Login
Login

Our Leadership Team

Our Team

The team at Running for Premature Babies are passionate professionals, working together to ensure that all babies born sick and premature across Australia have a better chance of survival. 
Stuart Cassie 
Chair

Stuart has over 20 years of leadership experience in complex infrastructure assets, holding senior global operational roles in Tier 1 engineering and professional services organisations.

Sophie Smith OAM
Founder & Director. 

Read more about Sophie here.

Natasha Cromer
Director

Natasha has extensive experience in strategy, sales, marketing and product innovation within the consumer goods sector in Australia and Asia. She is currently a strategic planning specialist at The Conversation Group, a marketing agency where she is a founding partner.  She has run with and fundraised for Running for Premature Babies since 2013.
David Goldman
Director & Company Secretary

David has over 20 years’ experience as a strategic, customer centric marketer with a proven track record and a passion for doing things differently in both large corporates and the not-for-profit sector. He is currently working as the Brand, Impact and Revenue Director of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife and previously held various other executive roles. David’s philosophy – it’s time to give back to our community and there’s both fulfilment and motivation beyond material possession.

Colman O'Driscoll 
Director 

Colman has over 25 years of experience across the health system. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare), Victoria and is a past Chief Executive for St John of God Health Care's NSW mental health hospitals. He has held senior leadership roles within the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, has served as Chief of Staff in the NSW Government and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales. 
 
In 2014, Colman and Colette's son Rory was born prematurely, weighing just 685g at 28 weeks and his life was saved with the help of neonatal equipment donated by Running for Premature Babies.

Andrew Beaumont
Director & Treasurer

Andrew is an experienced professional with previous roles in management consulting, funds management, finance and technology. Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Sydney. Andrew is passionate about supporting the impact of RFPB in the community to improve outcomes for premature babies across Australia.

Gemma Hudson
Director 

A scientist by background, Gemma has spent 20+ years working in health communication and marketing. She is currently Executive Vice President - International health with global PR agency, WE Communications and leads their health sector business across Asia Pacific and EMEA. In addition to her role with Running for Premature Babies, Gemma is also a Director for the Australasian Birth Trauma Association.  

In 2020, Gemma and Jake's son Finn was born prematurely at 29 weeks and spent 10 weeks in neonatal ICU at the Royal Women's Hospital, Randwick. His life was saved with the help of neonatal equipment donated by Running for Premature Babies.

Sonali Zanatta 
Director 

Sonali joined the Board in March 2024 with the shared vision of improving outcomes for premature babies.  Sonali’s eldest daughter was born at 25 weeks and received life-saving care from the NICU at The Royal Women’s Hospital and The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. 

Sonali has 20 years’ experience in legal and governance, advising on major infrastructure projects throughout Australia and Europe.  She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently a Group Counsel for a leading Australian energy infrastructure business. 

Karen Stafford
Director 

Joining the Board of Running for Premature Babies in March 2024, Karen is a governance professional and lawyer with over 25 years’ experience. She is passionate about improving outcomes for babies born early. Karen’s son was born prematurely at 26 weeks, spending 13 weeks in the NICU at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane in 2010. 

Karen holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, a Bachelor of Commerce, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Karen is admitted as a solicitor in Queensland and currently works as a General Manager in the Queensland electricity sector.

Gary Trenaman
CEO 

Gary joined Running for Premature Babies in 2022 as Chief Executive Officer, having previously held executive and Board roles in Australian charities for over a decade. He is a CPA accountant, governance professional, runner and habitual volunteer. As a parent of a premature baby, Gary recognises the importance of fundraising for life-saving neonatal equipment and of raising awareness of the issues faced by premature babies and their families.
Sophie Sinistaj
Victoria State Co-ordinator

Sophie is a marketing manager, a mum to prematurely born twins Faye & Grace, and new baby Tommy, and a marathon runner.
Following the premature birth of her twins in 2021 Sophie and her partner John ran the Melbourne Marathon, raising over $10,000 for the charity. Sophie is now our charity’s Victorian Coordinator, launching Running For Premature Babies into Victoria with charity ambassador Lachy Gillespie, the purple Wiggle, in 2022 and coordinating teams in the Run Melbourne and Melbourne Marathon as well as hosting the charity’s first Victorian Kids Fun Run. 
Cassie Farrugia 
Marketing and Administration Coordinator  

Cassie has recently moved back to Australia after 7 years in London working across the renewable energy and charity sectors. As a mum to two young kids, Finley and Poppy, she is passionate about making a difference to the lives of premature babies.