Our People
The Soul Team come from different walks of life and experience and is made up of volunteers, staff, the Management Team and the Board of Trustees. There are a 100 plus volunteers contributing 300 plus hours per week to the community.
Soul Management Team
The Management Team run the day to day operations of Soul Cafe looking after the teams of volunteers and the cafe guests they serve.
SOUL CAFE CEO - RICK PROSSER
Rick Prosser began an interim position as the Acting CEO of Soul Cafe in May 2015 and then CEO in June 2016. Rick has had 20 years experience in leadership of charities and was awarded the 2014 Newcastle City Council Citizen of the Year for his work.
Rick and his wife Sue Prosser are the Team Leaders of Life Church Newcastle. Soul Cafe is the social justice expression of their church as they seek to assist and serve the poor and vulnerable in Newcastle.
Rick has been the Director of RUSH Youth Mentoring Service since 2003 and Chairman of CityServe since 2012.
KITCHEN MANAGER - SUE PROSSER
Sue has served as a Kitchen Team Leader for many years and has a heart for the broken, lost and homeless.
Sue has worked as the Kitchen Manager since August 2016 supervising multiple teams of part time volunteers. Sue is supported in her position by volunteer personnel who have catering and chef experience.
FLOOR MANAGER - MATT NICHOLS
Matt is the Soul Chaplain and Floor Team Leader. His team relates with the cafe guests, getting to know them and helping them to connect to services that will help them.
Matt has experience in business, charity and youth work. He is the Associate Pastor of Life Church Newcastle.
FINANCE MANAGER - TONYA HUEN
Tonya joined the Soul Team in June 2016 and works 2 days a week keeping the accounts of Soul and Life Church in order. Tonya has many years experience in administration and she also works part time in the accounts department of a local High School.
Tonya is also an experienced counselor and a great asset to the Soul Team.
ADMIN MANAGER - MARIA THOMAS
Maria commenced as a part of the Soul team in May 2016. Her previous work experience has included working with Hunter New England Health as a Speech Pathologist and as the Coordinator of Samaritans Out of Home Care Program. She has a Master’s Degree majoring in leadership and management. Over the last 10 years Maria has served on the staff & boards of charities/not for profit entities.
The Trustees
Soul Cafe comes under the umbrella of LifeShapers Family Services (ABN: 67 385 398 045) which is a not-for-profit registered charity providing real, relative and restorative assistance without any strings attached.
Soul Cafe (LifeShapers) is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees. The board comprises of five trustees, each with unique skills and experience that contribute to the sound governance of the charity. The trustees are advised by specialist consultant Chartered Accountant Tim McKenzie (KLM Accounting).
CHAIRMAN - RICK PROSSER
Rick Prosser began an interim position as the Acting CEO of Soul Cafe in May 2015 and then CEO in June 2016. Rick has had 20 years experience in leadership of charities and was awarded the 2014 Newcastle City Council Citizen of the Year for his work.
Rick and his wife Sue Prosser are the Senior Ministers of Life Church Newcastle. Soul Cafe is the social justice expression of their church as they seek to assist and serve the poor and vulnerable in Newcastle.
VICE CHAIRMAN - HOWARD MOLE
Howard is the Centre Manager of the BaptistCare Windale Centre working with the disadvantaged and those facing social, financial and other challenges. Previously he was with the Salvation Army for 30 years including 10 years as an Officer.
Howard has held a number of social service roles in the Newcastle area, including Welfare management, Counselling, Financial counselling, and homeless accommodation. He has been active in the Rotary Club of Waratah, the Hunter Newcastle Bikers Memorial Ride, Tinned Food and Blanket Run, the Kids Toy Run & the establishment of the Combined Charities Christmas Warehouse.
TRUSTEE - KEVIN BERGER O.M.A.
D.A.L.E. Christian School founder and Executive Director.
In 2015 Kevin was awarded the 'Medal of the Order of Australia' for his work in establishing an alternative learning environment for students struggling in mainstream education.
TRUSTEE - DAVID ZAMMIT
BSc (Arch) B.Arch (Hons), Architecture from the University of Sydney.
David is a retired registered Architect with over 20 years of business experience as CEO of his business enterprises. David has over 26 years of experience, serving on not for profit boards, international missions boards and church boards/elderships. David served as a Director at Compassion Australia from 2008-2016 and currently is their International Field Experience Coordinator.
TRUSTEE - SUE IRWIN
Sue completed her Bachelor of Education and after marrying her husband Graeme they together travelled the journey of establishing St Philip’s Christian College which now educates almost 4000 students across six schools. Throughout this time Sue also established and headed up a thriving youth movement in the local Anglican church.
Sue is the Senior Minister of The Grainery Church that has developed as a uniquely influential church in the city of Newcastle through the creative. They are often approached by the Mayor and members of the city to be involved in citywide events.
SPECIALIST CONSULTANT TO THE TRUST
Tim Mackenzie is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand & registered tax agent. Tim has more than 30 years of public practice experience. Over this period Tim has advised retail, professional, manufacturing, service companies, not-for-profits & individuals on commercial transactions including advice on taxation, operating a business, finance, acquisitions and disposals and business structuring.
