfie and a Mini Groodle named Nellie. My twin 8 year old Daughters, Hazel and Mae also keep me very busy with trips to playgrounds, parks and swimming pools as well as sometimes staying at home and playing video games. My favourite part of my job is meeting our volunteers and walking group members out in the community and hearing their stories and finding out how important the walking groups are to people.
Anita Cromb (Program Officer QLD)
In my role I love being able to help support our QLD Local Coordinators and fabulous Volunteer Walk Organisers to promote and grow their groups and especially love hearing about beautiful stories of newfound friendships, positive changes in health, and our program being the catalyst for connecting people more socially to their communities through our walking groups. The ways that I love to walk include family bush walks, walks to the local park, walking to a café for breakfast or lunch when I’m on holiday, and active travel to work and school with the kids.I enjoy camping with the family, reading, gardening, bike riding, playing tennis, and watching my 2 children enjoy their activities which currently include tennis, swimming, Scouts, gymnastics and ballet. Happy Walking!
Hi, I’m the Walking Program Officer in Tasmania. I’m a passionate advocate on the importance of exercise in improving health and wellbeing. One of my favourite parts of the role is meeting Heart Foundation Walking participants and it’s wonderful to see the positive impacts that the program is having in the community. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and keeping active with regular strength training, walking and running after our toddler!
Julie-Anne Overell (Program Officer NT)
I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister and the Heart Foundation Walking Program Officer in the NT. What I like to do is empower Territorians and support all walks of life to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I am passionate about preventative health and encourage physical activity and nutritious food. The social connection that accompanies the walking program is an important part of my role that I enjoy supporting and I love to keep fit and healthy myself and enjoy walking with my family most days.
I work as the Customer Service Officer within the Walking Program, one aspect I love about my role is the opportunity to directly engage with our participants, I really enjoy hearing about people’s journey towards better health through walking and community involvement, I like celebrating their achievements, whilst providing them with support and assistance. Outside of my role, I am pursuing a degree in Social Science. In my downtime I enjoy being amongst nature, usually on a long walk through one of the lovely local parks in my area or in my garden, I also love cooking for my friends and family and enjoy bringing people together over a meal.
Hi, I’m Tara and I’m a Senior Program Officer in the Heart Foundation Walking Group team. I’ve spent the majority of my 15 plus years at the Heart Foundation as Program Officer for Heart Foundation Walking in Victoria, and nationally. Now, I have the pleasure of leading a team of brilliant Program Officers around the country! I love walking to get around my neighbourhood and will choose to walk to the shops, cafes or take public transport whenever I can instead of the car. I live in Melbourne with my husband, two young boys and two cats, and when they’re not keeping me busy, I enjoy gardening and cooking, and teaching fitness classes on the weekends. Our walking groups bring people in their communities together, and I feel honoured to be part of a team that supports people to connect with each other and improve their health and overall wellbeing through the joyous act of walking.