OUR TEAM
LUKE MCKENNA (FOUNDER & DIRECTOR)
UPP founder, Luke McKenna is an educator and author who specialises in working with schools to build growth mindsets, grit, wellbeing and leadership for all students. Over the last 15 years, he has worked as a classroom teacher, middle leader and Assistant Principal. Luke has worked with educators and students across Australian Primary and Secondary schools from the Independent, Catholic and Public sectors.
He holds degrees in Business and Education, a Masters of Educational Leadership, and a Professional Certificate in Positive Education.
Luke has spoken at The Positive Schools Conference; the Adolescent Success Conference; Griffith University's Professional Development Network Conference; and ACU's Advisory Conferences in Canberra and Brisbane. His work has been published in the Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, Happy Schools and The Positive Times, and he is also the author of "Thrive: Unlocking the truth about student performance" (2015), Making Wellbeing Practical (2019) and Making the Shift- Becoming a Leader worth Following (2022).
CODY KILPATRICK (HEAD OF OPERATIONS & SENIOR FACILITATOR- QLD)
Cody has a huge passion for helping young people unleash their potential in order to become the best version of themselves. He is highly committed, and dedicated to continuous improvement and growth in both himself and those around him. In high school, at Iona College, Cody held the position of house captain and prefect. He is currently enrolled in a double degree in Business and Creative Industries at QUT, however has deferred to focus on his role at UPP.
Since starting with UPP at the start of 2017, Cody has worked with over 60,000 students. He has enjoyed every challenge and joy our work brings, and looks forward to sharing those experiences and learnings with our team as we continue to grow. He continues to intentionally hone the craft of engaging young people in UPP workshops.
Cody has completed the Discovering Positive Education course, run by Geelong Grammar’s Institute of Positive Education and continues to develop his understanding and passion for helping students to learn, live and lead better.
DYLAN O’BRIEN (HEAD OF LEARNING & SENIOR FACILITATOR - QLD)
Dylan’s goal is to help and inspire people so that they can help and inspire others. He has been positively impacting students as a classroom teacher and outdoor educator within primary school, secondary school and university settings over the past 10 years.
Holding a Bachelor of Physical and Outdoor Education and a Masters of Educational Leadership, Dylan has been specialising in teaching leadership since 2018 and is a strong advocate for the importance of looking after your personal wellbeing and developing positive relationships. He believes that leadership means having an influence upon others and that we all have the opportunity to achieve this in a positive way through our choices and actions every day.
Dylan loves being active, with surfing as his favourite hobby. Originally from Victoria, he now lives in Brisbane with his amazing partner, Jenna, and their dog, Bunsen.
LAURA MCKENNA (STRATEGY AND CONTENT DEVELOPMENT)
Laura McKenna has been with UPP from the beginning. Laura contributed through the strategic direction of UPP. She has also developed and written many of UPP’s Personal Wellbeing Practices. She is a Registered Nurse, author and instructor of Yoga, Meditation and Wellbeing. After more than a decade in the health industry in a number of roles in hospitals and community nursing, Laura has identified a huge need for proactive wellbeing strategies. She brings a health professional's perspective to Wellbeing and Positive Education. Laura and Luke live in Brisbane with their three gorgeous kids – Elijah, Oscar and Ava.
JAIME URRUTIA (SENIOR FACILITATOR- VICTORIA)
Jaime has a huge passion for being of service. He is dedicated to all disciplines of mindset training. A student of the martial arts, he has attained instructor levels in karate, kickboxing and boxing. His journey into personal development began at the age of 15 when his first martial arts instructor taught him how to master mindfulness and meditation as a precursor to mastering any self-defence techniques. Jaime has been privileged to be guided over the years by many great teachers, recently learning about the art of happiness and meditation. In recent years Jaime has had the pleasure of collaborating with life coaches, psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists while delivering mind and body wellness training to disability and pre employment groups. Jaime has also delivered self defence classes to school children from the youngest years right through to university. Jaime considers himself a student of life, learning everyday. He is now in the fortunate position to be delivering the UPP program to students across Melbourne and country Victoria. Jaime resides in Melbourne with his two wonderful children.
MATT GRANT (SENIOR FACILITATOR - NSW)
Matt has 3 kids, is host of a podcast and has been in the fitness industry for almost 15 years. Throughout this time he has hosted events, workshops and retreats, has run outdoor bootcamps, corporate wellness days and has owned a gym. He also has a great social life and plays a lot of sport.
Some of his core values include family, community, connection, empathy, fun, resilience and leadership. He has joined the UPP team because he is extremely passionate about helping people live healthier and happier lives.
LACHLAN WILSON (SENIOR FACILITATOR- QLD)
UPP presenter, Lachlan Wilson, graduated from St Laurence’s College in 2012. Over the following three years, he worked in many different schools all over Australia, running leadership, peer pressure and sexuality retreats and leading youth ministry teams in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Having worked with more than 30,000 students, Lachlan is motivated to help young people recognise and develop to their full potential. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and looks forward to working with students as teacher in a school community.
GILBERT MEIN (SENIOR FACILITATOR- VICTORIA)
Gil has a passion for empowering young people to reach their fullest potential in life. After graduating from Penola Catholic College in 2012, Gil spent the next 8 years leading and creating leadership and development programs for secondary schools and youth groups across Australia. In 2015, he returned to his former college as a Campus Minister, giving him the opportunity to play a direct role in the journey of empowerment with students in year 7 to 12.
A firm believer in the importance of mindfulness and continual self development, Gil has completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at the University of Melbourne, and looks forward to combining this knowledge with his passion for youth empowerment through facilitating at UPP.
MADELINE MORGAN (ASSOCIATE SENIOR FACILITATOR- NSW)
Madeline developed her passion for teaching and inspiring children and young adults through her role as a soccer coach. She believes that every child should be given the tools to learn, grow, set goals and strive to accomplish them. She is currently studying a double degree in Creative Arts and Science, with aspirations to become a Secondary School science and drama teacher in the future. She is a strong believer that people learn by teaching others, and as both teaching and learning are two of her favourite things, having the opportunity to engage with children as an UPP facilitator is something that makes her happy every day.
Madeline has a very keen interest in sports, particularly soccer and triathlon. When she isn’t training or at work, she enjoys spending her time with her family or taking her dog to explore different parks and beaches. Madeline aspires to contribute positively to the next generation of kind, caring and thoughtful young leaders, and believes that her work as an UPP facilitator allows her to do just this.
TOMAS BURGESS (FACILITATOR- QLD)
Tom is an enthusiastic young team facilitator who is driven to unlock the true potential of those he comes into contact with. Being gifted with the opportunity to be Northside Christian Colleges 2019 School Captain, Tom has grown to see leadership as something that involves a community and not just the workings of an individual. He has a drive to always see the cup as half full, and looks for the good in the world around him rather than focusing on the bad. Currently Tom is Studying Psychology part-time at the University of Queensland and hopes to follow his passion to positively reach out into the world around him.
JAZZ COOPER (FACILITATOR- QLD)
In 2016 Jazz was elected Vice Captain at her school, fulfilling a long term interest in leadership and serving others. The desire to positively impact others continued after graduating school and Jazz found herself volunteering as a leader and facilitator on camps and development courses for children and teenagers. She continues to be passionate about helping others achieve their goals and realise their self-worth and potential. Jazz is currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) which she intends to use to help vulnerable communities and children both in Australia and overseas.
BEN RYAN (FACILITATOR- QLD)
Ben has a real passion to help young people reach their potential. As a father of two, he understands the need to give children of all ages the guidance and support required to excel in their lives.
Ben has a long history in sport, having played at representative level in soccer and cricket in his native UK. He moved to Australia in 2008 and has been here ever since. He coaches senior level soccer and occasionally plays socially.
Ben has a Bachelor of Exercise Science, as well as Wellness Coaching qualifications. Away from helping young people thrive, his passion is rescue dogs and he fosters abandoned pups until they are adopted.
QUINTON GILL (SENIOR FACILITATOR - QLD)
Quinton is a Canadian who has been teaching and living in Australia now for over five years as both a primary PE teacher and High school science teacher. His passion for teaching came from two teachers he had in high school that showed him the impact good leadership and strong character can have on the students within a school community. He wanted to become a teacher to give that same opportunity to more students.
After 5 successful years of teaching he realised that he wanted to reach out to more kids around Australia to help set them up with the tools they need to become successful in their own lives. Having joined the UPP team he now has the chance to do that every day!
REBECCA HOOD (SENIOR FACILITATOR - QLD)
Becky has recently moved to Brisbane with her partner having been born and raised in the UK. After graduating with a degree in Physical Geography from Newcastle University, Becky completed the Teach First training programme and worked in a secondary school in the North East of England as a Geography teacher for 4 and a half years. Becky is passionate about education and leadership and is excited to be able to continue positively shaping the lives of young people with UPP!
Becky enjoys both playing and watching sports and loves being part of a social netball team. She also loves wildlife and all things Geography and is super excited to be able to explore Australia with her partner.
MARC GALLAGHER (FACILITATOR - NSW)
Marc moved to Australia in May 2023 from Dublin, Ireland. Marc has a passion for working with young people and has 6 years experience working with young people in Ireland at local and national levels. He became a youth worker after being involved in youth structures as a teenager and knew from a young age that working with young people was his vocation. Marc believes in young people, believes in youth leadership and believes that all young people can lead. When he is not working you'll find Marc checking the updates of his favorite sports team Liverpool FC.
MARRA FUENTES (SERVICE ASSISTANT)
Marra is an administration, digital marketing and customer service whizz! She supports the UPP Team on a daily basis liaising with clients by email and supporting the team to enable them to do their best work.
She has a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Education. Outside of her professional life, she loves to travel and has developed a deep passion for exploring new cultures.
PETE MCAULIFFE (HEAD OF UPP IRELAND & SENIOR FACILITATOR)
Pete served as college captain in 2012, and this experience cemented his passion for authentic leadership and challenging young people to be their best. He had the opportunity to do two years of youth work, in both Sydney and Canberra. He has since worked for two years alongside the student wellbeing team of Iona College, as a behaviour management coach, wellbeing coach and campus minister. This gave Pete the opportunity to lead, develop and run retreats, programs and camps, for young people from age 7, up to 30 years old.
Pete has been a key member of the UPP team for 7 years. He has worked with more than 90,000 students during his time at UPP. In 2018, he completed the Discovering Positive Education course, run by Geelong Grammar’s Institute of Positive Education.
Pete now leads UPP in Ireland, as we endeavour to spread our valuable messages far and wide.
Pete greatest joy in life is spending time with his wife Niamh and their sons Tobias and Boaz.