General Manager

Carley Maher is a people-focused senior leader with a career spanning education, youth development, community impact, and business operations. She brings deep experience across classroom practice, regional leadership, training design, and purpose-driven program delivery.

Carley’s professional foundation is in education. She completed a Bachelor of Education at the University of Canberra and spent many years working in schools supporting learners with diverse needs, particularly young people at risk of disengagement. This early work shaped her strong commitment to inclusion, effective learning design, and early intervention.

Across her career, Carley has worked at the intersection of community, education, and business. She is known for building practical, effective programs, cultivating long-term partnerships, and leading teams that are deeply committed to meaningful outcomes. Her leadership experience spans grassroots community work through to large-scale operations and executive roles.

Carley is motivated by working with organisations that seek to create genuine impact in ways that are sustainable, inclusive, respectful, and commercially sound. She brings a calm, relational leadership style and a strong belief in empowering people to do their best work.

Outside of work, Carley is a proud mum of two young adult children and a devoted owner of her puppy, Sammi. With Italian heritage and a love of hospitality, she is known for making people feel welcome and keeping her Nonna’s recipes alive around the table.

LDMP Coordinator

Jiana Thilth has always been passionate about languages and culture. She earned a Bachelor of English Literature and Arts, deepening her love for both language and artistic expression. While studying, she began working at a government school - a role she continued even after graduation.

However, like many Syrians, Jiana’s life took an unexpected turn when war broke out. Forced to flee, she sought refuge in Iraq, where she embraced new cultures and worked in community services, supporting those in need. During this time, she applied for resettlement in Australia, arriving in 2018 with hope for a fresh start.

Jiana quickly immersed herself in community work, starting as a volunteer with an organisation supporting vulnerable women from multicultural backgrounds. She helped them connect through group activities, fostering friendships and confidence. She then moved into a role assisting new arrivals, using her lived experience to help others navigate the challenges of settling in a new country.

Alongside her work, Jiana has always sought ways to share her passion for language and culture. She worked part-time as a teacher’s aide, supporting students with special needs, and started free language and craft classes, teaching Arabic to young children in her community. These classes became a source of joy, fostering a connection to heritage and identity.

Now based in Toowoomba, Jiana continues to seek opportunities to develop her skills and serve her community. Her journey is one of resilience and dedication, and she is passionate about helping others feel at home in their new country.

Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator

Kinda Flaha is an integral part of You Belong and our dynamic leader of engagement in both Toowoomba and further afield. Known for her passion for community development and refugee empowerment. Her journey is a source of inspiration all who meet her.

From a young age in Syria, Kinda's love for different cultures and languages led her to study English as a second language. She pursued this passion further, obtaining a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and Arts. Kinda's academic background laid the foundation for her career as an educator, where she taught English to children and adults, enriching their lives through language.

Her role as an educator extended beyond the classroom. In Syria, Kinda coordinated language programs and community service initiatives, leading a team at a local institute teaching English, Russian, and Arabic. Her team's social impact was tangible, involving projects like painting primary school walls, renovating a local library garden, and running social media campaigns to foster hope and change within Syria.

However, the escalating Syrian Civil War brought increasing danger to her hometown, forcing Kinda and her young family to seek refuge in Iraq. Their journey eventually led them to Australia, where they were granted a humanitarian visa. This new chapter in Australia has been marked by significant milestones — notably, when Kinda, Yamin (husband) and Ebrahim (son) became Australian citizens on January 26, 2023.

Kinda continues to pursue her dreams, including her passion for travel, drawing, writing poetry, and cooking. This love for cooking has blossomed into a successful venture — “Kinda's Kitchen”, a catering business specialising in delicious and nutritious Middle Eastern cuisine.

Kinda’s refugee lived experience is invaluable to You Belong, ensuring that our organisational and programmatic impact is grounded in empathy and authenticity. Her contributions are not just vital to our success; they are a testament to the power of hope and the strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity.

Operations Manager

Kim Ketley brings over 15 years of diverse experience in operations, business development, and leadership. Originally from Wales, Kim’s distinct Welsh accent adds a unique touch to her role, while her passion for fostering inclusive, fair environments and optimising systems aligns perfectly with our mission.

Kim's journey in leadership began in the entertainment sector, where she managed and expanded a small business for a decade, collaborating with entertainers from CALD backgrounds. Her knack for streamlining processes and developing innovative solutions has consistently driven organisational growth and enhanced impact.

Kim recently relocated to the Gold Coast with her husband James and their new baby girl, Jaya. After a maternity leave filled with joy and new experiences, Kim is excited to dive into leading You Belong’s operations. Her vision includes expanding our services to new regions and creating an environment where every individual can contribute their unique strengths.

Known for her commitment to operational excellence, Kim affectionately describes herself as the "efficienist," a term that reflects her dedication to maximising our efforts and impact. She is also an avid martial artist and fitness fanatic, embodying the discipline and drive that she brings to her role.

Kim's leadership promises a blend of empathy, collaboration, and strategic growth, ensuring that You Belong continues to empower Waymakers and foster inclusive communities. Her return to the Gold Coast, where she has family, marks an exciting new chapter for both her and the organisation.

Accounts Manager

Lynette brings a wealth of experience in bookkeeping and accounting, shaped by a journey across three countries. Originally from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Lynette grew up during the civil war before moving to South Africa in search of new opportunities. As a young immigrant, securing employment was challenging, but a chance role in the accounts department of a private hospital set her on a lifelong career path in accounting.

More than 20 years ago, Lynette and her family emigrated to Australia, embracing the challenges of adapting to a new culture while furthering her education in bookkeeping and accounting. She went on to work alongside an accounting firm as a contract bookkeeper before becoming a registered BAS Agent.

A stickler for accuracy, Lynette is dedicated to maintaining clear financial records that not only keep us organised but also tell the story of how our resources fuel real impact. Her meticulous approach helps You Belong demonstrate how every dollar contributes to empowering and supporting Waymakers in their new home, reinforcing the importance of every contribution.

Beyond numbers, Lynette enjoys working with people and recently completed a Certificate III in Assistant in Nursing, allowing her to work part-time in aged care. She is also a proud mother of three and grandmother of three, all of whom have made Australia home. Outside of work, she is an avid reader who loves gardening, walking, and playing tennis.

Having previously worked with Kim, Lynette was thrilled to join You Belong, knowing firsthand the challenges of settling in a new country. She is passionate about supporting an organisation that helps others navigate their own journeys, ensuring they feel welcomed and empowered.

Founder

Tim Buxton is the Founder of You Belong, a social impact organisation dedicated to empowering refugees, whom the organisation proudly calls Waymakers, to thrive in inclusive communities across Australia.

Born in Indonesia and raised in diverse and often remote contexts, Tim’s early life was shaped by cross-cultural experiences and community development work alongside his family. He later lived and worked across the United States, the Middle East, and Australia, spending several years in northern Iraq supporting communities affected by displacement and conflict. These formative experiences continue to shape his deep commitment to dignity, belonging, and practical empowerment.

In 2017, Tim founded You Belong in response to the growing need for community-led, relational approaches to refugee settlement. Under his leadership, the organisation has grown to deliver a wide range of programs spanning social connection, education, driver mentoring, women’s empowerment, vocational pathways, and volunteer mobilisation. At the heart of You Belong’s work is a simple belief: people flourish when they are genuinely welcomed, equipped, and invited to belong.

Alongside his work with You Belong, Tim is a speaker, facilitator, and consultant specialising in Cultural Intelligence (CQ), leadership, and belonging. A CQ Fellow with the Society of Cultural Intelligence, he works with schools, corporates, and community organisations to help leaders and teams navigate complexity, difference, and uncertainty with wisdom and courage. His work focuses on closing the “CQ Gap” — the growing disconnect between rapidly changing systems and the deeply human needs of the people within them.

Tim is also an endurance athlete and storyteller, using long-distance humanitarian runs and documentary projects to amplify refugee stories and invite others into shared action. His leadership is marked by optimism, curiosity, and a belief that the future belongs to those willing to build bridges rather than borders.

Tim lives on the Gold Coast with his wife and four children, and continues to champion a vision where everyone, regardless of background or starting point, has the opportunity to belong and thrive.