Please explore this page to find out about the work of SU Tas staff and how God is using them to help give young people and their families hope for the future.
Senior Staff | Regional Coordinators | Admin Team | SU Tas Council
Ruth Pinkerton - CEO
Ruth has headed up the SU Tas team since 2007. Based in the Hobart office but often travelling all over the state, she is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation and works with the SU Tas Council on strategy and decision making.
Ruth’s connection with SU goes back to her school days when she learned to pray out loud in Mr McLean’s chemistry lab. Her earlier career included work in teaching, youth work and Christian outdoor education, before holding a senior staff position with SU Scotland.
Ruth has a passion for SU because it keeps the Bible and young people central in its ministry. She seems to enjoy postgraduate education and is working on her second Master’s degree.
David Clarke - Business Manager
David looks after Finance and Administration at SU Tas and is based in the Hobart office. He has worked for over 30 years in the government, not-for-profit and private sectors.
David’s connection with SU goes back to 1976 when he was at Launceston College. It was there he met David Reeve (a former director of SU Tas) who coordinated the Matric College Christian Fellowship.
David is thankful that God granted him the opportunity to use his skills and experience for his service.
Jenny Cowley - Field and Resources Manager
Based in the Hobart office, Jenny has a state-wide role overseeing SU Tas camps and missions, school programs and chaplaincy. She promotes and trains for SU’s ChildSafe safety management system in churches and other community organisations.
Jenny started with SU Tas as a school’s ministry volunteer in the 1980s then moved on to leading camps, writing program material and training ministry leaders. With a background as a primary teacher and qualifications in adult education, she has also been employed in various ministry and management roles.
Alan George - Communications Manager
Alan oversees the promotional and marketing aspects of SU Tas. Spending his time working at his current home base in Devonport and the SU office in Hobart, he enjoys the opportunity to partner with staff, volunteers and supporters across the entire state.
Alan has had previous connections with SU through exposure to SU resources as a child and volunteering as a leader at SU Family Missions in the late 1990s. With qualifications in education and graphic design, Alan has held management positions in marketing, publications and fundraising in educational and NFP sectors for over 15 years.
Alan is excited to be using his communications skills for a Christian organisation that gives hope to young people and from which he has been personally impacted.
Stephanie Sebastian - Regional Coordinator - North
Stephanie is based in Launceston and is engaged in almost everything SU does in the north of Tasmania. Having taken on the role in 2011, Stephanie works in camp ministries, holiday clubs and over 30 state schools in chaplaincy services.
Stephanie’s connection with SU started in 2006 when she joined her first SU Family Camp at Dodges Ferry. Taken in by the SU spirit of this camp, she and her then very small children quickly became members of the SU family – camper, leader, and staff member.
Stephanie has a passion for SU because she believes that together we can make a difference in children’s and young people’s lives – both now and in eternity – by introducing them to Jesus. She holds qualifications in teaching, architecture and journalism, loves the outdoors and is an avid reader.
Jonathan Lim - Regional Coordinator - South
Based in Hobart, Jon works collaboratively with schools, churches and volunteers and is responsible for leading the local delivery of SU Tas ministry in the south of Tasmania. This includes training, coaching and resourcing school chaplains and volunteers for ministry opportunities.
Jon first heard about SU through his church and was attracted to be involved because of SU’s commitment to sowing seeds of hope in our young people. Prior to joining SU, Jon came from a legal and business background.
Jon sees it as an honour and a privilege to be positioned in a role that serves God.
James Todd - Regional Coordinator - North West
James wears many ‘hats’ – working as SU Tas NW Regional Coordinator, a school chaplain and for a local church. Based in Penguin, he works with chaplains, schools, and churches in the north west, as well as supporting camps, training and assistance for staff and volunteers in his region and as a consultant across the state.
With qualifications in youth work, James has worked as a chaplain for over seven years and previously worked in Industrial Sales for over 12 years. He is passionate in supporting ministries that facilitate safe programs, safe people and safe places for young people and families – embracing the SU Tas tagline ‘Hope for the Future’. James enjoys travelling around the beautiful North West and building relationships in the community.
Kathy Schlenk - Chaplaincy Administrator
Kathy oversees the requirements and paperwork for chaplaincy placements, internal administration and secretarial functions.
SU Tas benefits greatly from Kathy’s broad experience and qualifications in administration, accounting, Christian ministry and chaplaincy. Along with her husband, she has also managed Christian campsites interstate, and enjoyed working alongside SU in that capacity.
Kathy is passionate about providing an environment for our youth – leaders of tomorrow – to receive a solid grounding and be equipped to explore God’s plans for their lives.
Yvonne Reynolds - Accounts Administrator
Yvonne is a recent addition to the SU Tas team and works part time in the finance and administration area.
She enjoys supporting SU Tas in its work of making Jesus known.
Kate Barnett - SU Council
Kate Barnett is current Chair and a long standing SU Tas council member with involvement in Scripture Union dating back to her own school years. Kate lives in Launceston and works as a speech pathologist in schools, she has worked previously in the health sector, and has also contributed within her professional association. Kate is a former board member of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (Tas) and is active within church, school and other community activities.
Peter Verdouw - SU Council
Peter Verdouw is a certified practising accountant and has been Treasurer of SUTas since 2011. He lives in Howrah and has been an accountant for the Salvation Army, various local government councils and sporting bodies over many years.
Tony Wilson - SU Council
Tony Wilson, based in Hobart, is an engineer who has held senior management positions in both the private and public sector. He has been a member of the SU Tas Council including 2 years in the role of Chair and including national SU Australia responsibilities.
Deidre Dobson - SU Council
Deidre Dobson has worked as a Primary Teacher for the Education Department throughout her career. She lives in Burnie and has been involved with SU Tas as a volunteer since 1983 in Family Mission teams, strategy groups, SU Tas State Council and the local chaplaincy committee at her school.
Helen Van der Vlist - SU Council
Helen Van der Vlist is from Launceston and works as a registered nurse at the Launceston General Hospital. Helen has been a long – standing volunteer with Scripture Union, involved in missions, SUPA clubs and her local chaplaincy committee as well as special fund-raising responsibilities on SU Tas Council.
Elysia Cunningham - SU Council
Elysia Cunningham is a Clinical Psychologist with experience working in education, disability, clinical, and forensic areas. She currently works for the Health Department and part-time in private practice. She has been involved in Scripture Union as a participant, leader and director of Missions, has been on the Scripture Union Council since 2011 and more recently on SU Executive.
Scott Cure - SU Council
Scott Curé has been involved with Scripture Union as a participant, helper and council member for over 35 years. He and his wife Melanie have spent many years actively involved with youth groups connected to the churches they have attended around Tasmania. Scott currently teaches Business and Finance at TasTAFE drawing much on his experience in management positions held in the private sector.
Helen Ridley - SU Council
Helen Ridley has been involved in different areas of SU since 1976 – including beach mission, bushwalking camps, high school ministry and as SU Bible reading rep in different churches. With experience in teaching, youth groups and soccer coaching, Helen spent seven years as an SU chaplain at a large state high school. She is now involved with mentoring in the women’s prison and assisting in writing resources for chaplains to use in schools.
David Atkinson - SU Council
David Atkinson has been volunteering with SU for many years. He has been a leader and director on a beach mission as well as numerous camps and school programs with both high school and primary children. He is currently working as an Engineer in Launceston.
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