Our People
Miracle Babies Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors who meet quarterly. The Board was formed in 2009 and originally Chaired by Morris Iemma. Miracle Babies Foundation staff are mostly based at head office in Liverpool NSW, although several staff are based across Australia working in programs with hospitals and families. Our Ambassadors are a passionate and dedicated group, supporting the Foundation with their time to raise awareness and promote the Foundation.
Board, Staff, Ambassadors and Volunteers all work toward our vision of ‘better, healthier outcomes for newborns and their families challenged by prematurity or sickness.’
Ambassador
Amber Sherlock is a news presenter for the Nine Network, working on a variety of programs including TODAY, Weekend TODAY, Early Morning News, 11am News and evening updates. Amber has been a Miracle Babies Foundation Ambassador since November 2010. She is always ready to lend her support at events such as our Miracle Moon Walk and shared her personal story with guests at the 2011 Annual Ball. "I became involved with Miracle Babies after having my first baby at 34 weeks. She spent over three weeks in a special care nursery. It was a roller coaster journey which you can never prepare for. I jumped at the chance to become an Ambassador for Miracle Babies, having been through the experience first hand. They provide an invaluable resource and support service for mums and families of premature babies, and only wish I had known about them earlier!"
Ambassador
Sam Squiers is an award-winning Sports Presenter with Channel 9 and the founder of the women in sport think tank Sportette. Sam has worked in the media for over a decade and has covered some of the biggest sporting events both nationally and internationally. Sam is also the host of Nine's Women in Sport podcast "In Her Court", Surfing Australia TV, The Isuzu QLD Golf Open, Ocean Thunder Surf Boat Series, has hosted the Kelloggs Nutri-Grain Ironman Series, co-hosted TripleM's Dead Set Legends and has been a guest presenter on Getaway. In 2014, Sam founded Sportette to provide an avenue to tell the incredible stories of our female athletes and it’s grown to be a leading think tank on Women's Sports. Sportette aims to challenge the way you think about women in sport and has created a strong reputation among athletes, brands, stakeholders, sports organisations and fans alike. In addition to her work at Channel 9 and Sportette, Sam runs marathons, plays golf, rows surf boats, is a keen touch football and netball player. In 2017, Sam gave birth to her little girl, Imogen, prematurely at 32 weeks after suffering from severe pre-eclampsia which had caused a placental abruption and started to shut down Sam’s organs. Sam spent three days in ICU and didn’t see Imogen for several days after she was rushed to the NICU where she spent close to the next 7 weeks. Immi suffered chronic lung disease with her little lungs under developed when she was born and when she finally left hospital had to remain on home oxygen for the next four months.
Ambassador
Scott Cam is one of Australia's most loved television personalities, with a laidback larrikin attitude that millions of Australian’s can relate to. Over the past decade, Scott has become one of Aussie TV’s favourite faces, putting his stamp firmly on programs such as Backyard Blitz, Domestic Blitz, Random Acts of Kindness and Renovation Rescue and The Block. He is also a regular on radio and has written books on renovation and home maintenance. Scott and his wife Anne have been a Miracle Babies Foundation ambassador since 2009 after meeting the team during the filming of Channel 9 Random Acts of Kindness. He has toured the NICU, meeting families and also appeared in our community service announcement in 2009.
Ambassador
Laura is the primary driver of the Shamrock Racing team. Behind the wheel of the #4 Sigma in Production Sedans, she is a pint sized pocket rocket determined to break down the stereotype of women in motorsport.
Ambassador
Amber is a journalist at 7 News Sydney, Producer and Former Miss World Australia. Amber is a mum to Will who is now 2 years old. Will was born at 32 weeks and spent a total of 6 weeks in the Special Care Nursery. Amber joined Miracle Babies Foundation as an Ambassador in 2024. She is always ready to show her support and attended Miracle Moon Walk for the first time in honour of becoming an ambassador. "We were introduced to Miracle Babies within days of Will's arrival through the hospital, but our most valuable resource was the foundation’s Instagram page, website and other Miracle Babies’ ambassadors such as Sam Squiers. Being able to see other premature babies and read stories of how they’ve gone on to thrive plus the advice and words of encouragement from another mum who had experienced it all before, offered immeasurable comfort in those early days of uncertainty. I feel incredibly honoured to have the chance to extend the same support to someone else through the Miracles Babies Foundation."
Board Director & Ambassador
Deborah Knight, is a well-known Australian journalist and news presenter. She is host of Afternoons on 2GB and 4BC Radio and presents A Current Affair Saturday edition on Channel 9. Deborah has been a Miracle Babies Foundation ambassador since 2011. She is always ready to lend her support to events such as our Miracle Moon Walk and awareness campaigns. Deborah has been a Miracle Babies Board Director since 2009.
Ambassador
Geoff is currently the news director of 2SER FM and mentors journalism students at the University of Technology Sydney. Geoff was the newsreader for The Kyle & Jackie O Show from 2004 to 2010. And from 2010 to 2015, Geoff presented Drive news on 2DAY-FM, including the Hamish & Andy Show, and the Fifi & Jules drive show. Geoff has been a Miracle Babies Foundation ambassador since 2010. He is an active participant each year in our Sun-Herald City2Surf team and always lends his support to events such as our Annual Ball and Miracle Moon Walk.
Ambassador
Traffic reporter Alf (Alfie P) is a familiar voice and face to hundreds of thousands of listeners and viewers on Mix1065, WSFM, The Edge, 2SM, 2GO, Sea FM, New FM, 2HD and Sunrise as the eye in the sky reporting on Sydney's roads. Alf has been a Miracle Babies Foundation ambassador since 2010. He is an active participant each year in our Sun-Herald City2Surf team. Alf has toured the NICU, meeting families and always lends his support to events such as our Annual Ball and Golf Day.
Bryce Ruthven & Melissa Rawson
Ambassadors
Bryce and Melissa met on Season 8 of Reality TV Show ‘Married At First Sight’ in 2020 and are based in Melbourne, VIC. Melissa works as a public servant for the Victorian Government and Bryce is a radio host and sports enthusiast. They are now engaged to wed early in 2023 and have since welcomed twin boys. Twins Levi and Tate were born premature at 29 weeks and spent almost eight weeks in the NICU and Special Care Nursery. Melissa and Bryce know all too well what it’s like to spend time in the NICU ward without having contact with their babies. Melissa and Bryce joined as Ambassadors to show support for Miracle Babies Foundation, following the support received for their family throughout their NICU journey, and hope to continue to build awareness around the challenges of having babies born premature.
Megan Schutt and Jess Holyoake
Ambassadors
Megan and Jess met in 2012, when Megan was just starting out with Cricket Australia. At that time, Jess had just started working for Cricket Australia. It wasn't until 2015 that they got to know each other, with Megan being known for "wooing" the receptionist. In 2017, after an extravagant "Amazing Race" themed day, Megan proposed to Jess. Megan and Jess have been long term advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. The pair wed in March of 2019, after waiting for same-sex marriage to be legalised. They spent two years together in Brisbane before moving to Adelaide and buying their first home. From there the family grew, with dog, Eddie, and cat, Whitney, being added. This only cemented how much they wanted a little human to join their family and in early 2021, they began their IVF journey. In 2022 they welcomed Rylee via emergency c-section due to extreme intrauterine growth restriction, at 28 weeks gestation and weighing 858 grams.
Ambassador
Matteo Zamboni is a culinary consultant based in Sydney and the Executive Chef of Civico47, a neighborhood gem located in Paddington. Matteo was born and raised in the north of Italy and after completing five years at the hospitality school, he worked in the top Michelin star restaurants in Italy gaining experience in the fine dining sector. In 2009 Matteo had the honor to cook for the royal family of Qatar where he returned several times over the years. Matteo has also worked in one of the best restaurants in Tokyo alongside the legendary chef Seiji Yamamoto, an experience that heavily influenced his style of cooking. At the end of 2009 Matteo moved to Australia where he immediately fell in love with the culture and the lifestyle to the point that he now calls Sydney ‘home’. While settling down under, he worked at the two hatted Ormeggio at the Spit and soon after he took the position of head chef at the iconic Pilu at Freshwater. After successfully running his own pop up restaurant Zambo, Matteo became the Executive Chef at the prestigious Jonah's at Whale Beach. At the beginning of 2022, Matteo and his team opened Civico 47, a casual fine dining restaurant in Paddington, a point of reference for the Italian food scene in Australia. Matteo is also a consultant and ambassador for some of the best brands in the kitchen appliances and food industry. Matteo was featured in several publications such as the Good Food, Gourmet Traveller, Broadsheet, Qantas Travel Insider, Delicious magazine, R&C magazine, Escape and many more. He has also joined various interviews and talks on SBS radio and has been multiple times a chef guest in the Cook up on SBS with Adam Liaw.
Former Ambassador
Jackie O is co-host of Australia's number 1 breakfast show - The Kyle and Jackie O Show. A household name, Jackie is an award-winning radio and television host who is famous for her style, both on-air, and off. Jackie was a proud Miracle Babies Foundation ambassador since September 2006. She helped launched our parent support program, NurtureTime at Liverpool Hospital, touring the NICU and meeting families. Jackie has attended many of our functions, including our first cocktail party whilst pregnant with baby Kitty. When you call our head office or parent support line, you may be greeted by Jackie O who lent her voice for our recorded messages and on hold information.
Former Ambassador
Traffic reporter Vic Lorusso is one of Sydney’s most recognised TV and Radio personalities. He pioneered airborne traffic reporting in Australia for the TEN Network in 2002. Vic was a Miracle Babies Foundation ambassador from May 2007. As an emcee and auctioner Vic's ability to engage large crowds, was pivitol to the fundraising success of our events. Vic has toured the NICU, meeting families and also appeared in our community service announcement in 2009. "I had the pleasure of visiting the premature and sick babies at Liverpool Hospital. To see these babies was a life changing experience I will never forget. It breaks my heart to see these precious little babies and their families go through so much heartache. I’m very proud to have been an ambassador for Miracle Babies Foundation."
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